Don Alonso marched, and the Adelantado marched.
At dawn one morning, four sails. We all poured forth
to watch them grow bigger and yet bigger. Four ships from
Cadiz, Antonio de Torres commanding, and with him colonists
of the right kind, mechanics and husbandmen.
Many proposals, much of order, came with Torres. The
Admiral had gracious letters from the Queen, letters somewhat
cooler from King Ferdinand, a dry, dry letter from
Fonseca. Moreover Torres brought a general letter to all
colonists in Hispaniola. The moral of which was, Trust
and Obey the Viceroy of the Indies, the Admiral of the
Ocean-Sea!
"Excellent good!" said Luis Torres. "Don Pedro Margarite
and the Apostolic Vicar had not reached Cadiz when
Don Antonio sailed!"
The Admiral talked with me that night. Gout again crippled
him. He lay helpless, now and then in much pain.
"I should go home with Antonio de Torres, but I cannot!"
"You are not very fit to go."
"I do not mean my body. My will could drag that on
ship. But I cannot leave Hispaniola while goes on formal
war. But see you, Doctor, what a great 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.
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