But if you prefer to leave the
partnership at once, we will remit one half of what you owe us,
for our past outlays."
Pedrarias, with a bitter smile, replied, - "It would not ruin
you, if you were to give me four thousand pesos to dissolve our
connection."
"To forward so happy an event," said Almagro, "we will release
you from your whole debt, although it may prove our ruin; but we
will trust our fortunes in the hand of God."
Although Pedrarias found himself relieved from the debt incurred
for the outfit of the expedition, which could not be less than
four or five thousand pesos, he was not satisfied, but asked,
"What more will you give me?"
Almagro, much chagrined, said, "I will give three hundred pesos,
though I swear by God, I have not so much money in the world; but
I will borrow it to be rid of such an incubus."
"You must give me two thousand."
"Five hundred is the most I will offer."
"You must pay me more than a thousand."
"A thousand pesos, then," cried the captain in a rage, "I will
give you, though I do not own them; but I will find sufficient
security for their future payment."
Pedrarias declared himself satisfied with this arrangement; and a
contract was accordingly drawn up, in which it was agreed, that,
on the receipt of a thousand pesos, the governor should abandon
the partnership and give up his share in the profits of the
expedition. I was one of the witnesses who signed this
instrument, in which Pedrarias released and assigned over all his
interest in Peru to Almagro and his associates, - by this act
deserting the enterprise, and, by his littleness of soul, for
feiting the rich treasures which it is well known he might have
acquired from the golden empire of the Incas.
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