velous, met that sand white like crushed bone,
strewn with delicate shells. Never was wind so sweet as that which blew
this morning! Green plumes, the palms brushed the sky; there seemed to
us fruit trees also, with satin stems and wide-laden boughs. When we
looked over shoulder the _Santa Maria_, the Pinta and the Nina each rode
double, mast and hull in sky, mast and hull in mirror sea. Something
strange and divine was about us, over us. We wished to laugh, we wished
to weep.

Boat head touched clean sand. The oars rested. Christopherus Columbus
the Admiral stepped from boat first and alone, all waiting as was right.
He took with him the banner of Spain. He walked a few yards, then struck
the standard into the sand. There was air enough to open the folds,
to make them float and fly. Kneeling, he bowed himself and kissed the
earth. We heard his strong voice praying. "_Domine Deus, aeterne et
omnipotens, sacro tuo verbo coelum, et terra, et mare, creasti_--"

We also bowed our heads. He rose and cried to Fray Ignatio. The
Franciscan was the next to enter this new world. After him sprang out
Diego de Arana and the others. The Pinzons, too, were now leaving their
boats. All were at last gathered about the Admiral, between blue water
and green wood. Fifty Spaniards, we gathered there, and we heard our
fellows left upon the ships cheering us. We kneeled and Fray Ignatio
thanked God for us.

We rose, drew long breath and looked about us, then turned to the
Admiral with loud praise and gratulation. He was girded with a sword,
cross-hilted. Drawing it, he set its point in the sand. Then with one
hand upon the cross, and one lifted and wrapped in the banner folds, he,
with a great voice, proclaimed Spain's ownership. To the King and Queen
of the Spains all lands unchristian and idolatrous that we might find
and use and hold, all that were clearly away from the line of the King
of Portugal, drawn for him by the Holy Father! In the name of God, in
the name of Holy Church, in the name of Isabella, Queen of Castile,
and Ferdinand, King of Aragon and their united Power, amen and amen! He
motioned to the trumpeter who put trumpet to his lips and blew a blast
to the north and the south and the east and the west. At the sound there
seemed to come a cry from the fringing wood, a cry of terror.

The island was ours,--if all this could make it ours.

A piece of scarlet cloth spread upon the sand had heaped upon it
necklaces of glass a