That evening they cast anchor and went ashore at the island of Guahi to see if any one knew of other islands among which might be found one named Santa Cruz. Their disappointment was profound. Brandon for a while thought that perhaps some other San Salvador was meant in the letter. This very idea had occurred to him before, and he had made himself acquainted with all the places of that name that existed. None of them seemed, however, to answer the requirements of the writing. Some must have gained the name since; others were so situated that no island could be mentioned as lying to the north. On the whole, it seemed to him that this San Salvador of Columbus could alone be mentioned. It was alluded to as a well-known place, of which particular description was unnecessary, and no other place at that day had this character except the one on which he had decided. One hope yet remained, a faint one, but still a hope, and this might yet be realized. It was that Guahi was not Santa Cruz; but that some other island lay about here, which might be considered as north from San Salvador. This could be ascertained here in Guahi better perhaps than any where else. With this faint hope he landed. Guahi is only a small island, and there are but few inhabitants upon it, who support themselves partly by fishing. In this delightful climate their wants are not numerous, and the rich soil produces almost any thing which they desire. The fish about here are not plentiful, and what they catch have to be sought for at a long distance off. “Are there any other islands near this?” asked Brandon of some people whom he met on landing. “Not very near.” “Which is the nearest?” “San Salvador.” “Are there any others in about this latitude?” “Well, there is a small one about twelve leagues east. There are no people on it though.” “What is its name?” “Santa Cruz.” Brandon’s heart beat fast at the sound of that name. It must be so. It must be the island which he sought. It lay to the north of San Salvador, and its name was Santa Cruz. “It is not down on the charts?” “No. It is only a small islet.” Another confirmation, for the message said plainly an islet, whereas Guahi was an island. “How large is it?” “Oh, perhaps a mile or a mile and a half long.” “Is there any other island near it?” “I don’t know.” “Have you ever been there?” “No.” Plainly no further information could be gathered here. It was enough to have hope strengthened and an additional chance for success. Brandon obtained as near as possible the exact direction of Santa Cruz, and, going back to the yacht, took advantage of the light breeze which still was blowing and set sail. [Illustration: “AN ISLAND COVERED WITH PALM-TREES LAY THERE.”]