These solemn services occupied much of the day; later they carried tents
on shore, and some of them occupied large storehouses which the natives
had built for drying their figs; and to the women, under direction of
Juanita, was allotted a great airy cave, with smaller caves branching from
it, where the natives had made palm baskets. Day after day they labored,
transferring all their goods and provisions to the land,--tools, and
horses, and mules, clothing, and simple furniture. Most of them joined
with pleasure in this toil, but others grew restless as they transferred
all their possessions to land, and sometimes the women especially would
climb to high places and gaze longingly towards Spain.
One morning a surprise came to Luis. Every night it was their custom to
have a great fire on the beach, and to meet and sing chants around it. One
night Luis had personally put out the blaze of the fire, as it was more
windy than usual, and went to sleep in his tent. Soon after midnight he
was awakened by a glare of a great light upon his tent's thin walls, and
hastily springing up, he saw their largest caravel on fire. Rushing out to
give the alarm, he saw a similar flame kindled in the second vessel, and
then, after some delay, in the third. Then he saw a dark boat pulling
hastily towards the shore, and going down to the beach he met their most
trusty captain, who told him that the ships had been burnt by order of the
archbishop, in order that their return might be hopeless, and that their
stay on the island might be forever.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account