e tide, such as there was, was
ebbing, and the Santa Maria was hopelessly aground. Columbus ordered the
masts cut away, but this did not relieve her.

He sent out his boat with directions to carry aft an anchor and cable,
but its crew escaped to the Nina with their tale of disaster. The Nina's
people would not receive them, reproached them as traitors, and in their
own vessel came to the scene of danger. Columbus was obliged to transfer
to her the crew of the Santa Maria.

So soon as it was day, their friendly ally, Guacanagari, came on board.
With tears in his eyes, he made the kindest and most judicious offers
of assistance. He saw Columbus's dejection, and tried to relieve him by
expressions of his sympathy. He set aside on shore two large houses to
receive the stores that were on the Santa Maria, and appointed as many
large canoes as could be used to remove these stores to the land. He
assured Columbus that not a bit of the cargo or stores should be lost,
and this loyal promise was fulfilled to the letter.

The weather continued favorable. The sea was so light that everything
on board the Santa Maria was removed safely. Then it was that Columbus,
tempted by the beauty of the place, by the friendship of the natives,
and by the evident wishes of his men, determined to leave a colony,
which should be supported by the stores of the Santa Maria, until
the rest of the party could go back to Spain and bring or send
reinforcements. The king was well pleased with this suggestion, and
promised all assistance for the plan. A vault was dug and built, in
which the stores could be placed, and on this a house was built for the
home of the colonists, so far as they cared to live within doors.

The chief sent a canoe in search of Martin Pinzon and the Pinta, to tell
them of the disaster. But the messengers returned without finding them.
At the camp, which was to be a city, all was industriously pressed, with
the assistance of the friendly natives. Columbus, having no vessel but
the little Nina left, determined to return to Europe with the news of
his discovery, and to leave nearly forty men ashore.

It would appear that the men, themselves, were eager to stay. The luxury
of the climate and the friendly overtures of the people delighted them,
They had no need to build substantial houses. So far as houses were
needed, those of the natives were sufficient. All the preparations
which Columbus thought necessary were made in the week