CaUing his men together, he told them that << a crisis had now
arrived in their affairs, which it demanded' all their courage to
meet. No man should think of going forward in the expedi-
tion who could not do so with his whole heart, or who had the
least misgiving as to its success. If any repented of his share
in it, it was not too late to tusn back. San Miguel was but
poorly garrisoned, and he should be glad to see it in greater
strength. Those who chose might return to this place, and
Aey should be entitled to the same proportion of lands and
Indian vassals as the present residents. With the rest, were
they few or many, who chose to take their chance with him,
he should pursue the adventure to the end." ^

It was certainly a remarkable proposal for a commander who
was ignorant of the amount of disaffection in his ranks, and
who could not safely spare a single man from his force, already
&r too feeble for the undertaking. Yet, by insisting on the
wants of the little colony of San Miguel, he afforded a decent
pretext for the secession of the malecontents, and swept away
the barrier of shame which might have still held them in the
camp. Notwithstanding the fair opening thus afforded, there
were but few, nine in all, who availed themselves of the gener-
al's permission. Four of these belonged to the infantry, and
five to the horse. The rest loudly declared their resolve to go
forward with their brave leader ; and, if there were some whose
voices were faint amidst the general acclamation, they at least
relinquished the right of complaining hereafter, since they had
voluntarily rejected the permission to return.^ This stroke of

!• •* Que todot los que quirieaeii bdvene i. U chidad de San Migud y arecmdarse alU
demas de los vecinos que alii quedabon d lea depositaria repartimientos de Indios oon que
■e sottubiesen cono lo habia hedio con bs otros Yecinos ; k que con los Espafioles que
^nedaaen, pocos 6 mudioa, iria A conquistar k pa cificar la tiena en demanda y persecudon
dd camino que llevaba." Oviedo, Hist de las Indias, MS., Parte 3, lib. 8, cap. 3.
