按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
which； after fresh apologies； he began：
〃Know； then； victorious cavaliers； that I； whom you now see here as a poor hermit； was formerly one of the foremost of that terrible band who went with Pizarro to the conquest of Peru。 Eighty years old am I this day； unless the calendar which I have carved upon yonder tree deceives me； and twenty years old was I when I sailed with that fierce man from Panama； to do that deed with which all earth； and heaven； and hell itself； I fear； has rung。 How we endured； suffered； and triumphed； how； mad with success； and glutted with blood； we turned our swords against each other； I need not tell to you。 For what gentleman of Europe knows not our glory and our shame？〃
His hearers bowed assent。
〃Yes； you have heard of our prowess： for glorious we were awhile； in the sight of God and man。 But I will not speak of our glory； for it is tarnished； nor of our wealth； for it was our poison； nor of the sins of my comrades； for they have expiated them； but of my own sins； senors； which are more in number than the hairs of my head； and a burden too great to bear。 Miserere Domine！〃
And smiting on his breast； the old warrior went on：
〃As I said； we were mad with blood； and none more mad than I。 Surely it is no fable that men are possessed； even in this latter age； by devils。 Why else did I rejoice in slaying？ Why else was I； the son of a noble and truthful cavalier of Castile； among the foremost to urge upon my general the murder of the Inca？ Why did I rejoice over his dying agonies？ Why； when Don Ferdinando de Soto returned； and upbraided us with our villainy； did I； instead of confessing the sin which that noble cavalier set before us； withstand him to his face； ay； and would have drawn the sword on him； but that he refused to fight a liar； as he said that I was？〃
〃Then Don de Soto was against the murder？ So his own grandson told me。 But I had heard of him only as a tyrant and a butcher。〃
〃Senor； he was compact of good and evil； as are other men： he has paid dearly for his sin； let us hope that he has been paid in turn for his righteousness。〃
John Brimblecombe shook his head at this doctrine； but did not speak。
〃So you know his grandson？ I trust he is a noble cavalier？〃
Amyas was silent； the old gentleman saw that he had touched some sore point； and continued：
〃And why； again； senors； did I after that day give myself up to cruelty as to a sport； yea； thought that I did God service by destroying the creatures whom He had made； I who now dare not destroy a gnat； lest I harm a being more righteous than myself？ Was I mad？ If I was； how then was I all that while as prudent as I am this day？ But I am not here to argue； senors； but to confess。 In a word； there was no deed of blood done for the next few years in which I had not my share； if it were but within my reach。 When Challcuchima was burned； I was consenting； when that fair girl； the wife of Inca Manco； was tortured to death； I smiled at the agonies at which she too smiled； and taunted on the soldiers； to try if I could wring one groan from her before she died。 You know what followed； the pillage； the violence； the indignities offered to the virgins of the Sun。 Senors； I will not pollute your chaste ears with what was done。 But； senors； I had a brother。〃
And the old man paused awhile。
〃A brotherwhether better or worse than me； God knows； before whom he has appeared ere now。 At least he did not； as I did； end as a rebel to his king！ There was a maiden in one of those convents； senors； more beautiful than day： and （I blush to tell it） the two brothers of whom I spoke quarrelled for the possession of her。 They struck each other； senors！ Who struck first I know not； but swords were drawn； and The cavaliers round parted them； crying shame。 And one of those two brothersthe one who speaks to you nowcrying； 'If I cannot have her； no man shall！' turned the sword which was aimed at his brother； against that hapless maidenand hear me out； senors； before you flee from my presence as from that of a monster！stabbed her to the heart。 And as she diedone moment more； senors； that I may confess all！she looked up in my face with a smile as of heaven； and thanked me for having rid her once and for all from Christians and their villainy。〃
The old man paused。
〃God forgive you； senor！〃 said Jack Brimblecombe； softly。
〃You do not； then； turn from me； do not curse me？ Then I will try you farther still； senors。 I will know from human lips； whether man can do such deeds as I have done； and yet be pitied by his kind； that so I may have some hope； that where man has mercy； God may have mercy also。 Do you think that I repented at those awful words？ Nothing less； senors all。 No more than I did when De Soto （on whose soul God have mercy） called meme； a liar！ I knew myself a sinner； and for that very reason I was determined to sin。 I would go on； that I might prove myself right to myself； by showing that I could go on； and not be struck dead from heaven。 Out of mere pride； senors； and self…will； I would fill up the cup of my iniquity； and I filled it。
〃You know； doubtless； senors； how； after the death of old Almagro； his son's party conspired against Pizarro。 Now my brother remained faithful to his old commander； and for that very reason； if you will believe it； did I join the opposite party； and gave myself up； body and soul； to do Almagro's work。 It was enough for me； that the brother who had struck me thought a man right； for me to think that man a devil。 What Almagro's work was； you know。 He slew Pizarro； murdered him； senors； like a dog； or rather； like an old lion。〃
〃He deserved his doom；〃 said Amyas。
〃Let God judge him； senor； not we； and least of all of us I； who drew the first blood； and perhaps the last； that day。 I； senors； it was who treacherously stabbed Francisco de Chanes on the staircase； and so opened the door which else had foiled us all； and I But I am speaking to men of honor； not to butchers。 Suffice it that the old man died like a lion； and that we pulled him down； young as we were； like curs。
〃Well； I followed Almagro's fortunes。 I helped to slay Alvarado。 Call that my third murder； if you will； for if he was traitor to a traitor； I was traitor to a true man。 Then to the war； you know how Vaca de Castro was sent from Spain to bring order and justice where was naught but chaos； and the dance of all devils。 We met him on the hills of Chupas。 Peter of Candia； the Venetian villain； pointed our guns false； and Almagro stabbed him to the heart。 We charged with our lances； man against man； horse against horse。 All fights I ever fought〃 （and the old man's eyes flashed out the ancient fire） 〃were child's play to that day。 Our lances shivered like reeds； and we fell on with battle…axe and mace。 None asked for quarter； and none gave it； friend to friend； cousin to cousin no； nor brother； O God！ to brother。 We were the better armed： but numbers were on their side。 Fat Carbajal charged our cannon like an elephant； and took them； but Holguin was shot down。 I was with Almagro； and we swept all before us； inch by inch； but surely； till the night fell。 Then Vaca de Castro； the licenti