affairs at antigua—different qualities of pacification—complaints of vasco nu?ez to the king—a new expedition planned—vasco nu?ez made adelantado and captain-general of the south sea—pedrarias keeps secret the appointment—reconciliation of balboa and pedrarias—betrothal of do?a maría—vasco nu?ez goes to acla—massacre of olano—the municipality of acla established—materials for ships carried across the mountains—difficulties, perils, and mortality—balboa at the pearl islands—prediction of micer codro, the astrologer—rumored arrival of a new governor at antigua—meditated evasion of new authority—the infamy of garabito—vasco nu?ez summoned by pedrarias to acla—his journey thither—trial and execution.
during espinosa's absence in the south, affairs at antigua were exceptionally dull. the illness of the governor, unfortunately, was not fatal. business had approached its end, for the fighting men were away, and the thrifty arts offered few attractions to piratical adventurers. so low was the colony at one time reduced that the casa de la fundicion, or melting-house, was closed and public fasts were appointed—a hom?opathic policy, in truth, for a starving community. but for the feud between pedrarias and vasco nu?ez, which in that infamous environment was easily kept alive, little would have occurred worthy of record.
quarrels with the governor.
it should be no fault of the governor if the cavalier was not ruined. his choicest schemes were marred by incompetent and evil-minded men. he was vilified 433 at court, and in the colony every indignity possible was laid upon him. the observant reader must already have drawn a contrast in the respective quality of enterprise pursued by these men. whatever may have been the immediate results, whatever the wrongs and cruelties inflicted by either, in the one case there was the lofty aim of discovery and peaceful occupation; in the other, no higher object than plunder was apparent. balboa had not time for much gold-gathering; the captains of pedrarias had time for nothing else.
excepting the raid of the alcalde mayor, the expeditions planned by pedrarias were not remarkable for their success. nor did balboa scruple to rail at the old governor in consequence. "all the enterprises of pedrarias met with such ill success," says benzoni, "that balboa laughed at him and mocked him, whereat the governor became irate, and serious contentions resulted."
balboa was now in the prime of manhood, approaching forty, and had during the past few years developed from a careless rambler into a thoughtful ruler, with a new world fame second only to its first discoverer. "behold," says peter martyr, "this rash royster turned into a politic captain, a violent goliah transformed to heliseus, and from anteus to hercules the conqueror of monsters." and of all monsters he might encounter by sea or land, old man pedrarias was the most monstrous. it was exasperating beyond endurance to an ardent and chivalrous nature like balboa's, thus to have his glories reaped and his energies placed in circumscription by a superlatively selfish person of far inferior natural abilities, made by mistake his political superior. and he never ceased to strike back with all the force at his command. by every departure he appealed to the royal authorities in spain, laying before them vivid accounts of outrages on the natives, perversion of the laws, and 434 gross mismanagement of the colony. "most powerful sovereign," he wrote the king, "i, a true and law-abiding servant, sensible of the many obligations i am under to do loyal service for benefits bestowed—and may your majesty live long to grant me more—humbly desire to undeceive your majesty regarding the governor, pedrarias dávila, that your majesty may order such provisions as may be deemed best." he urged oviedo, when about to depart for spain, to place before the council of the indies the true condition of things. and again he writes, "i beseech your majesty not to regard me as a calumniator, or as stating aught in malice, but that you will order an investigation, that you may know all i have said is true." he still entertained hopes that the report of arbolancha, accompanied by the presents, would be graciously received, and that his successes would atone for past irregularities.
while awaiting the results of these endeavors, he determined to make an expedition to the south sea, without permission or aid from pedrarias, and to extend his discoveries there in either direction. in pursuance of this purpose, and with the co?peration of the small remnant of those who had sworn fealty on the heights of quarequá, he secretly despatched to cuba for men and arms, a small vessel in charge of andrés garabito. having thus set in motion the wheels of his fate, he awaited developments.
adelantado and captain-general.
we have seen how king ferdinand received arbolancha, how the royal heart was touched by the discoveries and pearls of the generous cavalier. and we must confess the monarch's dilemma. the establishing of pedrarias' government had cost him much money, and the very qualities which achieved desperate adventure tended to loosen the bonds of allegiance. but vasco nu?ez had manifested no disposition to throw off royal authority; furthermore, it 435 had become a principle of colonial economics, that the services of successful commanders should be paid for out of their future gains. how then could any sovereign expect the extension of his dominions, if successful adventure was defrauded of its right? it was therefore determined that the reward of vasco nu?ez should be the title of adelantado of the southern sea, and captain-general of the provinces of coiba and panamá, but subject to the supervision of pedrarias as superior officer.
the royal despatches conferring this appointment reached antigua early in 1515, prior to the departure of espinosa. pedrarias, of course, was at the same time informed of the fact. his mortification was only exceeded by his dastardly resolve. take from castilla del oro its southern seaboard and the government was not worth the having, even though the jurisdiction of antigua did extend nominally over the whole. the north coast was already stripped, and the climate was such as no european could long endure; while in the south wealth and dominion awaited romantic adventure. all despatches arriving at antigua had to pass through the governor's hands. those for vasco nu?ez on this occasion were withheld.
