Chapter XVIII.
It was so plain to the Indians that Diego’s antics were caused by satisfaction that they were immediately reassured, and were presently gathered around him to discover what it was in the old man that caused their heaven-sent visitor such pleasure.
“I believe ’tis gold,” said Juan.
“I am certain of it, and I will see if I can get it from the old fellow,” answered Diego, and thereupon began to make signs.
He took a hawk’s bell from his pocket and jingled it before the eyes of the dignified but, therewith, delighted savage. Then he tapped the ring of gold with his finger, tapped the bell, and offered it to the savage. The old man understood him in an instant, and it gave Diego and Juan—their greed for gold being very great—a mighty satisfaction to see with what trembling eagerness the old man took the ring from his nose and exchanged it for the hawk’s bell.
“JINGLED IT BEFORE THE EYES OF THE SAVAGE.”
“Say nothing to the others till we have our fill of it,” said Diego feverishly to Juan, not knowing that the more gold he had the more he would be likely to wish for, and that the time when he had his fill would be little likely ever to come.
“Perhaps they have no more,” said Juan.