The Viceroy condemned them to be beheaded, but
when they were on their knees before the block reprieved
them, one by one. He kept them chained for a time for
all visiting Indians to see, then formally pardoned them
and let them go.
Matters quieted. Sickness again sank, a flood retiring,
leaving pools. Alonso de Ojeda and Pedro Margarite reported
peace in Hispaniola. The Admiral came forth from
his house one day and said quietly to this one and that one
that now he meant again to take up Discovery.
He gave authority in Isabella to Don Diego, and made him
a council where sat Father Buil, Caravajal, Coronel and
Juan de Luxan. Then out of five ships we took the _Cordera_,
the _Santa Clara_ and the _San Juan_, and we set sail on April
the twenty-fourth.
CHAPTER XXXI
THE island, we learned, was named Jamaica. The Admiral
called it Santiago, but it also rests Jamaica.
Of all these lands, outside of the low, small islands
to which we came first, Cuba seemed to us the peaceable
land. Jamaica gave us almost Carib welcome. Its folk had
the largest canoes, the sharpest, toughest lances. Perhaps
they had heard from some bold sea rover that we had come,
but that we were not wholly gods!
Our crossbow men shot amongst them. The arrows failed
to halt them, but when we sent a bloodhound the dog did
our work.
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