nd three or four hawk bells with other toys. We
placed it there, then stood back. At the Admiral's command the harquebus
and crossbow men laid their weapons down, though watchful eye was kept.
But no arrow flights had come from the wood, and as far as could be seen
some kind of lance, not formidable looking, was their only weapon. Next
the Admiral made our fifer to play a merry and peaceful air.

We had noted a clump of trees advanced into the sand and we thought that
the bolder men were occupying this. Now a man started out alone, a young
man by the looks of him, drawn as he was against the white sand, and
a paladin, for he marched to meet alone he knew not what or whom.
"Blackamoor!" exclaimed De Arana beside me, but as he came nearer we saw
that the dead blackness was paint, laid in a fantastic pattern upon his
face and body. Native hue of skin, as we came presently to find in the
unpainted, was a pleasing red-brown. He advanced walking daintily and
proudly, knowing that his people were watching him. Single Castilian,
single Moor, had advanced so, many a time, between camps, or between
camp and fortress.

Halting beside the red cloth he stooped and turned over the trinkets.
When he straightened himself he had in hand a string of great beads,
rose and blue and green. He fingered these, seemed about to put the
necklet on, then refrained as too daring. Laying it gently back upon the
scarlet he next took up a hawk bell. These bells, as is known, ring very
clear and sweet. I was afterwards told that the Portuguese had noted
their welcome among the African people. There was no nail's breadth of
information that this man Columbus could not use! He had used this, and
in a list for just possibly found savage Indians had put down, "good
number of hawk bells."

The red man painted black, took up the hawk bell. It chimed as he moved
it. He dropped it on the sand and gave back a step, then picked it up
and set it tinkling. His face, the way in which he moved, said "Music
from heaven!"

The Admiral motioned to Fray Ignatio to move toward him. That good man
went gently forward. The youth gave back, but then braced himself, under
the eyes of his nation. He stood. The Franciscan put out a gowned arm
and a long, lean kindly hand. The youth, naked as the bronze of a
god, hesitated, raised his own arm, let it drop upon the other's. Fray
Ignatio, speaking mild words, brought him across and to the Admiral.
The latter, tallest of us al