This so angered the Indians that they marched down to Don
Christopher's Cove, surrounded the beached ships, and threatened to kill
every Spaniard there.
It so happened that there was to be an eclipse of the moon that night,
and Columbus suddenly recalled it and turned the fact to good use. He
told the angry natives that the power that had made the moon and the
stars was very displeased with them and would prove it that very night
by darkening the moon. The childish creatures decided to wait before
attacking and see if the Admiral spoke the truth. When the eclipse
really started, they became terrified and sent their chiefs to ask
Columbus's pardon; Columbus promptly declared that the light of the moon
would return if the Indians would faithfully promise to treat the
Spaniards kindly and supply them with food. The credulous creatures
hastened to procure it; and as they brought it to the shore, the moon
kindly emerged from the black shadow that had covered it. Result, the
Indians believed Columbus to be a superior being and from that time on
they fed him and his men well. This eclipse was on February 29, 1504.
But even with plenty of food the months of waiting were long and dreary.
Had the brave Diego Mendez gone to the bottom? He must have perished,
thought the Admiral, for surely if he had reached San Domingo alive even
the harsh Comendador Ovando could not have refused to send aid to
stranded countrymen on a savage island! But why not, good Admiral? Had
not this same Ovando refused to let you enter the harbor of San Domingo
last year when the frightful hurricane was gathering?
Yet that was what happened.
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