Cape Verde Islands.

Columbus had instructed the commander of this little fleet to coast
along the southern shore till he found the new seaport which Bartholomew
was building; but somehow the commander missed it, and sailed much
farther west and into the very territory where the Roldan rebels were.
Knowing nothing of their disloyalty, he sent a large number of men
ashore to inquire for San Domingo. These, as ill luck would have it,
fell in with Roldan and his men. We may readily imagine the
conversations that ensued.

"Don't go to the town," the malefactors warned the newcomers. "It is
nothing but work, work, work, and no pay. We are supposed to be paid out
of the gold found, but the amount is so small that not a grain of it
ever reaches us! Better stay here and go from one Indian village to
another, taking food and golden ornaments from the natives." And the
shore party, instead of searching for San Domingo, stayed with Roldan.

The three caravels then continued their search, but never reached San
Domingo till a few days after Columbus himself had come up from South
America.




CHAPTER XVII

A RETURN IN DISGRACE