THE
C O M P A N I O N S OF C O L U M B U S .
3.3
intrusion, dispatched Francisco Roldan, the quondam rebel, to call Ojeda to account. The contest of stratagem and management which took place between these two adroit and daring adventurers, has been already detailed in the History of Columbus.
Roldan
was eventually successful, and Ojeda, being obliged to leave Hispaniola, resumed his rambling voyage, visiting various islands, from whence he carried off numbers of the natives.
He at length
arrived at Cadiz in June, 1500, with his ships crowded with captives, whom he sold as slaves.
So meagre, however, was the
result of this expedition, that we are told, when all the expenses were deducted, but five hundred ducats remained to be divided between fifty-five adventurers.
"What made this result the more
mortifying was, that a petty armament, which had sailed some time after that of Ojeda, had returned two months before him, rich with the spoils of the New World.
A brief account of this
latter expedition is necessary to connect this series of minor dis足 coveries, which will be found to lead to enterprises and transac足 tions of more stirring interest and importance.
VOL. III.
c