FIRST SAILOR (shaking head).  They’ll no longer listen to that!

COLUMBUS.  Then tell them that I mean to sail on.

FIRST SAILOR (starting).  Sail on?

COLUMBUS.  Yes; to sail on and on.  Go tell them that.

[Sailor goes.  Enter CAPTAIN.]

CAPTAIN.  Admiral, the sailors below show signs of mutiny!

COLUMBUS (alarmed).  Mutiny?

CAPTAIN (nodding).  The same as these on deck.  Only look at them!

[The Sailors talk together excitedly and gesticulate wildly.]

COLUMBUS.  Ah, if I could only give them my courage!

CAPTAIN.  I fear for your life, Admiral, if the order is not given to return.

COLUMBUS.  I cannot give it, Captain.

[The Sailors on deck are joined by others from below.  They rush down upon Columbus.]

FIRST SAILOR (angrily).  You must take us back to Spain, sir!

SECOND SAILOR.  We’ll not go farther, sir!

ALL SAILORS.  Aye!  Aye!

COLUMBUS.  I’m sure we will soon find land—­

SAILORS (interrupting; angrily).  Hear him!  Hear him!

COLUMBUS.  To the one who first sees land, the Queen has promised money—­

FIRST SAILOR (interrupting).  Money! to feed to the sea-monster!

SECOND SAILOR (threateningly).  Will you turn back?

COLUMBUS (with determination).  No!

CAPTAIN.  Now, men, back to your duties.

THIRD SAILOR.  Alas! we’ll never see our homes again!

FOURTH SAILOR.  Nor our friends!

FIRST SAILOR.  We are lost, men!

SECOND SAILOR.  What shall we do?

ALL SAILORS.  What shall we do?  What shall we do?

[As their anger turns to despair, Columbus is touched.]

COLUMBUS.  Listen, men,—­I make you this promise:  if we do not see land within three days, we will return to Spain.

CAPTAIN.  There, now,—­that’s a fair promise!  Go now to your duties!

COLUMBUS.  And let every man watch for land as he has never watched before!

SAILORS (pleased).  Aye, aye, sir!

[Sailors cross to a distant part of deck.]

COLUMBUS (sadly).  Alas for my plans and my hopes, if these three days bring not land!

[He talks aside with the Captain.]

FIRST SAILOR.  We were too easily won over, men.

SECOND SAILOR (nodding).  Fearful things may happen to us in these three days!

THIRD SAILOR.  Suppose we reach the edge to-morrow!

FOURTH SAILOR.  Suppose the sea-monster should come for us to-night!

ALL SAILORS.  Aye!  Aye!

FIRST SAILOR (cautiously).  Come closer, men!  There’s something I would say to you!

[Sailors close about him; Captain goes.]

FIRST SAILOR (pointing to Columbus, who stands in bow looking at the stars).  Why should he not fall into the seas to-night?