Columbus, threw several officials into prison, put himself at the head
of the garrison, and announced that he was going inland after the
Admiral!

On his making this show of insolent power, every one believed that he
was to be the new governor, and that he had been authorized even to put
Columbus to death. At once they gave way to all the meanness of their
natures and, in order to gain favor with the new viceroy, they began
bitterly denouncing the old.

Columbus, who had received word of Agnado's advent into Isabella,
hurried to meet him there. Seeing himself in a sorry plight, he told
Agnado that he would immediately go back to Spain and answer his
sovereigns' inquiries in person. This was in October, 1495. But all
sorts of ill luck prevented his going. A frightful hurricane tore over
the island and sank the four vessels which Agnado had brought; then a
wanderer came in with tales of a real gold mine in the south of the
island and the report had to be investigated. Next, the several forts
which had been built had to be strengthened and stocked with provisions;
so that it was not till March, 1496, that the Admiral was ready to sail.
Only two caravels now remained in Isabella harbor. One of these was the
faithful little _Nina_; and on her the weary Admiral returned to
Spain.




CHAPTER XVI

THE THIRD VOYAGE