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nd the lot fell once again to the Admiral himself。 He then took； as did all his crew； the vow that； on the first shore which they might reach； they would go in their shirts； in a procession； to make a prayer in some church in invocation of Our Lady。〃
〃Besides the general vows； or those taken by all in common； each man made his own special vow； because nobody expected to escape。 The storm which they experienced was so terrible； that all regarded themselves as lost； what increased the danger was the circumstance that the vessel lacked ballast； because the consumption of food； water and wine had greatly diminished her load。 The hope of the continuance of weather as fine as that which they had experienced in all the islands； was the reason why the Admiral had not provided his vessel with the proper amount of ballast。 Moreover； his plan had been to ballast it in the Women's Island； whither he had from the first determined to go。 The remedy which the Admiral employed was to fill with sea water； as soon as possible； all the empty barrels which had previously held either wine or fresh water。 In this way the difficulty was remedied。
〃The Admiral tells here the reasons for fearing that our Saviour would allow him to become the victim of this tempest； and other reasons which made him hope that God would come to his assistance； and cause him to arrive safe and sound； so that intelligence such as that which he was conveying to the king and queen would not perish with him。 The strong desire which he had to be the bearer of intelligence so important； and to prove the truth of all which he had said； and that all which he had tried to discover had really been discovered； seemed to contribute precisely to inspire him with the greatest fear that he could not succeed。 He confessed； himself； that every mosquito that passed before his eyes was enough to annoy and trouble him。 He attributed this to his little faith； and his lack of confidence in Divine Providence。 On the other hand； he was re…animated by the favors which God had shown him in granting to him so great a triumph as that which he had achieved； in all his discoveries； in fulfilling all his wishes； and in granting that； after having experienced in Castile so many rebuffs and disappointments； all his hopes should at last be more than surpassed。 In one word； as the sovereign master of the universe； had； in the outset； distinguished him in granting all his requests； before he had carried out his expedition for God's greatest glory； and before it had succeeded； he was compelled to believe now that God would preserve him to complete the work which he had begun。〃 Such is Las Casas's abridgment of Columbus's words。
〃For which reasons he said he ought to have had no fear of the tempest that was raging。 But his weakness and anguish did not leave him a moment's calm。 He also said that his greatest grief was the thought of leaving his two boys orphans。 They were at Cordova； at their studies。 What would become of them in a strange land； without father or mother？ for the king and queen； being ignorant of the services he had rendered them in this voyage； and of the good news which he was bringing to them； would not be bound by any consideration to serve as their protectors。
〃Full of this thought； he sought； even in the storm； some means of apprising their highnesses of the victory which the Lord had granted him； in permitting him to discover in the Indies all which he had sought in his voyage； and to let them know that these coasts were free from storms； which is proved； he said； by the growth of herbage and trees even to the edge of the sea。 With this purpose； that； if he perished in this tempest； the king and queen might have some news of his voyage； he took a parchment and wrote on it all that he could of his discoveries； and urgently begged that whoever found it would carry it to the king and queen。 He rolled up this parchment in a piece of waxed linen； closed this parcel tightly； and tied it up securely； he had brought to him a large wooden barrel； within which he placed it； without anybody's knowing what it was。 Everybody thought the proceeding was some act of devotion。 He then caused it to be thrown into the sea。〃＇*＇
＇*＇ Within a few months； in the summer of 1890； a well known English publisher has issued an interesting and ingenious edition； of what pretended to be a fac simile of this document。 The reader is asked to believe that the lost barrel has just now been found on the western coast of England。 But publishers and purchasers know alike that this is only an amusing suggestion of what might have been。
The sudden and heavy showers； and the squalls which followed some time afterwards； changed the wind； which turned to the west。 They had the wind thus abaft； and he sailed thus during five hours with the foresail only； having always the troubled sea； and made at once two leagues and a half towards the northeast。 He had lowered the main topmast lest a wave might carry it away。
With a heavy wind astern； so that the sea frequently broke over the little Nina； she made eastward rapidly； and at daybreak on the fifteenth they saw land。 The Admiral knew that he had made the Azores； he had been steadily directing the course that way； some of the seamen thought they were at Madeira； and some hopeful ones thought they saw the rock of Cintra in Portugal。 Columbus did not land till the eighteenth； when he sent some men on shore； upon the island of Santa Maria。 His news of discovery was at first received with enthusiasm。
But there followed a period of disagreeable negotiation with Castaneda； the governor of the Azores。 Pretending great courtesy and hospitality； but really acting upon the orders of the king of Portugal； he did his best to disable Columbus and even seized some of his crew and kept them prisoners for some days。 When Columbus once had them on board again； he gave up his plans for taking ballast and water on these inhospitable islands； and sailed for Europe。
He had again a stormy passage。 Again they were in imminent danger。 〃But God was good enough to save him。 He caused the crew to draw lots to send to Notre Dame de la Cintra； at the island of Huelva； a pilgrim who should come there in his shirt。 The lot fell upon himself。 All the crew； including the Admiral； vowed to fast on bread and water on the first Saturday which should come after the arrival of the vessel。 He had proceeded sixty miles before the sails were torn； then they went under masts and shrouds on account of the unusual strength of the wind； and the roughness of the sea； which pressed them almost on all sides。 They saw indications of the nearness of the land； they were in fact； very near Lisbon。〃
At Lisbon； after a reception which was at first cordial； the Portuguese officers showed an inhospitality like that of Castaneda at the Azores。 But the king himself showed more dignity and courtesy。 He received the storm…tossed Admiral with distinction； and permitted him to refit his shattered vessel with all he needed。 Columbus took this occasion to write to his own sovereigns。
On the thirteenth he sailed again； and on the fifteenth entered the bay and harbor of Palos； which he had left six months and a half