The night was deep, and black clouds drifted in from the East. On this night, to ensure safety, the Castilian Exploration Fleet left the coast twenty miles behind, anchoring in the deep sea. By the next morning, they once again hoisted their sails, taking advantage of the west wind to search for the southern coast.
The clouds on the horizon had not dispersed, and it looked like rain was imminent. The calls of the solitary thrush on the coast of Cuba were as clear and pleasant as the partridges from their Andalusian homeland.
"May the Almighty protect us! Drizzle is coming, the partridge calls—it's a good omen! We are bound to make a gain today!..."
Pinzon encouraged the crew's morale, gazing at the southern sea and skies. On the southern horizon, the desolate and green jungle coastline unfurled once more. The fleet followed the coast until they quickly found a wide river mouth, four or five miles across, which led to a seemingly endless lagoon—a fertile and vast bay!
