Part 29 (2/2)

”There is a warning to us!” exclaimed one of the disaffected, as the Santa Maria sailed past the waving summit of the spar; ”G.o.d hath sent this sign to warn us not to venture where he never intended navigators to go!”

”Say, rather,” put in Sancho, who, having taken the fee, had ever since proved a willing advocate, ”it is an omen of encouragement sent from heaven. Dost thou not see that the part of the mast that is visible resembleth a cross, which holy sign is intended to lead us on, filled with hopes of success?”

”This is true, Sancho,” interrupted Columbus. ”A cross hath been reared for our edification, as it might be, in the midst of the ocean, and we are to regard it as a proof that Providence is with us, in our attempt to carry its blessings to the aid and consolation of the heathen of Asia.”

As the resemblance to the holy symbol was far from fanciful, this happy hit of Sancho's was not without its effect. The reader will understand the likeness all the better, when he is told that the upper end of a mast has much the appearance of a cross, by means of the trussel-trees; and, as often happens, this particular spar was floating nearly perpendicular, owing to some heavy object being fast to its heel, leaving the summit raised some fifteen or twenty feet above the surface of the sea. In a quarter of an hour this last relic of Europe and of civilization disappeared in the wake of the vessels, gradually diminis.h.i.+ng in size and settling toward the water, until its faint outlines vanished in threads, still wearing the well-known shape of the revered symbol of Christianity.

After this little incident, the progress of the vessels was uninterrupted by any event worthy of notice for two days and nights. All this time the wind was favorable, and the adventurers proceeded due west, by compa.s.s, which was, in fact, however, going a little north of the real point--a truth that the knowledge of the period had not yet mastered. Between the morning of the 10th September, and the evening of the 13th, the fleet had pa.s.sed over near ninety leagues of ocean, holding its way in a line but a little deviating from a direct one athwart the great waste of water, and having consequently reached a point as far, if not further west than the position of the Azores, then the most westerly land known to European navigators. On the 13th, the currents proved to be adverse, and, having a south-easterly set, they had a tendency to cause the s.h.i.+ps to sheer southwardly, bringing them, each hour, nearer to the northern margin of the trades.

The admiral and Luis were at their customary post, on the evening of the 13th--the day last mentioned--as Sancho left the helm, his tour of duty having just ended. Instead of going forward, as usual, among the people, the fellow hesitated, surveyed the p.o.o.p with a longing eye, and, finding it occupied only by the admiral and his constant companion, he ascended the ladder, as if desirous of making some communication.

”Wouldst thou aught with me, Sancho?” demanded the admiral, waiting for the man to make certain that no one else was on the narrow deck. ”Speak freely: thou hast my confidence.”

”Senor Don Almirante, your Excellency well knoweth that I am no fresh-water fish, to be frightened at the sight of a shark or a whale, or one that is terrified because a s.h.i.+p headeth west, instead of east; and yet I do come to say that this voyage is not altogether without certain signs and marvels, that it may be well for a mariner to respect, as unusual, if not ominous.”

”As thou sayest, Sancho, thou art no driveller to be terrified by the flight of a bird, or at the presage of a drifting spar, and thou awakenest my curiosity to know more. The Senor de Munos is my confidential secretary, and nothing need be hid from him. Speak freely, then, and without further delay. If gold is thy aim, be certain thou shalt have it.”

”No, Senor, my news is not worth a maravedi, or it is far beyond the price of gold; such as it is, your Excellency can take it, and think no more of my reward. You know, Senor, that we old mariners will have our thoughts as we stand at the helm, sometimes fancying the smiles and good looks of some hussy ash.o.r.e, sometimes remembering the flavor of rich fruits and well-savored mutton; and then, again, for a wonder, bethinking us of our sins.”

”Fellow, all this I well know; but it is not matter for an admiral's ear.”

