could not force them to sail farther,
so, with what grace he could, he gave his consent to alter the course.

The men left the cabin, and after a few minutes' thought the captain
spoke to the boy. "Christopher," said he, "bring me the great compass
from its box near the helmsman's stand. Bring it secretly. The men
should all be on the lower deck making ready to sail. Let no one see
thee with it."

The boy left the cabin and climbed the ladder to the great poop-deck at
the stern where the helmsman had a view far over the sea. He waited
until no one was about, and then quickly took the compass from its box,
and hiding it under the loose folds of his cloak, brought it to the
captain. He placed it on the table. Then he fastened the door so that
none might enter.

Colombo opened the compass-case, and drew a pot of paint and a brush
toward him. The boy watched breathlessly while the captain painted over
the marks of the compass with thick white paint, and then on top of that
drew in new lines and figures in black. He was changing the compass
completely.

When the work was done Christopher bore the case back to its box as
secretly as he had taken it. Then Colombo went out to the sailors and
gave them orders to spread sail. It was rapidly growing dark as they
left the coast of Sardinia.

At sunrise, when Christopher came on deck to stand his watch, he knew
that their ship must be off the city of Carthagena, although all the
crew supposed they well on their way to Marseilles. Not long after, as
they were drawing nearer to the shore, the lookout signaled a vessel.
She was soon seen to be flying the flag of Naples. Fortunately this ship
was alone at the time, and the sailors were not afraid to attack her.

Orders were quickly given to sail as close to her as possible, and
preparations were made to board her. The other ship seemed no less eager
to engage in battle, and in a very short time grappling-irons were
thrown out and the ships were fastened close together. Then a fierce
combat followed between the two crews as each in turn tried to scale the
sides of the other vessel.

A sea-fight in the fifteenth century was fought hand to hand, each ship
being like a fort from which small attacking parties rushed out to climb
the other's battlements. When men met on the decks they used sword and
pike and dagger just as they would have on shore. Fire was thrown from
one ship into the rigging and sails of the other, and flames soon