the respect and the obedience due to a person invested with supernatural powers.  He assembled the caciques of the neighbouring tribes.  Then, by means of an interpreter, he reproached them with refusing to continue to supply provisions to the Spaniards.  “The God who protects me,” he said, “will punish you.  You know what has happened to those of my followers who have rebelled against me; and the dangers which they encountered in their attempt to cross to Haiti; while those who went at my command,[24] made the passage without difficulty.  Soon, too, shall the divine vengeance fall on you; this very night shall the moon change her colour and lose her light, in testimony of the evils which shall be sent upon you from the skies.”

  [Footnote 24:  This was a gratuitous assumption:  as the admiral had as
  yet no tidings of the success of Mendez.]

  Result of prediction.

The night was fine:  the moon shone down in full brilliancy.  But, at the appointed time, the predicted phenomenon took place, and the wild howls of the savages proclaimed their abject terror.  They came in a body to Columbus, and implored his intercession.  They promised to let him want for nothing if only he would avert this judgment:  as all earnest of their sincerity they collected hastily a quantity of food, and offered it at his feet.  At first, diplomatically hesitating, Columbus presently affected to be softened by their entreaties.  He consented to intercede for them; and, retiring to his cabin, performed, as they supposed, some mystic rite which should deliver them from the threatened punishment.  Soon the terrible shadow passed away from the face of the moon; and the gratitude of the savages was as deep as their previous terror.  But, being blended with much awe, it was not so evanescent as gratitude often is; and henceforward there was no failure in the regular supply of provisions to the castaways.

  Despatch from Ovando.

Eight months had passed away without any tidings of Mendez, when, one evening there hove in sight a small caravel which stood in towards the harbour of Santa Gloria, and anchored just outside.  A boat which put off from the caravel brought on shore her commander, a certain Diego de Escobar, whom Columbus recognized as a person whom he had sentenced to be hanged as it ringleader in Roldan’s mutiny, and who had been pardoned by Bobadilla.  The proceedings of this person—­whose reprieve must have now seemed to the admiral particularly injudicious—­were singular enough.  Standing at a distance from Columbus, as if the admiral had been in quarantine, he shouted, at the top of his voice, a message from Ovando, to the effect that he (the governor) regretted the admiral’s misfortunes very keenly, that he hoped before long to send a ship of sufficient size to take him off.  He added, that in the meantime, Ovando begged him to accept a slight mark of his friendship.