CHAPTER XXI.
"Pronounce what sea, what shore is this? The gulf, the rock of Salamis?"
Byron.
The adventurers had now been twenty-three days out of sight of land, allof which time, with the exception of a few very immaterial changes inthe wind, and a day or two of calms, they had been steadily advancingtoward the west, with a southern variation that ranged between a fourthof a point and a point and a quarter, though the latter fact was unknownto them. Their hopes had been so often raised to be disappointed, that asort of settled gloom now began to prevail among the common men, whichwas only relieved by irregular and uncertain cries of "land," as theclouds produced their usual deceptions in the horizon. Still theirfeelings were in that feverish state which admits of any sudden change;and as the sea continued smooth as a river, the air balmy, and the skiesmost genial, they were prevented from falling into despair. Sanchoreasoned, as usual, among his fellows, resisting ignorance and folly,with impudence and dogmatism; while Luis unconsciously produced aneffect on the spirits of his associates by his cheerfulness andconfidence. Columbus, himself, remained calm, dignified, and reserved,relying on the justice of his theories, and continuing resolute toattain his object. The wind remained fair, as before, and in the courseof the night and day of the 2d of October, the vessels sailed more thana hundred miles still further into that unknown and mysterious sea. Theweeds now drifted westerly, which was a material change, the currentspreviously setting, in the main, in an opposite direction. The 3d provedeven a still more favorable day, the distance made reaching toforty-seven leagues. The admiral now began to think seriously that hehad passed the islands laid down in his chart, and, with the highresolution of one sustained by grand conceptions, he decided to stand onwest, with the intention of reaching the shores of the Indies, at once.The 4th was a better day than either, the little fleet passing steadilyahead, without deviating from its course, until it had fairly made onehundred and eighty-nine miles, much the greatest day's work it had yetachieved. This distance, so formidable to men who began to count eachhour and each league with uneasiness, was reckoned to all on board, butLuis, as only one hundred and thirty-eight miles.
Friday, October 5th, commenced even more favorably, Columbus finding hisship gliding though the water--there being no sea to cause her to reeland stagger--at the rate of about eight miles the hour, which was almostas fast as she had ever been known to go, and which would have causedthis day's work to exceed the last, had not the wind failed in thenight. As it was, however, fifty-seven more leagues were placed betweenFerro and the position of the vessel; a distance that was reduced toforty-five, with the crew. The following day brought no material change,Providence appearing to urge them on at a speed that must soon solve thegreat problem which the admiral had been so long discussing with thelearned. It was already dark, when the Pinta came sheering down upon thequarter of the Santa Maria, until she had got so near that her commanderhailed without the aid of a trumpet.
"Is Senor Don Christopher at his post, as usual?" hurriedly demandedPinzon, speaking like one who felt he had matter of weight upon hismind: "I see persons on the poop; but know not if his Excellency beamong them."
"What wouldst thou, good Martin Alonzo?" answered the admiral: "I amhere, watching for the shores of Cipango, or Cathay, whichever God, inhis goodness, may be pleased first to give us."
"I see so many reasons, noble admiral, for changing our course more tothe south, that I could not resist the desire to come down and say asmuch. Most of the late discoveries have been made in the southernlatitudes, and we might do well to get more southing."
"Have we gained aught by changing our course in this direction? Thyheart seemeth bent on more southern climes, worthy friend; while to myfeelings we are now in the very paradise of sweets, land only excepted.Islands _may_ lie south, or even north of us; but a continent _must_ liewest. Why abandon a certainty for an uncertainty? the greater for theless? Cipango, or Cathay, for some pleasant spot, fragrant with spicesno doubt, but without a name, and which can never equal the glories ofAsia, either as a discovery or as a conquest?"
"I would, Senor, I might prevail on you to steer more to the south!"
"Go to, Martin Alonzo, and forget thy cravings. My heart is in the west,and thither reason teacheth me to follow it. First hear my orders, andthen go seek the Nina, that thy brother, the worthy Vicente Yanez, mayobey them also. Should aught separate us in the night, it shall be theduty of all to stand manfully toward the west, striving to find ourcompany; for it would be a sad, as well as a useless thing, to bewandering alone in this unknown ocean."
Pinzon, though evidently much displeased, was fain to obey, and after ashort but a sharp and loud altercation with the admiral, the commanderof the Pinta caused her to sheer toward the felucca to execute theorder.
"Martin Alonzo beginneth to waver," Columbus observed to Luis. "He is abold and exceeding skilful mariner, but steadiness of object is not hisgreatest quality. He must be restrained from following the impulses ofhis weakness, by the higher hand of authority. Cathay!--Cathay is myaim!"
After midnight the wind increased, and for two hours the caravelsglanced through the smooth ocean at their greatest speed, which equallednine English miles the hour. Few now undressed, except to change theirclothes; and Columbus slumbered on the poop that night, using an oldsail for his couch. Luis was his companion, and both were up and on thedeck with the first appearance of dawn. A common feeling seemed to existamong all, that land was near, and that a great discovery was about tobe made. An annuity of ten thousand maravedis had been promised by thesovereigns to him who should first descry land, and every eye was on thegaze, whenever opportunity permitted, to gain the prize.
