The “slight mark of his friendship” was—­a side of bacon, which, with a small cask of wine and a letter from Ovando he delivered to the admiral; and rowed off as fast as possible.  The whole scheme of this visit, which was probably planned by Ovando with the object of ascertaining the real condition and designs of Columbus, was in the last degree insulting to him and tantalizing to his companions, with whom D’Escobar would not permit any communication to be held.  However, the admiral wrote a civil reply to Ovando, describing piteously the hardships of his condition, and disclaiming any ulterior design with regard to the government of Hispaniola.  Carrying this missive, D’Escobar set sail at once, and was out of sight, on his return voyage, before the morning of the day after his arrival.

  Overtures to mutineers.

This mysterious visit was by no means satisfactory to the admiral’s companions.  As he alone had held communication with D’Escobar, he was free to give them whatever account he chose of his interview; and this liberty, it may be parenthetically observed, he did not scruple to exercise somewhat at the expense of strict truth.  He represented himself as having refused to depart with D’Escobar, because the caravel was too small to carry them all away, and he was determined to share their lot, confident in Ovando’s assurance of speedy succour.  He made overtures for a reconciliation to Porras, and endeavoured to persuade the mutineers to return on board the ships.  But these overtures were scornfully repulsed and the admiral’s messengers were sent back with threats of force.  As for the caravel, Porras had little difficulty in persuading his credulous followers that it was merely an apparition which Columbus had conjured up by magic arts; and such was the reputation for sorcery which the admiral had acquired by his astronomical observations, that even the sight and taste of some tangible bacon (half of that present from Ovando of which we have heard) which he sent as a peace offering to the mutineers, failed to convince them of the material character of the supposed phantom ship.

  Resort to arms.

Soon, however, the differences between the rival parties were brought to an issue.  The Adelantado received information that Porras was planning a descent on the ships, with the object of seizing the stores and capturing the admiral.  Resolving to anticipate this attack, he placed himself at the head of fifty[25] devoted partisans of Columbus, and sallied out to engage the mutineers.  A furious struggle ensued; but the Adelantado performed prodigies of valour, and his followers were better supplied with fire-arms than the rebels; so that the latter sustained a complete defeat, and their leader Porras was carried off as a prisoner to the ships.

  [Footnote 25:  It would appear from this number that either there had
  been some defection from the ranks of the mutineers or that more than
  half the Spaniards had remained faithful to the admiral.]