Martin Alonso Pinzón

“ He looked very handsome and winsome as he stood there in his young pride, and Martin Alonzo thought so. He cast an approving glance at Garcia Fernandez and Francisco Martin, and sprang up from his chair.
“Embrace me, boy!” he cried, rapturously; for he dearly loved a brave action and a lofty spirit. “Thou art a true Pinzon, and I am proud of thee. There, Diego,” he went on, “if I discover not Zipangu, at least I have discovered thy mother’s son, and that will be some recompense. Now, go for’ard, and ever count me friend. ”

“ Perhaps something (he reminded us of the rudder before the Canaries) had gone wrong. Captain Pinzon may have thought the island was the nearer land, or he may have returned to Cuba, but more to the north than were we. He looked for the Pinta. again in a reasonable time. In the meantime let it alone!
So soon as the sea allowed, Vicente Pinzon came in his boat to the Santa Maria, but he seemed as perplexed as we. He did not know his brother’s mind. But Martin Pinzon forever and always was a good sea captain and a Castilian of his word, knowing what was proper observance to his Admiral. ”

“ An intelligent and prudent man may prosper at Ercilla or at Fez. If you must study, study there.”
“You also study,” I said.
“In fair trodden highways—never in thick forest and mere fog!” he answered. “Now if you were like one who has been here and is now before Granada, at Santa Fe, sent for thither by the Queen! That one hath indeed studied to benefit Spain—Spain, Christendom, and the world!”
I asked who was that great one, but before he could tell me came interruption. A visitor entered, a strong-lipped, bold-eyed man named Martin Pinzon. ”

“ His first thought, with a gulp of terror, was that the convict boy was stealing aft with the intention of murdering Martin Alonzo Pinzon; but then, though the idea was not an irrational one, he reflected that it was not likely, since the after-cabin was too full of friends of his cousin to make the thing possible for a boy to accomplish. And yet Juan’s errand must be a wicked one, or he would not go about it in such fashion. ”

“ In short, they came to the house of Martin Alonzo Pinzon and went in.
Martin Alonzo was evidently saying his last farewells at that moment, and was in great haste to be away.
“Good-day, Fray Bartolomeo!” he said, in his abrupt fashion. “Whom have you here? It is my cousin’s son, Diego? Good-day to thee, lad! I suppose thou hast come to bid me a last farewell like these women. As if I were never to return! Well, adios, if you will. Is he a likely lad, Fray Bartolomeo? How come on the humanities?” ”

“ The Santa Maria and the Niña reached the island before the Pinta, and were the first to [108] be through with taking in the wood and water; so that Martin Alonzo, who never liked to be behindhand, did all he could to hasten his operations. He had but one more load of water to take off, and, in order to shorten the time occupied with that, he hit upon the plan of leaving two, whom he could trust, to fill the casks that were still empty, while he went with the other men to the vessel. He cast his eye over the men doubtfully, and then called Diego and Juan to him. ”

“ Have I not as much—more to lose?”
“Life is life to one as to another,” said a voice.
“A coward’s life is worth nothing,” said Martin [95] Alonzo, scornfully. “But there, enough has been said. We go the voyage. To your work.”
He was so sharp and peremptory that it was a marvel to Diego that he was not hated by the men; but it was not so, indeed. However much they might dislike the voyage, and there was no doubt on that score, they greatly admired their masterful captain. ”

“ They hoped, and it so happened, that the Niña’s boats would push off first. Then Diego and Juan, with shining eyes, stole closer to where the Pinta’s men were, and Diego called softy:
“Rodrigo! Rodrigo de Triana!”
“Holy St. Martin! who calls?” cried Rodrigo, the sound of something familiar in the tone turning his blood chill.
“Juan Cacheco and Diego Pinzon,” said Diego, and therewith stepped out of the thicket and stood revealed.
There was at first a disposition to flight on the part of the men ”

“ But the proudest boast of the Pinzóns, who were wealthy when their great ancestor first set sail for the unknown west, is that they have never soiled their hands with ill-gotten gains, and that one Admiral Pinzón after another has held high posts under Government and has left office no richer than when he entered it. ”

