CHAPTER XX

THE COURAGE OF DIEGO MENDEZ


At last they were clear of the most disastrous landing that Columbus had
ever made. What you have read is but the bare sketch of a chapter in his
life that was crowded thick with misfortunes and even horrors. And yet,
strange to say, on this detestable coast is the only settlement in the
New World that perpetuates the great discoverer's name, the town of
Colon, at the Atlantic terminus of the Panama Canal.

The Admiral's health was now ruined, for fevers, sleeplessness, gout,
and eyestrain kept him in constant pain, and at times made even that
strong mind of his a little queer and wobbly. But on one point at least
it remained alert and lucid,--he still could think out his course
clearly. With a view to avoiding the treacherous winds and coastwise
currents that had previously wrought such havoc with his ships, he set
his rudders due east on leaving Veragua; his idea being to sail first
east and then north to San Domingo.

Straightway the crews became alarmed, thinking he meant to return direct
to Spain, in spite of the fact that the ships were too rotten for the
long trip. But no; the Admiral hoped, besides escaping currents, to
mystify them as to the geographical position of the gold coast.
Remembering how Alonzo de Ojeda had gone back and reaped riches from the
pearl coast, and how Pedro Nino, that captain who brought slaves to
Cadiz and sent word that he had brought a cargo of gold, and also been
to Paria, Christopher decided to zigzag about in such a manner that no