As the light diffused itself downward toward the margin of the ocean, inthe western horizon, all thought there was the appearance of land, andsail was eagerly crowded on the different vessels, in order to pressforward as fast as possible, that their respective crews might enjoy theearliest and the best chances of obtaining the first view. In thisrespect, circumstances singularly balanced the advantages anddisadvantages between the competitors. The Nina was the fastest vesselin light airs and smooth water, but she was also the smallest. The Pintacame next in general speed, holding a middle place in size, and beatingher consorts with a fresh breeze; while the Santa Maria, the last inpoint of sailing, had the highest masts, and consequently swept thewidest range of horizon.
"There is a good feeling uppermost to-day, Senor Don Christopher," saidLuis, as he stood at the admiral's side, watching the advance of thelight; "and if eyes can do it, we may hope for the discovery of land.The late run hath awakened all our hopes, and land we must have, even ifwe raise it from the bottom of the ocean."
"Yonder is Pepe, the dutiful husband of Monica, perched on our highestyard, straining his eyes toward the west, in the hope of gaining thereward!" said Columbus, smiling. "Ten thousand maravedis, yearly, would,in sooth, be some atonement to carry back to the grieved mother and thedeserted boy!"
"Martin Alonzo is in earnest, also, Senor. See how he presseth forwardin the Pinta; but Vicente Yanez hath the heels of him, and is determinedto make his salutations first to the Great Khan, neglectful of the elderbrother's rights."
"Senor!--Senores!" shouted Sancho from the spar on which he was seatedas composedly as a modern lady would recline on her ottoman--"thefelucca is speaking in signals."
"This is true," cried Columbus--"Vicente Yanez showeth the colors of thequeen, and there goeth a lombarda to announce some great event!"
As these were the signals directed in the event that either vesselshould discover land before her consorts, little doubt was entertainedthat the leading caravel had, at last, really announced the finalsuccess of the expedition. Still the recent and grave disappointment wasremembered, and, though all devoutly poured out their gratitude inmental offerings, their lips were sealed until the result should showthe truth. Every rag of canvas was set, however, and the vessels seemedto hasten their speed tow
ard the west, like birds tired with an unusualflight, which make new efforts with their wearied wings as the prospectof alighting suddenly breaks on their keen vision and active instincts.
Hour passed after hour, however, and brought no confirmation of theblessed tidings. The western horizon looked heavy and clouded throughoutthe morning, it is true, often deceiving even the most practised eyes;but as the day advanced, and the vessels had passed more than fiftymiles further toward the west, it became impossible to ascribe the hopesof the morning to another optical illusion. The depression of spiritsthat succeeded this new disappointment was greater than any that hadbefore existed, and the murmurs that arose were neither equivocal norsuppressed. It was urged that some malign influence was leading theadventurers on, finally to abandon them to despair and destruction, in awilderness of waters. This is the moment when, it has been said,Columbus was compelled to make conditions with his followers,stipulating to abandon the enterprise altogether, should it fail ofsuccess in a given number of days. But this weakness has been falselyascribed to the great navigator, who never lost the fullest exercise ofhis authority, even in the darkest moments of doubt; maintaining hispurpose, and asserting his power, with the same steadiness and calmness,in what some thought this distant verge of the earth, as he had done inthe rivers of Spain. Prudence and policy at last dictated a change ofcourse, however, which he was neither too obstinate nor too proud tosubmit to, and he accordingly adopted it of his own accord.
"We are now quite a thousand leagues from Ferro, by my privatereckoning, friend Luis," said Columbus to his young companion, in one oftheir private conferences, which took place after nightfall, "and it isreally time to expect the continent of Asia. Hitherto I have looked fornaught but islands, and not with much expectation of seeing even them,though Martin Alonzo and the pilots have been so sanguine in theirhopes. The large flocks of birds, however, that have appeared to-day,would seem to invite us to follow their flights--land, out of doubt,being their aim. I shall accordingly change our course more to thesouth, though not as far as Pinzon desireth, Cathay being still mygoal."
