his officers for mutinying against himself. This dispute was
unfortunate as regards the private interests of the admiral, for the
revenues arising from his property in the island had been collected under
the authority of the governor, who, upon the occurrence of this quarrel,
was easily able to raise difficulties in the way of his obtaining a fair
account of the proceeds. But he was all the more anxious to return to
Spain; and, within a month from his arrival at St. Domingo, he started
homeward in the caravel which had brought him from Jamaica.

FALLING FORTUNES.

But even in this last voyage he was forced to "make head against a sea of
troubles." His evil star was in the ascendant. Twice his vessel nearly
foundered. Twice her masts were sprung in successive tempests. His own
health was succumbing to the acute attacks of gout which had become more
and more frequent for the last few years. And so, prostrated by sickness,
nearly ruined in means, and now hopeless of encouragement from the
Sovereigns, the discoverer of the New World arrived at Seville, on the 7th
of November, 1504, in as miserable a plight as his worst enemy could have
wished.

He could scarcely expect to be received with much favour at court. He had
failed in the search for that strait leading to the kingdom of the Grand
Khan, the discovery of which had been the special object of his
expedition; he had lost his ships; he had brought home wonderful stories
of golden lands, but no gold. Porras[26] was at large, and had influence
at court, which enabled him to stimulate the existing prejudice against
Columbus.

[Footnote 26: It seems just possible that, as the original narrative of
the mutiny of Porras was written by Fernando Columbus, who would
naturally take his father's side, something is to be said for Porras
which has not been said for him by historians.]

DEATH OF THE QUEEN.

Poor, old, infirm, he had now to receive intelligence which was to deepen
all his evils. He remained at Seville, too unwell to make a journey
himself, but sent his son Diego to court, to manage his affairs for him.
The complaints of the admiral, that he had no news from court, are quite
touching. He says, he desires to hear news each hour. Couriers are
arriving every day, but none for him: his very hair stands on end to hear
things so contrary to what his soul desires. He alludes, I imagine, to the
state of the Queen's health; for, in a memorandum of instructi