On January 19th, the Indians who went to Picolata with two soldiers the day before returned.* They said they got close to Picolata but saw nothing.* Somehow, Montiano found out that they had not even gone half the distance to Picolata.* The soldiers who had left with them returned also.* They said they had scouted the estuary of Nicola, but didn’t find anything.* Soon after, Geronimo returned.* He had gone all the way to Picolata, and saw two boats in the river there.* The boats just sat in the middle of the river without moving.* Montiano wondered if they were stationed there.* Perhaps they were watching to see if any Spanish armament entered the bar.* If they saw a Spanish ship, one of the two boats could sail off and warn their colonies, while the other could rush to notify the 12 vessels at St. Nicholas.* Meanwhile, it seemed quite possible that the men in those boats could take over the Pupo fort across from Picolata.* That afternoon, Montiano sent Laureano Solana, sergeant of cavalry, with eight soldiers and four Indians, to see if the two boats were still there, and if they had taken the Pupo fort.*