“ We have voyaged together as far as Cyprus, on one occasion, and, again, to the island of the English. In such long voyages, men get to some knowledge of each other's temperament and disposition, and, of a sooth, I think well of both, in this Señor Pinzon."
"Thou art young to pass an opinion on a mariner of Martin Alonzo's years and experience, son," put in the friar; "a man of much repute in this vicinity, and of no little wealth. Nevertheless, I am rejoiced to hear that he continueth of the same mind as formerly, in relation to the great voyage ”

“ His merry humor and constant flow of spirits had long ago made him a prime favorite with the men, while his knowledge of the Indian language made him of importance. It was to him that all questions relative to the nature of Bohio were always addressed, and now that the Pinta had broken loose from the fleet, Martin Alonzo had given him permission to answer all questions freely.
It may not be amiss to say that Miguel was the only one of the crew who had not taken kindly to Diego; and his aloofness was due as much to his jealousy of Juan’s liking of Diego as to his own sullen temper. ”

“ Diego climbed up with difficulty, and stood with pale face and beating heart by the side of the captain of the Pinta. Martin Alonzo eyed him in silence for a few moments, and the crew waited breathlessly for what was to follow. In that brief space Diego understood that the whole crew looked upon him as a sort of spy, and that his cousin regarded him as a coward [70] who could be frightened into telling aught he might know. ”

“ Garcia Fernandez motioned [80] him to hush, pointing to the gathering wrath on Martin Alonzo’s face; but Diego was in the full tide of his wrongs and was not to be hushed. “You have forced me to come, when I prayed you not; you have likened me publicly to a thief and a convict; you have struck me unreasonably; and you have been willing to put a felon’s shame on me. If your ship had gone to the bottom it would have been your own fault in putting such a fear on me that I could not tell my plain duty. So I say to you plainly, I know who cut the gear, and I will not tell you!” ”

“ Well, neither the Santa Maria nor the Niña can sail long in the teeth of this gale, and will be obliged to turn back.”
“So Rodrigo de Triana says,” answered Diego.
“He says well. Now, go, Diego,” and he turned and walked to where his brother, Francisco Martin, paced the unsteady poop of the Pinta.
It is singular how the very air seems to be charged with expectation when a plot of any sort is brewing. ”

“ Well, he did not even think of lying. A lie is the coward’s refuge, and he was not a coward.
He was pale, he trembled, and his voice was unsteady; but when he looked up at his cousin his eye did not quail.
“I had naught to do with it, and I have naught to say,” were his words.
Martin Alonzo’s face grew gray with sudden wrath. He was in no mood then to credit Diego with the courage he had before denied him. He only knew, or believed, that his vessel had been put in jeopardy by some miscreant, and that the boy before him knew who it was and refused to divulge his knowledge. ”

“ Diego had no answer to that. He could only scream his rage and defiance. But they would know, they would know. He struggled furiously; but Juan only laughed with all the ugliness of passion.
“You can’t get up; you’ve got to listen to me.”
“Jail-bird!”
Diego knew very well that there was nothing hurt as much as that.
“You are a thief, too,” said Juan. “Martin Alonzo said so and you could not deny it.”
[116]
“Never a jail-bird,” answered Diego, as if the punishment made the crime.
“You are worse,” said Juan; “you are ungrateful. I saved your life.”
“I saved yours. We’re quits.” ”

“ Martin Alonzo became serious at once, and turned involuntarily towards where Ferro lay.
“Did he say so, boy? Ah, did he say so? Thank you, boy, thank you! We will see to that. Ay, thank you!”
“You will not let it be known that it was I told you, will you?” asked Juan.
“No, no, of course not. The men must not know even that the caravels are there. Now go make friends with Diego. You will like him; for he is a good lad, though with a hot temper.”
“Nothing but a fight will satisfy him,” said Juan. ”

