“Well, you have the chance now,” said the man. “The boat is only half-way back, and you have only to come with me. We are not going on any search for Zipangu.”
“I pledged my word not to desert,” said Diego, his bruised face robbing his proud tone of very much of its dignity; “but,” he added with a sneer, “he will go with you.”
[Illustration: “‘HEY, THERE! YOU TWO HAVE HAD ENOUGH,’ SAID A MAN’S VOICE.”]
Juan flushed and looked at first resentfully and then triumphantly at Diego. He would show the little priestling that there was no such difference between them as he would wish to make out. As he was no more thief than he, so he would hold his word no less dear.
“I gave my word, too,” he said, “and I will keep it; though I know the voyage will end in my destruction. But thank you.”
“Why, that is bravely said,” laughed the man, as if he found the affair more amusing than heroic. “Well, it won’t matter much; for it is likely enough your voyage will be ended in another way. I must go back to my ship. But, harkee, boys! say nothing to the skipper of it; but I have just come from Ferro, and there I saw three armed caravels of Portugal, which are waiting for your Christoval Colon to capture him and end his voyage. They lie in wait on the north side of the island, where it is most likely you will go, as the nearest and best way. I hear the men shouting for you. My faith!” he said, with a laugh, “they think you have forgotten your promises.”
THE man walked off in order that he might not be suspected of offering assistance to the boys, and they went by separate ways to where Martin Alonzo was angrily shouting their names. Juan shouted in answer; but Martin Alonzo did not hear him, and was full of wrath when he saw them coming out of the wood.
“Had ye so little to do?” he began, and then stopped and exclaimed, “Holy Virgin! look at their faces!”
The men set up a shout of laughter, for which Juan cared nothing, having been the victor, but which galled Diego mightily.
“So,” said Martin Alonzo, eying them narrowly, “you have been employing your time, have you, after all?”
“We filled the casks first,” said Juan, Diego playing the wonderful part, for him, of sullen silence.
“Well for you you did,” said Martin Alonzo, and with that turned from them and began ordering the men in sharp tones. The truth was, he was vexed to see Diego carrying the marks of a beating.