If to us in the ships there hung in this voyage something mystic, hidden, full of possibility, inch by inch to unroll, throbbing all with the future which is the supernatural, be sure these, too, who were found and discovered, moved in a cloud of mystery torn by strange lightnings! Sometimes we came into haven, dropped anchor and lowered sails, whereupon those on the shore again cried out.

When we took our boats and went to land we met always the same reception, found much the same village, carried on much the same conversations.

Little by little we collected gold.

By now, within the Admiral's chest, in canvas bags, rested not a little treasure for Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand.

And though it was forbidden, I knew that many of our seamen hid gold.