ntered, even with the hope of greater booty.

With the timber of the unfortunate "Santa Maria" Columbus built a fort,
and called it La Navidad, because he entered the port near there, on
Christmas-day. He remained on very friendly terms with the good Cacique
Guacanagari; and might have established himself most advantageously in
that part of the country, if he could have been content, to be a settler.

THE ADMIRAL RETURNS.

But from the first moment of his discovery he doubtless had an anxious
desire to get back to Spain, and to tell what he knew; and at times,
perhaps, was fearful lest his grand secret, through some mischance to the
expedition, should still perish with him. The great discoverer, therefore,
now prepared to return homewards. He left his fort in trust to a small
body of his followers,[12] whom he commended to the good offices of
Guacanagari, not forgetting to impress upon them the excellent advice, to
do no violence to man or woman, and, in short, to make their actions
conformable to the idea (which the Indians first entertained of them) that
they had come from heaven: then, having received the necessary provisions
for his vessel from the friendly cacique, the admiral set sail for Spain
on the 4th of January, 1493.

[Footnote 12: They were forty in number, and it would be strange to
find, but for the well-known fact that nothing brings men of different
races together more than maritime and commercial enterprise, that, in
this small list there is an Irishman, "Guillermo Ires" (Qy. William
Herries, or Rice) "natural de Galney, en Irlanda;" and an Englishman,
"Tallarte de Lajes" (Qy. Arthur Lake) "ingles."--NAVAREETE, Col. Dip.,
Num. 13.]

CHAPTER V. Homeward bound.

PINZON'S EXPLANATION.

For two days Columbus stood to the east-ward, but was met by a head-wind
which prevented him from making much progress. On doubling the promontory
of Monte Christo, however, the look-out at the mast-head made an
announcement which was worth more than a fair wind to the voyagers, since
it assured them that the homeward voyage of the "Nina" was not to be made
without a consort; that the chance of the tidings of success being safely
conveyed to Europe was not to depend upon the fortunes of a single ship.
For, sailing down swiftly before the breeze which had detained Columbus,
the "Pinta" hove in sight and the two vessels steered together into the
bay of Monte Christo, which Columbus had recent