Columbus gave the necessary orders, and the two other caravels werebrought within hail of the Santa Maria, when their commanders weredirected to steer west-south-west. The reason for this change was thefact that so many birds had been seen flying in that direction. Theintention of the admiral was to pursue this course for two days.Notwithstanding this alteration, no land was visible in the morning;but, as the wind was light, and the vessels had only made five leaguessince the course was changed, the disappointment produced lessdespondency than usual. In spite of their uncertainty, all in thevessels now rioted in the balmy softness of the atmosphere, which wasfound so fragrant that it was delicious to breathe it. The weeds, too,became more plenty, and many of them were as fresh as if torn from theirnative rocks only a day or two previously. Birds, that unequivocallybelonged to the land, were also seen in considerable numbers, one ofwhich was actually taken; while ducks abounded, and another pelican wasmet. Thus passed the 8th of October, the adventurers filled with hope,though the vessels only increased their distance from Europe some fortymiles in the course of the twenty-four hours. The succeeding day broughtno other material change than a shift of wind, which compelled theadmiral to alter his course to west-by-north, for a few hours. Thiscaused him some uneasiness, for it was his wish to proceed due west, orwest-southerly; though it afforded considerable relief to many among hispeople, who had been terrified by the prevalence of the winds in onedirection. Had the variation still existed, this would have been, infact, steering the very course the admiral desired to go; but by thistime, the vessels were in a latitude and longitude where the needleresumed its powers and became faithful to its direction. In the courseof the night, the trades also resumed their influence; and early on themorning of the 10th, the vessels again headed toward thewest-south-west, by compass, which was, in truth, the real course, or asnear to it as might be.
Such was the state of things when the sun rose on the morning of the10th October, 1492. The wind had freshened, and all three of the vesselswere running free the whole day, at a rate varying from five knots tonine. The signs of the proximity of land had been so very numerous oflate, that, at every league of ocean they passed over, the adventurershad the strongest expectations of discovering it, and nearly every eyein all three of the ships was kept constantly bent on the westernhorizon, in the hope of its owner's being the first to make the joyfulannouncement of its appearance. The cry of "land" had been so frequentof late, however, that Columbus caused it to be made known that he whoagain uttered it causelessly, should lose the reward promised by thesovereigns, even should he happen to be successful in the end. Thisinformation induced more caution, and not a tongue betrayed its master'seagerness on this all-engrossing subject, throughout the anxious andexciting days of the 8th, 9th, and 10th October. But, their progress inthe course of the 10th exceeding that made in the course of both theother days, the evening sky was watched with a vigilance even surpassingthat which had attended any previous sunset. This was the moment mostfavorable for examining the western horizon, the receding lightilluminating the whole watery expanse in that direction, in a way togive up all its secrets to the eye.
"Is that a hummock of land?" asked Pepe of Sancho, in a low voice, asthey lay together on a yard, watching the upper limb of the sun, as itsettled, like a glimmering star, beneath the margin of the ocean; "or isit some of this misguiding vapor that hath so often misled us of late?"
"'Tis neither, Pepe," returned the more cool and experienced Sancho;"but a rise of the sea, which is ever thus tossing itself upward on themargin of the ocean. Didst ever see a calm so profound, that the waterleft a straight circle on the horizon? No--no--there is no land to beseen in the west to-night; the ocean, in that quarter, looking as blankas if we stood on the western shore of Ferro, and gazed outward into thebroad fields of the Atlantic. Our noble admiral may have the truth ofhis side, Pepe; but, as yet, he hath no other evidence of it than is tobe found in his reasons."
"And dost thou, too, take sides against him, Sancho, and say that he isa madman who is willing to lead others to destruction, as well ashimself, so that he die an admiral in fact, and a viceroy in fancy?"
"I take sides against no man whose doblas take sides with me, Pepe; forthat would be quarrelling with the best friend that both the rich andpoor can make, which is gold. Don Christopher is doubtless very learned,and one thing hath he settled to my satisfaction, even though neither henor any of us ever see a single jewel of Cathay, or pluck a hair fromthe beard of the Great Khan, and that is, that this world is round; hadit been a plain, all this water would not be placed at the outer side,since it would clearly run off, unless dammed up by land. Thou canstconceive that, Pepe?"
"That do I; it is reasonable and according to every man's experience.Monica thinketh the Genoese a saint!"
"Harkee, Pepe; thy Monica is no doubt an uncommonly sensible woman, elsewould she never have taken thee for a husband, when she might havechosen among a dozen of thy fellows. I once thought of the girl myself,and might have told her so, had she seen fit to call me a saint, too,which she did not, seeing that she used a very different epithet. But,admitting the Senor Colon to be a saint, he would be none the betteradmired for it, inasmuch as I never yet met with a saint, or even with avirgin, that could understand the bearings and distances of a run asshort as that from Cadiz to Barcelona."
"Thou speakest irreverently, Sancho, of virgins and saints, seeing thatthey know every thing"--
"Ay, every thing but that. Our Lady of Rabida does notknow south-east-and-by-southe-half-southe, fromnorth-west-and-by-noathe-half-noathe. I have tried her, in this matter,and I tell thee she is as ignorant of it as thy Monica is ignorant ofthe manner in which the Duchess of Medina Sidonia saluteth the nobleduke, her husband, when he returneth from hawking."
"I dare say the duchess would not know, either, what to say, were she inMonica's place, and were she called on to receive me, as Monica wil
l be,when we return from this great expedition. If I have never hawked,neither hath the duke ever sailed for two-and-thirty days, in a westcourse from Ferro, and this, too, without once seeing land!"
