This Country of Ours

left behind, and the three little vessels, smaller than river craft of today, were alone upon the trackless waste of waters. And when the men sa

ar from home upon this seemingly endless waste of waters, Columbus determined to keep them from knowing how far they had really gone. So he kept two reckonings. One,

flew round the ships. Now the waves bore to them a rudely carved stick, now the ships ploughed a way through masses of floating weeds. All these sig

d superstitious minds the very breeze which had borne them softly onward became a menace. For if the wind always blew steadily from the east how was it possible ever to return to Spain? So Columbus was almo

a large sum of money to the man who should first discover land. But

to throw him overboard some dark night, and then give out that he had fallen into the sea by accident. No one would know. No one in Spain woul

d his best to hearten them again. He spoke to them cheerfully, persua

ut at length one morning a sudden cry from the

ho shouted. "Land, land, my lord!

sank upon his knees, giving praise to God. The crew followed his example. Then, their hearts suddenly li

yous way. But when morning dawned the land seemed no nearer than before. Hope died away again, and sorrowfully a

day when Columbus walked on deck he was met, not merely with sullen looks, but with angry words. The men c

them of what honour and gain would be theirs when they returned home having found t

," he said, "I have t

ll I find them,

t for much longer, Columbus knew right well, would they obey him if land did no

r in the distance he saw a glimmering light appear and disappear once and again. It was as if some one walking carried a light. But so fearful was Columbus lest his

the officer,

em thought much of it. Columbus, however, made sure that land was close, and calling the men about hi

held on their way. Then from the Pinta ther

or goal was reached. The land proved to be an island covered with beautiful tree

and when they reached the shore and folded their wings the natives fled in terror to the shelter of the forest. But seeing that they were

each carrying in his hand a white banner with a green cross and the crowned initials of the King and Queen, which was the special banner devised for the great adventure. Every man was dressed in his best, and the gay-coloured clothes, the

cheeks he gave thanks to God, the whole company following his example. Then rising again to his feet, Co

o kiss his hands and feet praying forgiveness for their insolence and mutiny, and promising in the future to obey him without ques

ot even reached Cipango, the rich and golden isle. But he had at least, he thought, found some outlying island off the coast of India, and that India itself could not be

ht to be the island which is still called San Salvador or Cat Island. But lately people have come to

nd beautiful fruits: "trees of a thousand sorts, straight and tall enough to make masts for the largest ships of Spain." He saw flocks of gaily coloured

at eastern potentate, robed in splendour and seated upon a golden throne; instead everywhere he found only naked savages. They were friend

ld him of a land where the people gathered gold on the beach at night time by the light of torches; others again told him of a land where gold was so common that the people wor

ded upon the most easterly point of India. He could not be far, he thought, from the palace of the Grand Khan, and choosing out two of his company he sent the

or they told how they had met men and women with firebrands in their hands made of herbs, the end of wh

of the earth. But they thought nothing of these things. For what were roots and dried herbs to those who

d out of greed, for he thought "that the Indians would show him where there was much gold." This desertion grieved Columbus greatly, for he feared that Pinzon might find gold, and sailing home bef

, and finding everywhere gentle, kindly savag

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