with wrapt attention; and, when he
retired from the royal presence, he was attended by the whole Court to
his residence.

Ferdinand and Isabella setting the example for many days, all the nobles
of the land exerted themselves to do him honour. He modestly received
all the attentions paid to him. Though his mind was teeming with
magnificent schemes for the future, he did not forget that for the
deliverance of the Holy Sepulchre, and believing that ere long vast
wealth would accrue to him, he made a vow to furnish, within seven
years, an army of four thousand horse and fifty thousand foot, for the
rescue of the Holy Sepulchre, and a similar force within the five
following years.

Not only Spain, but all the civilised nations of the earth rejoiced at
the important discovery achieved by Columbus. In England especially it
excited that spirit of discovery which was ere long to add so greatly to
her wealth and renown.

During his sojourn at Barcelona the sovereigns took every occasion to
bestow on Columbus personal marks of their high consideration.
Frequently the King appeared on horseback, with Prince Juan on one side
and Columbus on the other.

To perpetuate in his family the glory of his achievement, a coat of arms
was assigned him, in which the royal arms--the castle and lion--were
quartered with his proper bearings, which were a group of islands
surrounded by waves. To these arms were added the words--

"A Castella y a Leon Nuevo Mundo dio Colon."

"To Castile and Leon Columbus gave a new world."

CHAPTER FOUR.

SECOND VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS--A.D. 1403.

Preparations for another voyage rapidly made--Foneseca appointed to
superintend the expedition--Indians brought home baptised--Fleet sails
from Bay of Cadiz on the 25th of September, 1493--Steers for the
Canaries--Ordered to rendezvous at Navidad--Fine passage across the
Atlantic--On Sunday, 3rd of November, a lofty island seen, and therefore
called Dominica--The Antilles--Lands near a Carib village--Pineapples
first seen--Supposed cannibals--Diego Marques and eight men missing--
Ojeda goes in search of them--The missing party returns--Land at Santa
Cruz--Caribs in a canoe fiercely attack the Spaniards--Fleet comes off
Porto Rico--A neat village visited--Fleet reaches Hispamola--Invitations
from a cacique to remain--A supposed Indian convert escapes--Two dead
bodies of white men discovered--Painful suspicions aroused--Fleet
arrives off La Navidad at night