Chapter III, One Man Alone (Sections 16-25) Summary and Analysis

On Sunday, October 21st, 1520, Magellan's men first found evidence of a Southern pass, which gradually came into view over the course of five days. After a month around South America, they all believed they had found the pass. The question was now whether to sail home and go to the Spice Islands. Their supplies were running low; many thought they should return. Magellan would have done well to heed the advice to turn back but he ignored it. As a result of disagreement, two of his ships abandoned him, further reducing his supplies but he still stayed the course. When Magellan first saw the wide open Pacific Ocean he burst into tears.

The three ships would then cross the Pacific over 12,600 miles. They had no maps, poor navigating instruments...