They kept to the canoes, therefore, and would occasionally seize them to recover breath.

The cruel Spaniards cut off their hands and stabbed them with their swords.

Thus eighteen of their Indian comrades died, and they had none left, but such as were of most help in managing the canoes.

Once on land, they doubted whether to make another effort or to return to Columbus.
Eventually they waited a month, for another opportunity to go to Hispaniola; but this failed as before, and losing all patience, they returned westward, to the commander whom they had insulted, living on the island "by fair means or foul," according as they found the natives friendly or unfriendly.
Columbus, meanwhile, with his half the crew, was waiting.

He had established as good order as he could between his men and the natives, but he was obliged to keep a strict watch over such European food as he still had, knowing how necessary it was for the sick men in his number.
On the other hand, the Indians, wholly unused to regular work, found it difficult to supply the food which so many men demanded.
The supplies fell off from day to day; the natives no longer pressed down to the harbor; the trinkets, with which food had been bought, had lost their charm; the Spaniards began to fear that they should starve on the shore of an island which, when Columbus discovered it, appeared to be the abode of plenty.