y exclaimed against this obstinacy in
tempting fate by continuing on into a boundless sea. They insisted
upon turning home, and abandoning the voyage as hopeless. Columbus
endeavoured to pacify them by gentle words and promises of large
rewards; but finding that they only increased in clamour, he assumed a
decided tone. He told them it was useless to murmur; the expedition had
been sent by the sovereigns to seek the Indies, and, happen what might,
he was determined to persevere, until, by the blessing of God, he should
accomplish the enterprise.

Columbus was now at open defiance with his crew, and his situation
became desperate. Fortunately the manifestations of the vicinity of land
were such on the following day as no longer to admit a doubt. Beside a
quantity of fresh weeds, such as grow in rivers, they saw a green fish
of a kind which keeps about rocks; then a branch of thorn with berries
on it, and recently separated from the tree, floated by them; then they
picked up a reed, a small board, and, above all, a staff artificially
carved. All gloom and mutiny now gave way to sanguine expectation; and
throughout the day each one was eagerly on the watch, in hopes of being
the first to discover the long-sought-for land.

In the evening, when, according to invariable custom on board of the
admiral's ship, the mariners had sung the vesper hymn to the Virgin, he
made an impressive address to his crew. He pointed out the goodness
of God in thus conducting them by soft and favouring breezes across
a tranquil ocean, cheering their hopes continually with fresh signs,
increasing as their fears augmented, and thus leading and guiding them
to a promised land. He now reminded them of the orders he had given
on leaving the Canaries, that, after sailing westward seven hundred
leagues, they should not make sail after midnight. Present appearances
authorized such a precaution. He thought it probable they would make
land that very night; he ordered, therefore, a vigilant look-out to
be kept from the forecastle, promising to whomsoever should make the
discovery a doublet of velvet, in addition to the pension to be given by
the sovereigns.

The breeze had been fresh all day, with more sea than usual, and they
had made great progress. At sunset they had stood again to the west, and
were ploughing the waves at a rapid rate, the Pinta keeping the lead
from her superior sailing. The greatest animation prevailed throughout
the ships; not an