The Spaniards tried to escape to the boat. The islanders followed them and directed their fury to Magellan. They struck him twice on his helmet.
Magellan's thought now was not for himself, but for the safety of his men.
He stood at his own post fighting that they might make safe their retreat.
He thus broke the assault for nearly an hour, until he was almost left alone.
An Indian suddenly rushed down toward him having a cane lance. He thrust this into his face. Magellan wounded the Indian, and attempted to draw his sword. But he had received a javelin wound in his arm, and his strength failed.
Seeing him falter, the Indian rushed upon him and brought him down to the earth with a rude sword.
The Indians now fell upon him and ran him through with lances.
He tried to rise up, to see if his men were safe. He did not call for assistance, but to the last sought to secure the safety of his men. In fact, he never seemed to so much as think of himself in the whole contest. It was thus that his life went out, and his heart ceased to beat. He was left dead on the sand, on April 27, 1521. The natives refused to surrender his body. Eight of his own men and four Indians, who had become Christians, perished with him.
The death of Magellan.