continue her swift career through the forest, as she had hitherto cleft
her passage through the sea. As she approached, the savages shrank back
in fear. Suddenly her frame trembled with a mighty shock. A terrible
cry was borne to land by the gale, and all her masts went overboard. A
huge wave lifted the vessel on its crest and flung her further on the
shore, where she remained firmly fixed, while the waves dashed in foam
around her and soon began to break her up. Ere this happened, however,
a rope was thrown ashore and fastened to a rock by the natives. By
means of this the crew were saved. But it would have been well for
these bold navigators of Portugal if they had perished in the stormy
sea, for they were spared by the ocean, only to be murdered by the wild
savages, on whose shore they had been cast.

"All were slain save one,--Diego Alvarez Carreo, the captain of the
ship. Before grasping the rope by which he reached the shore, he thrust
several cartridges into his bosom and caught up a loaded musket.
Wrapping the lock in several folds of cloth to keep it dry, he slid
along the rope and gained the beach in safety. Here he was seized by
the natives, and would no doubt have been barbarously slain with his
unfortunate companions; but, being a very powerful man, he dashed aside
the foremost, and, breaking through their ranks, rushed towards the
wood. The fleet savages, however, overtook him in an instant, and were
about to seize him when a young Indian woman interposed between them and
their victim. This girl was the chief's daughter, and respect for her
rank induced them to hesitate for a moment; but in another instant the
Portuguese captain was surrounded. In the scuffle that ensued, his
musket exploded, but fortunately wounded no one. Instantly the
horrified savages fled in all directions leaving Carreo alone!

"The captain was quick-witted. He knew that among hundreds of savages
it was madness to attempt either to fight or fly, and the happy effect
of the musket explosion induced him to adopt another course of action.
He drew himself up proudly to his full height, and beckoned the savages
to return. This they did, casting many glances of fear at the dreaded
musket. Going up to one who, from his bearing and ornaments, seemed to
be a chief, Carreo laid his musket on the sand, and, stepping over it so
that he left it behind him, held out his hand frankly to the chief. The
savage looked at him in surpr