Page:Cup of Gold-1929.djvu/188

A laugh followed his last words. Many of these men had lived in the jungle and had made their livelihood with hunting wild cattle.

The captain rubbed their avarice:

“Gold and jewels past hope of counting are in the city. Every man of you will be rich if we succeed.”

Their hunger:

“Think of the roasted meats, the barrels of wine in the cellars, the spiced puddings. Imagine them!”

Their lust:

“Women slaves there are in the city, and thousands of other women, God knows! Your difficulty will be only in judging which to choose from the multitude that will fall to us. These are not grubby field women, but great ladies who lie in silken beds, How will your skins feel in beds like those, do you suppose?”

And last, because he knew them very well, he raised the standard of their vanity.

“The names of those who take part in this fight will climb the stairs of history. This is no pillage, but glorious war. Imagine to yourselves the people of Tortuga pointing to you and saying, ‘That man was in the fight at Panama. That man is a hero, and rich.” Think how the women of Goaves will run after you when you go home again. There is the Cup of Gold before you. Will you run away? Many will die in the field to-day, but those who remain will carry golden Panama home in their pockets.”

A hoarse cheer arose. The French kissed their