Peter Parley's Tales About America and Australia

, and other curious productions of the countries he had d

ft the island that they saw a sail at a

by stress of weather. Columbus admitted his excuse, but he ascertained afterwards that Pinzon parted company intentionally

some time, in a river about fifteen leagues from t

th the natives, and on leaving the river he had carried

sed well clothed and with many presents, to atone for the wrong they had experienced. This resolutio

aving this part of the coast he took with him four young Indians to guide him to the Carribean Islands, of w

is men, he gave up his intention of visiting these islands, and made all sail for Spain, the young Indians having consente

rom east to west, and Columbus did not then know that their influence only extends to a certain distance on each side of the Equator, so tha

land. The wind now came on to blow violently; on the following evening there were three flash

y were obliged to scud under bare poles, at the mercy of the elements; as the morning dawned there was a transient pause and they made a little sail

y, but she was separated by the violence of the storm, and her

y for the Pinta, but she was nowhere to be seen, and he became apprehensive that Pinzon had borne away for Spain

e helpless bark was dri

solemn vows, and various private vows were made by the seamen. The heavens, however, seemed

the elements, the mind of Columbus was

of his crew, who cursed the hou

hought of his two sons, who woul

red, as was highly probable, the history of his discovery would depend upon his own feeble bark. One surge of

s had presence of mind enough to retire to his cabin an

it into a tight cask, and threw it into the sea, in hopes that some fortu

ugh so many dangers still protected him; an

; the wind shifted to that quarter, and on the mornin

almost equal to those they had experienced on discovering the new. Thi

he wind proving favourable he agai

ght of the 2nd of March the caravel was struck by a squall, which rent all her sails and threatened

be near. The turbulence of the following night was dreadful; the sea was broken, wild, and mountainous, th

eing driven on shore or dashed upon the rocks. Taking in sail, therefore, they endeavoured to keep to sea as much as possible. At day-break o

tulate him on what they deemed a miraculous preservation, for they had been watching the vessel the whole morning with great anxiety, and putting up pray

Europe. Had one tenth part of them beset his outward voyage, his factious crew would hav

s and the wonderful discoveries he had made, for he could not but reflect that all the advant

performed things so extraordinary and unexpected. The king admitted him into his presence, and listened with admiration to the account which he gave of his voyage, while Columbus enjo

days in Lisbon. On the 15th of March he arrived at Palos, seven months a

d, the joy was unbounded; all the bells were rung, the cannons were fired, and he was welcomed with all the acclamations which the people are ever ready to bestow on gre

ctful terms to repair to court, that they might receive fr

received him clad in their royal robes, seate

ive a circumstantial account of his voyage, which he related with a gravity suitable to the dig

nd, as a mark of particular favour, Isabella appointed his son Diego, the boy, who, you remember, had been left at

ons of the highest rank. Yet some of these courtiers were his bitterest enemies, and did every thing they

the caresses of the nobility, for in court every one is eager to

ere given him occured the well

of him as a foreigner, abruptly asked him, whether he thought that, in case he had not d

pted it, but in vain; whereupon he struck it upon the table, broke one end, and left it standing on the broken part; illus