ff fowls, bread, and various
refreshments, apologising for not coming himself, on account of the
lateness of the hour.

On the following morning Columbus reminded his people of their vows, to
go in procession to the shrine of the Virgin at the first place where
they should land. The messengers who had been kept on board were sent
to make preparations, and a priest arrived at a small chapel dedicated
to the Virgin some little distance off. One-half of the crew then
landed and walked in procession, barefooted and in their shirts, to the
chapel, while the Admiral waited their return to perform the same
ceremony with the remainder.

Scarcely, however, had the first party begun their prayers than they
were surrounded by a gang of horse and foot from the village, and made
prisoners.

As the hermitage could not be seen from the caravel, not being aware of
what had taken place, the Admiral feared that his boat had been wrecked,
and accordingly, weighing anchor, he stood in a direction to command a
view of the chapel.

He now caught sight of a number of armed horsemen, who, dismounting,
entered the boat, and came towards the caravel. He accordingly got
ready to give them a warm reception, but they approached in a pacific
manner, and Castaneda himself, who was in the boat, asked leave to come
on board.

Columbus reproached him for his perfidy, to which he replied that he was
only acting in accordance with the orders of his sovereigns, so that
Columbus began to fear that a war had broken out between the two
countries during his absence. He had no time to ascertain the truth
before another heavy gale coming on, he was driven from his anchorage,
and compelled to stand out to sea.

For two days the vessel remained in the greatest peril, short-handed as
she was, being unable to return to her anchorage at Saint Mary's.

As soon as she dropped anchor, a notary and two priests came off
demanding to see his papers on the part of Castaneda, who had sent them
to assure him that if it should be found that he really sailed in the
service of the Spanish sovereigns, he would render him every assistance
in his power.

The notary and priest were satisfied with his letters of commission, and
the following morning the boat and seamen were sent back. From the
latter Columbus learnt the cause of Castaneda's conduct. The
inhabitants had told them that the King of Portugal, jealous lest his
expedition should interfere with his discover