“What shall I say to those who sent me?”
“That they must wait. I pity their situation, but progress is slow, and there is always much of our own fault in our misfortunes.”
Elias said no more. He lowered his eyes and continued to row. When the boat touched the shore, he took leave of Ibarra.
“I thank you, señor,” he said, “for your kindness to me, and, in your own interest, I ask you to forget me from this day.”
When Ibarra was gone, Elias guided his boat toward a clump of reeds along the shore. His attention seemed absorbed in the thousands of diamonds that rose with the oar, and fell back and disappeared in the mystery of the gentle azure waves. When he touched land, a man came out from among the reeds.
“What shall I say to the captain?” he asked.
“Tell him Elias, if he lives, will keep his word,” replied the helmsman sadly.
“And when will you join us?”
“When your captain thinks the hour has come.”
“That is well; adieu!”