the savages proceeded to thrust their fingers
into his wounds, Ledesma, who had fainted from pain, recovered
consciousness, and uttered a stentorian yell which put the Indians to
flight, says an ancient chronicler, "as if all the dead men were at their
heels." And as Ledesma eventually recovered, notwithstanding his having
received wounds sufficient to kill three ordinary persons, the natives
must have been inspired by a proper respect for the almost miraculous
vitality of the white men.

PORRAS A PRISONER.

The victory gained by the Adelantado was conclusive. The rebels at once
submitted to the admiral, who consented to pardon them; reserving only
their ringleader, Porras, for future punishment. It was arranged that they
should not again take up their habitation on board the ships, but Columbus
sent ashore a trusty lieutenant as their commander, and supplied them at
the same time with European articles to barter for food with the natives.
And so the two bands of castaways--one on ship and one on shore--awaited
the promised succour, with the weariness of hope deferred.

CHAPTER XIII.

It was not till the 28th of June, 1504, when just a year had elapsed since
their arrival at Santa Gloria, that the Spaniards were gladdened by the
sight of the two caravels which had been sent--one by Mendez, the other by
Ovando--to their relief. Their embarkation, as may be supposed, was
quickly effected; but adverse winds made the voyage to Hispaniola a long
one, and the two vessels did not reach St. Domingo before the 13th of
August.

CONFLICTING JURISDICTION.

Much to the surprise of the admiral, he found himself treated with the
most punctilious courtesy by Ovando, who even proceeded to the harbour,
with a numerous suite, to receive him in state upon his arrival. However,
differences soon arose as to the conflicting jurisdictions of the viceroy
and the governor; especially with regard to the case of Porras, whom
Ovando, in opposition to the admiral's wish, insisted upon releasing from
custody. Moreover he even announced his intention of instituting a general
enquiry as to the events which had taken place in Jamaica, in order to
decide whether Porras and his associates had been justified in their
rebellion. Columbus disputed the right of Ovando to take upon himself the
office of judge in such a matter; and remarked that his own authority as
viceroy must have sunk very low indeed, if it did not empower him to
punish