A voyage with Columbus; a story of two boys who sailed with the great admiral in 1492

Front matter

vp

a, i

WITH

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I. The Port of Palos 1

II. Two Heads Better than One 11

Chapter I. The Port Of Palos

One morning in the latter part of May, 1492, the port of Palos in Spain was greatly perturbed. Nearly all its male inhabitants and many, too, of its women and girls, were gathered in front of its ancient church of Saint George to hear the reading of a royal proclamation. And this proclamation, from the sovereigns of Spain to their subjects resident in Palos, came as a sentence of doom to some and distressed them all, for the little puello was called upon to furnish seamen enough to man at least two caravels for an unknown voyage of discovery. At some time in the past the port of Palos had incurred the displeasure of Ferdinand and Isabella, the “most Christian sovereigns of Castile and Leon,” and had been condemned by royal

council to serve the Crown for a year with two armed caravels. The seafaring men of the port had known this for a long time and had sullenly acquiesced, backed as was the decree by all the armed forces of the kingdom, if need be; but they had hoped, after this lapse of years, that they might escape the penalty. But when the royal notary read the order in the porch of the church, on that morning in May, they knew that all their hopes were in vain. The fiat had been pronounced, and instead of sending them on a short voyage to the coast of Africa or along the Mediterranean shores, to fight their ancient enemies the Moors, from whom they might gain great plunder, the sovereigns ordered them to make ready for a venture into unknown seas, where man had never sailed before, and from which the chances were they would never return. They were to receive wages, to be sure, but only those generally paid to men on service in armed vessels, and with no prospect of plunder or glory. Instead of sailing under some one of Spain’s great admirals, whose name would have given luster to the expedition, they were to go forth at the orders of a beggarly adventurer, whose very name was unknown, even to the town authorities, some of whom had served the sovereigns for years and had kissed their hands at court.

THE PORT OF PALOS.

Little wonder, then, that there was protest loud and deep, and that the men of Palos were incensed at this adventurer, Columbus, who stood calmly by while the notary read the proclamation and who was surrounded by the regidors and alcaldes of Palos and Moguer, together with other high functionaries of the twin towns. On one side of Columbus, as if to give him the sanction of his holy office, stood Friar Juan Perez, of the neighboring monastery of La Kabida, and on the other sturdy Captain Pinzon of Moguer, under whom many Palos men had made voyages coastwise, and who was regarded with respect for his many sterling qualities. Had Columbus not been so well supported by these men in authority, the chances are that he would have been mobbed at once and his adventures ended then and there ; but as it was, the entire population rebelled at the order, not only such of the common people from whom the drafts of sailors would be made, but even the town authorities, who were commanded to furnish the caravels as well as to arm and provision them for the voyage. They were promised payment at full values for all they should supply the Crown and all penalties of whatever sort against the port were to be remitted and canceled ; but even these inducements were not sufficient, for

A VOYAGE WITH COLUMBUS.

the owners of vessels were convinced that if they furnished the caravels they would never return ; and as to the sailors, they were horrified, veteran salts as they were, at the very idea of sailing into the wilderness of waters. Captain Martin Alonzo Pinzon himself, though he now gave Columbus the moral support of his presence, had often told them tales of the monsters to be encountered in the ocean to the westward of the Azores and Canary Isles, which this adventurer, Columbus, purposed to cleave with his keels : — of the mermaids and mermen, the chimeras, the creeping leviathans, the winged dragons that guarded the coasts of the lands beyond the ocean sea ; and above all of the terrific storms that swept the waters, amid which no craft, however large, could live.

There were few strangers in the crowd assembled before the church, save the court officials who had accompanied Columbus, for Palos was an obscure place rarely visited by outsiders, and the sovereigns had expected such complete compliance with their demands that they had not sent any soldiers to guard their messengers; so that those not native to the region were very conspicuous and were marked individuals. Among the few not known to the residents of Palos and Moguer who mingled with the

THE PORT OF PALOS.

people at the church was a boy of about seventeen, whose dress proclaimed him wealthier than the average Spaniard, and whose countenance had a foreign cast. He was tall and slight of stature, but well knit and muscular, with a high-bred intelligent face lighted by eyes in which lurked the light of authority. He moved amongst the throng with an easy grace of carriage which gave assurance that he was accustomed to have others give way before him when in public ; and yet he seemed anxious to avoid observation as much as possible. Had the Palos people been less engaged with their own affairs, just then, they might have noted this youth as a possible spy upon their movements ; for they were by nature suspicious and prone to assault any stranger who visited their town without some obvious errand as an excuse. As it was, the young stranger did not escape observation, for more than one malevolent glance was cast at him as he walked about, and mental notes were made to look him up when the flurry was over. Aside from his air of general superiority, there was something in his costume which marked him as one accustomed to higher society, for it was rich and very evidently of the kind never worn save by those in attendance at courts. If he were a royal spy or allied with

