; but that he, Soliman, had refused to do so. For
this reason he would get in readiness, and, if the chief really
came to offer battle, he would aid the Spaniards with his people,
since the master-of-camp was his friend. This new message gave a full
understanding of the deceitful plan of the Moros; notwithstanding all
this, the master-of-camp sent his thanks to Soliman for the warning,
saying that he would be pleased to fight any one who desired to fight
with him. He added that if it were not so late he would immediately
go to the town of Candola to fight with that chief. Having dismissed
the envoy with this message the master-of-camp ordered all the men
to be on the watch, and for all the crews of the _praus_ to sleep
on land. That day the sunset was so blood-red that it presented a
wonderful sight. The men said that the sun was blood-stained. All
that night the men, both on land and sea, slept fully armed. The next
morning two or three soldiers were going ashore in a little canoe,
when, seven or eight paces from land, their small canoe suddenly
filled with water and the men went to the bottom. One of the soldiers,
Juan Nunez, a native of Talavera, was drowned. At ten o'clock of that
same morning, some sails were seen at sea, and the master-of-camp,
thinking them to be the ships of those who were coming to fight with
the Spaniards, despatched a _prau_ to reconnoiter them. As the _prau_
came near them, these vessels were seen to be _tapaques_, and the
master-of-camp, fearing that the _prau_ might do them harm, called
it back by firing a cannon seaward. The Moros, who were waiting
an opportunity for treason--but had not manifested it because it
had not rained as they had expected--therefore opened the war; and
without any warning, fired three cannon-shots, one after another. One
of them pierced the side of the ship, and struck the cast-room,
scattering its ashes among the bystanders; the other two shots were
high, passing over the ship half-way aft; and one would have killed
many men had the aim been a _vara_ [31] lower. The Moros had begun
their treacherous work even before this; for they had seized some of
the friendly Indians who had gone there to feast with their friends,
had wounded the Indian slave of a soldier, beaten and frightened two
or three others, and wounded another soldier with an arrow. When the
effrontery of the Moros was seen, and that they could do us some injury
with their artillery, it was decided to