310 THE SEA. 



savages, and lie landed with a considerable force, and several friars, who had been sent out 

 to convert the natives, were ordered to read aloud a manifesto, which had been specially written 

 by eminent divines and jurists in Spain. It was utterly thrown away on the savages, 

 who immediately made demonstrations of the most warlike kind. 



Cosa once more begged Ojeda to leave these unfriendly shores, but in vain, and 

 the latter, offering up a short prayer to the Virgin, led 011 a furious charge. 

 Juan de Cosa followed in the bravest manner, although the assault was contrary to his 

 advice. The Indians were soon driven off, and a number killed or taken prisoners, on 

 whose persons plates of gold were found. Flushed by this easy victory, he pursued them 

 into the interior, followed as usual by his faithful, though unwilling lieutenant. Having 

 penetrated deep into the forest, they came to a stronghold of the enemy, where they were 

 warmly received. Ojeda led his men on with the old Castilian war-cry, " Santiago ! " and 

 in a few minutes the Indians took to flight. "Eight of their bravest warriors threw 

 themselves into a cabin, and plied their bows and arrows so vigorously that the Spaniards 

 were kept at bay. Ojeda cried shame upon his followers to be daunted by eight naked 

 men. Stung by this reproach, an old Castilian soldier rushed through a shower of arrows 

 and forced the door of the cabin, but received a shaft through the heart and fell dead on 

 the threshold. Ojeda, furious at the sight, ordered fire to be set to the combustible edifice; 

 in a moment it was in a blaze, and the eight warriors perished in the flames.'" Seventy 

 prisoners were sent on board the ships. Ojeda, still against the strongly-expressed advice 

 of Cosa, continued his pursuit, and he and his followers arrived at what appeared to be 

 a deserted village. They had scattered in search of booty, when troops of savages, who 

 had been concealed in the forest, surrounded them. The desperate valour and iron armour 

 of the Spaniards availed little, for they were overwhelmed by numbers, and scattered into 

 detached parties. Ojeda collected a few of his followers, and made a desperate resistance from 

 the interior of a palisaded enclosure. " Here he was closely besieged and galled by flights 

 of arrows. He threw himself on his knees, covered himself with his buckler, and being 

 small and active, managed to protect himself from the deadly shower, but all his com- 

 panions were slain by his side, some of them perishing in frightful agonies. At this 

 fearful moment the veteran La Cosa, having heard of the peril of nis commander, arrived 

 with a few followers to his assistance. Stationing himself at the gate of the palisades, the 

 brave Biscayan kept the savages at bay until most of his men were slain, and he himself 

 was severely wounded. Just then Ojeda sprang forth like a tiger into the midst of the enemy, 

 dealing his blows on every side. La Cosa would have seconded him, but was crippled by 

 his wounds. He took refuge with the remnant of his men in an Indian cabin, the straw 

 roof of which he aided them to throw off, lest the enemy should set it on fire. Here he 

 defended himself until all his comrades but one were destroyed. The subtle poison of his 

 Avounds at length overpowered him, and he sank to the ground. Feeling death at hand, 

 he called to his only surviving companion. ' Brother/ said he, ' since God hath protected 

 thee from harm, sally forth and fly, and if thou shouldst see Alonzo de Ojeda, tell him of 

 my fate ! " Thus perished one of the ablest of the Spanish explorers, and one of the 

 most loyal of friends, a true counsellor, and a warm-hearted partisan. 



Meanwhile there was great alarm on the ships at the non-arrival of the seventy men 



