BOOK XVIII.
CHAPTER
I.
DEPARTURE OF COLUMBUS FOR SAN DOMINGO.—HIS RETURN TO SPAIN.
THE arrival at Jamaica of the two vessels under the command of Salcedo, had caused a joyful reverse in the situation of Colum bus. He hastened to leave the wreck in which he had been so long immured, and hoisting his flag on board of one of the ships, felt as if the career of enterprise and glory were once more open to him. The late partisans of Porras, when they heard of the arrival of the ships, came wistful and abject to the harbor, doubt ing how far they might trust to the magnanimity of a man whom they had so greatly injured, and who had now an opportunity of vengeance. The generous mind, however, never harbors revenge in the hour of returning prosperity ; but feels noble satisfaction in sharing its happiness even with its enemies. Columbus forgot, in his present felicity, all that he had suffered from these men ; he ceased to consider them enemies, now that they had lost the power to injure : and he not only fulfilled all that he had promised them, by taking them on board the ships, but relieved their necessities from his own purse, until their return to Spain ; and