" `Then let us go now to the palace,’ says Don
Alonso, `and beg audience!’
“That did we, Don Cristoval, and so I hail you
`Don’ and `Admiral’, and beg you to turn
that mule and reenter Santa Fe! In a few days
you and the King and Queen may sign capitulations.”
“Was it the Queen?”
“Just. The King said the treasury was drained.
She answered, `I will pawn my jewels but he shall
sail!’ Luis de St. Angel says, `It does not
need. There is some gold left in the coffers
of Aragon. After all, the man asks but three
little ships and a few score seamen and offers himself
to furnish one of the ships.’ "
“With Martin Alonso Pinzon’s help, I will!”
" `Never,’ said I to their majesties, `was so
huge a possible gain matched against so small a sending
forth! And as for this Genoese who truly hath
given and gives and will give his life for his vision,
saith not Scripture that a laborer is worthy of his
hire?’ At which the Queen said with decision,
`We will do it, Don Luis! And now go and find
Master Christopherus and comfort him, whose heart must
be heavy, and indeed mine,’ she saith, `was heavy
when he went forth to-day, and a voice seemed to say
within me, “What have you done, Isabella?
How may you have hindered!” ’ "
The Gatherer of Ecclesiastical Revenues laughed again
with that compelling laughter. “So forth
we go, and Don Alonso sends for you to his house.
But you could not be found. Early this morning
came one and informed us that the ship had put out
of harbor, whereupon my nephew and I set sail after!”
The Admiral of the Ocean-Sea turned his face to the
west. Not knowing, I think, what he did, he raised
his arm, outstretched it, and the hand seemed to close
in greeting. His face was the face of a man who
sees the Beloved after long and sorrowful absence.
So did thought and passion and vision charge his frame
and his countenance, that for a moment truly there
was effulgence. It startled. Don Luis held
his speech suspended, in his eyes wonder. Master
Christopherus let fall his arm. He sighed.
The out-pushing light faltered, vanished. One
might say, if one chose, “A Genoese sea captain,
willing to do an adventurous thing and make a purse
thereby!”
Juan Lepe, quitting the Vega of Granada,
recrossed the mountains. I was at wander.
I did not go to Malaga. I did not then go to
Palos. I went to San Lucar. I had adventures,
but I will not draw them here. The ocean by Palos
continued with me in sight and sound and movement.
But I did not go to Palos. I went to the strand
of San Lucar, and there I found a small bark trading
not to Genoa but to Marseilles. Seamen lacked,
and the master took me gladly. I freshened knowledge
upon this voyage.