A VOYAGE WITH COLUMBUS.

royalty in any way he made a great mistake in wearing that doublet of rich velvet with slashed sleeves, the silken hose with jeweled garter clasps, the plumed hat, and the embroidered belt with a jaunty rapier carried at his side. He had not evidently counted upon such disparity between his costume and that of his new neighbors at Palos, or he would not have come among them so attired. He seemed to know no one there, and that again was a suspicious circumstance, in the eyes of the Paloese, who at once set him down — such as observed him at all — as a friend, doubtless, of the cause of their troubles, Columbus, and entitled to scant mercy should he be caught alone and could be set upon unawares.

At first sullen and resentful, the crowd finally burst into open denunciation of the proclamation and the men who had been instrumental in having it read to them. Having heard it, they would be bound to obey, unless they could evade its provisions by deserting their households and escaping to some other part of the land where they would not be known. Few of them were so desperate as to follow such an inclination, and knowing their predicament they were like caged wolves, in their fury. They looked about for some one upon whom they

THE PORT OF PALOS.

could wreak their rage, and in their anger fell upon one another, until at last the crowd was split up into little groups waging verbal battles which, if actual weapons had been used, would have quicklydecimated the community. The enraged men dared not attack Columbus, surrounded as he was with the prestige of power bestowed by the sovereigns, and so he was allowed to draw off in the direction of the monastery, whither he went attended by the friar and Captain Pinzon. Then it was that some of the people took note of the young stranger, who was left quite conspicuous by the withdrawal of the functionaries, and one of them, a burly mariner with a low-browed, bewhiskered visage, a squat shape and broad, bent shoulders, singled him out for conversation.

“ And you, Sefior Como se llama (Mr. What’s your name)” said the squat sailor addressing the youth, “ perad venture you are a friend of the lowborn foreigner who has brought all this trouble to Palos ? ”

“I have never had speech with him, if you mean Senor Don Colon, ’ ’ answered the boy courteously ; < t but he appears the gentleman, and I am a friend of all who behave themselves.”

<< Oho, si ? So you do not know that this usurper

A VOYAGE WITH COLUMBUS.

is not entitled to be addressed as Don, eh ? He is no gentleman, fine sir ; he bought that title, cheap as it is, when he signed the capitulation with our king and queen, over in Granada, three months ago !

4 Senor Don Colon,’ forsooth! Why, he is a base-born cur, and a foreign cur, at that. 5 5

4 4 But what of it ? ” asked the youth, somewhat impatiently. 44 1 am not the sponsor of Senor Columbus. Go have your quarrel out with him ; it is no affair of mine. ’ ’

4 4 Then I will make it your affair, ’ ’ shouted the sailor, drawing a back-handed slap across the boy’s cheek and sending him staggering against a bystander. He recovered himself quickly and his hand went to his side where hung the jaunty rapier, which was whipped from its sheath in an instant. Seeing this movement, quick as it was, the sailor drew his knife from the back of his belt and made at the youth before any one could interfere. In sooth, there seemed no one there willing to interfere, for a fight, paltry as this one promised to be, was what above all else the crowd was spoiling for. A woman or two murmured shame, seeing the boy on the defensive, and opposed to the sailor, grown man that he was ; but the protests were unheeded, all the men and boys standing about giving a quiet

THE PORT OF PALOS.

acquiescence. They were a brutal lot, those men and boys of Palos, and if they ever had any ideas of chivalry and fair play they had nearly lost them in the general oppression to which they had been subjected for years. So there was no real remonstrance offered when the sailor threw himself upon the boy with his knife. The latter was alone, utterly unsupported, and he knew he had no friend in sight.

But, if the fight had been left to those two, it was soon shown he needed no assistance, this stripling of seventeen then opposed to a stalwart antagonist. As the man threw himself upon him he made a deft motion with his rapier and turned the knife-blade upward so quickly that the blow failed in its aim and the man’s arm shot over his shoulder. It was drawn back again, however, and another lunge was made at the boy’s breast. This too was parried with a skill that showed long training in the manual of arms and itself told of the youth’s rank in society, — or at least that he was not of the commonalty. His eyes flashed, his cheeks were pale his lips compressed ; but he uttered no sound, being well aware that this was a duel to the death, in which he was engaged, unless he could disable or disarm his opponent, and do it quickly, too,

A VOYAGE WITH COLtTMBtJS.

