Noko was the first to see them. He was in his dugout fishing for turtles when he noticed strange sails moving against the far horizon. He had heard tales about the white-skinned men and their chief, Columbus. Could the white men be coming to Veragua?

He hurried with his news to his father, El Quibian, who ruled the Guaymi river people. And it was El Quibian's decision to meet the strangers in friendship.

But when Columbus and his men discovered gold inland and determined to found a permanent settlement, El Quibian saw them as enemies. The Indians would burn down the settlement.

Instead, El Quibian and his family were captured and held as hostages. They managed to escape, however. All but Noko—who was forced to sail with the Spaniards to La Española. Would he ever see his home again? Did he face slavery? Or death?

This tautly exciting adventure story is the first to tell of the voyages of Columbus as seen through the eyes of an Indian boy. A vividly realistic book, based in large measure upon the diaries of the son of Christopher Columbus.

From the dust jacket