Their own cacique, Guacanagari, had been attacked by two other chiefs, Caonabo and Mayreni.

They had burned his village, and he had been wounded in the leg, so that he could not come to meet the Spaniards that night.

As the Indians went away, however, they promised that they would bring him to visit them the next day.

So the explorers remained "consoled for that night." Next day, however, events were less reassuring.

None of last night's party came back and nothing was seen of the cacique.