Text extracted from opening pages of book: CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
CONTENTS CHAPTER MJ* L THE STORY-TELLER ...... i II. THE RIDDLE OF
COLUMBUS, ., 10 II L THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE . - . .16 IV. SAILOH
AND TRADER, SOLDIER AND PIRATE .,21 V, THE PLUNGE INTO THE VOID
.... 30 VL THE EXPERT ....... 39 VII, THE OFFICIAL DOCUMENT
CHELSTOBAL COLUMBO . 45 VIIL FLIGHT FROM PORTUGAL ..... 52 IX*
OUTSIDE MANY Boons 60 X THE WISE MEN OF SALAMANCA 67 XL AWAITING
THE DECISION 80 XI L THE AGREEMENT .., . 86 XIII. THREE SHIPS PUT
TO SEA .... 94 XIV, COLUMBUS WRITES A DIARY . . . . 101 XV, THE
VOYAGE INTO THE UNKNOWN ., * 105 XVI. THE LIGHT OF THE NEW WORLD .,
.114 XVI L THE FIRST HUMAN BEINGS ., , 125 XVIII. THE FORTUNATE
IBLEB * 132 XIX, LANDING ON CUBA . ., . . * 3 8 XX, MARTIN PINZQN
MAKES HIMSELF INDEPENDENT . 144 XXL DISTINGUISHED VISITORS ON
BOARD, ,151 XXI L THE ADMIRAL S SHIP is WRECKED ., .158 vi CONTENTS
CHAPTER p A OB XXIII. THE FIRST SETTLEMENT IN THE NEW WORLD. 167
XXIV. THE RIVALS I73 XXV. STORM ON THE OCEAN 181 XXVI. THE
PORTUGUESE TRAP ., . .185 XXVII. THE CONQUERING HERO . . . .192
XXVIII. THE PARTITION OF THE WORLD . . .198 XXIX. ON VOYAGE FOR THE
SECOND TIME ., 208 XXX. AMONG CANNIBALS 211 XXXI. RUINS AND CORPSES
2* 5 XXXII. THE TOWN ISABELLA AND FORT ST. THOMAS . 221 XXXIII. IN
THE QUEEN S PRIVATE CHAMBER . . 227 XXXIV. ON THE QUEST OF THE
GRAND KHAN, . 232 XXXV. THE LORD OF THE GOLDEN HOUSE, . 237 XXXVI.
INGOTS OF GOLD 245 XXXVII. INTERLUDE 253 XXXVIII. THIRD VOYAGE OF
DISCOVERY . ., 260 XXXIX. ON THE THRESHOLD OF PARADISE . . * 264
XL. THE HELL ON HISPANIOLA . . . .269 XLI. THE ADMIRAL IN CHAINS .
277 XLIL COLUMBUS MAKES AN INDICTMENT, .,281 XLIII. THE TRIBUNAL
285 XLIV. LAST VOYAGE 291XLV. THE RESCUE OF THE ADMIRAL . .,298
XLVI., . . THE WORLD S REWARD 303 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS CHAPTER I
THE STORY-TELLER THREE young lads, whose ages ranged from ten to
fourteen years, sprawled lazily on a narrow strip of beach shelving
down from Genoa s fortified wall, which met the sea with its grim
rampart of stone. Their bare feet were stretched out to the waves
that now and then ran up to them, colouring the stones a glassy
green and then speeding swiftly back again with a soft hiss. The
sea was quiet, and the crests of its waves were like a swarm of
white mice that were trying to save themselves by a headlong rush
to the shore. One of them was always in front and reached its goal
at last, but the long train of those that followed it sank silently
into the swirling deep. The sun was already setting behind the
lofty mountains, whose immense trough of valleys opens out towards
the sea, and the harbour of Genoa lay in bluish-black shade. But
towards the south the sea took on a brighter and brighter blue as
it neared the horizon and sparkled dazzlingly in the last blaze of
the July day. The chimes of the Angelus had already died away, but
down here by the sea the sounds of labour had not ceased. There was
scarcely room in the inner harbour for the vast number of vessels,
which were either waiting to be unloaded or were setting out again
with fresh cargo. At the other quays as well, right on to the great
mole with its lighthouse there were serried rows of shipstwo-and
three-masters, whose enormous holds carried as much as twelve
thousand tons, smaller caravels with short, stumpy masts and broad,
square sails, and low galleys that were propelled by oars alone.
Diminutive rowing-boatsswarmed like flies round all of them. The
tangle of masts, yards and ropes formed an irregular lattice-work
to the right and left of the three lads* But at the place where
they lay an opening allowed an uninterrupted view into the
distance, for there was no landing-A 2 CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS place
here, and it was possible to wade for about fifty paces into the
water on the firm, rocky bottom. On that account the dockers from
the adjacent quays bathed here, and the draft-horses and mules as
well, when they were allowed a short respite from their l
