"We have come to visit the old city," said Vasco, "and Enrique said you would be glad to show us about and tell something of its history."
"Yes, yes, but not now. Sun too hot. Go in and lie down. By and by we go to see the ruins."
Within the hut swung a hammock, which was generously given up to Harlan, while Vasco and Enrique made themselves comfortable on a rude grass couch covered with skins.
Meanwhile Juan set about, in his deliberate way, to prepare a meal for his visitors.
"Doesn't it seem strange," said Harlan to his companions, "that this place where there were once so many people should now be deserted?"
The American boy, though as full of fun as any lad, had a poetic nature, and in quiet moments was either building air-castles or dreaming over past events. The historic associations of this place brought to his mind much that he had read of the early visits of the Spaniards and of the bold buccaneers who followed in their trail.
Harlan's question had not much meaning either to Enrique or to Vasco, for in fact they knew much less about the history of the country and of their ancestors than did their American friend. But Vasco had enough curiosity to be interested in Harlan's question and the thought that might be behind it.
"Were there, then, very many people living here?" he asked.
"Yes, indeed, thousands and thousands. After his discovery of the Pacific Ocean Balboa founded the city, and thousands of Spanish countrymen flocked to the place in search of gold."
Harlan came very near saying something about their treatment of the native Indians, but he happened to think that Vasco and Enrique were both descendants of these same conquerors, and he was wise enough to hold his tongue.