No answer, however, was made to his signal, which he repeated, but to which he failed to attract any response.

He was standing south at the time, the wind being well in the north-east; and Martin Alonso Pinzon, whose caravel pointed into the wind much better than the unhandy Santa Maria, was standing to the east.

When evening fell he was still in sight, at a distance of sixteen miles.

Columbus was really concerned, and fired lombards and flew more signals of invitation; but there was no reply.

In the evening he shortened sail and burned a torch all night, "because it appeared that Martin Alonso was returning to me; and the night was very clear, and there was a nice little breeze by which to come to me if he wished." But he did not wish, and he did not come.
Martin Alonso has in fact shown himself at last in his true colours.