The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-11-06
CHAPTER xvn.
RETURN VOYAGE ARRIVAL AT THE
AZORES.

RETURN VOYAGE = ARRIVAL AT THE
AZORES.
The trade winds which had been SO
propitious to Columbus on his outward
voyage were equally adverse to him on
his return. The favorable breeze soon
died away, and throughout the remain
der of January there was a prevalence
of light winds from the eastward, which
prevented any great progress. He was
frequently detained also by the bad sail
ing Of the Pinta. the foremast of which
was so defective that it could carry but
little sail. The weather continued mild
and pleasant and the sea so calm that
the Indians whom they were taking to
Spain would frequently plunge into the
water and swim about the ships They
saw many funny fish, one Of which they
killed. as likewise a large shark. These
gave them temporary supply Of pro
visions. OF which they soon began to
stand in need, their sea stock being re-
duoed to bread and wine and Agi pep
pers, which last they had learned from
the Indians to use as an important az.
tlcle of food.
In the early part Of February, having
run to about the thirty-eighth degree of
north latitude. and got out of the track
swept by the trade winds, they had
more favorable breezes and were en-
abled to steer direct for Spain From
the frequent changes OF their course the
pilots became perplexed in their reckon
ings, differing widely among themselves.
and still more widely from the truth.
Columbus. besides keeping careful
reckoning, was yigilant observer OF
those indicatiQns furnished by the sea,
the aiF and the Sly. The fate of himself
and his ships in the unknown regions
which he traversed often depended
upon these observations, and the sar
gacity at which he arrived in deeipher-
ing the signs Of the elements was looked
ppaA by the common seamen as some.
thing almost supernatural In the pres
ent instance he noticed where the great
bands Of floating weeds commenced
and where they fniahed, aud in emerg-
ing from among them concluded him
eelf to be in about the same degree OF
longitude as when he encountered them
on his outward voyage-that ia to say
about $50 leagues west of FerFoA
On the 10th Of February, Vicente
Yanes Rinzon, and the pilots Ruiz and
Rartolomeo Roldan. who were on board
Of the admiral's ship, examined the
charts and compared their reckoniags to
determine their situation. but could not
come TO anY agreement. They all sup
posed themselves at least $50 leagues
nearer Spain than what Columbus be-
lieved to be the true reckoning, and in
the latitude Of Madeira whereas he
knew them to ba nearly in q direction
for the Azores he suffered them, how
ever, to remain In their error. and even
added to their perplexity that they
might retain but confused idea of the
voyage. and he alone possees clear
knowledge of the ropte te the newly dis
covered countries
On the 18th Of February. as they were
Aattering themselves with soon coming
in sight of land. the wind came on 10
blow violently, with heavy seA; they
still kept their cpuFse to the east, but
with great labor and peril On the fol
lowing day after sunset the wind and
swell increased; there were three flashes
Of lightning in the north-northeast
considered by Columbus as signals Of an
approaching tempest II soon burst upon
them with frightful violence; their
small aud crazy vessels, open and with
out decks. were little fitted for the wild
storms OF the Atlantic; all night they
were obliged to send under bare poles
As the morning Of the l4th' dawned
there was . transient nause. and thaS