So the king and queen gave him special permission to come on mule-back.
When Columbus appeared before the queen, looking so sick and troubled, Isabella was greatly affected.

She thought of all he had done and all he had gone through and all he had suffered, and as he came to the steps of the throne the queen burst into tears.

That made Columbus cry too, for he thought a great deal of the queen, and he fell at her feet and told her how much he honored her, and how much he was ready to do for her, if he could but have the chance.
Then the king and queen told him how sorry they were that any one should have so misunderstood their desires and have treated their brave and loyal Admiral so shamefully.

They promised to make everything all right for him again, and to show him that they were his good friends now as they always had been since the day he first sailed away to find the Indies for them and for Spain.
Of course this made Columbus feel much better.

He had left Hayti in fear and trembling.