The boat approached. I saw the bared head, higher than any other, the
white hair, the blue-gray eyes, the strong nose and lips, the
whole majestic air of the man, as of a great one chosen. Master
Christopherus--Don Cristoval--_el Almirante_! One of the rowers, and
that was Sancho with whom I had walked on the Fishertown road, first
saw me and gave a startled cry. All in the boat turned head. I heard the
Admiral's voice, "Aye, it is! It is!"

Boat touched sand, there was landing. All sprang out. The Admiral took
me in his arms. "You alone--one only?"

I answered, "One only. The most died in their duty."

He released me. "Senors, this is senor Juan Lepe, that good physician
whom we left. Now tell--tell all--before we go among this folk!"

By water edge I told, thirty men of Spain around me. A woeful story, I
made it short. These men listened, and when it was done fell a silence.
Christopherus Columbus broke it. "The wave sucks under and throws out
again, but we sail the sea, have sailed it and will sail it!--Now were
these Indians false or fair?"

I could tell how fair they had been--could praise Guarico and
Guacanagari and Guarin. He listened with great satisfaction. "I would
lay my head for that Indian!"

Talk with him could not be prolonged, for we were in a scene of the
greatest business and commotion. When I sought for Guarin he was gone.
Nor was Guacanagari yet at hand. I looked at the swarming ships and ship
boats, and the coming and coming upon the beach of more and more clothed
men, and at the tall green palms and the feathered mountains. This
host, it seemed to me, was not so artlessly amazed as had been we of the
_Santa Maria_, the _Pinta_ and the _Nina_, when first we came to lands
so strange to Europe. Presently I made out that they had seen others
of these islands and shores. Coming from Spain they had sailed more
southerly than we had done before them. They had made a great dip and
had come north-by-west to Hispaniola. I heard names of islands given by
the Admiral, Dominica, Marigalante, Guadaloupe, Santa Maria la Antigua,
San Juan. They had anchored by these, set foot upon them, even fought
with people who were Caribs, Caribals or Cannibals. They had a dozen
Caribs, men and women, prisoners upon the _Marigalante_ that was the
Admiral's ship.

This group about Juan Lepe, survivor of La Navidad, talked like seasoned
finders and takers. For the most part they were young men and hidalgos,
fighters