the mutineers, and going to the admiral, who was confined to his
bed by the gout, told him that he, the admiral, evidently was afraid to
return to Spain; but that the people had determined to remain no longer to
perish, and intended to depart at once. On this there arose shouts from
the followers of Porras, "To Castile! We follow!" The admiral made a
temperate speech, pointing out the danger of attempting to leave the
island in mere canoes, and the absurdity of supposing that he had not a
common interest with them in all respects. But Porras was as persistent in
his desire to go, as Columbus in his determination to stay; and, taking
possession of the canoes which had been purchased from the natives, the
mutineers set out on their journey towards Hispaniola, leaving the admiral
and his brother with scarcely any adherents except those whom sickness
incapacitated for undertaking the journey.

BAD CONDUCT OF MUTINEERS.

The progress of Porras and his followers through the island was marked by
a series of outrages on the natives which completely neutralized the
effect of the admiral's conciliatory policy. They seized forcibly on
whatever provisions could be found, and mockingly referred the owners to
Columbus for payment. Three attempts to cross over to Hispaniola failed in
consequence of rough weather. On one occasion the canoes were in so much
danger of being swamped that the Spaniards cast everything on board into
the sea; and, as this did not lighten the canoes sufficiently, they then
proceeded to force overboard their unfortunate companions, the Indians,
who swam after them for a long time, but sank one by one, being prevented
by the swords of the Spaniards from approaching. Abandoning, as hopeless,
their design of reaching Hispaniola, the mutineers then proceeded to roam
over the island, quartering themselves on the Indians, and committing
every possible excess.

Of course the influence of this conduct on the relations between Columbus
and the natives, was soon apparent. The trinkets and beads, which had once
been so precious in their eyes, had first lost the charm of novelty, then
the value of rarity. The circulating medium became so depreciated that
provisions were scarcely procurable. And, similarly, the personal
veneration which the natives had first evinced for the white men, had
given way to contempt and to hatred, when familiarity had shown how
worthless were these "superior beings." The Indians refused t