the sails were hoisted.

As soon as the news was carried to Velasquez, he hurriedly dressed
and rowed down to the shore. Cortez, when he saw him, got into a
boat and rowed to within speaking distance.

"This is a courteous way of taking leave, indeed!" the angry
governor said.

"I was pressed for time," Cortez replied. "There are some things
that should be done even before they are thought of. Has your
Excellency any orders?"

Velasquez saw, by the innuendo in the words of Cortez, that the
latter was aware of his intention to deprive him of his command. He
had no orders to give, for it was evident that Cortez would not
obey them. The latter therefore returned to his vessel, and the
fleet instantly set sail for the port of Macaca. This was in
November, 1516.

The act of Cortez was doubtless one of insubordination; but, after
he had embarked the whole of his resources in the expedition, and
had received the command from the governor, this being ratified by
the authorities of Hispaniola, it could hardly be expected that he
would submit to disgrace and ruin being brought, not only upon
himself, but upon all the friends who had aided him in the
enterprise. At Macaca Cortez laid in some more stores, and then
sailed for Trinidad, an important town on the southern coast of
Cuba. Here he issued proclamations inviting recruits to join him.
These came in in considerable numbers, among them a hundred men
from Grijalva's ship, which had just before reached the port.

What was still more important, several cavaliers of high family and
standing joined him: among them the Alvarados, Olid, Avila,
Velasquez de Leon (a near relation of the governor), and Sandoval.
He purchased at Trinidad large military stores and provisions.
While he was taking these and other steps to strengthen his
position, Verdugo, the commander of the town, received letters from
Velasquez ordering him to seize Cortez; but upon his communicating
these orders to the principal officers of the expedition, they
pointed out to him that, if he attempted to take such a grave step,
the soldiers and sailors would certainly resist it, and the town
would not improbably be laid in ashes. The expedition then sailed
round the island to Havana, where Cortez completed his preparations;
and in spite of another ineffectual attempt of Velasquez to detain
him, set sail.

In the time that had intervened between the inception of the
expedition and its departure, the historians