pedrarias well knew that some excuse would be necessary for his conduct; and he began to look about for one. it was unlawful in the provinces for any governor or captain-general to exercise the functions of office while undergoing his residencia. new charges against the former governor of the colony must therefore be invented, and litigious persecution renewed. by collusion with the judge this investigation, as the law then required, could be continued indefinitely. still better, the alcalde mayor, who was the person most proper in this instance to take the residencia, might be allured from his friendship for the discoverer by the offer of a military command after proceedings had been instituted, for it was well 436 known that the licentiate's vanity was not less than his cupidity.
believing himself prepared, the governor summoned his council, revealed the secret, and urged that the commission should be withheld. all agreed save bishop quevedo, who had real friendship for vasco nu?ez, and who saw more honor for spain and for the church in the elevation of the free-handed cavalier, than in the military raid of the alcalde mayor. and so seeing, he grew zealously virtuous, and began to storm about it. outnumbered in the council, he mounted his pulpit and hurled invectives at his opponents. "can it be," he cried, "that the execrable passions of envious and designing men may thus subvert the royal design, and withhold the just reward of eminent service?" furthermore, he threatened to spread the bare facts before the authorities in spain.
pedrarias quailed. he had not anticipated the violent opposition of the prelate, and he feared the rising strength of his adversary, now that the royal favor and a royal commission were known to have been granted him. vasco nu?ez might have his office, but the old man swore it should be the death of him. for he would lay around him such snares and pitfalls as would surely prove his destruction in the end. pedrarias would be the power; and play upon this braggart as he would upon a pipe for devils to dance by.
quevedo as mediator.
the public acknowledgment of dignities, attended by the congratulations of friends and the discussion of southern projects in which alone interest now centred, raised in popularity and importance the new governor, to the overshadowing of the old one. but once more the destiny of vasco nu?ez is to turn on the bad advice of a friend. thrown upon himself, his own sound judgment had ever been sufficient, but the counsels of piety or erudition were as quicksand under 437 his feet. quevedo induced him, for the sake of peace and in order to enter without delay upon his south sea schemes, to waive in favor of pedrarias some portion of the rights the king had granted him. espinosa and others were accordingly permitted to overrun the southern provinces at pleasure. this was a mistake.
thus reconciled, in appearance at least, pedrarias himself would fain have had rest, if it had been permitted by his evil nature, which still demanded its daily bitter pabulum.
scarcely were these pacific fictions consummated when the vessel of andrés garabito returned from cuba with men and supplies for the projected expedition of vasco nu?ez. arriving off the coast of darien garabito despatched a messenger to balboa, informing him of his return, and asking orders. it soon reached the ears of pedrarias that a suspicious-looking craft, armed and equipped as if on some illicit mission, lay hidden in a small bay some six leagues distant. he was furthermore informed that the captain of this vessel was in secret communication with vasco nu?ez, and that preparations were being made for some mysterious undertaking. pedrarias became both frightened and furious. he called to mind the fate of nicuesa. alarm for his own safety was mingled with ire and envious regrets for ever having yielded even in appearance to any recognition of this upstart's titles and honors. he ordered the instant arrest of balboa, and even threatened to confine him for safe keeping in the large wooden cage stationed in the middle of the plaza.
the fears of pedrarias were calmed, however, by the cooler heads; the nature and purpose of the intended expedition were explained; no lurking treason was discovered, no plot against the peace of antigua or sinister designs upon the person of its governor were found; and having bound himself to new and more stringent restrictions, vasco nu?ez was 438 set at liberty, and the precarious friendship ostensibly renewed.[xii-1]
about this time the bishop of darien was seized with a luminous idea. through his pertinacious devotedness the worthy prelate had twice rescued his friend from a life of independence and honor, and had twice consigned him to the mercies of an insidious enemy. he had prevented pedrarias from sending him in chains to spain, which would have sounded his renown and enlisted for him sympathy throughout christendom; he had persuaded him to relinquish his rights to such an extent as to place his fortune at the disposal of an inveterate foe. i do not say quevedo was an ahithophel; yet the machinations of all his enemies could not bring upon vasco nu?ez the evils consummated by this one friend. nevertheless, the present conception happily brought forth, and malice and suspicion will forever give place to confiding affection.
balboa's betrothal.
