THE
COMPANIONS OF COLUMBUS.
133
tention to treat the people of Darien in the same
manner.
" What folly is it in you," added he, " being your own masters, and in such free condition, to send for a tyrant to rule over you !" The people of Darien were convinced by this concurring tes足 timony, and confounded by the overwhelming evil they had thus invoked upon their heads.
They had deposed Enciso for his
severity, and they had thrown themselves into the power of one who threatened to be ten times more severe !
Vasco Nunez de
Balboa observed their perplexity and consternation.
He drew
them one by one apart, and conversed with them in private. " You are cast down in heart," said he, " and so you might well be, were the evil beyond all cure.
But do not despair ; there is
an effectual relief, and you hold it in your hands.
If you have
committed an error in inviting Nieuesa to Darien, it is easily remedied by not receiving him when he comes !"
The obvious足
ness and simplicity of the remedy struck every mind, and it was unanimously adopted.
CHAPTER
XIII.
CATASTROPHE OP THE UNFORTUNATE NICUESA.
W H I L E this hostile plot was maturing at Darien, the unsuspect足 ing Nieuesa pursued his voyage leisurely and serenely, and ar足 rived in safety at the mouth of the river.
On approaching the
shore he beheld a multitude, headed by Vasco Nunez, waiting, as he supposed, to receive him with all due honor.
He was about