At the third attack he pricked the sailor’s arm so sharply that he winced, and then by an upward stroke knocked the knife from his hand. It fell amongst the encircling crowd which, as soon as it was aware the sailor was disarmed, raised a shout of rage, mingled now and then with a note of approval. The sentiment of fair play had not entirely disappeared from among the people of Palos, but it had so nearly died out that few dared to give expression to their approval of it. They had hoped to see a fight to the finish, and when the sailor, instead of advancing upon his opponent, whom he could have crushed by the mere weight of his body, halted and then retreated before the gleaming rapier, there went up a growl of disappointment. He was still in a rage, for his eyes gleamed with hate ; but he was discreet, and so fell back before that shining blade.

Chapter II. Two Heads Better Than One

There seemed then a disposition to allow the youth to go free, for he had fought his antagonist well, and certainly deserved his liberty ; but in the heat of the moment one of the sailor’s companions threw a stone which struck him in the forehead and brought him to the ground, insensible. He had already got his back to a wall and was standing at bay in an attitude of defiance, still without saying a word but seeming to dare the whole assemblage, with his rapier held menacingly before him and a look of desperation in his eyes. But this untoward event changed at once the prospect of affairs and he was immediately at the mercy of his enemies, and if they had quickly availed themselves of the opportunity the story of his ending would have been short, indeed. At this juncture, however, he received succor from an unexpected source, and was

rescued for the time being by a youth younger than 11 himself. It happened that the wall against which he had so sturdily set his back had an opening in it, a sort of half door, half window, only a foot or so from the ground, and in that opening stood a boy of Palos who at least had the sentiment of mercy in his breast. He threw open the wooden shutter that had closed the window and reaching out drew the young man inside, before the brutal crowd had time to recover from their astonishment and then shut the barrier in their faces.

Of course there at once arose a great clamor, and those nearest the window threw themselves against it, led by the baffled sailor who had lost his knife. Like all the houses of Palos, however, this one into which the youth had been so unceremoniously drawn was massively constructed, with walls of stone and mortar two feet thick, and there was no other opening visible. By the time the attacking party had swarmed around the house and discovered the doorway, which faced in a different direction, the boy inside had dragged his captive into an upper room, through a narrow and tortuous passageway and barred the door by shooting across it the great iron bolts with which it was provided. And while the excitement was at its height, most fortunately, the king’s herald once more appeared at the church

TWO HEADS BETTER THAN ONE.

porch and by a loud blast of his trumpet imperiously summoned the people to another conference.

Knowing that there was no escape possible from the house, and if from the house, none from the town itself, and that they could wreak their vengeance at their leisure, the men and boys sullenly withdrew to the church, leaving the boys for future attention.

Inside the dwelling, meanwhile, no time was being lost by the rescuer in attempting to bring his captive to consciousness, and before the noise had wholly died away the latter sat up and looked about him. He was dazed and weak, but was soon able to stand erect, though for a moment sorely perplexed at finding himself alone in a darkened room with a single companion and no foes to fight. He still clutched his weapon of defense, which at first he seemed disposed to make use of with effect, and backed against the wall of the room, while his captor looked on perplexed.

“ You may put by the espada, senor, for there is no one else here than myself, and I am unarmed,” said the boy.

< < But where is the man who attacked me, and where am I ? ” asked the stranger. 4 ‘The last I remember he was in retreat, and then happened

A VOYAGE WITH COLUMBUS.

something that took away my senses. Am I safe from the crowd? ”

“ For the present, senor, yes; but not for long, unless you are willing to follow me to quarters more secure. Can you walk? ”

“Oh, yes, I am only a little faint, but my legs can carry me.”

“ Bien (well). I will take you a short journey underground. Know, then, that this house is connected by a subterranean passage with the old monastery of La Rabida, which stands on the bluff above the river, and where lives a good friend of mine, Friar Juan Perez, who will without doubt succor you and see that you get away from the place before the people return to the attack. Still, there is no time to lose. Descend with me quickly, soon as I throw back these bolts. How fortunate it was that I happened to be in the old house and looking through the cracks in the shutter, when that stone felled you to the ground. Just by chance it was, too, and gracias a Dios (thanks be to God), I am a coward and fear being drawn into a fight, else I should not have retreated to this place of security. ’ 5

“ Thanks to God, indeed, my dear friend, for you have saved my life! Still, I cannot think you a coward, since you must have risked your own life, in a sense, to rescue me from the people. Were you not afraid, when you exposed yourself at the window and drew me into safety ? ”

i ‘ Oh, as to that — I had no time to be afraid. I could not but have done as I did. It was nothing, senor; though I did tremble, surely. You are so heavy, you know, and my muscles all but failed to lift your weight. But I think the dear God helped me, for it was done before the people knew what was going on.”