"Thou say'st true, Pepe; nor hast thou ever yet done this and returnedto Palos. But what meaneth all this movement on deck? Our people seem tobe much moved by some feeling, while I can swear it is not from havingdiscovered Cathay, or from having seen the Great Khan, shining like acarbuncle, on his throne of diamonds."
"It is rather that they do not see him thus, that the men are moved.Dost not hear angry and threatening words from the mouths of thetroublesome ones?"
"By San Iago! were I Don Christopher, but I would deduct a dobla fromthe wages of each of the rascals, and give the gold to such peaceablemen as you and me, Pepe, who are willing to starve to death, ere we willgo back without a sight of Asia."
"'Tis something of this sort, of a truth, Sancho. Let us descend, thathis Excellency may see that he hath some friends among the crew."
As Sancho assented to this proposition, he and Pepe stood on the deck inthe next minute. Here, indeed, the people were found in a more mutinousstate than they had been since the fleet left Spain. The longcontinuation of fair winds, and pleasant weather, had given them so muchreason to expect a speedy termination of their voyage, that nearly thewhole crew were now of opinion it was due to themselves to insist on theabandonment of an expedition that seemed destined to lead to nothing butdestruction. The discussion was loud and angry, even one or two of thepilots inclining to think, with their inferiors, that furtherperseverance would certainly be useless, and might be fatal. When Sanchoand Pepe joined the crowd, it had just been determined to go in a bodyto Columbus, and to demand, in terms that could not be misconceived, theimmediate return of the ships to Spain. In order that this might be donewith method, Pedro Alonzo Nino, one of the pilots, and an aged seamancalled Juan Martin, were selected as spokesmen. At this critical moment,too, the admiral and Luis were seen descending from the poop, with anintent to retire to their cabin, when a rush was made aft, by all ondeck, and twenty voices were heard simultaneously crying--
"Senor--Don Christopher--Your Excellency--Senor Almirante!"
Columbus stopped, and faced the people with a calmness and dignity thatcaused the heart of Nino to leap toward his mouth, and which materiallychecked the ardor of most of his followers.
"What would ye?" demanded the admiral, sternly. "Speak! Ye address afriend."
"We come to ask our precious lives, Senor," answered Juan Martin, whothought his insignificance might prove a shield--"nay, what is more, themeans of putting bread into the mouths of our wives and children. Allhere are weary of this profitless voyage, and most think if it last anylonger than shall be necessary to return, it will be the means of ourperishing of want."
"Know ye the distance that lieth between us and Ferro, that ye come tome with this blind and foolish request? Speak, Nino; I see that thou artalso of their number, notwithstanding thy hesitation."
"Senor," returned the pilot, "we are all of a mind. To go further intothis blank and unknown ocean, is tempting God to destroy us, for ourwilfulness. It is vain to suppose that this broad belt of water hathbeen placed by Providence around the habitable earth for any otherpurpose than to rebuke those who audaciously seek to be admitted tomysteries beyond their understanding. Do not all the churchmen,Senor--the pious prior of Santa Maria de Rabida, your own particularfriend, included--tell us constantly of the necessity of submitting to aknowledge we can never equal, and to believe without striving to lift aveil that covers incomprehensible things?"
"I might retort on thee, honest Nino, with thine own words," answeredColumbus, "and bid thee confide in those whose knowledge thou canstnever equal, and to follow submissively where thou art totally unfittedto lead. Go to; withdraw with thy fellows, and let me hear no more ofthis."
"Nay, Senor," cried two or three in a breath, "we cannot perish withoutmaking our complaints heard. We have followed too far already, and, evennow, may have gone beyond the means of a safe return. Let us, then, turnthe heads of the caravels toward Spain, this night, lest we never liveto see that blessed country again."
"This toucheth on revolt! Who among ye dare use language so bold, toyour admiral?"
"All of us, Senor," answered twenty voices together. "Men need be bold,when their lives would be forfeited by silence."
"Sancho, art thou, too, of the party of these mutineers? Dost thouconfess thy heart to be Spain-sick, and thy unmanly fears to be strongerthan thy hopes of imperishable glory and thy longings for the riches andpleasures of Cathay?"
"If I do, Senor Don Almirante, set me to greasing masts, and take mefrom the helm, forever, as one unfit to watch the whirlings of the northstar. Sail with the caravels, into the hall of the Great Khan, and makefast to his throne, and you will find Sancho at his post, whether it beat the helm or at the lead. He was born in a ship-yard, and hath anatural desire to know what a ship can do."
"And thou, Pepe? Hast thou so forgotten thy duty as to come with thislanguage to thy commander? to the admiral and viceroy of thy sovereign,the Dona Isabella?"
"Viceroy over what?" exclaimed a voice from the crowd, withoutpermitting Pepe to answer. "A viceroy over sea-weed, and one that hathtunny-fish, and whales, and pelicans, for subjects! We tell you, SenorColon, that this is no treatment for Castilians, who require moresubstantial discoveries than fields of weeds, and islands of clouds!"
