enthusiastic reception he met with from the inhabitants of Palos can
be imagined. They had given him and his companions up for lost. Bells
were rung and the shops shut; all business was suspended; and the
inhabitants came thronging to the ship to ascertain the fate of their
friends. On landing, he went to the principal church, accompanied by a
concourse of people, to return thanks to God for the accomplishment of
his enterprise.

As the Court was at Barcelona, he felt inclined to go there in his
caravel, but, considering her condition, he finally resolved to proceed
by land. That very evening, while the bells were sending forth their
peals of triumph, the _Pinta_, commanded by Martin Alonzo Pinzon,
entered the river.

Pinzon had been driven by the gale into the Bay of Biscay, and had
reached the port of Bayonne. Fancying that Columbus had perished, he
had written to the sovereigns claiming credit to himself for the
accomplishment of the undertaking. On hearing that Columbus had arrived
before him, his heart sank within him. He made his way unobserved to
his own house, and, on receiving a reproachful letter from Ferdinand and
Isabella, he took to his bed, and in a short time died of deep chagrin
on seeing Columbus receive all the honours he had himself hoped to
obtain.

Columbus, having performed the journey to Barcelona in safety, was
received with the greatest possible respect by Ferdinand and Isabella,
whose nobles and courtiers vied with each other in endeavouring to do
him honour. His entrance into the city was like a Roman triumph. The
courtiers and hidalgos, and a vast concourse of people, came forth to
meet him. Before him were paraded the Indians, decked out according to
their savage fashion, and after these were borne various kinds of live
parrots, stuffed birds and animals, and rare plants; while there was a
conspicuous display of Indian coronets, bracelets, and other decorations
of gold.

Columbus followed on horseback, accompanied by a brilliant cavalcade of
Spanish chivalry. The windows and balconies were crowded with the fair;
the very roofs were covered with spectators.

The King and the kind Queen awaited his arrival seated on a throne, in a
vast and splendid saloon, under a rich canopy of brocade of gold. They
raised him as he attempted to kneel, and had a seat placed for him near
them,--a rare honour in so punctilious a Court. He here narrated his
adventures, to which they listened