It is possible that Ferdinand and Isabella wanted to see what the colony
could do without him; or perhaps there really was no other reason than
that given, that Spain herself needed every available ship at that time.
First, she was sending a great expedition against Naples; being at war
with France also, she needed a fleet to guard her own seacoast. Further,
as a brilliant marriage had been arranged between two of the royal
children of Spain and two of the royal children of Burgundy, there was
extra need of ships to carry these princes, in suitable state, across
the Bay of Biscay. Indeed, these various Spanish plans called not only
for ships, but money; and yet the government managed finally to set
aside six million maravedis for Columbus's use. Before he could begin to
spend it, however, Ferdinand took it back again, and under circumstances
that were very mortifying to the waiting Columbus.

Just after the royal treasurer was ordered to put this sum at the
Admiral's disposal, word came to court that Pedro Nino had arrived from
Espanola with ships laden with gold!

"There now," cried Christopher in glee, "did I not tell you gold was
sure to come?"

"Well then," craftily reasoned King Ferdinand, "hasten you to Cadiz with
an order to Pedro Nino to pay the government's share over to you for
your ships, and I will keep these six million maravedis in my own
treasury for war expenses."

But it all turned out to be a sorry joke on the part of Captain Pedro
Nino. His ships were full of slaves which, he laughingly declared, he
expected to turn into gold in the slave market.