"Home!--Home!--Spain!--Spain!--Palos!--Palos!" cried nearly alltogether, Sancho and Pepe having quitted the throng and rangedthemselves at the side of Columbus. "We will no further west, which istempting God; but demand to be carried back whence we came, if, indeed,it be not already too late for so happy a deliverance."
"To whom speak ye in this shameless manner, graceless knaves?" exclaimedLuis, unconsciously laying a hand where it had been his practice tocarry a rapier. "Get ye gone, or"--
"Be tranquil, friend Pedro, and leave this matter with me," interruptedthe admiral, whose composure had scarce been deranged by the violentconduct of his subordinates. "Listen to what I have to say, ye rude andrebellious men, and let it be received as my final answer to any and allsuch demands as ye have just dared to make. This expedition hath beensent forth by the two sovereigns, your royal master and mistress, withthe express design of crossing the entire breadth of the vast Atlantic,until it might reach the shores of India. Now, let what will happen,these high expectations shall not be disappointed; but westward we sail,until stopped by the land. For this determination, my life shall answer.Look to it, that none of yours be endangered by resistance to the royalorders, or by disrespect and disobedience to their appointed substitute;for, another murmur, and I mark the man that uttereth it, for signalpunishment. In this ye have my full determination, and beware ofencountering the anger of those whose displeasure may prove more fatalthan these fancied dangers of the ocean.
"Look at what ye have before you, in the way of fear, and then at whatye have before ye, in the way of hope. In the first case, ye have everything to dread from the sovereigns' anger, should ye proceed to aviolent resistance of their authority; or, what is as bad, somethinglike a certainty of your being unable to reach Spain, for want of foodand water, should ye revolt against your lawful leaders and endeavor toreturn. For this, it is now too late. The voyage east must, as regardstime, be double that we have just made, and the caravels are beginningto be lightened in their casks. Land, and land in this region, hathbecome necessary to us. Now look at the other side of the picture.Before ye, lieth Cathay, with all its riches, its novelties, and itsglories! A region more wonderful than any that hath yet been inhabitedby man, and occupied by a race as gentle as they are hospitable andjust. To this must be added the approbation of the sovereigns, and thecredit that will belong to the meanest mariner that hath manfully stoodby his commander in achieving so great an end."
"If we will obey three days longer, Senor, will you then turn towardSpain, should no land be seen?" cried
a voice from the crowd.
"Never," returned Columbus, firmly. "To India am I bound, and for Indiawill I steer, though another month be needed to complete the journey.Go, then, to your posts or your hammocks, and let me hear no more ofthis."
There was so much natural dignity in the manner of Columbus, and when hespoke in anger, his voice carried so much of rebuke with it, that itexceeded the daring of ordinary men to presume to answer when hecommanded silence. The people sullenly dispersed, therefore, though thedisaffection was by no means appeased. Had there been only a singlevessel in the expedition, it is quite probable that they would haveproceeded to some act of violence; but, uncertain of the state offeeling in the Pinta and the Nina, and holding Martin Alonzo Pinzon inas much habitual respect as they stood in awe of Columbus, the boldestamong them were, for the present, fain to give vent to theirdissatisfaction in murmurs, though they secretly meditated decidedmeasures, as soon as an opportunity for consultation and concert withthe crews of the other vessels might offer.
"This looketh serious, Senor," said Luis, as soon as he and the admiralwere alone again in their little cabin, "and, by St. Luke! it might coolthe ardor of these knaves, did your Excellency suffer me to cast two orthree of the most insolent of the vagabonds into the sea."
"Which is a favor that some among them have actually contemplatedconferring upon thee and me," answered Columbus.
"Sancho keepeth me well informed of the feeling among the people, and itis now many days since he hath let me know this fact. We will proceedpeaceably, if possible, Senor Gutierrez, or de Munos, whichever namethou most affectest, as long as we can; but should there truly arise anoccasion to resort to force, thou wilt find that Christofero Colomboknoweth how to wield a sword as well as he knoweth how to use hisinstruments of science."
"How far do you really think us from land, Senor Almirante? I ask fromcuriosity, and not from dread; for though the ship floated on the veryverge of the earth, ready to fall off into vacuum, you should hear nomurmur from me."
"I am well assured of this, young noble," returned Columbus,affectionately squeezing the hand of Luis, "else wouldst thou not behere. I make our distance from Ferro exceed a thousand marine leagues;this is about the same as that at which I have supposed Cathay to liefrom Europe, and it is, out of question, sufficiently far to meet withmany of the islands that are known to abound in the seas of Asia. Thepublic reckoning maketh the distance a little more than eight hundredleagues; but, in consequence of the favorable currents of which we havelately had so much, I doubt if we are not fully eleven hundred from theCanaries, at this moment, if not even further. We are doubtless a triflenearer to the Azores, which are situated further west, though in ahigher latitude."
"Then you think, Senor, that we may really expect land, ere many days?"