four blooming daughters pedrarias had left in spain. the health of the governor seemed to be yielding before the combined influence of temper and climate. who could be a more fitting successor in the government, and who a more suitable son-in-law? let balboa take to wife do?a maría, eldest daughter of pedrarias, and so bind the north sea to the south 439 by cords of love. such was the plan of the prelate. vasco nu?ez, nothing loath, assented, for the daughter was as amiable as the father was malicious. do?a isabel was not the mother to look coldly on so gallant a proposal; as for the daughter, then dreaming her maiden days away in a convent at seville, her own consent to the betrothal was a question which gave parents little concern in those days; the chief difficulty was the splenetic father. approaching the governor, not without misgivings, quevedo said: "time passes, se?or pedrarias, and with time, all flesh. those who shall take our places follow close at our heels. a powerful rival converted into a firm ally is double compensation, and the father of four daughters has not the opportunity every day to refuse a governor for a son-in-law. vasco nu?ez de balboa, a man of no mean parts, well-born and famous, asks your daughter in marriage. grant him his desire, and so heal discord and fortify your declining years."
notwithstanding the obvious advantages, pedrarias hesitated. it was no easy matter at once to purify the poisoned stream of thought. but the offer was too tempting to be declined, although pedrarias would have much preferred for his adviser a thrasybulus, who counselled periander to cut off the tallest heads if he would maintain his power. the old man, still hugging his suspicions, signed the marriage contract, and ordered fair do?a maría to appear and accept marital honors. but even the gift of the daughter was like the gifts of medea—envenomed.
now surely might vasco nu?ez walk the firm earth, his fortune ascendant. adelantado, captain-general of the southern sea, son-in-law of pedrarias, and in favor with the royal authorities, though ferdinand, poor king, was dead. the clouds which had so long obscured balboa's rising fame were by this masterly invocation of the bishop forever dissipated. there was no longer any fear from the unclean ghosts of 440 entombed mistakes, while his good deeds would shine with steadier and ever-increasing lustre. he might now prosecute adventure to the uttermost of his ambition, while his friend and counsellor, the bishop, carried the happy tidings of reconciliation to court.[xii-2]
the year 1516 was advancing toward its middle term. vasco nu?ez craved permission from his father-in-law—for betrothal was equivalent to marriage so far as the political aspect of the case was concerned—to proceed to acla and continue the business there begun, which was indeed none other than part of his original scheme. pedrarias assented, placing every requisite at the command of his dear son. the south sea expeditions had drained the 441 colony of most of its available men, yet so esteemed was vasco nu?ez that all who were at antigua eagerly flocked to his standard. fernando de argüello, a notary, formerly the opponent of nicuesa, but always a partisan of vasco nu?ez, having accumulated wealth placed it at the disposal of his friend, and soon after balboa embarked with eighty men.
south sea expedition.
arrived at acla he found the post destroyed and the comandante olano, the successor of gabriel de rojas, together with twelve soldiers, had been massacred by the men of careta, in retaliation for the act of hurtado which consigned one hundred of their number to slavery. for this outrage the people of the province were declared outlaws. balboa immediately organized a municipality, appointed an alcalde and a regidor, laid out a new town, and began to build. each citizen, either in person or by slaves, was required to plant sufficient for his sustenance. requiring more men, balboa accompanied espinosa to antigua, early in 1517, and returned with two hundred recruits. the restoration of acla was intended only as preliminary to further south sea discoveries; but this accomplished, an obstacle interposed itself, at first glance insurmountable. in order to navigate the new ocean ships were necessary. the short voyages hitherto undertaken in native canoes had been perilous in the extreme. herein lay the difficulty. the cordillera here rises abruptly from the northern side of the isthmus, undulating gently on the opposite side toward the southern sea. on the northern slope grew trees suitable for ship-building; on the southern side vegetation was more diminutive. but of what avail were trees on the border of one ocean, for the purposes of navigation on the other?
the true standard of greatness is in the application of means to ends. the magnitude of the means has no more to do with it than the results, which may or may not prove successful. with a few hundred spaniards, and such savages as could be whipped 442 into the service, vasco nu?ez dared conceive and execute the project of building ships on one side of a chain of mountains for use on the other side; to navigate his vessels in pieces or sections, on the backs of indians, over hills and swamps, and that under a sun so hot, in an atmosphere so poisoned, and through vegetation so rank and tangled as successfully to have defied the efforts of science for centuries thereafter. "no living man in all the indies," testifies the moderate herrera, "dared attempt such an enterprise, or would have succeeded in it, save vasco nu?ez de balboa."
the plan of vasco nu?ez was to prepare his timber as near as possible to some navigable point on one of the many streams flowing into the south sea, which are generally torrents on the mountain-side, but which become broad and calm before reaching the ocean. the stream chosen for the purpose was called the rio de las balsas,[xii-3] or river of the rafts. carpenters and builders are sent out in search of trees suitable for the purpose, and the preparation of the timber is begun. with fifty men francisco compa?on 443 passes over the cordillera and selects a place upon the river, twenty-two leagues from acla, from which to launch the ships. likewise on the summit of the sierra, twelve leagues from acla, he builds a fort, to serve as a half-way house for rest and protection, beside stations established at other points. all is bustle and activity at acla and in the neighboring forests; some are felling trees, some measuring and hewing timber; some preparing anchors, rigging, and stores. "in all labors," says las casas, "vasco nu?ez took the foremost part, working with his own hands and giving aid and encouragement everywhere."
