66 FEVER ON BOARD. 



with a thick fog. The wind blew hard, and the sea was 

 very rough. Large drops of rain fell at intervals, and 

 every indication menaced tempestuous weather. When 

 the sun rose, and the fog cleared away, they saw the 

 island of Tobago. It was a heap of rocks carefully cul- 

 tivated. The dazzling whiteness of the stone formed an 

 agreeable contrast to the verdure of some scattered tufcs 

 of trees. Cylindric and very lofty cactuses crowned the 

 top of the mountains, and gave a peculiar physiognomy 

 to this tropical landscape. The wind slackened after 

 sunset, and the clouds disappeared as the moon reached 

 the zenith. The number of falling stars was consider- 

 able on this and the following nights. 



The malady which had broken out on board the 

 Pizarro had made rapid progress, from the time when 

 they approached the coasts of Terra Firma ; but having 

 nearly reached the end of their voyage, they flattered 

 themselves that all who were sick would be restored to 

 health, as soon as they could land them at the island of 

 St. Margareta, or the port of Cumana. 



This hope was not destined to be realized. The young- 

 est of the passengers attacked with the malignant fever 

 fell a victim to the disease. He was an Asturian, nine- 

 teen years of age, the only son of a poor widow. Seve- 

 ral circumstances rendered the death of this young man 

 affecting. He had embarked against his own inclination ; 

 and his mother, whom he had hoped to assist by the 

 produce of his efforts, had made a sacrifice of her affec- 

 tion in the hope of securing the fortune of her son, by 

 sending him to the colonies to a rich relation, who re- 

 sided at the island of Cuba. The unfortunate young 

 man expired on the third day of his illness, having fallen 



