"My uncle is a bold man, and
they say the second seaman in the world! Let's hope and
hope--and hope!"
"Why, aye!" said the Admiral. "I'm a good scholar
in hope. I told them in San Domingo the ship was not
seaworthy. What cared they for that? They were willing
that all of my name should drown! God judge between
us!"
The _Juana_ came close and shouted that at eve they had
seen the Adelantado in great trouble, close to shore. Then
came down the night and once or twice they thought they
made out a light but they were not sure.
In this West the weather after a hurricane is weather
of heaven. We coasted in a high sea, but with safety under
a sky one sapphire, and with a right wind,--and suddenly,
rounding a palmy headland, we saw the _Margarita_ riding
safe in a little bay like the Bay of Comfort. The Admiral
fell upon his knees.
The _Margarita_ was safe indeed but was so crazed a ship!
The _San Sebastian_, too, was in bad case. Hispaniola truly,
but some leagues from San Domingo, and a small, desert,
lonely bay! We rested here because rest we must, and
mended our ships. Days--three days--a week. The Admiral
and the Adelantado kept our people close to the ships.
There was no Indian village, but a party sent to gather
fruit found two Indians biding, watching from a thicket.
These, brought to the Admiral, proved to be from a village
between us and San Domingo.
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