is canoe and got back to the harbour. Still
undaunted, he resolved to make another attempt, and being joined by
Bartholomew Fiesco, a Genoese devoted to the Admiral, in another canoe,
he and his associates set off, escorted by the Adelantado, to the east
end of the island, with an armed party to prevent the savages from
molesting them. The weather being serene, they once more set off,
hoping to reach Hispaniola in four or five days.

Soon after this sickness broke out among the crews of the two caravels,
while many bitterly blamed the Admiral, considering that all their
misfortunes were owing to him.

Week after week went by, and no ships appearing, Columbus, with too much
reason, feared that his friends had perished.

It had been arranged that Mendez, as soon as he could send off a vessel,
was to proceed on to Spain with the Admiral's despatches giving an
account of his new discoveries, and that Fiesco was to return in a
vessel to take him and his companions off from Jamacia.

Meantime, two brothers, Porras by name, the eldest of whom was a captain
of one of the caravels, had concocted a vile plot to seize Columbus,
capture the largest Indian canoes to be found, and go on in them to
Hispaniola.

The Admiral was in his cabin, confined to his bed by gout, when, on the
2nd of January, 1504, Francisco de Porras entered, and, uttering bitter
complaints, accused him of having no intention of returning to Spain.

Columbus maintained his calmness, and suggested that the officers should
meet together, and decide what measures should be pursued. Porras,
however, replied that there was no time for further consultations, and
told the Admiral that he must either embark, or remain by himself. He
then shouted, "I am for Castile! Those who choose may follow me!"

"I will follow you, and I, and I!" answered the crew, brandishing their
weapons.

Columbus leapt from his bed, but fell. A few of his faithful adherents
gathered round him, while the Adelantado sallied forth, lance in hand,
to take the whole brunt of the assault. Columbus entreated that no
blood might be shed, and told the mutineers that they might depart
peaceably.

Hearing this, they at once prepared for embarking in ten canoes, which
had been purchased of the Indians. Many who had not taken part in the
mutiny joined the deserters, and the whole set off along the coast. As
they proceeded they landed and committed outrages upon the Indians,
robbing them o