Part 7 (1/2)
It was one of the still, breathless nights of the tropic seas. Pedro's small strong hands had not grasped the helm for a half-hour before the wind freshened, and then a tremendous gust swept down upon the flags.h.i.+p hurling her right upon the unknown sh.o.r.e. Pedro strove desperately with the fearful odds, but before the half-awakened sailors heard his call the _Santa Maria_ was past repair. No lives were lost, but the Admiral decided that it would be necessary to leave a part of the men on sh.o.r.e as the beginning of a settlement. He would not have chosen to do this but for the disaster, for the men who made up these crews were not promising material for a colony in a wild land. But he had no choice in the matter. The two smaller s.h.i.+ps would not hold them all. Pedro, shaken with sobs, cast himself at the feet of his master and begged forgiveness.
”No one blames you, my son,” said the Admiral, more touched than he had been for a long time. ”Be not so full of sorrow for what cannot be helped. The wild people are friendly, the land is kind, and when we have sailed back to Spain with our news there will be no difficulty in returning with as many s.h.i.+ps as we may need. Nay, I will not leave thee here, Pedro. I think that now I could not do without thee.”
NOTE
[1] The name of Columbus took various forms according to the country in which he lived. In his native Genoa it would be Cristofero Colombo. In Portugal, where he dwelt for many years, it would be Cristobal Colombo, and in Spanish Christoval or Cristobal Colon. In Latin, which was the common language of all learned men until comparatively recent times, the name took the form Christopherus Columbus, which has become in modern English Christopher Columbus. In each story the discoverer is spoken of as he would have been spoken of by the characters in that particular story.
THE QUEEN'S PRAYER
In this Thy world, O blessed Christ, I live but for Thy will, To serve Thy cause and drive Thy foes Before Thy banner still.
In rich and stately palaces I have my board and bed, But Thou didst tread the wilderness Unsheltered and unfed.
My gallant squadrons ride at will The undiscover'd sea, But Thou hadst but a fis.h.i.+ng-boat On windy Galilee.
In valiant hosts my men-at-arms Eager to battle go, But Thou hadst not a single blade To fend Thee from the foe.
Great store of pearls and beaten gold My bold seafarers bring, But Thou hadst not a little coin To pay for Thy lodging.
The trust that Thou hast placed in me, O may I not betray, Nor fail to save Thy people from The fires of Judgment Day!
Be strong and stern, O heart, faint heart-- Stay not, O woman's hand, Till by this Cross I bear for Thee I have made clean Thy land!
V
THE MAN WHO COULD NOT DIE
”Nombre de San Martin! who is that up there like a cat?”
”Un gato! Cucarucha en palo!”
”If Alonso de Ojeda hears of your calling him a c.o.c.kroach on a mast, he will grind your ribs to a paste with a cudgel (os moliesen las costillas a puros palos)!” observed a pale, sharp-faced lad in a shabby doublet.
The sailor who had made the comparison glanced at him and chuckled.
”Your pardon--hidalgo. I have been at sea so much of late that the comparison jumped into my mind. Is he a caballero then?”
”One of the household of the Duke of Medina Coeli. He is always doing such things. If he happened to think of flying, he would fly. Every one must be good at something.”
The performance which they had just been watching would fix the name of Ojeda very firmly in the minds of those who saw. Queen Ysabel, happening to ascend the tower of the cathedral at Seville with her courtiers and ladies, remarked upon the daring and skill of the Moorish builders.
Everywhere in the newly conquered cities of Granada were their magnificent domes and lofty muezzin towers, often seeming like the airy minarets of a mirage. The next instant Alonso de Ojeda had walked out upon a twenty-foot timber projecting into s.p.a.ce two hundred feet above the pavement, and at the very end he stood on one leg and waved the other in the air. Returning, he rested one foot against the wall and flung an orange clean over the top of the tower. He was small, though handsome and well-made, and he had now shown a muscular strength of which few had suspected him.
It was natural that the sailor should be interested in the people of the court, for he had business there. The Admiral of the Indies was making his arrangements for his second voyage, and he had desired Juan de la Cosa to meet him at Seville. As the pilot stood waiting for the Admiral to come out from an interview with Fonseca he had a good look at many of the persons who were to join in this second expedition.
”There will be no unlocking the jail doors to sc.r.a.pe together crews for this fleet, I warrant you,” thought the old sailor exultantly as he stood in the shadow of the Giralda watching Castile parade itself before the new hero. Here were Diego Colon, a quiet-looking youth, the youngest brother of the Admiral; Antonio de Marchena the astronomer, a learned monk; Juan Ponce de Leon, a n.o.bleman from the neighborhood of Cadiz with a brilliant military record; Francisco de las Casas with his son Bartolome; and the valiant young courtier whom all Seville had seen flirting with death in mid-air.