116
VOYAGES
A N D D I S C O V E R I E S OF
by others as an adroit fencing-master.
He intimates, also, that
he was a mere soldier of fortune, of loose prodigal habits ; and the circumstances under which he is first introduced to us justify this character.
He had fixed himself for a time in Hispaniola,
and undertaken to cultivate a farm at the town of Salvatierra, on the sea-coast, but in a little time had completely involved himself in debt.
The expedition of Enciso presented him with an oppor足
tunity of escaping from his embarrassments, and of indulging his adventurous habits.
T o elude the vigilance of his creditors and
of the armed escort, he concealed himself in a cask, which was conveyed from his farm on the sea-coast on board of the vessel, as if containing provisions for the voyage.
When the vessel was
fairly out at sea, and abandoned by the escort, Vasco Nunez emerged like an apparition from his cask, to the great surprise of Enciso, who had been totally ignorant of the stratagem.
The
Bachelor was indignant at being thus outwitted, even though he gained a recruit by the deception ; and, in the first ebullition of his wrath, gave the fugitive debtor a very rough reception, threat足 ening to put him on shore on the first uninhabited island they should encounter. Vasco Nunez, however, succeeded in pacifying him, " for God," says the venerable Las Cases, " reserved him for greater things."
It is probable the Bachelor beheld in him a
man well fitted for his expedition, for Vasco Nufiez was in the prime and vigor of his days, tall and muscular, seasoned to hard足 ships, and of intrepid spirit. Arriving at the main-land, they touched at the fatal harbor of Carthagena, the scene of the sanguinary conflicts of Ojeda and Nicuesa with the natives, and of the death of the brave Juan de la Cosa.
Enciso was ignorant of those events, having had no
tidings from those adventurers since their departure from San