--Farewell, senor! I think I hear your sailors
calling."
Villejo hesitated. "Let them have their will, senor,"
said Juan Lepe. "Their will is as good as ours."
Don Bartholomew turned to me. "How fares my brother,
Doctor? Is he ill?"
"He is better. Because he was ill I was let to come with
him. But now he is better."
"Give him my enduring love and constancy," said the
Adelantado. "Good night, Villejo!" and turned upon his
side with a rattling of his chain.
Returning to the Admiral, Juan Lepe sat beside him
through the night. The tempest continuing, there were
moments when we thought, It may be the end of this life!
We thought to hear the cry "She sinks!" and the rush of
feet.
At times when there fell lulls we talked. He was calmly
cheerful.
"It seems to me that the storm lessens. I have been
penning in my mind, lying here, a letter to one who will
show it to the Queen. Writing so, I can say with greater
freedom that which should be said."
"What do you say?"
He told me with energy. His letter related past events
in Hispaniola and the arrival of Bobadilla and all that took
place thereupon. 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.
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