"So certain do I feel of this, Luis, that I should have littleapprehension of complying with the terms of these audacious men, but forthe humiliation. Ptolemy divided the earth into twenty-four hours, offifteen degrees each, and I place but some five or six of these hours inthe Atlantic. Thirteen hundred leagues, I feel persuaded, will bring usto the shores of Asia, and eleven of these thirteen hundred leagues do Ibelieve we have come."
"To-morrow may then prove an eventful day, Senor Almirante; and now toour cots, where I shall dream of a fairer land than Christian eye everyet looked upon, with the fairest maiden of Spain--nay, by San Pedro! ofEurope--beckoning me on!"
Columbus and Luis now sought their rest. In the morning, it was evidentby the surly looks of the people, that feelings like a suppressedvolcano were burning in their bosoms, and that any untoward accidentmight produce an eruption. Fortunately, however, signs, of a nature sonovel, soon appeared, as to draw off the attention of the mostdisaffected from their melancholy broodings. The wind was fresh, asusual fair, and, what was really a novelty since quitting Ferro, the seahad got up, and the vessels were riding over waves which removed thatappearance of an unnatural calm that had hitherto alarmed the men withits long continuance. Columbus had not been on deck five minutes, when ajoyful cry from Pepe drew all eyes toward the yard on which he was atwork. The seaman was pointing eagerly at some object in the water, andrushing to the side of the vessel, all saw the welcome sign that hadcaught his gaze. As the ship lifted on a sea, and shot ahead, a rush ofa bright fresh green was passed, and the men gave a loud shout, for allwell knew that this plant certainly came from some shore, and that itcould not have been long torn from the spot of its growth.
"This is truly a blessed omen!" said Columbus; "rushes cannot growwithout the light of heaven, whatever may be the case with weeds."
This little occurrence changed, or at least checked, the feelings of thedisaffected. Hope once more resumed its sway, and all who could,ascended the rigging to watch the western horizon. The rapid motion ofthe vessels, too, added to this buoyancy of feeling, the Pinta and Ninapassing and repassing the admiral, as it might be in pure wantonness. Afew hours later, fresh weeds were met, and about noon Sancho announcedconfidently that he had seen a fish which is known to live in thevicinity of rocks. An hour later, the Nina came sheering up toward theadmiral, with her commander in the rigging, evidently desirous ofcommunicating some tidings of moment.
"What now, good Vicente Yanez?" called out Columbus; "thou seemest themessenger of welcome news!"
"I think myself such, Don Christopher," answered the other. "We havejust passed a bush bearing roseberries, quite newly torn from the tree!This is a sign that cannot deceive us."
"Thou say'st true, my friend. To the west!--to the west! Happy will hebe whose eyes first behold the wonders of the Indies!"
It would not be easy to describe the degree of hope and exultation thatnow began to show itself among the people. Good-natured jests flew aboutthe decks, and the laugh was easily raised where so lately all had beendespondency and gloom. The minutes flew swiftly by, and every man hadceased to think of Spain, bending his thoughts again on the as yetunseen west.
A little later, a cry of exultation was heard from the Pinta, which wasa short distance to windward and ahead of the admiral. As this vesselshortened sail and hove-to, lowering a boat, and then immediately keptaway, the Santa Maria soon came foaming up under her quarter, and spokeher.
"What now, Martin Alonzo?" asked Columbus, suppressing his anxiety in anappearance of calmness and dignity. "Thou and thy people seem in anecstasy!"
"Well may we be so! About an hour since, we passed a piece of thecane-plant, of the sort of which sugar is made in the East, astravellers say, and such as we often see in our own ports. But this is atrifling symptom of land compared to the trunk of a tree that we havealso passed. As if Providence had not yet dealt with us with sufficientkindness, all these articles were met floating near each other; and wehave thought them of sufficient value to lower a boat, that we mightpossess them."
"Lay thy sails to the mast, good Martin Alonzo, and send thy prizeshither, that I may judge of their value."
Pinzon complied, and the Santa Maria being hove-to, at the same time,the boat soon touched her side. Martin Alonzo made but one bound fromthe thwart to the gunwale of the ship, and was soon on the deck of theadmiral. Here he eagerly displayed the different articles that his mentossed after him, all of which had been taken out of the sea, not anhour before.
"See, noble Senores," said Martin Alonzo, almost breathless with hasteto display his treasures--"this is a sort of board, though of unknownwood, and fashioned with exceeding care: here is also another piece ofcane: this is a plant that surely cometh from the land; and most of all,this is a walking-stick, fashioned by the hand of man, and that, too,with exceeding care!"
"All this is true," said Columbus, examining the different articles, oneby one; "God, in his might and power, be praised for these comfortableevidences of our near approach to a new world! None but a malignantInfidel can now doubt of our final success."
"These things have questionless come from some boat that hath beenupset, which will account for their being so near each
other in thewater," said Martin Alonzo, willing to sustain his physical proofs by aplausible theory. "It would not be wonderful were drowned bodies near."
