edience to him, as
admiral and viceroy, representing the persons of the sovereigns.

The feelings of the crew now burst forth in the most extravagant
transports. They had recently considered themselves devoted men,
hurrying forward to destruction; they now looked upon themselves as
favourites of fortune, and gave themselves up to the most unbounded joy.
They thronged around the admiral with overflowing zeal, some embracing
him, others kissing his hands. Those who had been most mutinous and
turbulent during the voyage, were now most devoted and enthusiastic.
Some begged favours of him, as if he had already wealth and honours in
his gift. Many abject spirits, who had outraged him by their insolence,
now crouched at his feet, begging pardon for all the trouble they had
caused him, and promising the blindest obedience for the future.

WASHINGTON IRVING.

[Notes: _Columbus_. Christopher Columbus of Genoa (born 1430, died
1506), the discoverer of America. His first expedition was made in 1492.

"_The reward was afterwards adjudged to the admiral_." This has often
been alleged, and apparently with considerable reason, as a stain upon
the name of Columbus.]

* * * * *

COLUMBUS SHIPWRECKED.

On the morning of the 24th of December, Columbus set sail from Port St.
Thomas before sunrise, and steered to the eastward, with an intention of
anchoring at the harbour of the cacique Guacanagari. The wind was from
the land, but so light as scarcely to fill the sails, and the ships made
but little progress. At eleven o'clock at night, being Christmas eve,
they were within a league or a league and a half of the residence of the
cacique; and Columbus, who had hitherto kept watch, finding the sea calm
and smooth, and the ship almost motionless, retired to rest, not having
slept the preceding night. He was, in general, extremely wakeful on his
coasting voyages, passing whole nights upon deck in all weathers; never
trusting to the watchfulness of others where there was any difficulty or
danger to be provided against. In the present instance he felt perfectly
secure; not merely on account of profound calm, but because the boats on
the preceding day, in their visit to the cacique, had reconnoitred the
coast, and had reported that there were neither rocks nor shoals in
their course.

No sooner had he retired, than the steersman gave the helm in ch