carries ships across the mountains.
materials for four brigantines being at length prepared, the herculean task of transportation across the mountains is next to be performed. thirty negroes have been secured from antigua, but these are not a tenth part of the force required. squads of soldiers are therefore sent out in every direction, and natives are driven in to the number of several thousand. upon their naked backs the heavy timbers are laid, and goaded forward by merciless overseers, among whom is the black african as well as the white european, they are forced through the marshy thicket and up the rocky steep until they sink exhausted beneath their burden. unused to labor, ill-fed, made desperate by their distress, some attempt escape, but the bloodhound is quickly on their track; some kill themselves, but more sink lifeless under their heavy loads. all along those terrible leagues the newly cut path is strewed with dead savages, and soon the air is rank from putrid carcasses. "more than five hundred indians perished in the transportation of these ships," affirmed bishop quevedo before the court of spain, and las casas says the deaths were nearer two thousand in number.[xii-4] to take the places 444 of the dead, recruits are caught in the forest; the work goes bravely on, and the stupendous feat is finally accomplished. the wild bank of the balsas was strewed with materials for this new sea navigation. but on putting the pieces together it is found that after all the toil there is timber enough for only two vessels instead of four; the rest has been lost by the way. and this is not the worst of it. that which has been brought over at such cruel cost, cut near the coast and hewed green as it was, is so full of worms that it cannot be used. all must be thrown away and the work begun anew.[xii-5]
timber is sought nearer at hand this time, and with fair success. vasco nu?ez now divides his force into three parties, and sends one to hew timber, one to bring supplies from acla, and a third to forage on the natives. again they are ready with new materials to begin construction, when the heavens suddenly darken and drop such a deluge on them that they are obliged to take refuge in trees. part of the timber is swept away, and part buried in mud. to add to their misfortunes, foraging fails; hunger pinches; and "when vasco nu?ez himself was forced to feed on roots," says las casas, always with an eye to his protégés, "it may well be imagined to what extremity six hundred indian captives were reduced."
it now looks very dark to vasco nu?ez, and he begins to consider if it were not better to move on, one way or the other, than to die there. but these misgivings are only for a moment. no, it is not better. throwing a bridge of floating withe-tied logs across the river he sends over compa?on with a 445 strong company, and tells him never to return except with food. hurtado he despatches to antigua for more men, and goes himself to acla for necessary effects. in all which he is successful; and he is successful finally in floating two brigantines upon the balsas. there is no such thing as failure this side of death.
what a bright vision it is that greets him as he drops down into the sea, his own sea that he had found and well-nigh lost again! heaven is indeed beautiful if it be anything fairer. silver and gold and pearl are the sunshine, land, and sky; while the sea, the murmuring, gladdening, majestic sea; it would inspire a brute with nobility, one sight of it!
dreams and realities! wild as had been the dreams of these ignorant and voracious men, dreams with their indies and araby isles, they fell far short of reality. how could they dream of a montezuma empire waiting expectantly to welcome the destroyer, or of an inca faction so evenly balanced that so light a hell-flake as a pizarro might turn it?
at the pearl islands.
selecting isla rica, the largest of the pearl islands, as a rendezvous and place of settlement, balboa discharged his vessels there and sent them back to bring from the balsas the remainder of the company, together with materials for two more ships, which were in due time completed, making four in all. more supplies were brought from acla, and journeys between the two seas were from this time frequent. meanwhile, after pacifying the pearl islands, he embarked with one hundred men for a cruise eastward. after sailing twenty leagues a shoal of whales so frightened the sailors that they anchored for the night near the shore, and embraced the opportunity to kill a village of indians for having put to death bernardo morales and his men in a former expedition. the wind being contrary the fleet next morning returned to the pearl islands.
thus haply launched upon the tide of glorious adventure, 446 with full freedom in the south, and in harmony with superior powers, what could fortune offer more satisfactory or secure? but fickle the goddess, and malignant the while, keeping alive suspicion and envy where only honor and good-will should be. it happened about this time that as one of balboa's captains was setting out on his return to the south sea, rumor reached acla that lope de sosa, a native of córdova, then acting governor of the canary islands, had been appointed to supersede pedrarias. at one time such a prospect would have been hailed with delight by vasco nu?ez, but now that his fortunes were so happily linked with those of his ancient enemy he could desire no change.
one evening while in friendly conversation with the vicar, rodrigo perez, and the notary, valderrábano—for on these pearl islands now were all the paraphernalia of spiritual and temporal rulership—upon the probable effect of a change of governors on south sea affairs vasco nu?ez remarked, "it may be possible that lope de sosa has ere this received his commission, and that even now he is at antigua, in which case my lord pedrarias is no longer governor, and all our toilsome undertakings will profit us nothing. in order therefore to know best how to proceed in this emergency i am of opinion that it would be well to send some faithful messenger to acla for our further necessities; and if the new governor has come, we will furnish our ships, and pursue our enterprise as best we can, trusting to his future approval. but if my lord pedrarias is still in power, he will allay our fears, and we will then set out upon our voyage, which i trust in god will succeed according to our wishes." i beg the reader to remember these words, and say if in them is hidden the venom of treason to the father-governor when morbid acrimony decides them criminal. i do not say that at this juncture vasco nu?ez would not have disregarded any whimsical malevolence on the part of his future father-in-law which might stand 447 in the way of his high purposes. i think he would have done so. but that he saw no necessity for so doing, and never dreamed of disobedience or disloyalty, i am very sure.
