nd noble.

When Columbus first came to them, they were with the army in the camp
near the city of Cordova. The king and queen had no time to listen to
what they thought were crazy plans, and poor Columbus could get no one
to talk with him who could be of any help. So he was obliged to go back
to drawing maps and selling books to make enough money to support
himself and his little Diego.

But at last, through the friend of good Friar Juan Perez of Rabida, who
was a priest at the court, and named Talavera, and to whom he had a
letter of introduction, Columbus found a chance to talk over his plans
with a number of priests and scholars in the city of Salamanca where
there was a famous college and many learned men.

Columbus told his story. He said what he wished to do, and asked these
learned men to say a good word for him to Ferdinand and Isabella so that
he could have the ships and sailors to sail to Cathay. But it was of no
use.

"What! sail away around the world?" those wise men cried in horror.
"Why, you are crazy! The world is not round; it is flat. Your ships
would tumble off the edge of the world and all the king's money and all
the king's men would be lost. No, no; go away; you must not trouble the
queen or even mention such a ridiculous thing again."

So the most of them said. But one or two thought it might be worth
trying. Cathay was a very rich country, and if this foolish fellow were
willing to run the risk and did succeed, it would be a good thing for
Spain, as the king and queen would need a great deal of money after the
war with the Moors was over. At any rate, it was a chance worth thinking
about.

And so, although Columbus was dreadfully disappointed, he thought that
if he had only a few friends at Court who were ready to say a good word
for him he must not give up, but must try, try again. And so he stayed
in Spain.

When you wish very much to do a certain thing, it is dreadfully hard to
be patient: it is harder still to have to wait. Columbus had to do both.
The wars against the Moors were of much greater interest to the king and
queen of Spain than was the finding of a new and very uncertain way to
get to Cathay. If it had not been for the patience and what we call the
persistence of Columbus, America would never have been discovered--at
least not in his time.

He stayed in Spain. He grew poorer and poorer. He was almost friendless.
It seemed as if his great enterprise must be given up. But h