306 THE SEA. 



back to the ships. Upon this Ojeda landed with all his force, and struck such terror into- 

 the Indians that they came forward with signs of amity, and brought a considerable 

 quantity of gold as a peace-offering, which was graciously accepted." The construction of 

 the fortress was at once commenced, and although interrupted by the attack of a neighbouring 

 cacique, who was, however, easily defeated, Ojeda's men completed it speedily. It contained 

 a magazine of provisions, dealt out twice a day, and was defended by cannon. The 

 treasure gained in trade, or by robbery, was deposited in a strong box with double locks. 



Meantime provisions were becoming scarce, while the vessel which had been despatched 

 to Jamaica for supplies did not appear. "The people, worn-out with labours and priva- 

 tions of various kinds, and disgusted with the situation of the settlement, which was in a 

 poor and unhealthy country, grew discontented and factious. They began to fear that 

 they should lose the means of departing, as their vessels were in danger of being destroyed 

 by the marine worms. Ojeda led them forth repeatedly upon foraging parties about 

 the adjacent country, and collected some provisions and booty in the Indian villages. The 

 provisions he deposited in the magazine, part of the spoil he divided among his followers, 

 and the gold he locked up in the strong box, the keys of which he took possession of, 

 to the great displeasure of the supervisor and his associate Ocampo. The murmurs of the 

 people grew loud as their sufferings increased. They insinuated that Ojeda had no authority 

 over this part of the coast, having passed the boundaries of his government, and formed 

 his settlement in the country, discovered by Bastides. By the time Vergara arrived from 

 Jamaica the factions of this petty colony had risen to an alarming height. Ocampo had a 

 personal enmity to the governor, arising probably from some feud about the strong box ; and 

 being a particular friend of Vergara, he held a private conference with him, and laid a plan 

 to entrap the doughty Ojeda. In pursuance of this the latter was invited on board the 

 caravel of Vergara, to see the provisions he had brought from Jamaica; but no sooner 

 was he on board than they charged him with having transgressed the limits of his govern- 

 ment, with having provoked the hostility of the Indians, and needlessly sacrificed the lives 

 of his followers, and above all, with having taken possession of the strong box, in contempt 

 of the authority of the royal supervisor, and with the intention of appropriating to himself 

 all the gains of the enterprise. They informed him, therefore, of their intention to convey 

 him a prisoner to Hispaniola, to answer to the governor for his offences." Ojeda was 

 entrapped, and scarcely knew what to do. He proposed to Vergara and Oeampo that they 

 should return to Spain with such of the men as were tired of the enterprise, and they at 

 first agreed with this, and promised to leave him the smallest of the vessels, and a third 

 of the provisions and spoils. They even engaged to build him a row boat before leaving, 

 and commenced the work ; but the ship carpenters were invalids, and there were no caulkers, 

 and the two conspirators soon changed their minds, and resolved to take him prisoner to 

 Hispaniola. He was put in irons, and the vessels set sail, having on board the whole of 

 the little community, as well as that strong box of gold and treasure, the disputed 

 possession of which was at the bottom of most of this trouble. 



Arrived off the desired coast, Ojeda made a bold struggle for liberty. He was a strong 

 man and a good swimmer, so one night he Jet, himself down quietly into the soa, and made 

 an attempt to reach the land. But, while his arms were free, his feet were shackled with 



