as Christian
and clothed, and truly the Haitiens stared at him hardly less than at
the Admiral. I greeted him and he me. He tried to speak in Castilian but
it was very hard for him, and in a moment we slipped into Indian.

I asked him, "How did you like Spain?"

He looked at me with a remote and childlike eye and began to speak of
houses and roads and horses and oxen.

A message came from the Admiral at head of column. I went to him. Men
looked at me as I passed them. I was ragged now, grizzle-bearded and
wan, and they seemed to say, "Is it so this strange land does them? But
those first ones were few and we are many, and it does not lie in our
fortune! Gold lies in ours, and return in splendor and happiness." But
some had more thoughtful eyes and truer sense of wonder.

We found Guacanagari in a new, large, very clean house, and found him
lying in a great hammock with his leg bound with cotton web, around him
wives and chief men. He sat up to greet the Admiral and with a noble
and affecting air poured forth speech and laid his hand upon his hidden
hurt.

Now I knew, because Guarin had told me so, that that wound was healed.
It had given trouble--the Caribs poisoned their darts--but now it
was well. But they are simpler minded than we, this folk, and I read
Guacanagari that he must impress the returning gods with his fidelity.
He had proved it, and while Juan Lepe was by he did not need this
mummery, but he had thought that he might need. So, a big man evidently
healthful, he sighed and winced and half closed his eyes as though half
dying still in that old contest when he had stood by the people from the
sky. I interpreted his speech, the Admiral already understanding, but
not the surrounding cavaliers. It was a high speech or high assurance
that he had done his highest best.

"Do I not believe that, Guacanagari?" said the Admiral, and thinking of
Diego de Arana and Fray Ignatio and others and of the good hope of La
Navidad, tears came into his eyes.

He sat upon the most honorable block of wood which was brought him and
talked to Guacanagari. Then at his gesture one brought his presents,
a mirror, a rich belt, a knife, a pair of castanets. Guacanagari, it
seemed, since the sighting of the ships, had made collection on his
part. He gave enough gold to make lustful many an eye looking upon that
scene.

The women brought food and set before the Spaniards in the house.
I found Guarin and presently we came to be s