Wave carries you on to wave,
day to night and night to day. At last there is port!"
All this time his horse had been cropping the scanty
herbage. Now he raised his head. In a moment we too
heard the horsemen and looking back toward Santa Fe saw
four approaching. As they came nearer we made out two
cavaliers talking together, followed by serving men. When
they were almost at hand one of the leaders said something,
whereat his fellow laughed. It floated up Cordova road, a
wide, deep, rich laugh. Master Christopherus started.
"That is the laugh of Don Luis de St. Angel!"
Don Luis de St. Angel was, I knew, Receiver of the
Ecclesiastical Revenues for Aragon, a man who stood well
with the King. The horsemen were close upon us. Suddenly
the laugher cried, "Saint Jago! Here he is!"
We were now five mounted men and a trudger afoot. The
cavalier who had laughed, a portly, genial person with a bold
and merry eye, laughed again. "Well met, Don Cristoval.
Well met, Admiral! I looked to find you presently! You
sailed out of port at sunrise and I two hours later with a
swifter ship and more canvas--"
" `Don' and `Admiral'!" answered Master Christopherus,
and he spoke with anger. "You jest in Spain!
But in France it shall be said soberly--"
"No, no! Don and Admiral here! Viceroy and Governor
here--as soon as you find the lands! Wealthy here--
as soon as you put hand on the gold!" Don Luis de St.
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