The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-11-13
CHAPTER XIX.

beings
CHAPTER XIX.
ARRIVAL AT PORTUGAL.
Columbus remained two days longer
at the island of st. Mary's endeavoring
to take in wood and ballast. but was
prevented by the heavy surf which broke
upon the shore. The wind veering to
the south and being dangerous for ves-
sells at anchor off the island, but favor
able for the voyage to Spain, he set sail
on the oath of February, and had pleas
ant weather until the 27th, when, being
within 125 leagues of Cape st. Vincent,
he again encountered contrary gales and
a boisterous sea. His fortitude was
scarcely proof against these perils and
delays, which appeared to increase the
nearer he approached his home, and he
could not help uttering a complaint at
thus being repulsed, as it were, from.
the very door of the house." He con
trasted the rude storms which ragged
about the coasts Of the Old World with
the genial airs, the tranquil seas and
balmy weather which he supposed per-
petually to prevail about the countries
he had discovered ''Well," says he,
''may the sacred theologians and sage
philosophers declare that the terrestrial
paradise is in the uttermost extremity of
the east, for it is the most temperate of
regions"
After experiencing several days of
stormy and adverse weather, about mid
night on Saturday, the Cd of March, the
caravel was struck by a squall of wind,
which rent all her sails, and, continuing
to blow with resistless violence, obliged
her to scud under bare poles, threaten
ing her each moment with destruction.
In this hour of darkness and peril the
crew again called upon the aid of heav-
en-. A lot was cast for the performance
of barefooted pilgrimage to the shrine
Of Santa Maria de la Cueva in Huelva,
and, as usual, the lot fell upon Colum-
bus There was something singular in
the recurrence of this circumstance
Las Casas devoutly considers it as an in
timation from the Deity to the admiral
that these storms were all on his ac-
count, 60 humble his pride and prevent
his arrogating to himself the glory of a
discovery which was the work of God,
and for which he had merely been chosen
as an instrument.
Various signs appeared of the vicinity
of land, which they supposed must be
the coast Of Portugal; the tempest, how
ever, increased to such degree that
they doubted whether any of them would
survive to reach a port. The whole crew
made a vow, in case their lives were
spared, to fast upon bread and water the
following Saturday. The turbulence of
the elements was still greater in the
course of the following night. The sea
was broken, wild and mountainous; at
one moment the light caravel was tossed
high in the air. and the next moment
seemed sinking in a yawning abyss.
The rain at times fell in torrents, and
che lightning flashed and thunder pealed
from VARIOUS parts of the heavens.
In the FIRST watch of this fearful night
the seamen gave the usually welcome
cry of land, but it now only increased
the general alarm. They knew not
where they were, nor where to look for
a harbor. They dreaded being driven
II snoEe = gisiseq lt'oA rechs' ana mus
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