gather for us. _Must_, not may. We built the fortress of
San Cristoval, and at last, to be nearer the gold than was Isabella, the
Adelantado founded the city of San Domingo, at the mouth of the Ozema,
in the Xaragua country. Spaniards in Hispaniola now lived, so many in
Isabella, so many in San Domingo, and garrisons in the forts of St.
Thomas, Concepcion, and San Cristoval.

Weeks--months. July, and Pedro Alonzo Nino with three caravels filled
with strong new men and with provisions. How always we welcomed these
incoming ships and the throng they brought that stood and listened and
thought at first, after the sea tossing and crowding, that they were
come to heaven! And Pedro Nino had left Cadiz in June, three days after
the arrival there of the _Nina_ and the _Santa Cruz_. "June! They had
then a long voyage!"--"Long enough! They looked like skeletons! If the
Admiral's hair could get whiter, it was whiter."

He had letters for the Adelantado from the great brother, having waited
in Cadiz while they were written.

Juan Lepe had likewise a letter. "I was in the _Nina_, Don Juan de
Aguado in the Santa Cruz. We met at once head winds that continued. At
first I made east, but at last of necessity somewhat to the southward.
We saw Marigalante again and Guadaloupe, and making for this last,
anchored and went ashore, for the great relief of all, and for water
and provision. Here we met Amazons, wearing plumes and handling mightily
their bows and arrows. After them came a host of men. Our cannon and
arquebuses put them to flight but three of our sailors were wounded.
Certain prisoners we took and bound upon the ships. In the village that
we entered we found honey and wax. They are Cannibals; they eat men.
After four days we set sail, but met again tempest and head winds,
checking us so that for weeks we but crept and crawled over ocean. At
last we must give small doles of bread and water. There grew famine,
sickness and misery. I and all may endure these when great things are
about. But they blame me. O God, who wills that the Unknown become the
Known, I betake myself to Thy court! Famine increased. There are those,
but I will not name them, who cried that we must kill the Indians with
us and eat them that we might live. I stood and said, 'Let the Cannibals
stand with the Cannibals!' But no man budged.--I will not weary thee,
best doctor, with our woes! At last St. Vincent rose out of sea, and
we presently came to Cadiz. Many