as his ill-fate would have it, just when vasco nu?ez was concluding his remarks on this subject, a sentinel on guard in front of the general's quarters stepped up under the awning to shelter himself from a passing shower. this fellow, whose sense of smell was so acute that he could detect disloyalty though hidden in a barrel of salt, found here at once a mare's nest. of course his general was talking treason; he had often been suspected, and now he openly admitted that if affairs planned in spain or at antigua did not suit him, he would sail away and leave all emperors and governors in the lurch. and if he alone might have the disclosing of this villainy his fortune was made.
micer codro, the astrologer.
a story is told of one micer codro, a venetian astrologer, who followed his stars to the indies and there interpreted nature for a consideration. for up and down the world the devil used to lead him with the faintest thread of comet-light. while at the height of his power in darien, the horoscope of vasco nu?ez was cast by this philosopher, and his fate foretold with all the precision characterizing the profession. directing the attention of his auditor to a particular star he said: "when you behold that star at yonder point, know that your fate approaches; your fortune then will be in jeopardy, and your life in peril. but if you escape that danger, wealth and renown such as have fallen to the lot of no captain in all the indies will be yours." amidst the bustling activities of life vasco nu?ez had well-nigh forgotten the words of the soothsayer. but while waiting the progress of his plans at the pearl islands, he chanced to take a stroll upon the beach one night in company with his friends. the air was clear of moisture, and the heavens ablaze with stars which seemed by their own light multiplied. nor was this gorgeous firmament more glorious than 448 the hopes which then thrilled the breast of the cavalier. while in careless conversation his eye was suddenly arrested by the star of his destiny which hung portentous in the exact spot designated by micer codro. the prediction of the astrologer at once flashed upon him. "but surely," he thought, "the worthy fellow read carelessly, or else possesses little knowledge of his art, for my time of peril has passed. i will, however, accept the saving clause of his prediction, and now achieve the fame and wealth whereof he spake." then with a smile he turned to his companions. "have a care of soothsayers," he said gayly. "you all know micer codro. according to his prediction i stand this moment on the verge of demolition. but i defy thee, fate! see there those ships, and this wealth-bordered sea; see here this good right arm, this stout heart, and you, my friends, three hundred faithful men. does this look like collapse?"
notwithstanding the rumor of a new governor at antigua, this south sea enterprise ought to be prosecuted at all hazard. by authority both of the king and of his representative in darien the expedition had been undertaken. money had been spent and infinite toil; life had been adventured—the lives of spaniards, that is to say, for a thousand or two dead savages were scarcely to be regarded in the account. and now it behooved them to give no new king or new governor the opportunity of ruining their hopes by countermanding the expedition.
it was finally arranged that andrés garabito, luis botello, andrés de valderrábano, and fernando mu?oz should proceed to acla, and as they drew near the town the party should halt; one of them should enter at night alone, and, proceeding to the house of vasco nu?ez, should ascertain from the servant to be found there if pedrarias was superseded; and if the new governor had arrived the party would withdraw unobserved, return to the south sea, and proclaim vasco nu?ez governor of tierra firme, at the same 449 time giving him a paper purporting to be his commission. thus would his command be deceived into the belief that he was legal ruler, and so follow his bidding without question. this was a glance toward treason; it was as bad as treason; but neither now nor ever was it treason. the projected stratagem was dangerous, and wholly useless, and most unfortunate, as the result proved; complicating affairs and aiding his enemies in casting over him that cloud of suspicion which ultimately involved him in ruin.
treacherous messengers.
likewise the agents for this errand were unhappily chosen. garabito was the deadly enemy of balboa, though the latter did not know it. worse than that, far more dastardly and damnable than enemy, he was a treacherous friend. balboa had often shown him favors, and placed implicit confidence in him, as the prominence given him in this delicate mission plainly indicated. within a friendly, even fawning exterior, lurked deadly hate. it originated thus: while vasco nu?ez was yet under the cloud of the governor's displeasure, garabito had attempted improper intimacy with careta's daughter, balboa's wife after the indian fashion. one word from her protector, one glance from his eye—for the miscreant saw perdition in it—was sufficient to check his presumption; but garabito never forgot it, and awaited only his revenge. while on the balsas he had even written pedrarias that it was balboa's purpose, on reaching the ocean, to throw off allegiance to him, and to every one but the king. he further affirmed that vasco nu?ez cared nothing for his daughter, loved only the indian girl, and never intended to ratify his betrothal obligation. though garabito knew well enough he deserved hanging for this, and might even achieve that infamy, yet he understood both himself and pedrarias, and he knew these lies would fatten on the old man's soul.
