rom the nature of the country
that it would be impossible to overtake the fugitives, contented himself
with carrying off all the coronets, necklaces, and plates of gold found
in the cacique's mansion, to the value of three hundred ducats, and got
safely on board.

Columbus, believing that Quibian had perished and that the vigorous
measures of the Adelantado had succeeded in quelling the natives, made
preparations for sailing. The river having swollen, he got three of the
caravels over the bar by landing their cargoes, but left the fourth for
the use of the settlement. Taking leave of his brother, and making his
final arrangements, he set sail. The wind, however, continued adverse,
and on the 6th of April, wishing to communicate with his brother, he
sent a boat on shore under the command of Diego Tristan, captain of one
of the caravels.

As Tristan approached the shore he found his countrymen, some on board
the caravel, some on the sea-shore looking at the ships, and others
scattered about the houses, when suddenly a vast number of Indians
rushed forward with yells and howls, launching their javelins through
the windows and roofs, or thrusting them through the crevices of the
woodwork, wounding some of those who were within.

At the first alarm the Adelantado, seizing a lance, sallied forth with
seven or eight men, and being joined by Diego Mendez and others, they
drove the enemy into the forest, killing and wounding many of them. In
spite of their furious sallies the savages could not withstand the keen
edge of the Spanish swords and the attacks of a fierce bloodhound, and
fled howling through the forest, leaving a number dead on the field,
having, however, killed one Spaniard and wounded eight, among the latter
of whom was the Adelantado.

Tristan had been afraid to approach the land lest his countrymen should
spring on board and sink the boat, and when the Indians had been put to
flight he proceeded up the river in quest of fresh water, disregarding
the warnings of his friends on shore. He had get up some way, and was
passing through a narrow channel between high, rocky, and wooded banks,
when he was suddenly assailed by showers of darts and arrows. As the
crew, losing all presence of mind, made no attempt to row away, only
covering themselves with their bucklers, in a short time he and the
whole of them, with the exception of one man, were massacred. The
survivor, springing overboard, gained the bank of th