"Perhaps I do not know very much about Balboa, but I am very glad to tell you what I can.
"If I remember correctly, he was born about 1475 in Spain. So you see he was just coming to young manhood when the wonderful discovery of a new world by Columbus thrilled every Spanish heart.
"Balboa was of noble parentage, though his family had become poor. A few years after the discovery of America he sailed with Bastides and coasted up and down this country.
"At first he was very successful in his ventures, but on account of the sinking of his ship he settled in Santo Domingo, and undertook to make his living by farming. In this he failed. Soon his savings were spent, and he found himself in debt. This was a serious matter for Balboa, as under Spanish law debtors were shown very slight consideration."
"That is just what he wanted to do," replied Mr. Andrews, "but it was almost impossible to get away from the island unobserved. Finally, however, he made a desperate effort. He placed himself in a cask and caused it to be carried from his farm on board a ship that was ready to sail for South America.
"When well out to sea, he appeared to the captain, who at first was exceedingly angry. The captain relented, however, after he had heard Balboa's story, and allowed the fugitive to remain with him.
"Later, a wealthy friend supplied funds for an expedition of which Balboa was the head. At first he was unsuccessful and results were not promising, but on a visit to the Isthmus much wealth was secured, and Balboa's great success--the discovery of the Pacific--was attained.
"The building of the city of Panama soon followed. It was from that place that Pizarro, one of Balboa's companions, a few years later, sailed for Peru, whence such fabulous wealth was carried back to Spain. You saw in the ruins of the old cathedral the altar where Pizarro offered sacrifice to the Holy Virgin."
Here Mr. Andrews concluded his story, and Harlan added:
"You did not tell Vasco that Balboa made friends with an Indian chief on the Isthmus, and married his daughter. More than that, unlike a lot of Spanish explorers, he really loved his Indian wife and remained true to her--so true, in fact, that he afterward lost his life on her account."