This conversation was carried on while the two were groping in the passageway which they had entered from the cellar of the house, and which of course was dark and damp. The boy of Palos carried the stump of a candle, by the dim light of which they placed their feet ; though there was no danger of their going astray, the passage was so narrow and so low. This subterraneo , as the boy called it, was made, he said, when the monks owned both the monastery and the greater portion of Palos, and since they had confined themselves, of late years, to the monastery, it had fallen into disuse. He had discovered it while investigating the cellar of the old house, one day, and had kept the secret of its existence to himself. He doubted if any one else in Palos knew of it ; and if any one did

A VOYAGE WITH COLUMBUS.

it would not matter, because by the time the entrance was found he and his friend would be safe with the good friar. Just as the candle end sputtered and gave out there was a glimmer of daylight ahead, and carefully parting some vines that grew over the exit the boy led the way into a walled enclosure.

“This is the old cemetery of the monks,” he whispered, as they emerged into daylight. “ It has not been used for many years, for there is another burial-place over on the hill, and so it is never visited. See, beneath these mounds sleep the good fathers who alone knew of the subterraneo , so the secret is safe with them — and with us. How, before taking you before the friar I am going to lead the way to the mirador (the balcony-tower) where we may rest ourselves . 5 ’

They entered an abandoned corridor by means of a break in the half-ruined wall and thence ascended a winding stairway which ended at a balcony projecting from the seaward-facing tower of the monastery, outspread from which was a view of several rivers and the distant sea. The stranger uttered an exclamation of pleasure when he looked upon this view and sank contentedly down upon a stone bench against the wall in the shade. As the boy sat clown beside him he placed an arm around his shoulders and looking into his face, said with emotion : “I have you to thank for saving my life, for bringing me out of darkness into this blessed sunlight. What, now, can I do for you? Know you that I can well afford to give you almost anything you desire, for though I am now alone and seemingly friendless, I have rich and powerful connections in my home province. More than this I cannot now tell you ; but riches, even honors, I can sometimes bestow, my brother. ’ ’

44 Oh,” said the boy, with his cheek reddening and looking down at his bare feet, 44 I desire nothing at all. What less could I have done ? I too am alone, and unlike you I have few if any friends ; but my wants are few, since I never had much at any time. If you care to give me your friendship, that is all I ask. ’ ’

4 4 That you have, surely, and shall have, all my life,” answered the stranger, drawing the boy against his shoulder in a close embrace. 4 4 If indeed you are all alone, wh}' not join your fortunes with mine and go with me from this place when I leave, seeking something better? ”

The boy’s eyes lightened up with a happy smile

and he said quickly : 4 4 That I will, if you will take 2

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me, for I am an orphan and have no ties that bind me to Palos. I would like to see the world.”

“And you shall; leave that to me. You can return to Palos, later, can you not, and secure what belongs to you there, or arrange to leave it in safe hands ? ”

The boy laughed heartily. “Yes, I can return to Palos ; but, senor, I have nothing there at all. Only what you see me wear — that is all I possess. I shall be a sorry companion for you, I fear.”

“Is that true ? ” asked the youth, joining in the laugh. “Well, in that case there will be the less to leave behind, and the more to provide. It pleases me to know that you have so little, since you care so little for it, for now I know what I can do. ’ 5

Little, in truth, the boy had, to all appearances, for his scanty garments, though clean and neat, were worn and even ragged. They consisted of merely a shirt, a short jacket and trousers reaching to the knees, below which his stout freckled legs were much in evidence, while his feet, as already mentioned, were bare. But his merry face belied the belief that he was poor, being an index to that richest of possessions, a contented mind. It was round and red-cheeked, with laughing blue eyes, a tip-tilted nose and wide mouth with white even teeth, and was surmounted by a shock of yellow hair, which, being covered by no cap or hat, was tanned, as well as his skin. He was sixteen years old, or just a year younger than his friend, and for the five years past had been practically a waif, without a home or friendly relatives.

After he had told his short story, ending up with the statement that his name was Pablo Santos, his friend related his — or as much as he chose to tell, — evidently reserving much that would have been very interesting, and giving merely scanty facts as to his name and life.

