Twice, a brave comrade named Diego Mendez started in an open boat for Hayti to bring relief.

The first time he was nearly shipwrecked, but the second time he got away all right.

And then for months nothing was heard of him, and it was supposed that he had been drowned.

But the truth was that Governor Ovando, had an idea that the king and queen of Spain were tired of Columbus and would not feel very bad if they never saw him again.

He promised to send help, but did not do so for fear he should get into trouble.