garabito's infamy.
when garabito arrived at acla, instead of doing as he had been told, he set about to perform a little 450 drama which should at once precipitate revenge and free him from the odium of traitorous friendship. mingling with the gossips of the town, he talked mysteriously about south sea affairs, threw out insinuations, and dropped dark hints concerning vasco nu?ez and the government. by such means he succeeded in causing himself to be arrested; and when brought before the magistrate for examination, no torture was required to draw from him all he knew, and more. an abstract of the evidence taken in this investigation, together with the letters and papers of garabito, was forwarded to pedrarias.
when vasco nu?ez embarked from antigua on this enterprise, it was stipulated that he should return at the expiration of eighteen months. the time having expired, he wrote pedrarias requesting its extension, giving as a reason for requiring it the extraordinary difficulties under which he had labored, and the attendant delays. he requested fernando de argüello, who had a large pecuniary interest at stake, to gain further time, if possible, as otherwise their expenditure and toil would all be lost. in answer to the application of argüello, pedrarias said little; but within the caldron the black stuff simmered.
this inopportune revival of the ancient feud between the governors excited no small stir at antigua. and when tidings of garabito's arrest were received, and the character of his testimony was made known, the friends of vasco nu?ez entertained fears for his safety. it made little difference whether what this villain had said was true or false—though no one believed that vasco nu?ez contemplated anything criminal—old man pedrarias with his malignity aroused was a fiend incarnate. argüello wrote balboa that the governor would neither grant nor deny an extension of time, and the notary advised him to put to sea at once, and place himself beyond the rancorous caprice of pedrarias. he further informed him that in the 451 event of a rupture he could appeal to the jeronimite fathers, at santo domingo, who would see justice done him. unfortunately, this letter was intercepted and sent to pedrarias.
the conflagration which sweeps a city is often kindled by a spark. the south sea discoverer entertained a harmless ruse, justifiable, in his opinion, as tending to settle the minds of his men and ensure their more perfect obedience in hazardous enterprise; he harbored at the most the intention of placing himself for no unlawful purpose beyond the call of the new governor until he had consummated his long cherished schemes, and not of deceiving the old governor, to whom, if still in power, his messengers were to disclose all his fears, in the belief that his necessities would certainly be relieved. these trivial thoughts, flung distorted by garabito into the inflammable breast of pedrarias, were more than sufficient to light a flame beyond the power of man to extinguish. on former occasions the enmity had been rather of a political than a personal nature; now it enters the private chambers of the affections, and beside crimes plotted against the ruler, the father is to be wounded and insulted. and his hate becomes unto death, murderous.
with the several pretended disclosures of garabito before him, his mind ran quickly back over the career of vasco nu?ez, his ill treatment of enciso, his expulsion of nicuesa, his irregularities while in office, the king's order to call him to a reckoning, the brilliant discoveries intervening, the failure to convict him of crimes, the king's favor, and at last the nearer and to be hoped final reconciliation. warmer yet within him glowed the thought of these things, as his mind dwelt upon the letters disparaging to himself which vasco nu?ez had sent the king, and recalled once more what garabito had said concerning the repudiation of both himself and his daughter. he talked with bachiller corral, who had been 452 once arrested by vasco nu?ez for improper conduct, and to the royal treasurer, alonso de la puente, whom vasco nu?ez had once offended by demanding the payment of a debt, he read the letter of fernando de argüello, and then ordered the arrest of the writer.
he communed with his heart in his rage and was glad. and he wrote his son-in-law a letter, his dear son-in-law, a friendly, fatherly letter, requesting his presence at acla for the purpose of consultation over affairs affecting their mutual interests. this letter was despatched by messengers urged to the greatest haste, that the friends of vasco nu?ez might not have time to warn him of his danger. "once within my grasp," muttered the old man, "he never shall escape me." that he might not embark on some lengthy voyage or otherwise delay his coming, pedrarias ordered francisco pizarro to place himself at the head of as large a force as he could muster, and immediately to find and arrest his former comrade and commander, vasco nu?ez de balboa, and bring him under safe guard to acla.
now the dissembling letter of pedrarias, so the chroniclers tell us, was placed in the hands of vasco nu?ez while yet the star of his destiny hovered, impatient of flight, about the spot whereon it was to determine his fate; which proves to any reasonable mind, beyond peradventure, several things; item, that the heavenly lights are fingered by omnipotence for individual import; item, that micer codro knows the stars; item, that the stars know micer codro; item, parva momenta in spem metumque impellere animos.