4 4 My name is Adolfo , 5 ’ he said, 4 4 and — well, you may call me Sanchez, for the other part. Yes, that will do as well as any name, for though I am not ashamed of anything I ever did, yet for reasons sufficient to myself, I would rather not reveal my patronymic, my family name. Sometime I will tell you, sometime I shall hope to make you acquainted with my home; but now — now I must continue incognito. I have not run away from my home and friends, but on the contrary am here with their full approval. In short, friend Pablo, I am here for the purpose, which perhaps you may have already divined, of going with Don Cristobal Colon on his voyage of discovery ! 5 5

A VOYAGE WITH COLUMBUS.

‘ < Does he know it? ” interrupted Pablo. ‘ £ And will you take me, too ? ” he added eagerly. “ Oh, I too have wished to go with that great man on that voyage which my friends fear so much ; but I am afraid he would not take me, a boy, when men only are wanted.”

4 ‘No, he does not know it,” answered Adolfo; but all the same, he is going to take me, if I have to raise heaven and earth to compel him ; and if you care to go, he must take you, too ; so that is settled.”

“ Is it?” exclaimed Pablo joyfully. “ Oh, it must be, because, do you know, the good God has led us along until the way seems paved for it. How ? Why, if the signs mean anything, that is. Don’t you know, that great man, Columbus, is right here in this very building, and that he is even now a guest of good Juan Perez, the prior of La Rabida, who interceded with Isabella our queen and procured the order upon Palos which my neighbors resent so much? And, Juan Perez is my friend; at least he always treats me well and knows I am an honest youth. ’ ’

‘ ‘ If this be true, ’ ’ said Adolfo happily, < < we are indeed most fortunate. Let us lose no time in seeking the Prior and Don Colon,”

Chapter III. An Interview With Columbus

The boys descended the winding stairway of stone, Pablo in the lead, until they arrived again at the great corridor which ran around the inner court of the monastery. This corridor was surrounded on three sides by cloister cells where the monks slept by night and meditated by day, and on the fourth side was the great refectory or dining hall where they ate their simple meals. To this refectory Pablo led the way, pausing as he heard voices within and timidly knocked on the massive oaken door. So earnestly were the people within conversing that they did not hear the faint sound and continued without interruption. They were evidently discussing the possibility of providing the necessary vessels for the voyage, for the boys heard Captain Pinzon’s voice ring out:— “The third caravel? I tell you, I will provide that, since by our sovereign’s commands you are furnished with the others. I have just the vessel for 21

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the voyage, a little boat called the 4 Nina,’ ; — small to he sure, but trim and snug and able to weather any gale ; she shall make the third one of the fleet, and my brother, Vicente Yanez, will go along as her captain, while I, with your permission, will command the ‘ Santa Maria, ’ which, as the largest of the fleet, should be the flag-ship.”

There was a murmured remonstrance at this announcement, evidently from Columbus, the boys catching only a fragment of it, the voice was so low ; but they gathered that he himself had counted upon furnishing the third vessel of the fleet, and did not wish to be forestalled. At the same time, he expressed his gratitude to Captain Pinzon for so promptly coming to the rescue, being unaware whither to look for such a vessel as he desired.

The real truth, as afterward revealed by legal inquiry, was, that Columbus at that time had no means whatever with which to provide the third caravel, and was inexpressibly relieved by Captain Pinzon ’s offer. When the king and queen had said they would furnish two vessels for the voyage, in their conference at Granada, his pride and ambition had prompted him to offer the third, although well he knew he had not a maravedi to spare for such a venture.

“Well, let that go,” rejoined Captain Pinzon, in answer to his murmured protest. 4 4 1 will send the little 4 Nina,’ armed and equipped, manned with men of my own choosing and captained by my brother, and we can settle afterward for the expense.”

44 Yes, yes, that is well,” said the voice of Friar Perez, addressing Columbus. 44 Captain Pinzon is well able to do all he promises, and moreover he is the greatest navigator and most powerful landowner in these parts. I congratulate you, Se or Don Colon, upon acquiring such a stout ally and friend at the outset. You remember, that he said he would aid you, when we had our consultation here, before I sent you on the last journey to court ; and sooth, I knew he would make good his words. The next thing we have to provide for is the manning of the other vessels ; for verily, my people of Palos are averse to volunteering for the voyage. If some one, or some few, of them would volunteer, I feel assured the rest would follow, like a flock of sheep after their leader, jumping over a wall. But where to get those first few, — that is the question.”