/>
probable that some of the other settlers received advice through the

same channels; still, they neglected even the ordinary precautions.



At last, a soldier named Juan Gonzalez, who had learned the native

language in la Espanola, took upon himself to discover what truth

there was in these persistent reports, and, naked and painted so as to

appear like one of the Indians, he assisted at one of the nocturnal

meetings, where he learned that a serious insurrection was indeed

brewing; he informed Soto Mayor of what he had heard and seen, and the

latter now became convinced of the seriousness of the danger.



Before Gonzalez learned what was going on, Guaybana had summoned the

neighboring caciques to a midnight "areyto" and laid his plan before

them, which consisted in each of them, on a preconcerted day, falling

upon the Spaniards living in or near their respective villages; the

attack, on the same day, on Soto Mayor's settlement, he reserved for

himself and Guarionez, the cacique of Utuao.



But some of the caciques doubted the feasibility of the plan. Had not

the fugitives from Quisqueia told of the terrible effects of the

shining blades they wore by their sides when wielded in battle by the

brawny arms of the dreaded strangers? Did not their own arrows glance

harmlessly from the glittering scales with which they covered their

bodies? Was Guaybana quite sure that the white-faced invader could be

killed at all? The majority thought that before undertaking their

extermination they ought to be sure that they had to do with a mortal

enemy.



Oviedo and Herrera both relate how they proceeded to discover this.

Urayoan, the cacique of Yagueeca, was charged with the experiment.

Chance soon favored him. A young man named Salcedo passed through his

village to join some friends. He was hospitably received, well fed,

and a number of men were told to accompany him and carry his

luggage. He arrived at the Guaoraba, a river on the west side of the

island, which flows into the bay of San German. They offered to carry

him across. The youth accepted, was taken up between two of the

strongest Indians, who, arriving in the middle of the river, dumped

him under water - then they fell on him and held him down till he

struggled no more. Dragging him ashore, they now begged his pardon,

saying that they had stumbled, and called upon him to rise and

continue the voyage; but the young man did not move, he was dead, and

they had the proof that the supposed demi-gods were mortals after all.



The news spread like wildfire, and from that day the Indians were in

open rebellion and began to take the offensive, shooting their arrows

and otherwise molesting every Spaniard they happened to meet alone or

off his guard.



The following episode related by Oviedo illustrates the mental

disposition of the natives of Boriquen at this period.



Aymamon, the cacique whose village was on the river Culebrinas, near

the settlement of Soto Mayor, had surprised a lad of sixteen years

wandering alone in the forest. The cacique carried him off, tied him

to a post in his hut and proposed to his men a game of ball, the

winner to have the privilege of convincing himself and the others of

the mortality of their enemies by killing the lad in any way he

pleased. Fortunately for the intended victim, one of the Indians knew

the youth's father, one Pedro Juarez, in the neighboring settlement,

and ran to tell him of the danger that menaced his son. Captain Diego

Salazar, who in Soto Mayor's absence was in command of the settlement,

on hearing of the case, took his sword and buckler and guided by the

friendly Indian, reached the village while the game for the boy's life

was going on. He first cut the lad's bonds, and with the words "Do as

you see me do!" rushed upon the crowd of about 300 Indians and laid

about him right and left with such effect that they had no chance even

of defending themselves. Many were killed and wounded. Among the

latter was Aymamon himself, and Salazar returned in triumph with the

boy.



But now comes the curious part of the story, which shows the character

of the Boriquen Indian in a more favorable light.



Aymamon, feeling himself mortally wounded, sent a messenger to

Salazar, begging him to come to his caney or hut to make friends with

him before he died. None but a man of Salazar's intrepid character

would have thought of accepting such an invitation; but he did, and,

saying to young Juarez, who begged his deliverer not to go: "They

shall not think that I'm afraid of them," he went, shook hands with

the dying chief, changed names with him, and returned unharmed amid

the applauding shouts of "Salazar! Salazar!" from the multitude, among

whom his Toledo blade had made such havoc. It was evident from this

that they held courage, such as the captain had displayed, in high

esteem. To the other Spaniards they used to say: "We are not afraid of

you, for you are not Salazar."



* * * * *



It was in the beginning of June, 1511. The day fixed by Guaybana for

the general rising had arrived. Soto Mayor was still in his grange in

the territory under the cacique's authority, but having received the

confirmation of the approaching danger from Gonzalez, he now resolved

at once to place himself at the head of his men in the Aguada

settlement. The distance was great, and he had to traverse a country

thickly peopled by Indians whom he now knew to be in open rebellion;

but he was a Spanish hidalgo and did not hesitate a moment. The

morning after receiving the report of Gonzalez he left his grange with

that individual and four other companions.



Guaybana, hearing of Soto Mayor's departure, started in pursuit.

Gonzalez, who had lagged behind, was first overtaken, disarmed,

wounded with his own sword, and left for dead. Near the river Yauco

the Indians came upon Soto Mayor and his companions, and though there

were no witnesses to chronicle what happened, we may safely assert

that they sold their lives dear, till the last of them fell under the

clubs of the infuriated savages.



That same night Guarionex with 3,000 Indians stealthily surrounded the

settlement and set fire to it, slaughtering all who, in trying to

escape, fell into their hands.



In the interior nearly a hundred Spaniards were killed during the

night. Gonzalez, though left for dead, had been able to make his way

through the forest to the royal grange, situated where now Toa-Caja

is. He was in a pitiful plight, and fell in a swoon when he crossed

the threshold of the house. Being restored to consciousness, he

related to the Spaniards present what was going on near the

Culebrinas, and they sent a messenger to Caparra at once.



Immediately on receipt of the news from the grange, Ponce sent Captain

Miguel del Toro with 40 men to the assistance of Soto Mayor, but he

found the settlement in ashes and only the bodies of those who had

perished.