Page:The gilded man (El Dorado) and other pictures of the Spanish occupancy of America.djvu/110

96 same time, in all circles and ranks, endowed with remarkable shrewdness and great physical and mental force-a logical and impressive speaker, withal—with clearly defied purposes, he was in every respect a dangerous man. He was the most detestable character of the conquest.

Even before the beginning of the voyage earnest warnings against Aguirre had reached Ursua, but the indiscreet knight had disregarded them. The Biscayan had abundant leisure to intrigue with the men. Ursua was so blind as to allow the conspiracy to be organized under his eyes, without regarding the plainest evidences of it. On the 26th of December he embarked again and proceeded six or eight leagues farther to another village. Here a broad path led from the shore into the interior; a landing was effected, and a camp formed. "The path," it was said, "led to a large city and province;" the Spaniards had, in fact, entered the territory of the Omaguas. A strong detachment started out "to explore the new country"—by which the most faithful soldiers were removed from the camp, and the conspirators were given the opportunity they had been waiting for.

On the first day of January, 1561, two hours after sunset, a well-armed party, with Alonzo de Montoya and Cristóval de Chavez at its head, came into Ursua's quarters. He was lying in the hammock and speaking with a page. Surprised, he asked them, "What are you looking for here at so late an hour?" and was answered with a number of scattering shots. Before he could put himself on guard the whole band pressed in upon him, and with the