unfriendly reception.

What a relief it must have been to him when, instead, he found himself
graciously received. Not a word did the sovereigns utter of their
dissatisfaction, either over the affairs of the colony or the small
amount of gold. He told them all about his trip along Cuba and the new
islands found; and of course he could not refrain from telling them that
just before he left Hispaniola _real_ gold mines had been
discovered from which they might "confidently expect large returns."
They thanked him for his new discoveries and showed him many marks of
favor. Instead of paying attention to the many complaints which had been
made against Bartolome Colon, they told the Admiral that his brother
might remain vice-governor for life. A little later they told him they
would take his young son Fernando into the royal household and educate
him, and after a time they began to make plans for a third voyage. How
much better it all turned out than he had been led to expect from
Agnado's conduct!

For his next voyage Columbus asked for eight ships and the sovereigns
complied. More than three hundred men were to be sent out, paid by the
Crown; and as many more, if they would volunteer to go without pay, were
promised a third of the gold they got out of the mines, besides a share
in other products.

All these fair promises, where he had been expecting disgrace, must have
lifted a load from Columbus's mind; but he was soon to find, as in years
gone by, that a long time may elapse between promise and fulfillment.
Months and months rolled slowly away and Columbus was still kept waiting
in Spain.