thing their Majesties plan for, and what courtesy and respect they
show me! See how the Queen writes!"

I knew that it was balm and wine to him, how she wrote. The matter in
question was nothing more or less than an amicable great meeting between
the two sovereigns and the King of Portugal, the wisest subjects of both
attending. A line was to be drawn from top to bottom of Ocean-Sea, and
Portugal might discover to the east of it, and Spain to the west! The
Holy Father would confirm, and so the mighty spoil be justly divided.
Every great geographer should come into counsel. The greatest of them
all, the Discoverer, surely so! The Queen urged the Admiral's presence.

But he could not go. Sense of duty to his Viceroyship held him as with
chains. Then Bartholomew? But Bartholomew was greatly needed for the
war. He sent Don Diego, a gentle, able man who longed for a cloister and
a few hundred monks, fatherly, admirably, to rule.

Antonio de Torres stayed few weeks in Hispaniola. The Viceroy and
Admiral would have his letter in the royal hands. Torres took that and
took gold and strange plants, and also six hundred Indian captives to be
sold for slaves.

War went on in Hispaniola, but not for long. We had horses and
bloodhounds and men in armor, trained in the long Moorish strife. There
was a battle in the Vega that ended as it must end.

Behechio and Anacaona fled to the high mountains. Manicoatex and
Gwarionex sued for peace. It was granted, but a great tribute was
imposed. Now all Hayti must gather gold for Spain.

Now began, a little to-day and a little to-morrow, long woe for Hayti!
It was the general way of our Age. But our Age sinned.

The year wheeled to October. Juan Aguado came with four caravels to
Isabella, and he brought letters of a different tenor from those
that Torres brought. We heard in them the voice of Margarite and the
Apostolic Vicar.

But now the Admiral was well again, the Indians defeated, Hispaniola
basking in what we blithely called peace. Aguado came to examine and
interrogate. He had his letters. "Cavaliers, esquires and others, you
are to give Don Juan Aguado faith and credit. He is with you on our part
to look into--"

Aguado looked with a hostile eye toward Viceroy and Adelantado. Where
was a malcontent he came secretly if might be, if not openly, to Aguado.
Whoever had a grudge came; whoever thought he had true injury. Every one
who disliked Italians, fire-new nobles, sea captains