308 THE SEA. 



who had saved two thousand castillanos (somewhat over the same number of pounds sterling), 

 to invest his money in the enterprise. Ojeda promised to make him Alcalde Mayor, or Chief 

 Judge, and the prospect of such dignity dazzled the notary. It was arranged that the latter 

 should remain in Hispaniola to beat up recruits and supplies, and with them he was to follow 

 in a ship purchased by himself. 



" Two rival governors/' says Irving, " so well matched as Ojeda and Nicuesa, and both 

 possessed of swelling spirits, pent up in small but active bodies, could not remain long in a 

 little place like San Domingo without some collision. The island of Jamaica, which had been 

 assigned to them in common, furnished the first ground of contention ; the province of Darien 

 furnished another, each pretending to include it within the limits of his jurisdiction. Their 

 disputes on these points ran so high that the whole place resounded with them." Nicuesa was 

 the better talker, having been brought up at court, while Ojeda was no great casuist. He was, 

 however, an excellent swordsman, and always ready to fight his way through any question of 

 right or dignity, and he challenged Nicuesa to single combat. Nicuesa was no coward, but 

 as a man of the world, saw the folly of such a proceeding, so he slyly proposed that they 

 should each deposit five thousand castillanos just to make the fight interesting and to 

 constitute a prize for the winner. This rather checked poor Ojeda, who had not a dollar he 

 could call his own ; but his cool and discreet friend Cosa had a considerable amount of trouble 

 with him afterwards, before he could bring him to reason. The character of Cosa, as we shall 

 see hereafter, was a very noble one. He was Ojeda's best counseller and truest friend. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 



THE COMPANIONS AND FOLLOWERS OF COLUMBUS (concluded). 



Nicuesa and the Duns of San Domingo -Indian Contempt for a Royal Manifesto La Cosa's Advice Disregarded Ojeda's 

 Impetuosity A Desperate Fight Seventy Spaniards Killed La Cosa's Untimely End Ojeda found Exhausted in the 

 Woods A. Rival's Noble Conduct Avenged on the Indians A New Settlement -Ojeda's Charm fails A Desperate 

 Remedy In Search of Provisions Wrecked on Cuba A Toilsome March Kindly Natives -Ojeda's Vow Redeemed 

 Dies in Abject Poverty The Bachelor Enciso and Balboa Smuggled on Board in a Tub Leon and his Search 

 for the Fountain of Youth Discovery of Florida Magellan Snubbed at Home Warmly seconded by the Spanish 

 Emperor His resolute Character -Discovery of the Straits His Death The First Voyage round the World- 

 Captain Cook's Discoveries His Tragical Death Vancouver's Island. 



NICUESA remained some time in San Domingo after the sailing of his rival's fleet, obtaining so 

 many volunteers that he had to purchase another ship to convey them. That commander was 

 much more the courtier than the man of business, and expended his money so freely that in the 

 end he found himself seriously involved. Some of his creditors, knowing that his expedition was 

 not favourably regarded by the governor, Admiral Don Diego Columbus, threw every obstacle 

 in the way of his departure, and never was an unfortunate debtor more harassed by duns, most 

 of whom he managed, however, to satisfy or mollify. His forces, which now numbered seven 

 hundred men, were safely embarked, but just as he was stepping into his boat he was arrested 



