sit in the judge's seat.

No sooner was this turbulent leader appeased than another rebel arose.
This time, sad to say, it was the brave Alonzo de Ojeda. Because he had
succeeded in taking the chief Caonabo prisoner, Columbus had rewarded
and honored him by making him captain of a voyage of discovery among the
islands. All this time, no doubt, Ojeda was loyal to his Admiral; but he
had recently made a trip home to Spain, where, from his friend Bishop
Fonseca, he had learned many things, false as well as true, that
poisoned his mind against his great leader. So he in turn gathered the
discontented into a threatening band.

"I have word from Spain," he told them, "that our good queen lies dying.
She is the only friend Cristobal Colon has; and you may be sure that the
minute she is dead I can easily arrange to have her favorite removed if
you will all rally around me." Many, of course, lent ear to his
treacherous talk, and these had many a skirmish with the few who were
faithful to Columbus.

Ojeda, besides sneering at and opposing the Admiral's authority, wrote
letters back to Fonseca telling him all sorts of unfavorable things
concerning Columbus and his brothers. All the rebels, in truth, were
sending back complaints, for the old and the new world sent little
packet ships monthly. What they did not write was told in Spain by those
of Roldan's men whom Columbus had sent home. Some indeed went straight
to the king himself with their stories, with the result that the queen
had to agree with her husband, who had never been much interested in
Columbus and his savages, that the whole matter must be thoroughly
investigated.