ely had this been done when we saw another boat suffering from the
same misfortune at a little distance from us. The persons thus cast
ashore proved to be six Spaniards from the garrison at Santa Maria who
had followed us to escape the Indians. Presently they joined us, and we
built a fire, broiled our meat on the coals, and all ate amicably
together. We were suffering terribly for water, as we had none to drink
and knew not where to get any. Fortunately our canoe was thrown on edge
and very little injured, but the one on which the Spaniards came split
itself against the rocks, being old and slender, and was broken into a
hundred pieces.

My company was now much discouraged and wished to return, but after much
persuasion I induced them to go forward at least one day longer, saying
I would then be willing to do whatever they saw fit. About the time they
concluded to follow me, our watchman espied an Indian, who as soon as he
knew he had been seen, ran hastily to the woods. Immediately I sent two
of my companions after him. Finding he was one of our friendly Indians,
they followed him along the shore to where seven more of his companions
with a great canoe were resting on the seashore. By means of signs I
asked him what had become of my companions, and the Indians assured us
that if we would take their boat instead of our own, we would overtake
our friends before morning.

We were rejoicing over this news when the Indians noticed that six of
the men of our company did not seem to be of the same language and kind
as ourselves. We told them they were _Wankers_, which is the name the
Indians commonly give to the Spaniards. Their next question was, "May we
kill those Spaniards?" I answered them, "By no means; I will not consent
to have it done." To this the Indians seemed to consent, but after a
little while, when my back was turned, some of my company, thinking to
oblige the Indians, beckoned to them to kill the Spaniards. Perceiving
their danger, the Spaniards made a great outcry, which I heard, and I
turned around in time to save their lives. Although I was able to
accomplish this, I could not prevent them, however, from taking one of
the Spaniards as a slave. To the others, however, I gave the canoe in
which I came and bade them to get away as speedily as possible in order
to save their lives from the Indians.

Then joining company with the Indians we entered a very large canoe,
which was able to carry at least twenty m