230 



HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



bo priceless, and proceeded to Darien to obtain the means of 

 accomplishing his scheme. 



For a long time he was baffled. A terrific tempest laid waste 

 the fields and devastated the harvests. He sent to Hispaniola 

 for men and provisions ; but the emissary was wrecked upon the 

 coast of Jamaica. He wrote to Don Diego Columbus, who 

 governed at San Domingo, informing him of the existence of a 

 new ocean, bordered with shores of gold, and asking for a thou- 

 sand men with whom to prosecute its discovery. He forwarded 

 the sum of fifteen thousand crowns in gold, to be transmitted to 

 the king as his royal fifths. Many of his followers, too, sent 

 sums intended for their creditors in Spain. 



While waiting for a reply, Balboa learned indirectly that he 

 had fallen into disfavor with the king. One brilliant achieve- 

 ment might restore him to consideration and forever fix him in 

 the good graces of the monarch. He chose one hundred and 

 ninety of the most vigorous and resolute of his men, and took 

 with him a number of bloodhounds. His own peculiar body- 

 guard was a dog named Leoncico, — one of the numerous progeny 

 sired by the famous warrior-dog of Juan Ponce de Leon. Leon- 

 cico was covered with scars received in his innumerable fights 

 with the natives. Balboa often lent him to others, and received 

 for his services the same share of booty an able-bodied man 

 would have claimed. Leoncico had earned for his master in 

 this way several thousands of dollars. 



On the 1st of September, 1518, Balboa embarked with his 

 followers in a light brigantine and nine canoes, and ascended a 

 stream which was navigable as far as Coyba. Here he received 

 accessions of men, and, having sent back those who were ill 

 or disabled, prepared to penetrate the wilderness on foot. In 

 a battle with a cacique named Quaragua, he slew six hundred 

 of the natives. Some were transfixed with lances, others hewn 

 down with swords, and others torn to pieces by the bloodhounds. 

 He advanced hardly seven miles a day, but at last reached a 



