Thomas. The Indians
would no longer bring food. Caonabo was threatening from
the higher mountains. The Viceroy wrote to Margarite.
Compel the Indians to bring food, but as it were to compel
them gently!
Quarrels--quarrels at Isabella. Two main parties and
all the lesser ones. Disease and scarcity. Fray Geronimo
arrived from St. Thomas. He had stories. The Viceroy
grew dark red, his eyes lightened. Yet he believed that what
was told pertained to men of Margarite, not to that cavalier
himself. He wrote to Margarite--I do not know what.
But presently a plan arose in his mind and was announced.
Don Alonso de Ojeda was to command St. Thomas. Don
Pedro Margarite should have a moving force of several
hundred Castilians, mainly for exploration, but at need for
other things. Going here and there about the country, it
might impress upon Caonabo that the Spaniard though
gentle by nature, was dangerous when aroused.
Alonso de Ojeda, three hundred men behind him, went
forth on his black horse, to trumpet and drum, very gay
and ready to go. In a week he sent into Isabella six Indians
in chains. These had set upon three of Margarite's
men coming with a letter to the Viceroy and had robbed
them, though without doing them bodily injury. Alonso de
Ojeda had cut off their ears and sent them all in heavily
chained.
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