“ Angry at what he believed was Diego’s obstinacy, and angry that he should meet with a check before the crew. If he had doubted his ability to make Diego speak he would not have essayed it so publicly; but, since he had essayed it, he was determined to succeed; for Martin Alonzo was [71] a man who at all times would have his own way, and who was used to being supreme and undisputed when at sea on his own vessel.
Diego was well satisfied that nothing on the score of relationship would stand between him and the wrath of his cousin should he refuse to speak and tell what he knew. ”

“ The admiral had forced him to release the prisoners and send them ashore with gifts.
“It will soothe Martin Alonzo to see you,” said Rodrigo, “for he has grieved sometimes like a madman because of your loss. As for Miguel, he will be very glad to get out of his chains, where Martin Alonzo has kept him, vowing he would hang him to the yard if the Pinta left the island without you.”
“Then my cousin believed I fell because of [249] Miguel?” said Diego, very glad to know that Miguel had not been sacrificed. ”

“ He found himself jostled by all the others of the crew who had been startled at the same time, and were crowding out on deck, eagerly inquiring of each other if land had been discovered. Then presently they heard the voice of Martin Alonzo joyfully proclaiming the great tidings.
“Ay, ay, boys! it’s land sure enough. There! you can see it for yourselves, dark as it is. And who should be the first to set eyes on it but old Rodrigo, the cunning old salt, who, instead of turning in like the rest, must spend the night in the round-house looking for those ten thousand maravedis. ”

“ Martin Alonzo laughed in his beard, and Diego [28] felt that his doom was sealed. He saw the friar go out of the house, and he saw the hasty preparations of the women of the household to get him an outfit; he listened to their words of comfort and hope, and to his cousin’s gruff assurance that he would not be taking the voyage himself, if he thought there was danger in it; and all the while his mind was only on the words he had spoken in mischief to the young convict.
“He is very young to die!” ”

“ Martin Alonso has in fact shown himself at last in his true colours. He has got the fastest ship, he has got a picked company of his own men from Palos; he has got an Indian on board, moreover, who has guaranteed to take him straight to where the gold is; and he has a very agreeable plan of going and getting it, and returning to Spain with the first news and the first wealth. It is open mutiny, and as such cannot but be a matter of serious regret and trouble to the Admiral, who sits writing up his Journal by the swinging lamp in his little cabin. ”

“ There was a set smile on his face, and he said nothing for a full minute.
“Now we shall hear something startling, depend upon that,” said Juan, in Diego’s ear.
“It is an egg he has been sitting on for some time,” said Diego, “and I am curious to see what will be hatched.”
“My men,” said Martin Alonzo, raising his powerful voice, “come nearer. I have something to say to you.”
There was no need of a second invitation; for the men crowded as near as they could, and listened while they clung to any available thing; for the vessel was tossing like a cork. ”

“ O Miguel!” The cry was from the lips of Juan.
And Rodrigo, straining his eyes from the other [190] side of the deck, saw three terrible things: Diego dropping through the blackness of the night, Miguel with his hand upraised, Juan leaping from his place into the air.
“Man overboard!” yelled Rodrigo.
But the ship was in great danger, and no boat could live in such a sea; and so, though shuddering and anxious, Martin Alonzo continued to give orders, and the ship shot away through the waves after a moment of quivering hesitation. ”

“ But Diego, who had seen him often, could not feel as they did, and thought him one of the noblest and most dignified of men.
He retired to the cabin, taking his pilot with him, and followed by Martin Alonzo, Francisco Martin, who was pilot of the Pinta, and by Garcia Fernandez. There must have been a serious consultation between them; for they all looked grave when they came out. When the admiral had returned to his vessel, Martin Alonzo had all hands called aft, and they went readily enough; for they were hot to hear what had been decided. ”

“ Bah! the little priestling!”
It was a very plausible argument and it had weight with Juan. So Diego was ungrateful then! And that was always the way with your honest folk! All right then! The more he reflected on it, the more bitter he was, and Miguel, seeing how it was working, kept a discreet silence.
“Yes,” said Juan, presently, “that is how it [101] is. Once you are sent to jail, it doesn’t matter how sorry you are for what you have done, the honest folks won’t let you be anything else but a jail-bird. Why, he stole something, himself; I was there when his cousin, Martin Alonzo, said so.” ”