hands she prepared his evening meal, poured his wine for him, and placing him in bed soothed him to repose.

Next morning Balboa despatched a ship and caravel to Coyba for the companions and treasures which had been left behind. Fulvia, knowing something of the importance of the success of the expedition, asked if he need now fear his enemies

at court.

"No," he answered. "The discovery of that sea will silence them, and elevate me to the highest favor with my sovereign.'

He wrote letters to the king, setting forth all he had heard and seen of the southern sea, and of the rich countries upon its border. Beside the royal fifths of the expedition, he prepared a present for the sovereign, in the name of himself and his companions, consisting of the largest and most precious pearls they had collected. As an intelligent and trusty envoy on so delicate a mission, Pedro de Arbolancha, a true and well-tried friend, who had shared his toils and dangers and was fully informed of all the circumstances, was chosen.

The delays of his ambassador proved fatal to Balboa. Bachelor Encisco pursued the usurping governor with such relentless fury that, before the arrival of his friend, Don Pedrarias Davila was appointed governor of Darien, and sent to explore

the unknown ocean, a rumor of which had reached the king.

Before his arrival, Balboa enjoyed a period of tranquillity and happiness. He devoted his time and attention to the improvement of his colony, and Darien was soon the most prosperous of all the Spanish settlements in the New World. If he entertained fears that affairs were not going right in Spain, these fears were lulled to repose by lapse of time. One evening, while reclining on a cot, Francisco Pizarro called to inform him that a fleet of vessels had just come in sight.

"Perhaps it comes from Spain," said Balboa, his hopes alternately rising and falling as he reflected that the news might be good or bad.

The ships belonged to the newly appointed governor, who fearing the redoubtable Balboa, anchored a league from the settlement, and sent a messenger on shore to announce his arrival. The envoy, having heard so much in Spain of the powers and exploits of Balboa, and the riches of Golden Castile, expected to find a blustering warrior maintaining barbaric state in the government which he had usurped. Great was his astonishment, therefore, to find this redoubtable hero a plain unassuming man, clad in cotton frock and drawers, with hempen sandals on his feet, directing and aiding the labor of several Indians who were thatching his cottage. The mes

senger cautiously and respectfully approached the conqueror, who, ceasing in his labors, turned anxiously to hear him, for already he had misgivings.

"Señor Balboa," he said, “I am a messenger sent to announce the arrival of Don Pedrarias Davila, governor of Darien."

Whatever might have been Balboa's feelings at this intelligence, his features were too well schooled to exhibit any emotion.

"Tell Don Pedrarias he is welcome, and I congratulate him on his safe arrival, and am ready with all who are here to obey his orders," was his dis

creet answer.

The envoy had scarce taken his departure with Balboa's answer, when all Darien was in an uproar. Francisco Pizarro and other warm adherents of Balboa were loud in their protestations and declared in favor of resisting the new governor with force.

"No, it will not do to resist a governor sent by the king," said Balboa. "We must submit and trust to time to right our wrongs."

Next day (June 30) Pedrarias landed and at once assumed control of the colony. He went first to Balboa's house accompanied by his public notary, Oviedo, the historian.

"I am directed by our king," he said, “to treat

you with great favor and distinction, to consult you about the affairs of the colony, and apply to you for information."

Balboa, innocent and unsuspecting, gave him all the information he required. During the interview Fulvia remained in an adjoining apartment trembling with dread.

"I am sorry that you gave him the information he required," she said, when they were alone.

"Why?"

"Having gained it, he will now have no further use for you, and may take it into his head to dispose of you, for he is a bad man."

Fulvia proved correct, for in a few days Pedrarias dropped the mask and proclaimed a judicial scrutiny into the conduct of Balboa and his officers.

The examination was conducted by the licentiate who had come as alcalde mayor, but Balboa's shrewdness again came to his relief. He procured as witnesses none but his friends, who described his heroism in such highly colored terms that Pedrarias, becoming alarmed lest the examination should elevate the man he had designed to crush, stopped it.

At this time a fearful epidemic seized the town. Every one was more or less affected, even the veterans of the colonies, but to none was the epidemic more fatal than the crowd of youthful cavaliers, who had once flitted so gayly about the streets of

Seville, and had come to the New World filled with the most sanguine expectations. The governor himself was attacked, and for days lay at death's door.

On his recovery, Pedrarias, finding his colony reduced to the most straitened circumstances, despatched a ship-load of starving people to Cuba, and sent an expedition into the country to forage among the natives for provisions. Fearing to increase the popularity of Balboa, should he appoint him to the command of the expedition, he entrusted it to a favorite, and the only man competent for such leadership remained idle in the colony.

Thinking to pursue his explorations at his own risk, Balboa despatched a friend to Cuba for ships, men, and supplies for that purpose. This was all done secretly, however, for he did not care to trust the governor. The weary weeks that followed were passed in idleness by him who was capable of making Darien prosperous.

One evening, as Balboa sat dejected and broken in spirit in his hut, Fulvia, who ever remained his good angel, came to report a vessel loaded with armed men off the coast who wished to consult with him. It proved to be his agent, Andres Garabita, from Cuba, where he had procured a vessel and recruits for exploring the South Sea.

"I must communicate with him at once," said