The three caravels then continued their search, but never reached San
Domingo till a few days after Columbus himself had come up from South
America.
CHAPTER XVII
A RETURN IN DISGRACE
What a discouraging state of affairs to greet the returning "Governor-
General and Viceroy of all the Lands Discovered in the Western Seas!"
What comfort were all these titles that Columbus stood out for so
obstinately, when half his colonists had joined a rebel leader and the
other half were sick and hungry!
By this time Roldan's army was so large that Christopher and his brother
had to admit to each other that there was no chance of subduing the
insurrection by force. In truth, there was no "force"; for those who
were not ill, even the newcomers, were all grumbling against the
government. So there was nothing to do but make a treaty with the rebel
leader, as if he had been the lawful ruler of a state; and in this
treaty he had everything his own way. Columbus had humbly to agree to
give two vessels to carry the discontented ones back to Spain; to fill
these vessels with ample provisions, and to agree to write a letter to
the monarchs stating that Roldan and his men were in no way to blame for
the trouble. Here was humiliation indeed! Fancy a high official of the
Crown being forced to such an undignified treaty with one who had
rebelled against his authority!
But even this did not end the trouble.
Pages:
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162