eupon. He had an
eloquence of the pen as of speech, and what he said to Dona Juana de la
Torre moved. A high simplicity was his in such moment, an opening of
the heart, such as only children and the very great attain. He told his
wrongs, and he prayed for just judgment, "not as a ruler of an ordered
land where obtain old, known, long-followed laws, and where indeed
disorder might cry 'Weakness and Ill-doing!' But I should be judged
rather as a general sent to bring under government an enemy people,
numerous, heathen, living in a most difficult, unknown and pathless
country. And to do this I had many good men, it is true, but also a host
that was not good, but was factious, turbulent, sensual and idle.
Yet have I brought these strange lands and naked peoples under the
Sovereigns, giving them the lordship of a new world. What say my
accusers? They say that I have taken great honors and wealth and
nobility for myself and my house. Even they say, O my friend! that from
the vast old-and-new and fairest land that I have lately found, I took
and kept the pearls that those natives brought me, not rendering them to
the Sovereigns. God judge me, it is not so! Spain becometh vastly rich,
and the head of the world, and her Sovereigns, lest they should scant
their own nobility, give nobility, place and wage to him who brought
them Lordship here. It is all! And out of my gain am I not pledged to
gather an army and set it forth to gain the Sepulchre? Have I fallen,
now and again, in all these years in my Government, into some error?
How should I not do so, being human? But never hath an error been meant,
never have I wished but to deal honestly and mercifully with all, with
Spaniards and with Indians, to serve well the Sovereigns and to advance
the Cross. I call the saints to witness! All the way has been difficult,
thorns of nature's and my enemies' planting, but God knoweth, I have
trodden it steadily. I have given much to the Sovereigns, how much it is
future days brighter than these will show! I have been true servant to
them. If now, writing in chains, upon the caravel _Santa, Marta_, I cry
to them for justice, it is because I do not fear justice!"

He ceased to speak, then presently, "I would that all might see the
light that I see over the future!--Thou seest it, Juan Lepe."

"Aye, I see light over the future."

By littles the storm fell. Ere dawn we could say, "We shall outlive it!"
He slept for an hour then waked. "I was dr