We began to build by the fort a storehouse for much gold.
Suddenly we found--Diego Mendez, bold enough and
a great wanderer, doing the finding--that Quibian's village
up the river of Veragua contained many too, many young
men and men in their prime, and that by day and night
these continued to pour in. It had--Diego Mendez thought
--much the aspect of a camp whose general steadily received
reenforcement.
Next day came to the Admiral an Indian who betrayed
his people. Quibian never meant to have in Veragua a
swarm of white caciques! When he had about him every
young man, he was coming, coming, coming through the
woods!
The Admiral sent the Adelantado. That strong man chose
fourscore Spaniards, armed them and departed. By boat
and through thick forest he reached Quibian's village, descended
upon it like a hurricane and seized Quibian, much
as long ago--long, long ago it seemed to us--Alonso de
Ojeda had seized Caonabo.
Juan Sanchez the pilot held Quibian in the long boat
while the Adelantado still wrought upon the land. Juan
Sanchez was strong and wary, and watchful; so they swore
were all the Spaniards in the boat. Yet when night was
fallen that Indian, bound as he was, broke with a shout
from them all and leaped from boat into black river.
They thought he perished, seeing him no more for all
their moving about and bringing the boat to the land.
Pages:
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393