The Eternal Adam and other stories Read Online Free

a decree to be on their guard against Spanish vessels
and instead of gold it may be lead and iron they’ll pay us with!’
    ‘Don’t worry, José. We’ll let them know who
we are – from a good distance! Martinez assured him.
    ‘But how?’
    ‘We’ll hoist the Mexican colours at our
peaks,’ and Martinez displayed a flag striped green, white, and red.
    A gloomy silence greeted the appearance of
this emblem of Mexican independence.
    ‘So already you’re regretting the Spanish
flag?’ the lieutenant sneered at them. ‘Very well then! Anyone who feels like
that can clear out and sail on happily under the orders of Captain Don Orteva
or Commander Don Roque! But we, who don’t want to obey them any longer, we’ll
soon know how to get the better of them!’
    There came a general shout of assent.
    ‘Comrades!’ Martinez continued. ‘Our
officers rely on using the trade winds to make for Sunda, but we’ll show them
that we can beat up against the easterlies of the Pacific without their
assistance.’
    On leaving this secret meeting the sailors
scattered and went back separately to their respective ships.
    Next day, at dawn, the Asia and the Constanzia weighed anchor, and, steering to the south-west, set a course to
New Holland. Lieutenant Martinez had returned to his duty, but by Captain
Orteva’s instructions he was closely watched.
    None the less, the captain was disturbed by
sinister forebodings. He realised that the Spanish navy was likely to be
destroyed, and that insubordination would lead to its destruction. Moreover,
his patriotism was not yet reconciled to the successive disasters which had
fallen on his country, and of which the revolution in Mexico had been the final
blow. He often discussed these serious questions with young Pablo, and he
always stressed the former supremacy of the Spanish fleet in every sea.
    ‘My boy,’ he said, ‘there’s no more
discipline among our sailors these days. Signs of mutiny are quite obvious on
my own ship, and it’s quite likely – I have a foreboding – that some shameful
treachery is going to cost me my life! But you will avenge me, will you not? – and
avenge Spain at the same time, for any blow aimed at me is really directed at
her.’
    ‘I swear I will, Captain Orteva,’ the boy
assured him.
    ‘Don’t make enemies with anyone on the
brig, but remember, my boy, that in these unhappy times, the best way of
serving your country is to keep a good look-out and then, when the time comes,
to punish the wretches who want to betray her.’
    I’ll die, I promise you,’ the boy replied
earnestly. ‘Yes, if need be I’ll die to punish these traitors.’
    It was three days since the ships had left
the Mariannas. The Constanzia sailed with yards squared before a fresh
breeze. The brig, with her low graceful hull, her light rigging, and her raking
masts, bounded over the waves, whose foam covered her eight six-pounder
carronades.
    ‘Twelve knots, Lieutenant,’ the midshipman
Pablo told Martinez. ‘If we can speed along like this with the wind right aft,
our voyage won’t take long.’
    ‘God grant it! We’ve had sufferings enough
to make me want to see the end of them.’
    The seaman José, who happened to be near
the quarterdeck, had been listening.
    ‘We soon ought to sight land,’ Martinez
said loudly.
    ‘Mindanao Island,’ the midshipman replied.
‘We’re at 140° west longitude and 8° north latitude, and if I’m not mistaken
that island is at ...’
    ‘A hundred and forty degrees thirty-nine
minutes longitude and 7° latitude,’ Martinez replied at once.
    José looked up; then, having made a slight
sign to Martinez, he hurried forward.
    ‘You’re on the middle watch, Pablo?’ asked
Martinez.
    ‘Yes, Lieutenant.’
    ‘It’s six now, so I won’t detain you.’
    Pablo went below.
    Martinez stayed alone on the poop and
looked towards the Asia, which was sailing to leeward of the brig. The
evening was fine, and presaged one of those lovely