We had barely found our moorings when five natives came in a canoe, the
middle one vigorously baling the water out of the craft. As they drew
nearer we observed that they were all women, one standing up at the
prow, whose red hair came down to her waist. She was white as regards
colour, beautifully shaped, the face aquiline and handsome, rather
freckled and rosy, the eyes black and gracious, the forehead and
eyebrows good, the nose, mouth, and lips well-proportioned, with the
teeth well-ordered and white. Being rich in so many parts and graces
she would be judged to be a very beautiful woman, and at first sight
she stole away my heart. On arriving alongside she climbed aboard with
amazing agility, and without the least sign of fear, from which I
conjectured that Europeans were not unknown to her. As her eyes swept
us her glance halted when it rested upon me, and, without
embarrassment, she made signs for me to approach her.
"Whence come ye?" she said, speaking in Spanish, though with an accent
that sounded unfamiliar.
"From the white man's country," I answered, "to seek adventure in this
land."
"Ye come far to seek little," she replied.
Pages:
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209