the strait to Hispaniola, they were
attacked by a tribe of savages, who overpowered them by sheer force of
numbers, and carried them off as captives. The beads and toys, however,
which Mendez had taken with him to barter with the natives, were too
attractive not to claim the chief share of the attention of his
conquerors; and while they were settling the division of the spoil he
managed to effect his escape to his canoe, and to return in it in safety
to Santa Gloria. As soon as a second canoe could be procured, Mendez was
ready to make a second attempt, but on this occasion he stipulated that he
should be accompanied to the easternmost point of Jamaica by a force
sufficient to protect him from the hostile tribes. Accordingly, on the 7th
July, 1503, the Adelantado, with an armed escort, proceeded along the
shore; while Mendez, with six Spaniards and ten Indians, in one canoe, and
Fieschi (a Genoese, who had commanded one of the caravels), with a like
number in the other, made their way by sea to Point Morant.

After waiting a short time for fine weather, the two canoes started for
Hispaniola, and reached a little island called Navazza on the third day,
both Spaniards and Indians having suffered terribly from the want of
water, with which they were insufficiently supplied. Another day's labour
at the oar brought them to Cape Tiburon, where Mendez left his companions
and proceeded alone to St. Domingo. Here he was informed that the governor
had left for Xaragua; and thither he made his way alone, through fifty
leagues of wild forest country, to represent to Ovando the necessity of
sending relief to the admiral, and that speedily. Ovando seems to have
temporized. He dreaded the return of Columbus, as likely to excite the
seditious to a revolt against his own government. And so far from taking
active steps in the matter himself, it was only with reluctance that he
authorized Mendez to proceed to St. Domingo to purchase a caravel on
behalf of Columbus, in which Fieschi might return to Santa Gloria, and
bring him off.

SUSPENSE OF THE ADMIRAL; MUTINY OF PORRAS.

Meanwhile, month after month passed by, and the unfortunate castaways at
Santa Gloria had no tidings from Hispaniola, and were even ignorant
whether their messengers had succeeded in reaching that island. At last,
in January, 1504, the murmurs against the inaction of Columbus broke out
into open mutiny. Francesco Porras, the captain of one of the caravels,
headed