he _Consolacion's_ long boat danced by her side. The Admiral would
send to land but one boat, and in it for envoy Pedro de Terreros, a
well-speaking man and known to Don Nicholas de Ovando. Terreros was
envoy, but with him the Admiral sent Juan Lepe, who through the years in
Hispaniola had tried to heal the sick, no matter what their faction.
The Admiral stayed upon the _Consolacion_, the Adelantado upon the
_Margarita_.

The harbor was filled with ships. We counted eighteen. We guessed that
they were preparing for sailing, the little boats so came and went
between. And our entry had caused excitement. Ship and small boat hailed
us, but to them we did not answer. Then came toward us from the shore a
long boat with the flag of Spain and in it an official.

Our wharf! Juan Lepe had left it something more than a year and a half
ago. San Domingo was grown, many Spaniards having sailed for the west
in that time. I saw strangers and strangers, though of Spanish blood.
Walking with the officer and his people to the Governor's house gave
time for observation and swift thought. Throng was forming. One had
early cried from out it, "That's the doctor, Juan Lepe! 'Tis the Admiral
out there!" That it was the Admiral seemed to spread. San Domingo buzzed
like the air about a hive the first spring day. Farther on, out pushed a
known voice. "Welcome, welcome, Doctor!" I looked, and that was Sancho.
Luis Torres was in Spain. I had seen him in Cadiz. The crowd was
thickening--men came running--there was cry and query. Suddenly rose a
cheer. "The Admiral and the Adelantado in their little ships!" At once
came a counter-shout. "The Genoese! The Traitors!"

I saw--I saw--I saw that there was some wisdom in King Ferdinand!

The Governor's house that used to be the Viceroy's house. State--state!
They had cried out upon the Genoese's keeping it--but Don Nicholas
de Ovando kept more. While we waited in the antechamber I saw, out of
window and the tail of my eye, files of soldiery go by. Ovando would not
have riot and disturbance if twenty Admirals hung in the offing! He
kept us waiting. He would be cool and distant and impregnable behind
the royal word. Juan Lepe saw plainly that that lavish and magnanimous
person aboard the _Consolacion_ would not meet here his twin. The
Adelantado must still, I thought, sail the _Margarita_. And yet, looking
at all things, that exchange of ships should have been made. A Spaniard,
wheresoever found, should h