Королі та капуста

           Itwasanswered;andthreemen,mounteduponmules,crashedthroughthetropictangletowithinadozenyardsoftheriver’sbank.Theretheydismounted;andone,unbucklinghisbelt,struckeachmuleaviolentblowwithhisswordscabbard,sothatthey,withaflingofheels,dashedbackagainintotheforest.

           Thosewerestrange-lookingmentobeconveyingbeefandprovisions.Onewasalargeandexceedinglyactiveman,ofstrikingpresence.HewasofthepurestSpanishtype,withcurling,gray-besprinkled,darkhair,blue,sparklingeyes,andthepronouncedairofacaballerogrande.Theothertwoweresmall,brown-facedmen,wearingwhitemilitaryuniforms,highridingbootsandswords.Theclothesofallweredrenched,bespatteredandrentbythethicket.Somestressofcircumstancemusthavedriventhem,diableàquatre,throughflood,mireandjungle.

           "O-hé!SeñorAlmirante,"calledthelargeman."Sendtousyourboat."

           Thedorywaslowered,andFelipe,withoneoftheCaribs,rowedtowardtheleftbank.

           Thelargemanstoodnearthewater’sbrink,waistdeepinthecurlingvines.Ashegazeduponthescarecrowfigureinthesternofthedoryasprightlyinterestbeameduponhismobileface.

           Monthsofwagelessandthanklessservicehaddimmedtheadmiral’ssplendour.Hisredtrouserswerepatchedandragged.Mostofthebrightbuttonsandyellowbraidweregonefromhisjacket.Thevisorofhiscapwastorn,anddependedalmosttohiseyes.Theadmiral’sfeetwerebare.