“No one blames you, my son,” said the Admiral, more touched than he had been for a long time.  “Be not so full of sorrow for what cannot be helped.  The wild people are friendly, the land is kind, and when we have sailed back to Spain with our news there will be no difficulty in returning with as many ships as we may need.  Nay, I will not leave thee here, Pedro.  I think that now I could not do without thee.”

NOTE

[1] The name of Columbus took various forms according to the country in which he lived.  In his native Genoa it would be Cristofero Colombo.  In Portugal, where he dwelt for many years, it would be Cristobal Colombo, and in Spanish Christoval or Cristobal Colon.  In Latin, which was the common language of all learned men until comparatively recent times, the name took the form Christopherus Columbus, which has become in modern English Christopher Columbus.  In each story the discoverer is spoken of as he would have been spoken of by the characters in that particular story.

THE QUEEN’S PRAYER

    In this Thy world, O blessed Christ,
      I live but for Thy will,
    To serve Thy cause and drive Thy foes
      Before Thy banner still.

    In rich and stately palaces
      I have my board and bed,
    But Thou didst tread the wilderness
      Unsheltered and unfed.

    My gallant squadrons ride at will
      The undiscover’d sea,
    But Thou hadst but a fishing-boat
      On windy Galilee.

    In valiant hosts my men-at-arms
      Eager to battle go,
    But Thou hadst not a single blade
      To fend Thee from the foe.

    Great store of pearls and beaten gold
      My bold seafarers bring,
    But Thou hadst not a little coin
      To pay for Thy lodging.

    The trust that Thou hast placed in me,
      O may I not betray,
    Nor fail to save Thy people from
      The fires of Judgment Day!

    Be strong and stern, O heart, faint heart—­
      Stay not, O woman’s hand,
    Till by this Cross I bear for Thee
      I have made clean Thy land!

V

THE MAN WHO COULD NOT DIE

“Nombre de San Martin! who is that up there like a cat?”

“Un gato!  Cucarucha en palo!”

“If Alonso de Ojeda hears of your calling him a cockroach on a mast, he will grind your ribs to a paste with a cudgel (os moliesen las costillas a puros palos)!” observed a pale, sharp-faced lad in a shabby doublet.  The sailor who had made the comparison glanced at him and chuckled.

“Your pardon—­hidalgo.  I have been at sea so much of late that the comparison jumped into my mind.  Is he a caballero then?”

“One of the household of the Duke of Medina Coeli.  He is always doing such things.  If he happened to think of flying, he would fly.  Every one must be good at something.”