SECOND SAILOR.  What!  You mean—­

FIRST SAILOR.  I mean he must fall into the seas to-night.  Are you with me, men?

ALL SAILORS.  Aye!  Aye!

FIRST SAILOR (cautiously).  ’T is my plan to push him over as he stands there looking at the stars.

FOURTH SAILOR.  Why not creep upon him now?

FIRST SAILOR.  Are you willing, men, to have the deed done now?

ALL SAILORS.  Yes!  Yes!

FIRST SAILOR (to Second and Third Sailors).  Come with me, you two!  We’ll creep up on his left.

[They creep upon Columbus, who is seen to suddenly bend forward, looking eagerly into the distance.]

COLUMBUS.  Land!  Land!

[Sailors stop; enter the CAPTAIN.]

CAPTAIN.  Did you say land, sir?

COLUMBUS.  Land, Captain, land!  Come, Sailors, come!  Land!  Land!

SAILORS (looking; joyfully).  Land!  Land!

COLUMBUS (lifting his arms).  Now Heaven be praised!

NOTE TO TEACHER.—­This play conforms to the spirit of the traditional story of Columbus, but the dramatization has made it necessary to condense into one scene the somewhat prolonged negotiations with Ferdinand and Isabella.