ing to embark in the two brigantines left us, but having seventy men and only two small vessels, all could not go. We decided to wait until sickness, famine and poisoned arrows had reduced our numbers, so that we could all go in the two vessels. It did not take long; we were soon sufficiently reduced. Then we killed the four horses left with us, and salted them away to supply us with food. The other brigantine, commanded by Valenzuela, was foundered at sea, and all on board perished."

One of Pizarro's sailors added: "I saw a great whale or some other monster of the deep, strike the vessel with its tail and stave in its side as well as shatter the rudder, and it sank so near to us that we could hear the cries of our friends, but could not aid them."

66

Why did you come here?" asked Encisco.

"We put in for provisions?" Pizarro answered. Encisco being of a sanguine temperament, notwithstanding this melancholy story, determined to proceed to the conquest of Darien, and establish the government at San Sebastian. Expeditions made into the country were productive of rumors of gold in the interior, which raised the cupidity of the Spaniards. Gold was said to be so plentiful at a place called Zenu that it was taken in fishing

nets.

It was no easy task to induce Pizarro and his

starving crew to return. Balboa, burning with ambition, secretly urged Pizarro to do so.

"Come back with us, Pizarro, and we will rule the colony. Ojeda will return no more, no one knows where Nicuesa is, and this wild life will not long suit the Bachelor."

Pizarro's ambitious spirit at last took fire again, and, with his crew, he returned to San Sebastian to battle once more with the natives and explore the wonders of the New World.

Bachelor Encisco was unsuited for governor of the colony. The good generalship early displayed by Balboa soon placed him at the head of every successful expedition. He grew in favor so rapidly with the men, that Encisco became alarmed lest this man whom he had brought away in a cask should depose him. At Balboa's suggestion they landed at the village of a powerful cacique named Zemaco. After a skirmish, the natives abandoned their town, and a Spanish colony, under the name of Santa Maria de la Antigua del Darien, was formed.

Encisco had not long entered upon his duties as alcalde mayor and lieutenant governor, when there arose dissensions and disputes, in which Balboa and the Bachelor were arrayed against each other. In one of their discussions, Balboa openly defied Encisco's authority.

"Then you defy the power of the king," cried Encisco. "Ojeda's commission is from the crown,

and I hold under him."

"You are not in Ojeda's domain," Balboa answered. "The boundary line which separates the jurisdiction of Ojeda from Nicuesa runs through the centre of the gulf of Uraba. Darien lies on the western side, allotted to Nicuesa. As lieutenant of Ojeda your authority here is an usurpation.

This bold speech being uttered in the hearing of the colonists, most of whom were already opposed to Encisco, sounded the death knell of the Bachelor's power. His authority was set at defiance, and a few weeks later he yielded up the reins of government, returned to San Domingo and thence sailed for Spain.

To depose Encisco was an easy matter, for most men are ready to assist in pulling down, but to choose a successor was a task far more difficult. The time had come for Balboa to act, and he was not slow to avail himself of the opportunity. Some of the people were in favor of Nicuesa, as they were within his province, and while the discussion was running high, Colmenares, who was searching for Nicuesa, appeared on the scene. Balboa was willing to do what was fair among the men, and favored an equal division of gold. He ruled as governor

de facto until Nicuesa was found, at the port of Nombre de Dios, in a miserable starving condition. From Colmenares, Nicuesa learned of the rich and prosperous settlement at Darien in his own domain, and set out to take possession of it. But he proved as injudicious as was Encisco. Scarce had he taken possession, when he said to Balboa:

"Your men have gold taken in their conquests?" "They have,” admitted Balboa.

"Where is it?"

"It is theirs, won by hardships and perils, and will but ill requite them for what they have undergone."

Upon this, Nicuesa flew into a rage and swore the gold belonged to the crown, and that he would punish all private individuals for retaining it. Pizarro heard the remark, and as soon as he was alone with Balboa, asked:

"Are we compelled to yield up our private possessions?"

"Inform the men of the governor's demands," was the answer he received.

The cunning Balboa knew that this decision of Nicuesa would prove his ruin. An influential lawyer, Bachelor Carrol, was in favor of dispossess ing Nicuesa and selecting Balboa in his stead. became bold in his denunciation of Nicuesa.

He

"A blessed change we have made," he said.

"In summoning this Nicuesa to the command, we have called in the stork to rule who will not be satisfied until he has devoured us."

Two parties immediately arose in the colony, and Nicuesa was forced to fly for his life to the woods, and then to his brigantine in the harbor. The life of the unfortunate governor was in danger, and Balboa began to relent.

"Men and Spaniards!" he cried. "Deal not so harshly with Nicuesa. Remember he is a gentle

man and our governor."

"No, no, no! We will receive no such a fellow among us as Nicuesa," interrupted a brawling rascal named Francisco Benitez.

"Take out that brawling jester and reward him with a hundred lashes on his bare shoulders for the remark he has made against his governor," cried Balboa.

In a few moments the howling of Benitez was evidence that the order was being obeyed. The colonists were outspoken in their determination not to permit Nicuesa to rule over them. Balboa, a gentleman by birth, repented what he had done. He had not anticipated the popular fury which, in his ambition for power, he had helped to kindle. But Darien had rejected Nicuesa and would not have him under any consideration.

In vain Nicuesa reminded them that he was