Columbus, meanwhile, was on his way back to Palos, on his mule, alone.
But at a bridge, still pointed out, a royal courier overtook him,
bidding him return. The spot has been made the scene of more than one
picture, which represents the crisis, in which the despair of one moment
changed to the glad hope which was to lead to certainty.

He returned to Isabella for the last time, before that great return in
which he came as a conqueror, to display to her the riches of the New
World. The king yielded a slow and doubtful assent. Isabella took
the enterprise in her own hands. She and Columbus agreed at once, and
articles were drawn up which gave him the place of admiral for life on
all lands he might discover; gave him one-tenth of all pearls, precious
stones, gold, silver, spices and other merchandise to be obtained in his
admiralty, and gave him the right to nominate three candidates from whom
the governor of each province should be selected by the crown. He was to
be the judge of all disputes arising from such traffic as was proposed;
and he was to have one-eighth part of the profit, and bear one-eighth
part of the cost of it.

With this glad news he returned at once to Palos. The Pinzons, who had
been such loyal friends, were to take part in the enterprise. He carried
with him a royal order, commanding the people of Palos to fit out two
caravels within ten days, and to place them and their crews at the
disposal of Columbus. The third vessel proposed was to be fitted out
by him and his friends. The crews were to be paid four months' wages in
advance, and Columbus was to have full command, to do what he chose, if
he did not interfere with the Portuguese discoveries.

On the 23rd of May, Columbus went to the church of San Giorgio in Palos,
with his friend, the prior of St. Mary's convent, and other important