great
canoe was a Being dying, more of a Being than theirs, because it had
wings and could open and fold them. And then back came our boat with
Diego de Arana and the others, and they had with them that same brother
of the cacique who had come to us in St. Thomas Harbor. And had we been
wrecked off Palos, not Palos could have showed more concern or been more
ready to help than were these men.

We had three boats and the Indian canoes and hands enough, white and
copper-hued. Now at low tide, we could approach and enter the _Santa
Maria_. A great breach had been made and water was deep in her hold, but
we could get at much of casks and chests, and could take away sails
and cordage, even her two cannon. Eventually, as she broke up, we might
float away to shore much of her timber. When I looked from the wreck to
the little Nina, I could see, limned as it were in air, the Viceroy's
first colony, set in Hispaniola, beside Guacanagari's town. All
Christmas day we toiled and the Indians at our side. We found them
ready, not without skill, gay and biddable.

Toward sunset came Guacanagari. All the little shore was strewn and
heaped with our matters. And here I will say that no Indian stole that
day though he might have stolen, and though our possessions seemed to
him great wonders and treasure beyond estimation. What was brought from
the _Santa Maria_ lay in heaps and our men came and went. The most of
our force was ashore or in the boats; only so many on the Nina. The
Admiral, just returned to the ship, stretched himself upon the bench in
her small cabin. Powerful was his frame and constitution, and powerfully
tried all his life with a thousand strains and buffetings! It seemed
still to hold; he looked a muscular, sinewy, strong and ruddy man. But
there were signs that a careful eye might find. He lay upon the bench in
the cabin and I, who was his physician, brought him wine and biscuit
and made him eat and drink who, I knew, had not touched food since the
evening before; after which I told him to close eyes and go away to
Genoa and boyhood. He shut them, and I sitting near brought my will as
best I could to the quieting of all heavy and sorrowful waves.

But then the cacique came. So small was the _Nina_ that we could hear
well enough the word of his arrival. The Admiral opened his eyes and sat
stiffly up. He groaned and took his head into his hands, then dropped
these and with a shake of his shoulders resumed command. So m