ies in India, had directed
his governors of islands and distant ports to seize and detain him
wherever he should be met with.

Having been detained two days longer at Saint Mary's in an endeavour to
take in wood and ballast, but being prevented by the heavy surf which
broke upon the shore, he set sail on the 24th of February. After a fine
run of two days the weather again became tempestuous, and there appeared
every probability of the ship foundering.

On the 3rd of March land was descried, and it was with the greatest
difficulty that the ship could be kept off the shore. At daylight on
the 4th the voyagers found themselves off the rock of Cintra, a few
miles from Lisbon. Rather than risk another night at sea, Columbus
determined to hazard the chance of falling into the hands of the
Portuguese. The ship was accordingly steered in and brought up opposite
Rastello, at the mouth of the river Tagus.

The oldest mariners who came off assured Columbus that they had never
known so temptestuous a winter, and had been watching his vessel with
the greatest anxiety since she had first been seen. He immediately
dispatched a courier to the King and Queen of Spain with the tidings of
his discovery, and requested permission of the King of Portugal to go up
to Lisbon, fearing that the inhabitants of Rastello, when they heard of
her rich freight, might be tempted to rob her.

The King of Portugal, who was some distance from the capital, at once
invited Columbus to visit him. During the interview which ensued he
endeavoured to conceal his vexation at having refused the proposals
which had been made him by the navigator.

His Court tried to persuade him that Columbus had visited countries over
which, according to the Pope's bull, he had the right to rule. Some had
the baseness to hint that Columbus should be assassinated, and suggested
that he should be embroiled in a quarrel, during which the project might
be accomplished.

The King, happily, had too much magnanimity to agree to so nefarious a
measure. He treated Columbus with the greatest courtesy, and a large
party of cavaliers escorted him back to his ship.

By the time Columbus reached her the weather had moderated, and, again
setting sail, on the 15th of March, A.D. 1493, he entered the port of
Palos, whence he had sailed on the 3rd of August of the preceding year,
having taken not quite seven months and a half to accomplish this
momentous maritime enterprise.

The