Historical Tales, Vol. III | Page 7

night, in an
adventure like that of Romeo and Juliet, the stones gave way and he
was thrown violently to the ground and buried under the ruins. Before
he got out of bed from his hurts the fleet had sailed.
Two years longer the ambitious boy remained at home, engaged,
perhaps, in similar pranks, but at length another chance offered, and in
1504 he set sail for the land of promise, still a youth of only nineteen
years of age. He did not get across the sea without adventure. Quintero,
the captain of his ship, bound for Hispaniola and a market, stole away
from the rest of the squadron, hoping to reach port and sell his cargo

before the others arrived. But fierce gales came to punish him; for
many days the vessel was tossed about, the sailors not knowing where
they were, and furious at the treachery of their captain. At length, one
morning, hope returned to them, in the form of a white dove that
lighted on the foremast-top. When the bird had rested it took to flight
again, and by following its course the weary mariners finally came to
the port they sought. But the captain was paid for his treachery by
finding that the other vessels had arrived before him and sold their
cargoes.
The young adventurer was full of ambitious hope. When the governor's
secretary told him that no doubt he would be given a good estate to
settle on, he replied, "But I came to get gold; not to till the soil, like a
peasant."
As no gold offered, however, he was glad enough to accept the land,
but his fondness for active deeds clung to him, and he took part in the
military expeditions sent out to fight with the rebel natives. He had his
quarrels, too, and his duels about the love of fair ladies, and received
wounds whose scars he carried to the grave. A nobler opening for his
valor came in 1511, when an expedition set out for the conquest of
Cuba. Cortez enlisted under the leader, Diego Velasquez, whose favor
he won by his courage and activity, his cordial and lively disposition,
and the good humor and ready wit which made him a favorite with all
he met.
After the island had been conquered, Velasquez was made its governor,
Cortez still being his close friend. But for some reason this friendship
did not last, and when at length a party of discontented men formed a
plan to complain of the acts of the governor to the higher authorities in
Hispaniola, Cortez took part in the conspiracy, and was chosen, from
his fearless spirit, to act as their envoy, it being necessary to perform
the perilous exploit of crossing an arm of the sea over fifty miles wide
in an open boat.
In some way the plot got wind, and, before he could leave the island,
Cortez was arrested by order of the governor and thrown into prison,
his limbs being loaded with fetters. Velasquez even intended to hang

him, as we are told, but was persuaded by his friends not to go so far.
These Spanish governors had the power to do almost anything they
pleased, their distance from home enabling them to act the despot at
will, and their influence at court saving them from evil consequences.
[Illustration: CATHEDRAL OF SAN DOMINGO.]
CATHEDRAL OF SAN DOMINGO.
Cortez did not stay long in his prison cell. In some way he managed to
open one of the bolts of his fetters and soon had his limbs free. Then,
turning his irons into tools, he used them to force open the window of
his cell. As he was on the second floor of the building, it was easy for
one so agile as he to reach the ground without injury, and he made his
way to a church near by, where he claimed the right of sanctuary.
When Velasquez heard of the escape of his prisoner he was furious. He
did not dare attempt to take him from the church by force, since the
sacred walls protected all who sought their asylum. But a guard was
stationed close by, with orders to seize the fugitive if he should leave
the sanctuary. With one so careless as Cortez this was sure to be done.
A few days later, as he stood heedlessly sunning himself outside the
walls of the building, one of the guards rushed on him from behind,
seized his arms, and held him till his comrades came to his aid. This
man was one of those who afterwards took part in the conquest of
Mexico, during which he was hung for some offence by Cortez, who
perhaps took this opportunity for revenge.
Once more the reckless young adventurer found himself a fettered