T H E C O M P A N I O N S OF C O L U M B U S .
CHAPTER
235
XXVI.
RECONNOITERING EXPEDITION OF GARABITO.
STRATAGEM OF
PEDRARIAS TO ENTRAP VASCO NUNEZ.
T H E person intrusted with the reconnoitering expedition to Acla was Andres Garabito, in whose fidelity and discretion Vasco Nunez had implicit confidence.
His confidence was destined to
be fatally deceived. According to the assertions of contemporaries, this Garabito cherished a secret and vindictive enmity against his commander, arising from a simple but a natural cause.
Vasco
Nunez had continued to have a fondness for the Indian damsel, daughter of the cacique Careta, whom he had received from her father as a pledge of amity.
Some dispute arose concerning her
on one occasion between him and Garabito, in the course of which he expressed himself in severe and galling language.
Garabito
was deeply mortified at some of his expressions, and, being of a malignant spirit, determined on a dastardly revenge.
He wrote
privately to Pedrarias, assuring him that Vasco Nunez had no intention of solemnizing his marriage with his daughter, being completely under the influence of an Indian paramour ; that he made use of the friendship of Pedrarias merely to further his own selfish views, intending, as soon as his ships were ready, to throw off all allegiance, and put to sea as an independent com足 mander. This mischievous letter Garabito had written immediately after the last departure of Vasco Nunez from Acla.
Its effect upon
the proud and jealous spirit of the governor may easily be con足 ceived.
All his former suspicions were immediately revived.
They acquired strength during a long interval that elapsed with-