”I know not that, Senor; I have known admirals who have relished mutton after a long cruise; ay, and who have bethought them, too, of smiling faces and bright eyes, and who, if they did not, at times, bethink them of their sins, have done what was much worse, help to add to the great account that was heaping up against them. Now, there was”--

”Let me toss this vagabond into the sea, at once, Don Christopher,”

interrupted the impatient Luis, making a forward movement as if to execute the threat, an act which the hand of Columbus arrested; ”we shall never hear a tale the right end first, as long as he remaineth in the s.h.i.+p.”

”I thank you, my young Lord of Llera,” answered Sancho, with an ironical smile; ”if you are as ready at drowning seamen, as you are at unhorsing Christian knights in the tourney, and Infidels in the fray, I would rather that another should be master of my baths.”

”Thou know'st me, knave? Thou hast seen me on some earlier voyage.”

”A cat may look at a king, Senor Conde; and why not a mariner on his pa.s.senger? But spare your threats, and your secret is in safe hands. If we reach Cathay, no one will be ashamed of having made the voyage; and if we miss it, it is little likely that any will go back to relate the precise manner in which your Excellency was drowned, or starved to death, or in what other manner you became a saint in Abraham's bosom.”

”Enough of this!” said Columbus, sternly; ”relate what thou hast to say, and see that thou art discreet touching this young n.o.ble.”

”Senor, your word is law. Well, Don Christopher, it is one of the tricks of us mariners, at night, to be watching an old and constant friend, the north star; and while thus occupied an hour since, I noted that this faithful guide and the compa.s.s by which I was steering, told different tales.”

”Art certain of this?” demanded the admiral, with a quickness and emphasis that betrayed the interest he felt in the communication.

”As certain, Senor, as fifty years' looking at the star, and forty years' watching of the compa.s.s can make a man. But there is no occasion, your Excellency, to depend on my ignorance, since the star is still where G.o.d placed it; and there is your private compa.s.s at your elbow--one may be compared with the other.”

Columbus had already bethought him of making this comparison; and by the time Sancho ceased speaking, he and Luis were examining the instrument with eager curiosity. The first, and the most natural, impression, was a belief that the needle of the instrument below was defective, or, at least, influenced by some foreign cause; but an attentive observation soon convinced the navigator that the remark of Sancho was true. He was both astonished and concerned to find that the habitual care, and professional eye of the fellow had been active, and quick to note a change as unusual as this. It was, indeed, so common with mariners to compare their compa.s.ses with the north star--a luminary that was supposed never to vary its position in the heavens, as that position related to man--that no experienced seaman, who happened to be at the helm at nightfall, could well overlook the phenomenon.

After repeated observations with his own compa.s.ses, of which he kept two--one on the p.o.o.p, and another in the cabin; and having recourse also to the two instruments in the binnacle, Columbus was compelled to admit to himself that all four varied, alike, from their usual direction, nearly six degrees. Instead of pointing due north, or, at least, in a direct line toward a point on the horizon immediately beneath the star, they pointed some five or six degrees to the westward of it. This was both a novel and an astounding departure from the laws of nature, as they were then understood, and threatened to render the desired results of the voyage so much the more difficult of attainment, as it at once deprived the adventurers of a sure reliance on the mariner's princ.i.p.al guide, and would render it difficult to sail, with any feeling of certainty as to the course, in cloudy weather, or dark nights. The first thought of the admiral, on this occasion, however, was to prevent the effect which such a discovery would be likely to produce on men already disposed to antic.i.p.ate the worst.

”Thou wilt say nothing of this, Sancho?” he observed to the man. ”Here is another dobla to add to thy store.”

”Excellency, pardon a humble seaman's disobedience, if my hand refuse to open to your gift. This matter toucheth of supernatural means; and, as the devil may have an agency in the miracle, in order to prevent our converting them heathen, of whom you so often speak, I prefer to keep my soul as pure as may be, in the matter, since no one knoweth what weapons we may be driven to use, should we come to real blows with the Father of Sin.”

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