Chapter 15 Summary

The two men make land undetected by the Indians in the village. They crouch under their overturned boat and share corn cakes. Ruiz plans to wait for an hour and then go back into the sea, trusting that the manta will have departed. Ramun urges Ruiz to throw the pearl into the sea so that the Manta Diablo will leave them alone, but Ruiz ridicules him.

After moonrise, Ramun sees a solitary Indian standing on the rise of a hill. He considers explaining the situation to the man and asking for his help in returning the black pearl. Surely, the Indian will understand about the Manta Diablo. Unfortunately, Ruiz sees the Indian as well and insists they launch the boat. The Sevillano offers to leave Ramun behind, where the Indians can bury him in sand and allow the turtles to eat his face...