air was
always balmy, the sky clear, and the land beautiful. The sailors
believed these new lands were Paradise, and wanted to live there
always.

At length, however, they thought of returning to their home and friends.
So, taking several Indians with them, and many curious baskets and
ornaments, they set out on their return voyage.

This voyage proved to be very stormy, and at one time it seemed certain
that the ships would go down; but after a time the sea grew quiet,
and on the 15th of March they sailed again into the little harbor of
Palos.

You can imagine the excitement.

"What! has Columbus returned?" asked the people. "Has he really found
the East by sailing westward?"

"Yes, he has," was the answer. "He has found India."

Columbus was given a royal welcome. The king and queen held a great
celebration in his honor at Barcelona; and when the Indians marched
into court the astonishment of every person was great. The Indians
were half naked; their dark bodies were painted, and their heads were
adorned with feathers. They carried baskets of seed pearls, and wore
strange ornaments of gold. Some carried the skins of wild animals,
and others carried beautiful birds of brilliant plumage. Every
inhabitant of Barcelona rejoiced, and the bells were rung in honor
of the great discoverer.

It was a happy time for Columbus. He felt repaid for all his suffering
and trouble.

[Illustration: The Return of Columbus.]

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella now wished Columbus to go again to
these newly discovered islands and search for the gold that was thought
to be there. You may be sure Columbus was willing to go. So they fitted
out seventeen vessels, manned by fifteen hundred men, and placed
Columbus in command of this fleet. It was no trouble to find men who
were willing to go on this voyage. All wanted to see the new world
that had been found.

During this second voyage, which was made in 1493, Columbus discovered
Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and some small islands in the Caribbean Sea.

On the island of Jamaica the Spaniards came upon the footprints of
some strange animal which they thought to be a dragon. This dragon
they believed was guarding the gold which they supposed was on the
island. So they ran back to their ships in fear. Later on they became
used to seeing these footprints, and found that they were those of
alligators. At Puerto Rico they suffered from a savage attack made
by the natives, who shot poisoned