The time at which he arrived was, in a certain sense, favorable for
his future plans, so far as he had formed any. On the other hand, the
condition of affairs was wholly changed from what it was when he began
his great discoveries, and the changes were in some degree unfavorable.
Vasco da Gama had succeeded in the great enterprise by which he had
doubled the Cape of Good Hope, had arrived at the Indies by the route of
the Indian ocean, and his squadron had successfully returned.

This great adventure, with the commercial and other results which
would certainly follow it, had quickened the mind of all Europe, as the
discovery by Columbus had quickened it eight years before. So far, any
plan for the discoveries over which Columbus was always brooding, would
be favorably received. But, on the other hand, in eight years since the
first voyage, a large body of skillful adventurers had entered upon the
career which then no one chose to share with him. The Pinzon brothers
were among these; Ojeda, already known to the reader, was another; and
Vespucci, as the reader knows, an intelligent and wise student, had
engaged himself in such discoveries.

The rumors of the voyages of the Cabots, much farther north than those
made by Columbus, had gone through all Europe. In a word, Columbus was
now only one of several skilful pilots and voyagers, and his plans
were to be considered side by side with those which were coming forward
almost every day, for new discoveries, either by the eastern route,
of which Vasco da Gama had shown the practicability, or by the western
route, which Columbus himself had first essayed.

It is to be remembered, as well, that Columbus was now an old man, and,
whatever were his successes as a discoverer, he had not succeeded as a
commander. There might have been reasons for his failure; but failure
is failure, and men do not accord to an unsuccessful leader the
honors which they are ready to give to a successful discoverer. When,
therefore, he offered his new plans at court, he should have been well
aware that they could not be received, as if he were the only one who
could make suggestions. Probably he was aware of this. He was also
obliged, whether he would or would not, to give up the idea that he was
to be the commander of the regions which he discovered.

It had been easy enough to grant him this command before there was so
much as an inch of land known, over which it would make him the master.
But now