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Updated: May 9, 2025
And we have now just this one small ship, and so far to go, and all manner of dangers!" "Aye, it is important!" said the Admiral. "Let me think it out, senor." He had not slept at all, thought Juan Lepe, when next morning he came among us. But he looked resolved, hardy to accomplish.
He stopped beside Juan Lepe who leaned upon the rail and watched a strange, glistering sea. It was that shining stuff we see at times at night in certain weather. But to-night Luis Torres, passing, had said, "Strewn ducats!" The Admiral and Juan Lepe watched. "Never a sail!" said I. "How strange a thing is that!
Juan Lepe thought that he had made out the probabilities, probably the certainties. "If I may win to Spain!" he ended. "It all hinges on that! If I may see the Sovereigns if I may see the good Queen! I hope to God he will soon chain me in a ship and send me!" Had he seen Don Francisco de Bobadilla? No, he had not seen Don Francisco de Bobadilla.
The Admiral spent hours alone in his sleeping cabin. There were men who said that he studied there a great book of magic. He had often a book in his hand, it is true, but Juan Lepe the physician knew what he strove to keep from others, that the gout that at times threatened crippling was upon him and was easier to bear lying down. Sunset, vesper prayer and Salve Regina.
All was because they had chained the Admiral! Don Alonso de Villejo, the Captain taking Christopherus Columbus to Spain, called to him Juan Lepe. "Witness you, Doctor, I would have taken away the irons so soon as we were out of harbor! I would have done it on my own responsibility. But he would not have it!" "Yes, I witness. In chains in Hispaniola, he will come to Spain in chains."
Assiduous to gain their tongue and impart our own, the Admiral, beside his own effort, told off for especial teachers and scholars Luis Torres and Juan Lepe. We did gain knowledge, but as yet everything was imperfect, without fine shading, and subject to all miscomprehension. But like the rest of us, the Admiral guessed in accordance with his wishes and his previous belief.
They had left the little fishing village of Lepe some miles behind, and were just getting well into the Forest, when a cavalcade of mounted men, some thirty strong, all muffled in greatgoats and armed to the teeth, unexpectedly emerged from the wood and opened fire upon them.
"Since you ask me," said the man-at-arms, "I would take it kindly if you could spare a link or two of the chain which hangs round your neck." "What, the corporation chain!" cried the other in horror. "The ancient chain of the township of Lepe! This is but a sorry jest, Sir Nigel." "What the plague did you ask me for then?" said Simon.
They gave us answers which we could not fully understand, and gestured inland and a little to the east. "Cibao! Cibao!" They seemed to say that there was all the gold there that a reasonable mortal might desire. "Cibao? Cipango?" said the Admiral. "They might be the same." "Like Cuba and Cublai Khan," thought Juan Lepe. Around a point of shore darted a long canoe with many rowers.
The greatest ship, the first to anchor, carried the banner of Castile and Leon, and the Admiral's banner. Now a boat put off from her, boats also from the two ships next in grandeur. As they came over the blue wave Juan Lepe stepped down sand to water edge. Not here, but somewhat to the west, before La Navidad would one look for this anchoring.
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