"Let us hope not, Martin Alonzo," answered the admiral; "let us fancynaught so melancholy. A thousand accidents may have thrown thesearticles together, into the sea; and once there, they would float incompany for a twelvemonth, unless violently separated. But come theywhence they may, to us, they are infallible proofs that not only land isnear, but land which is the abiding-place of men."
It is not easy to describe the enthusiasm that now prevailed in all thevessels. Hitherto they had met with only birds, and fishes, and weeds,signs that are often precarious; but here was such proof of their beingin the neighborhood of their fellow-creatures, as it was not easy towithstand. It was true, articles of this nature might drift, in time,even across the vast distance they had come; but it was not probablethat they would drift so far in company. Then, the berries were fresh,the board was of an unknown wood, and the walking-stick, in particular,if such indeed was its use, was carved in a manner that was neverpractised in Europe. The different articles passed from hand to hand,until all in the ship had examined them; and every thing like doubtvanished before this unlooked-for confirmation of the admiral'spredictions. Pinzon returned to his vessel, sail was again made, and thefleet continued to steer to the west-south-west, until the hour ofsunset.
Something like a chill of disappointment again came over the morefaint-hearted of the people, however, as they once more, or for thethirty-fourth time since quitting Gomera, saw the sun sink behind awatery horizon. More than a hundred vigilant eyes watched the glowingmargin of the ocean, at this interesting moment, and though the heavenswere cloudless, naught was visible but the gloriously tinted vault, andthe outline of water, broken into the usual ragged forms of the unquietelement.
The wind freshened as evening closed, and Columbus having called hisvessels together, as was usual with him at that hour, he issued neworders concerning the course. For the last two or three days they hadbeen steering materially to the southward of west, and Columbus, whofelt persuaded that his most certain and his nearest direction from landto land, was to traverse the ocean, if possible, on a single parallel oflatitude, was anxious to resume his favorite course, which was what hefancied to be due west. Just as night drew around the mariners,accordingly, the ships edged away to the required course, and ran off atthe rate of nine miles the hour, following the orb of day as if resoluteto penetrate into the mysteries of his nightly retreat, until some greatdiscovery should reward the effort.
Immediately after this change in the course, the people sang the vesperhymn, as usual, which, in that mild sea, they often deferred until thehour when the watch below sought their hammocks. That night, however,none felt disposed to sleep; and it was late when the chant of theseamen commenced, with the words of "_Salve fac Regina_." It was asolemn thing to hear the songs of religious praise mingling with thesighings of the breeze and the wash of the waters, in that oceansolitude; and the solemnity was increased by the expectations of theadventurers and the mysteries that lay behind the curtain they believedthemselves about to raise. Never before had this hymn sounded so sweetlyin the ears of Columbus, and Luis found his eyes suffusing with tears,as he recalled the soft thrilling notes of Mercedes' voice, in her holybreathings of praise at this hour. When the office ended, the admiralcalled the crew to the quarter-deck, and addressed them earnestly fromhis station on the poop.
"I rejoice, my friends," he said, "that you have had the grace to chantthe vesper hymn in so devout a spirit, at a moment when there is so muchreason to be grateful to God for his goodness to us throughout thisvoyage. Look back at the past and see if one of you, the oldest sailorof your number, can recall any passage at sea, I will not say of equallength, for that no one here hath ever before made, but any equal numberof days at sea, in which the winds have been as fair, the weather aspropitious, or the ocean as calm, as on this occasion. Then whatcheering signs have encouraged us to persevere! God is in the midst ofthe ocean, my friends, as well as in his sanctuaries of the land. Stepby step, as it were, hath he led us on, now filling the air with birds,now causing the sea to abound with unusual fishes, and then spreadingbefore us fields of plants, such as are seldom met far from the rockswhere they grew. The last and best of his signs hath he given us thisday. My own calculations are in unison with these proofs, and I deem itprobable that we reach the land this very night. In a few hours, or whenwe shall have run the distance commanded by the eye, as the light leftus, I shall deem it prudent to shorten sail; and I call on all of you tobe watchful, lest we unwittingly throw ourselves on the strange shores.Ye know that the sovereigns have graciously promised ten thousandmaravedis, yearly, and for life, to him who shall first discover land:to this rich reward I will add a doublet of velvet, such as it wouldbefit a grandee to wear. Sleep not, then; but, at the turn of the night,be all vigilance and watchfulness. I am now most serious with ye, andlook for land this very blessed night."
These encouraging words produced their full effect, the men scatteringthemselves in the ship, each taking the best position he could, to earnthe coveted prizes. Deep expectation is always a quiet feeling, thejealous senses seeming to require silence and intensity ofconcentration, in order to give them their full exercise. Columbusremained on the poop, while Luis, less interested, threw himself on asail, and passed the time in musing on Mercedes, and in picturing tohimself the joyful moment when he might meet her again, a triumphant andsuccessful adventurer.
