The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-11-23
WHOLE NO. 2S2.

ture reserved for one Of his followers 1.-THE
least worthy, though not the least brave, of
any among them. Providence, however, did
not seem willing in his case, any more than
in that of Columbus, to permit him, who led
the way TO conquest, to perfect its details.---
There is moral justice, perhaps, in rcserving
for succeeding times and genius, those
achievements which, by increasing the won
ders IN one mans performance, might
strengthen too greatly his claims upon the
gratitude and admiration Of mankind, Inso-
much as sometimes to weaken the hold of the
Creator himself upon them. II is enough for
genius to lead the way at first; if il did not
tend to the evil result already contemplated,
It might at least subtract from the renown Of
the discoverer, were he to carry on his labors
to the minute developement of all its results.
The ice once broken, the petty voyager may
make his way in safetyit is glory enough
for Columbus and Vasco Nunez, that they
possessed the eye to see and the wing to
reach, in advance Of all. the realms which
they respectively gave---not to CASTLE and
Leon, merely, as the epitaph Of the former
idly expresses it---but to the world. Let the
humber adventurer penetrate its rivers, dig
ITS mountains, and cast nets into its seas for
the pale, white jewels of the deep.
While Vasco Nunez was thus tliumphantly
riding the pillows of the southern sea, the
youth, Pedro, watched all his movements with
hostility duly sharpened by each days ad-
ditional experience. When the former, with
that daring spirit which alone seemed to have
effected all his purposes, was pushing his way
to conquest, as it were, in very spite of for
tune, the admiration Of the youth had been
superior to his hate. He resolves, and the
Influence by which he was wrought upon to
suspend the stroke Of his meditated vengeance,
are already known to the reader in the pro-
gress Of this narrative. 1t is also known by
what circumstance he was prompted to renew
his oath of hostility, and to forget those more
generous sentiments by WHICH he had hitherto
been governed. An abstract passion for justice,
stimulated into feyerish restlessness by the
presence OF continually goading enthusiasm,
rendered him fanatcal in his angry mood !;
and the weakness of heart by which Vasco
Nunez had resolved upon an act which, would
sacrifice the Indian girl who had confided in
him so entirely, provoked the indignation Of
the youth anew He saw nothing now but
the infidelity and baseness of the man whom
he was sworn to Stay, for crime which per
sonaly wronged him. He now brooded with
constant thought upon his resolution; the diff
fculties in the way Of performing which he
never disguised from himself
know that | must perish" he would
mutter TO himself; his arm would crush me
at blow; and even my stroke, however well
aimed, his unarmed hand could parry if he
beheld it: Thus should lose life. yet fail in
my purposed vengeance. must do it while
he sleeps. If the blow be just-if the VEN
gcance be due to the crme-then is the mode
most fitting which is most certain and most
secure. There is no dishonor, as fools fancy
in such deed. Yet, would i, were that
could encounter with him as the strong man
loves to encounter with his fellow But the
wish is idle, may not be. This powerless
arm '-what could it hope against the muscle
and sinew eff Vasco Nunez!'
He surveyed the small and shrveled mem
Der with a bitter smile, and his skinny and
childlke fingers relaxed the hold which they
had hitherto kept upon the dagger as he ut
tered these words. The weapon fell upon
the ground at his feet. He stopped, and
without lifting, sat down beside it, and lean
ing forward with his elbow upon the long
grass, he looked forth upon The broad ocean
purpled by the setting sun, and dotted in the
far distance by the white sails Of one of the
brigantines in which Vasco Nunez was then
coasting They were then upon the lovely
shores Of Isla RIGA, in which the adelantado
had fixed his temporary abode The waters
of the ocean were as serene as those of some
mountain lake, locked in by circlet Of pro-
tecting hills. The tide rising, threw its sue
cessive pillows upon the bleached sands of
the island with a gentle violence that muir
INJURED only and did not complain. A deep
blue sky, almost as transparent as the waves
which reflected its aspect, relieved, not i'm
paired, by a few floating islands of white
fleece, hung above him: soft, bright, and
beautiful enough to declare the heavens be-
hind, which it yet curtained from his gaze.
The scene impressed itself upon The spectator
but did not alter his mood.
1t is even So my son. replied the other
with gravity the aspec, is even more evil
now than on the night when guided thine
eye to it at first
Even So said he, gazing upon the distant
brigan,ine as if he could behold upon her
deck the person of whom he spake-' even
now he is looking forth upon these waters,
without thought that they will change lie
beholds them soft, almost smiling-scarcely
less beautiful than the folding skies above
to him more beautiful, as they promise to car
~ him forward to conquests greater than any
he has yet achieved His fortune, too, has
at length put on an aspect of peace and pro-
mise. His bittcrest enemy has become his
best Giend-lhe woman who had scorned,
m, los ~, ell ho
fates seem to have given up their warfare,
and TO have folded their adverse wings in to-
ken of amiiy. Grown confident of fortune,
he has no fears, and he would as soon-nay,
sooner--look for the hurricane in yonder