This time it was the handsome face of the Commander that flushed hotly.
"Diego, you use hard words."
"But just ones," was the firm reply; "although I apply them not to you. Left free to the dictates of your own noble nature, I shall not fear the having bound myself to follow you. But"—with a look around, and in lower tones—"there are those in your band may be too strong for you—those whose one article of faith for themselves is, 'I believe in the delights of wealth!' whose one article of belief for the natives of these regions is, 'Beggar yourselves for us, and you shall be saved as future footstools for our feet in heaven. Do otherwise, and you shall be slaughtered here and damned hereafter.' Am I not right?"
For answer Cortes imitated his companion's shrug of the shoulders.
"But I promise you this," he added—"I will make an example of the very first who transgress."
"Thanks for the assurance," said the other.
And then, a disabled barque coming in sight, Cortes went off to give orders as to aiding it to gain the port of Cozumel.