Chapter 13 Summary

About dawn, Ramun reaches the lagoon. Ramun is no longer afraid of the Manta Diablo. He figures that a creature that can change into a man and walk the streets of La Paz is powerful enough to know he is returning the pearl to the undersea cave. Suddenly, Ramun hears the voice of Gaspar Ruiz, the Sevillano, behind him. The man has followed him in another boat. Ruiz has a knife and demands that Ramun hand over the pearl. As Ruiz reaches for the pearl, Ramun throws it into the water at the mouth of the cave.

Instantly, the Sevillano dives into the water and catches the pearl, saying, "You toss it to the devil and the devil picks it up." Ruiz forces Ramun into his boat and tells the boy to row out to sea. Soon Ruiz reveals his plan. Because the...