The death-like silence that prevailed in the ship, added to theabsorbing interest of that important night. At the distance of a milewas the little Nina, gliding on her course with a full sail; while halfa league still further in advance, was to be seen the shadowy outline ofthe Pinta, which preceded her consorts, as the swiftest sailer with afresh breeze. Sancho had been round to every sheet and brace, in person,and never before had the admiral's ship held as good way with herconsorts as on that night, all three of the vessels appearing to havecaught the eager spirit of those they contained, and to be anxious tooutdo themselves. At moments the men started, while the wind murmuredthrough the cordage, as if they heard unknown and strange voices from amysterious world; and fifty times, when the waves combed upon the sidesof the ship, did they turn their heads, expecting to see a crowd ofunknown beings, fresh from the eastern world, pouring in upon theirdecks.
As for Columbus, he sighed often; for minutes at a time would he standlooking intently toward the west, like one who strove to penetrate thegloom of night, with organs exceeding human powers. At length he benthis body forward, gazed intently over the weather railing of the ship,and then, lifting his cap, he seemed to be offering up his spirit inthanksgiving or prayer. All this Luis witnessed where he lay: at thenext instant he heard himself called.
"Pero Gutierrez--Pedro de Munos--Luis--whatever thou art termed," saidColumbus, his fine masculine voice trembling with eagerness--"comehither, son; tell me if thine eyes accord with mine. Look in thisdirection--here, more on the vessel's beam; seest thou aught uncommon?"
"I saw a light, Senor; one that resembled a candle, being neither largernor more brilliant; and to me it appeared to move, as if carried in thehand, or tossed by waves."
"Thy eyes did not deceive thee; thou seest it doth not come of either ofour consorts, both of which are here on the bow."
"What do you, then, take this light to signify, Don Christopher?"
"Land! It is either on the land itself, rendered small by distance, orit cometh of some vessel that is a stranger to us, and which belongethto the Indies. There is Rodrigo Sanchez of Segovia, the comptroller ofthe fleet, beneath us; descend, and bid him come hither."
Luis did as required, and presently the comptroller was also at theadmiral's side. Half an hour passed, and the light was not seen again;then it gleamed upward once or twice, like a torch, and finallydisappeared. This circumstance was soon known to all in the ship, thoughfew attached the same importance to it as Columb
us himself.
"This is land," quietly observed the admiral, to those near his person:"ere many hours we may expect to behold it. Now ye may pour out yoursouls in gratitude and confidence, for in such a sign there can be nodeception. No phenomenon of the ocean resembleth that light; and myreckoning placeth us in a quarter of the world where land _must_ exist,else is the earth no sphere."
Notwithstanding this great confidence on the part of the admiral, mostof those in the ship did not yet feel the same certainty in the result,although all felt the strongest hopes of falling in with land next day.Columbus saying no more on the subject, the former silence was soonresumed, and, in a few minutes, every eye was again turned toward thewest, in anxious watchfulness. In this manner the time passed away, theships driving ahead with a speed much exceeding that of their ordinaryrate of sailing, until the night had turned, when its darkness wassuddenly illuminated by a blaze of light, and the report of a gun fromthe Pinta came struggling up against the fresh breeze of the trades.
"There speaketh Martin Alonzo!" exclaimed the admiral; "and we may becertain that he hath not given the signal idly. Who sitteth on thetop-gallant yard, there, on watch for wonders ahead?"
"Senor Don Almirante, it is I," answered Sancho. "I have been here sincewe sang the vesper hymn."
"Seest thou aught unusual, westward? Look vigilantly, for we touch onmighty things!"
"Naught, Senor, unless it be that the Pinta is lessening her canvas, andthe Nina is already closing with our fleet consort--nay, I now see thelatter shortening sail also!"
"For these great tidings, all honor and praise be to God! These areproofs that no false cry hath this time misled their judgments. We willjoin our consorts, good Bartolemeo, ere we take in a single inch ofcanvas."
Every thing was now in motion on board the Santa Maria, which wentdashing ahead for another half hour, when she came up with the two othercaravels, both of which had hauled by the wind, under short canvas, andwere forging slowly through the water, on different tacks, like courserscooling themselves after having terminated a severe struggle by reachingthe goal.
"Come hither, Luis," said Columbus, "and feast thine eyes with a sightthat doth not often meet the gaze of the best of Christians."
The night was far from dark, a tropical sky glittering with a thousandstars, and even the ocean itself appearing to emit a sombre, melancholylight. By the aid of such assistants it was possible to see severalmiles, and more especially to note objects on the margin of the ocean.When the young man cast his eyes to leeward, as directed by Columbus, hevery plainly perceived a point where the blue of the sky ceased, and adark mound rose from the water, stretching for a few leagues southward,and then terminated, as it had commenced, by a union between the waterymargin of the ocean and the void of heaven. The intermediate space hadthe defined outline, the density, and the hue of land, as seen atmidnight.
"Behold the Indies!" said Columbus; "the mighty problem is solved! Thisis doubtless an island, but a continent is near. Laud be to God!"