Espinosa and the six troopers returned two days later.* He said he saw three supply tents on the St. Johns opposite St. Nicholas.* St. Nicholas was the narrowest part of the river, about 48 miles away.* When they tried to get near enough to see what was in the tents, a gun went off nearby.* It appeared to be a signal that his party was discovered.* They retreated quickly, worried they’d get cut off.* In his 2nd letter of January 31st, Montiano said Espinosa reported seeing many people, but not a single boat.* He also said Espinosa was trying to approach the river bank when he heard gunshots.* The river makes a horseshoe bend around the St. Nicholas landing.* Espinosa said he withdrew to a safe spot where the land projected out into the bend.* Espinosa and his men agreed that the gunshots were probably the enemy’s advance guards sending signals to each other.* Espinosa assured Montiano that no other inexperienced person would have gone forth because of the musket fire.* It sounded to Montiano like the English were taking great care to not be seen working in the St. Nicholas area.* Between that and the fact that the area was advantageous and narrow, he believed they were building fortifications there.*