conscious of no wrong, vasco nu?ez suspected no treachery, and on receipt of the letter he set out at once with the returning messengers to grant his father-in-law the desired interview, leaving his command at the pearl islands in charge of francisco compa?on. as they journeyed toward acla he interrogated his companions concerning the affairs of the colony. at 453 first they were cautious in their replies, and made evasive answers; but the prompt and cordial manner in which vasco nu?ez responded to the summons of pedrarias carried conviction of his integrity. further than this, they had long known vasco nu?ez as a gallant cavalier and a genial friend, and they resolved, come what might, he should not fall into the clutches of his enemy without a word of warning from them. enjoining secrecy, they told him all; that current opinion considered not only his liberty but that his life was in jeopardy.
balboa would not believe it. pedrarias might be very angry, though he had written in so friendly a strain; it was his nature to be suspicious and treacherous; he could not help it; he was martyr to a hate wherein he was created, and not unlike that of acrisius who quarrelled with his twin brother proetus before they were born. there might be some difficulty in pacifying pedrarias, but as for fearing him, the idea was preposterous. even though he had meditated treason against the governor, which he had not, he was not guilty of any criminal act; and surely a man cannot be hanged for his meditations. of course he would go forward.
the arrest.
as he descended the mountains and drew near acla, vasco nu?ez was met by the force sent out by the governor. as the leader advanced to make the arrest, his old friend and patron cast on him a reproachful look and exclaimed, "how is this, francisco pizarro? you were not wont to come out in this manner to receive me!" he offered no opposition, however, and made no remonstrance when the irons were put upon him and he was led away to prison at acla.
history presents few sadder pictures than the closing scenes in the career of vasco nu?ez de balboa. and as we look at it, our sorrow waxes hot with indignation over the triumph of wrong. occasionally, in the hostile encounters of men, justice seems to 454 abandon the arena, leaving iniquity master of the field; at which times the spectator burns for the power which omnipotence declines to exercise.
the game here played was for a valuable life. on one side was a singularly morbid hate, envenomed and pitiless, united with unscrupulous treachery and hypocrisy, which in an old man of ability, breeding, and position, was hideous beyond expression. on the other side were recognized talents of so exceptional an order as to make the possessor the most popular man in the colony. this is what kept his irascible adversary on nettles. vasco nu?ez was the hero of this conquest. he was to pedrarias as loki to baldur, or as hyperion to a satyr; and in their strangely assorted friendship they were more unequally yoked than in their enmity they were divided. he was the mirror in which by comparison the governor most clearly saw his own infirmities. like othello he was of that free and open nature which thinks men honest that but seem so. his faults were those of the times rather than of the man. he was as ambitious as achilles, but it was a laudable ambition as times went. he was neither voracious nor avaricious; cruel he unquestionably was, but not wantonly so; he gathered gold, but he scattered it open-handedly. he coveted fame; and in those days neither equity nor humanity were essential to greatness. i do not regard him as greedy of office; he loved power, but he loved adventure more. of course, in principle, the robber life he led was wrong, though sanctioned by philosophers and divines, and vasco nu?ez aspired to belong to neither class. he was an illiterate cavalier, honest and religious, ready to accept the theories of the day if they did not too greatly interfere with his desires. neither his loyalty nor his religion was sufficient to be of great injury to him; although, if we may credit peter martyr, he never attempted any adventure without the invocation of the deity and all the saints. among his comrades he had ever 455 at command a light artillery of wit; in logical argument he was not equal to his archenemy, but in action he was the inferior of no man. a natural and perfect leader, he was out of place as second. conception and execution were one with him; he could not be bound by another's ideas. latent in him were inexhaustible resources, known to exist, even by himself, only as occasion required them. only with emotions of pride might any spaniard regard his frank intrepidity, chivalrous bearing, and affable, generous disposition. in cruelty, subtlety, and base cunning pedrarias was his superior, but not in war, or statesmanship, not to mention honorable enterprise. throughout his entire career, whatever vasco nu?ez touched by himself was a success; there was no chance about it, but simply energy and ability, temperate courage and common sense. his final overthrow was accomplished not by fair and open opposition, but by means most foul and damnable. some might say that in this contemplated assumption of authority he was, like icarus, flying too near the sun; yet, in truth, it was no sun, but fires infernal that melted the wax of his wings. his trial, to which let us now pass, was a judicial assassination.
hypocrisy and cunning.
old man pedrarias could scarcely conceal his exultation in thus having, as he imagined, outwitted his prisoner. he could with difficulty refrain from feasting his eyes upon him; nay, he would not, and arraying his features in fatherly concern, he repaired to the prison. gently he accosted balboa, assuring him that he had been forced to this step against his will, that the treasurer, puente, was the accuser, and that he, the governor, was in duty bound to investigate all charges, particularly accusations made by a royal officer. "but be not cast down, my son," said the venerable hypocrite, "neither give way to fear; for the more clearly your actions are brought to light, the brighter will shine your eminent and loyal services." 456
going his way, pedrarias threw himself with all his strength into the prosecution, or rather, i should say, persecution. the laws of spain, transported to the colonies and administered by passionate and unprincipled men, were capable of almost any construction desired, and hence were as often used to cloak villainy as to punish crime. the law was ever on the side of him who possessed the power to enforce it. all the accusations of former trials were in this instance brought together, and old charges, long since obliterated by royal forgiveness, were renewed. to the oft-told tales of enciso's imprisonment and nicuesa's death, were added misdeeds conjectured or invented by the listening sentinel, garabito, and the rest. arguello's letter was offered in evidence, and all his enemies had their fling at him. the licentiate, espinosa, before whom the case was brought, was now a firm adherent of the governor. he had been paid his price in the south sea command, and the downfall of balboa would open for him further empire in that quarter.
