only the balls of the
feet.

EMPEROR. Good! You followed him only to the river.

PIERRE. Those were the orders, sire. Had I gone on, I could have overtaken
him by evening.

EMPEROR. That you could not, my lad, for the man is now here, in camp. He
returned by boat. Ladies, the test is over.

(_He turns to Pierre's mother._)

Madam, your son shall be my guide. I am proud to have a boy of such keen
sight and quick thought in my kingdom. And 't is much to be the mother of
such a lad. I salute you, madam! With greatest respect I salute you!

[_He bows to the happy woman with great courtesy._]

EMPEROR (_turning to the ladies_). Ladies, I bid you farewell.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

SCENE I

TIME: _one morning; 1484_.
PLACE: _a street in front of King John's palace, Lisbon, Portugal. Gates to
courtyard of palace in background_.

* * * * *

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
SCHOOLMASTER.
CARLOS.
ROQUE.[Footnote: Pronounced _R[=o]'k[=a]_.]
PANCHO.[Footnote: Pronounced _Paen'ch[=o]_ (_ch_ as in _ch_urch.)]
KING JOHN.
COURTIERS.
JESTER.
RIVERRA,[Footnote: Pronounced _R[=e]-ver'rae_.] A SEA-CAPTAIN.
PORTER.
BOYS, HOSTLERS, SERVANTS.

* * * * *

[_Enter_ CARLOS, ROQUE _and_ PANCHO. _They carry their school-books. A
noise is heard in courtyard._]

ROQUE (_stopping; listening_). There's stirring in the King's courtyard!

[_He runs to closed gates; peeps through a crack._]

CARLOS. Come, Roque, we shall be late to school.

ROQUE (_throwing down books_). Come, look! They are laying the red carpets
in the court!

PANCHO (_throwing down books; peeping_). 'T is for the King they lay them!

CARLOS. Come, the master will be angry.

ROQUE. But the King will soon be coming!

PANCHO. Let's wait and see him, Carlos!

CARLOS. Not I! I know how the master flogs! Yesterday I came late to
school.

PANCHO. Why were you late?

CARLOS. I stopped to watch the crazy Italian, Columbus.

[_He starts off; the others follow._]

ROQUE. I saw him once!

PANCHO. I wish I might see him!

CARLOS. There he comes now! (_Calling_.) _Loco!_[Footnote: Pronounced
_l[=o]'k[=o]_; Spanish for _crazy_.] _Loco!_

ROQUE. Aye, there he is! (_Calling._) _Loco! Loco!_

PANCHO (_calling_). _Loco! Loco!_

[_Enter_ COLUMBUS, _dignified and gentle. A crowd of_ BOYS _follow._]

ALL BOYS. _Loco! Loco! Loco! Loco!_

[_Enter_ SCHOOLMASTER, _carrying a switch._]

MASTER (_flouri