among men who had
descended from heaven, gazed with wonder at the battle. When it was
over, they approached the field, and looked with amazement on the
dead bodies of the beings whom they had thought immortal. It is said,
however, that at the mere sound of a groan from one of the wounded they
fled in dismay.

The Adelantado returned in triumph to the ships. He brought with him
his prisoners. Only two of his party had been wounded, himself and his
steward. The next day the remaining fugitives sent in a petition to the
Admiral, confessing their misdeeds and asking for pardon.

He saw that their union was broken; he granted their prayer, on the
single condition that Francesco de Porras should remain a prisoner. He
did not receive them on board the ships, but put them under the command
of a loyal officer, to whom he gave a sufficient number of articles for
trade, to purchase food of the natives.

This battle, for it was such, was the last critical incident in the long
exile of the Spaniards, for, after a year of hope and fear, two vessels
were seen standing into the harbor. One of them was a ship equipped,
at Columbus's own expense, by the faithful Mendez; the other had been
fitted out afterwards by Ovando, but had sailed in company with the
first vessel of relief.

It would seem that the little public of Isabella had been made indignant
by Ovando's neglect, and that he had been compelled, by public opinion
to send another vessel as a companion to that sent by Mendez. Mendez
himself, having seen the ships depart, went to Spain in the interest of
the Admiral.

With the arrival at Puerto Bueno, in Jamaica, of the two relief vessels,
Columbus's chief sufferings and anxiety were over. The responsibility,
at least, was in other hands. But the passage to San Domingo consumed
six tedious weeks. When he arrived, however, it was to meet one of his
triumphs. He could hardly have expected it.

But his sufferings, and the sense of wrong that he had suffered, had, in
truth, awakened the regard of the people of the colony. Ovando took him
as a guest to his house. The people received him with distinction.

He found little to gratify him, however. Ovando, had ruled the poor
natives with a rod of iron, and they were wretched. Columbus's own
affairs had been neglected, and he could gain no relief from the
governor. He spent only a month on the island, trying, as best he could,
to bring some order into the administration of his own p