all is going well; pedrarias is content. the prisoner's chains are doubled. a little torture now applied might be pleasing in effect. dropping the mask, pedrarias enters the prison. "so, villain! you thought to escape me," he cried. "your governor has become your tool, your plaything; his daughter an idle jest, jilted for a savage strumpet. thank god! your days are numbered."
balboa at first made no reply, did not even manifest surprise. he had seen, soon after the trial began, that his judges thirsted for his blood, and that he was foredoomed. finally he spake. "i am here at your bidding. since last we pledged friendship i have toiled faithfully in your behalf, and mine. i have suffered many hardships, and have overcome obstacles deemed insurmountable by most men. never for a moment have i entertained one thought disloyal to my betrothed or you. for the truth of this i refer 457 you to my actions, and call god to witness. if i am guilty, as you say, why am i here? think you, with four good ships and three hundred devoted men at my command, with fortune beckoning me from every direction, that had i harbored treason i would not have spread my sails and sought a land unknown, beyond all fear of capture? you know, my lord pedrarias, that i am innocent."
the sentence.
it was patent to all that vasco nu?ez was to be sacrificed to the insatiable hate of the hoary-headed governor. even espinosa was becoming tired of it, and would have discharged the accused, had it not been for pedrarias and puente, who insisted on what they called a verdict in accordance with the law and evidence. under such pressure espinosa was forced to adjudge the prisoner guilty. the penalty was death. vasco nu?ez claimed the right of appeal to the council of the indies, which was denied him; to the jeronimite fathers, which was also denied. espinosa became alarmed; he shrank from having on his soul the blood of this man, so gallant a cavalier, so eminent a discoverer; he never really desired more than to drive him into obscurity, and he begged the governor that the petition for appeal might be granted. "no," said pedrarias, "if he has sinned, let him suffer."
with horror the colonists heard that vasco nu?ez was condemned to be beheaded. four of his friends were to suffer with him, andrés de valderrábano, luis botello, fernando mu?oz, and fernando de argüello.
it was a dismal day at acla, the chroniclers tell us, that on which five brave men were doomed to die, not for any crime, but as victims of a ferocious, savage-hearted old man. at an early hour the dull strokes of the carpenter's hammer were heard in the plaza where the scaffold rose. troops of men gathered on the streets and talked of the coming execution, wondering if there would be an attempt at rescue. but 458 pedrarias had taken care of that. were the heavenly powers a-dreaming that they should without interference permit this horrible crime? alas! these very men had just as iniquitously slain their innocent thousands. why should we pity them? and the same oft-invoked omnipotence had permitted the ghastly work to be done in his name. of what avail is it to wonder?
heavily chained, and surrounded by a strong guard, the men were brought forth. first came vasco nu?ez. his step and bearing were not those of a malefactor. fire flashed from his eye and indignation flushed his cheek as he beheld the preparations for his ignominy. but this renowned and honored chieftain, even while marching to the scaffold, was less to be pitied than pedrarias, who from behind a screened window was this moment feasting his eyes upon the victim. before the prisoner walked the town-crier, who, as he approached the middle of the square, exclaimed in a loud voice, "behold the usurper, a man recreant to his trust, and disloyal to his king. let death be ever the doom of traitors." "'tis false!" cried vasco nu?ez. "never have i been disloyal or untrue. to infamous treachery and wrong i yield my life, and not to justice."[xii-6] 459
the execution.
the sacrament having been previously administered, and having made confession, vasco nu?ez, with his usual firm step and calm demeanor, mounted the scaffold. raising his eyes to heaven he called on god to witness his innocence. then with a rapid farewell glance at heaven's light and earth's beauty, at the eager upturned faces of his friends, he placed his head upon the block, and in a moment more it was rolling trunkless on the platform!
valderrábano, botello, and mu?oz each suffered in turn. argüello remained. a last attempt was made to move pedrarias. "it cannot be," was the reply. "rather than one of them should live, i myself will die." it was dark before the last dull heavy stroke told the crowd that the sickening work was done. with the death of the offender justice is satisfied; not so vengeance. by order of pedrarias the head of vasco nu?ez was placed upon a pole, and displayed in the market-place.
time, which throws a misty cloud between the present and the past, and strips the hideousness from many iniquitous deeds, drops no friendly mantle over the horrors of that day at acla. one century after another rolls by, and the colors on the canvas deepen; the red gore dripping from the scaffold becomes redder, the black heart of pedrarias blacker, and the generous qualities and brilliant achievements of vasco nu?ez shine yet brighter.
