After the Spaniards had almost subdued the inhabitants of Porto Rico, they were very anxious to find out whether their new masters were immortal, as it was generally supposed they were. One of the caziques, accordingly, by many acts of kindness, induced one of the young Spaniards to visit him.
This young man at last accepted the invitation, thinking himself quite safe. He was persuaded to let himself be carried over a river. In the midst of it, those that bore him dropped him into the water and held him there so long that he was drowned.
They then brought the breathless body to the shore, but could not persuade themselves that he was dead. They called him repeatedly by name, saying, “Salcedo, get up! it is not our fault that you fell into the river.” They watched the corpse three days, till it began to decay.
This was reported to the cazique, but he was so far from giving credit to it, that he sent others to see if Salcedo did not rise when called. At last he went to view the body himself, but this did not satisfy him; he ordered it to be watched still longer, till it was in such a state as to remove all doubt.
The natives now began to think that their masters were mere mortals like themselves; the consequence of which, was a general insurrection a short time after.
Winter Sport.
Down, down the hill,
How swift I go!
Over the ice