ed and preached a
holy war. Though we had driven them off, we heard them mustering again.
If we could not get food--perhaps not water?

Sixty of ours came to the Adelantado. In truth, all might have come,
for massacre, slow or swift, was certain if we stayed in Veragua. I read
that the Adelantado, who was never accused of cowardice or fickleness,
was himself determined. The settlement below the golden mines of golden
Veragua must wait a little.

We took our wounded and with the Adelantado, turned Mars in these three
days, came down to the Bethlehem, to a pebbly shore from which the water
had shrunken. Here at least was our ship with us, and the river that
bore to the sea. Here, for the weather was ferocious and Quibian howling
around us, we built what shelter we might. Here in much misery we waited
days for the long and wild storm to cease. We hoped the Admiral was yet
at the mouth of the Bethlehem, but could not do more than hope.

Then came through every peril that might be Pedro Ledesma, from the
ships. They waited! Break through--come down!

The _Margarita_ could never pass the bar that now the falling water left
exposed. We made rafts, we dismantled her and took what we could; we
left her in Veragua for Quibian to walk her deck and sail her if he
might. Through danger in multitude, with our rafts and two boats, with
the loss of six men, we went down the Bethlehem. Some of ours wept when
they saw the ships, and the Admiral wept when he and the Adelantado met.

Away from Veragua!

Is it only the Spaniards who suffer, and for what at the last, not
at the first, did Quibian fight? In that strong raid when we thought
Quibian perished had been taken captive brothers and kinsmen of that
cacique. These were prisoned upon the _Juana_, to be taken to Spain,
shown, made Christian, perhaps sold, perhaps--who knows?--returned to
their land, but never to freedom.

While the _Juana_ tossed where Bethlehem met the sea, these Indians
broke in the night time up through hatchway and made for the side to
throw themselves over. But the watch gave a great cry and sprang upon
them, and other Spaniards came instantly. All but two were retaken.
These two, wrenching themselves free, sprang away into rough water and
dark night, and it is most likely that they drowned, being a mile from
shore. But the others were thrust back and down under hatch which then
was chained so that they might not again lift it. But in the morning
when the c