paddles; one after another gave out, and it seemed impossible that they should live to reach Hispaniola.

The commanders, by admirable management, had hitherto kept up this weary struggle with suffering and despair. They now too began to despond. Diego Mendez sat watching the horizon, which was gradually lighting up with those faint rays which precede the rising of the moon. As that planet arose, he perceived it to emerge from behind some dark mass elevated above the level of the ocean. He immediately gave the animating cry of land. His almost expiring companions were roused by it to new life. It proved to be the island of Navasa; but so small, and low, and distant, that, had it not been thus revealed by the rising of the moon, they would never have discovered it. The error in their reckoning with respect to the island, had arisen from miscalculating the rate of sailing of the canoes; from not making sufficient allowance for the fatigue of the rowers, and for the opposition of the current.

New vigour was now diffused throughout the crews. They exerted themselves with feverish impatience; by the dawn of day they reached the land, and, springing on shore, returned thanks to God for such signal deliverance. The island was a mere mass of rocks, half a league in circuit. There was neither tree, nor shrub, nor herbage, nor stream, nor fountain. Hurrying about, however, with anxious search, they found, to their joy, abundance of rain water in the hollows of the rocks. Eagerly scooping it up with their calabashes, they quenched their burning thirst by immoderate draughts. It was in vain that the more prudent warned them of their danger. The Spaniards were in some degree restrained; but the poor Indians, whose toils had increased the fever of their thirst, gave way to a kind

of frantic indulgence. Several died upon the spot, and others fell dangerously ill*.

Having allayed their thirst, they now looked about in search of food. A few shell fish were found along the shore, and Diego Mendez striking a light, and gathering drift wood, they were enabled to broil them, and to make a delicious banquet. All day they remained reposing in the shade of the rocks; refreshing themselves after their intolerable sufferings, and gazing upon Hispaniola, whose mountains were seen rising above the serene horizon, at eight leagues distance.

In the cool of the evening they once more embarked, invigorated by repose, and arrived safely at Cape Tiburon on the following day, the fourth since their departure from Jamaica. Here they landed on the banks of a beautiful river, where they were kindly received and treated by the natives. Such are the particulars, collected from different sourcest, of this adventurous and interesting voyage, on the precarious success of which depended the deliverance of Columbus and his crews.

The voyagers remained for two days among the hospitable natives on the banks of the river to refresh themselves. Fiesco would now have returned to Jamaica, according to promise, to give assurance to the admiral and his companions of the safe arrival of their messenger; but both Spaniards and Indians had suffered so much during the voyage,

* Near to the island of Navasa there gushes up in the sea a pure fountain of fresh water, that sweetens the surface for some distance; this circumstance was, of course, unknown to the Spaniards at the time. (Oviedo Cronica, L. 6, Cap. 12.)

... Hist. del Almirante, C. 105. Las Casas, L. 2, C. 31. Testatament of Diego Mendez. Navarrete, Collect. T. 1.

that nothing would induce them to encounter the perils of a return in the canoes.

Parting with his companions, Diego Mendez took six Indians of the island and set off resolutely to coast in his canoe one hundred and thirty leagues to St. Domingo. After proceeding for eighty leagues, with infinite toil, always against the currents, and subject to perils from the native tribes, he was informed that the governor had departed for Xaragua, fifty leagues distant. Still undaunted by fatigues and difficulties he abandoned his canoe, and proceeded alone and on foot through forests and over mountains, until he arrived at Xaragua, achieving one of the most perilous and toilsome expeditions ever undertaken by a devoted follower for the safety of his commander.

Ovando received him with great kindness, expressing the utmost concern at the unfortunate situation of Columbus, He made many promises of sending immediate relief, but suffered day after day, week after week, and even month after month to elapse, without carrying his promises into effect. He was at that time completely engrossed with his wars with the natives, and had a ready plea that there were no ships of sufficient burthen at St. Domingo. Had he felt a proper zeal, however, for the safety of a mau like Columbus, it would have been easy, within eight months to have devised some means, if not of delivering him from his situation, at least of conveying to him ample reinforcements and supplies.

The faithful Mendez remained for seven months in Xaragua, detained there under various pretexts by Ovando, who was unwilling that he should proceed to St. Domingo, partly, as is intimated from his having some jealousy of his being employed in secret agency for the admiral, and partly from a desire to throw impediments in the way of his

obtaining the required relief. At length, by daily importunity, he obtained permission to go to St. Domingo and await the arrival of certain ships which were expected, of which he proposed to purchase one on the account of the admiral. He immediately set out on foot, a distance of seventy leagues, part of his toilsome journey lying through forests and among mountains infested by hostile and exasperated Indians. It was after his departure that Ovando despatched the caravel commanded by the pardoned rebel Escobar, on that singular and equivocal visit, which in the eyes of Columbus had the air of a mere scouting expedition, to spy into the camp of an enemy.

CHAPTER VI.

OVERTURES

OF COLUMBUS TO THE MUTINEERS-BATTLE OF THE ADELANTADO WITH PORRAS AND HIS FOLLOWERS.

He

WHEN Columbus had soothed the disappointment 1504. of his men, at the brief and unsatisfactory visit and sudden departure of the vessel of Escobar, he endeavoured to turn the event to some advantage with the rebels. knew them to be disheartened by the inevitable miseries attending a lawless and dissolute life; that many longed to return to the safe and quiet paths of duty; and that the most malignant, seeing how he had foiled all their intrigues among the natives to produce a famine, began to fear his ultimate triumph, and his consequent vengeance. A favourable opportunity, he thought, now presented to take advantage of these feelings, and by gentle means to bring them back to their allegiance. He sent two of his people, therefore, who were most intimate with the rebels, to inform them of the recent arrival of a vessel with letters from the governor of Hispaniola, promising him a speedy deliverance from the island. He now offered them a free pardon, kind treatment, and a passage with him in the expected ships, on condition of their immediate return to obedience. To convince them of the arrival of the vessel, he sent them a part of the bacon which had been brought by Escobar.