the colonists were determined not to receive him, and having by specious promises, gotten Nicuesa into their hands, they compelled him to take passage with some of his adherents on board a wretched brigantine. He left the inhospitable shores of Darien March 1, 1511, and neither he nor the vessel was ever heard of again. Thus disaster and death overtook both the governors who had sailed from Hispaniola under such auspicious omens to found permanent settlements on Terra Firma.

CHAPTER III

THE DISCOVERY OF THE SOUTH SEA

WITH the departure of Nicuesa, there was a fine opportunity for a man of ability to rise up and, by dominating the various factions of Darien, make himself the real leader. The frank, bold disposition of Vasco Nuñez, coupled with his ambition to rule, indicated him as the natural chief, and he was not slow in embarking on the "tide that leads to fortune."

His first act was to invite some of Nicuesa's men who had remained at Nombre de Dios to come over and join their countrymen at Antigua. This invitation was gladly accepted, and the settlement, swelled by the accession, numbered two hundred and fifty men. His next step was to rid himself of the leaders of the opposition. Enciso was still fuming and fussing about his legal rights. So Nuñez, combining forces for the nonce with Zamudío, the other alcalde, accused the lawyer of exercising authority in the colony without a license from the king. Whatever weight this charge may have had, it was preposterous when brought by the two alcaldes, who had no legal standing themselves, unless we suppose that in the forests of Terra Firma civil law had been supplanted by natural law. However, to accuse Enciso was to convict him. His goods were confiscated, and he was kept a close prisoner until he agreed to leave the country. Nuñez then turned his persuasive powers upon Zamudío, and showing him how dangerous it would

be to permit Enciso to prefer charges against them at the Court of Spain, finally induced him to set off for that country to protect their several interests. With these two troublous elements removed, Nuñez was free to pursue his own policy. But he by no means underrated the dangers and responsibilities of his office. "No one need hope to rule this land," he wrote to the king, "and sit or sleep; for if he sleep, he will never wake. Day and night I think only of your majesty's interests. In every expedition I lead my men, and with truthful example and kind treatment of the natives, seek to bring into favor your majesty's government in these parts."

This loyalty to the king was, of course, not inconsistent with his intention to advance his own interests. He must have felt that now that he had allowed Enciso to escape to Spain-though what else he could have done, it is not easy to say he must hasten as much as possible to feather his own nest. Recognizing the magic power of gold, he intrusted a large sum to Valdivia, his regidor, and hurried him off to Hispaniola, there to win the good-will of the governor, Diego Columbus, son of the admiral. In this Valdivia was entirely successful; he was absent six months, but he brought back to Balboa a commission to act as lieutenant in the province. If Balboa could not obtain a commission from King Ferdinand, this was the next best thing. While waiting for Valdivia, he planned bold deeds that would condone all past offences and win the favor of the king.

Assuming the title of governor, he prepared for a campaign against the Indians. Having learned that Careta, chief of the neighboring province of Coiba, was rich in gold and maize, he sent thither Pizarro with six men. As they proceeded on their way, Cemaco with four hundred braves fell upon them with savage fury. Incased in mail, Pizarro and his men seem to have cut through their adversaries as the knights of Europe were accustomed to cut through a band of peasants. It is related by Herrera that after the

fight one hundred and fifty Indians lay eviscerated upon the field, while only one Spaniard was wounded.

As Pizarro returned to report this opposition, the governor himself took command and started in pursuit of the Indians. They had fled. After a fruitless search Balboa returned. But the attempt to find Careta was not to end thus.

Two men who had fled from one of Nicuesa's ships to avoid punishment, had taken refuge with this very cacique and had been most hospitably received. They now appeared on the coast, naked and painted like Indians, and informed those Spaniards who were on their way from Nombre de Dios to Antigua that if Balboa would come to the village of Careta, they would betray the chief and all his treasure into his hands.

It is hard to believe that so magnanimous a man as Balboa had proved himself to be would consent to profit by such treachery; but he seems to have seized the opportunity with avidity. Marching with one hundred and thirty men to the village of the chief, he demanded of Careta provisions sufficient to fill his ships. The Indian responded politely that he would give the Spaniards of his store, but that being at war with his inveterate enemy Ponca, his people had had no time to cultivate their fields and that his own supply was but small. Pretending satisfaction with this answer, the Spaniards retired, but returning at night, they attacked the village on three sides, and with the aid of the false friends of Careta, they destroyed the town and carried the chief and his family away to Antigua. When they reached that settlement, Careta made an eloquent appeal for liberty. "Take my gold," he cried, "and accept my daughter as a hostage, but let me go free; for I have not wronged you in any way." The beauty of the girl had already made an impression on the heart of Balboa, and his feelings were heartily reciprocated. She became his wife after the Indian fashion, and proved as faithful to his interests as Marina, his Mexican wife, to Cortés. Indeed her fidelity to him eventually caused his ruin.