It was only yonder, five miles away, that Pedrarias, with the
murder of a million victims on his soul, had founded the ancient
city which later fell to Morgan's buccaneers. Even now, a league
back from the ocean, the land seemed as wild as then. Anthony
suspected that there were houses--perhaps villages--hidden from
his view; but vast stretches of enchanted jungle intervened, which
he determined to explore, letting his feet stray whither they
would. If game, of which he had heard great stories, fell to his
hand, so much the better.
Heeding a warning not to bear arms through the streets of Panama
without a permit from the alcalde, he struck off across the fields
in a bee-line for the woods. It was a vast relief to be out in the
open air with a gun upon his arm once more, and he felt his blood
coursing vigorously. The burden upon his spirits insensibly began
to lighten. After all, he had done nothing for which he needed to
be ashamed the rest of his life. Edith, of course, was right in
being deeply offended. That was to be expected. Yet his conduct,
regrettable as it was, had been only natural under the
circumstances. Now that the first tumult of feeling had subsided,
he found that his conscience did not accuse him very severely.
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