"I do not think that Cristoforo will ever rule again in
Hispaniola! King Ferdinand has his own measure and goes
about to apply it. The Queen flinches now from decisions.
--Well, what of it? After all, we were bred to the sea,
I have a notion that his son Diego--an able youth--may
yet be Viceroy. He has established his family, if so be he
does not bring down the structure by obstinating overmuch!
He sees that, the Admiral, and nods his head and steps
aside. As for native pride and its hurt he salves that with
great enterprises. It is his way. Drouth? Frost? Out of
both he rises, green and hopeful as grass in May!"
"What of the Voyage?" asked Juan Lepe.
"That's the enterprise that will go through. Now that
Portugal and Vasco da Gama are actually in at the door,
it behooves us--more and more it behooves us," said Bartolomeo
Colombo, "to find India of All the Wealth! Spain
no less than Portugal wants the gold and diamonds, the
drugs and spices, the fine, thin, painted cloths, the carved
ivory and silver and amber. `Land, land, so much land!'
says King Ferdinand. `But _wealth_? It is all out-go! Even
your Crusade were a beggarly Crusade!' "
"Ha! That hurt him!" quoth Fray Juan Perez.
"Says the King. `Pedro Alonso Nino has made for us
the most profitable voyage of any who have sailed from
Cadiz.
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