"I grant," returned Almagro, "that, as there is an almighty Judge, before whose tribunal we must appear, it is proper that all should render account of the living as well as the dead. And, Sir, I shall not shrink from doing so, when I have received an account from you, to be immediately sent to Pizarro, of the gratitude which our sovereign, the emperor, has been pleased to express for our services. Pay, - if you wish to enjoy the fruits of this enterprise; for you neither sweat nor toil for them, and have not contributed even a third of the sum you promised when the contract was drawn up, - your whole expenditure not exceeding two or three paltry pesos. But if you prefer to leave the partnership at once, we will remit one half of what you owe us, for our past outlays."
Pedrarias, with a bitter smile, replied, - "It would not ruin you, if you were to give me four thousand pesos to dissolve our connection." "To forward so happy an event," said Almagro, "we will release you from your whole debt, although it may prove our ruin; but we will trust our fortunes in the hand of God."
Although Pedrarias found himself relieved from the debt incurred for the outfit of the expedition, which could not be less than four or five thousand pesos, he was not satisfied, but asked, "What more will you give me?"
Almagro, much chagrined, said, "I will give three hundred pesos, though I swear by God, I have not so much money in the world; but I will borrow it to be rid of such an incubus."
"You must give me two thousand."
"Five hundred is the most I will offer."
"You must pay me more than a thousand."
"A thousand pesos, then," cried the captain in a rage, "I will give you, though I do not own them; but I will find sufficient security for their future payment."
Pedrarias declared himself satisfied with this arrangement; and a contract was accordingly drawn up, in which it was agreed, that, on the receipt of a thousand pesos, the governor should abandon the partnership and give up his share in the profits of the expedition. I was one of the witnesses who signed this instrument, in which Pedrarias released and assigned over all his interest in Peru to Almagro and his associates, - by this act deserting the enterprise, and, by his littleness of soul, for feiting the rich treasures which it is well known he might have acquired from the golden empire of the Incas.
No. VI.