146
LIFE A N D V O Y A G E S
OF
[BOOK
III.
The seamen now mounted to the mast-head or climbed about the rigging, straining their eyes in the direction pointed out. The conviction became so general of land in that quarter, and the joy of the people so ungovernable, that Columbus found it necessary to vary from his usual course, and stand all night to the southwest.
The morning light, however, put an end to all
their hopes, as to a dream.
The fancied land proved to be
nothing but an evening cloud, and had vanished in the night. With dejected hearts they once more resumed their western course, from which Columbus would never have varied, but in compliance with their clamorous wishes. For several days they continued on with the same propitious breeze, tranquil sea, and mild, delightful weather.
The water
was so calm that the sailors amused themselves with swimming about the vessel.
Dolphins began to abound, and flying fish,
darting into the air, fell upon the decks.
The continued signs of
land diverted the attention of the crews, and insensibly beguiled them onward. On the 1st of October, according to the reckoning of the pilot of the admiral's ship, they had come five hundred and eighty leagues west since leaving the Canary islands.
The reckoning
which Columbus showed the crew was five hundred and eightyfour, but the reckoning which he kept privately, was seven hundred and seven.*
On the following day, the weeds floated
from east to west; and on the third day no birds were to be seen. The crews now began to fear that they had passed between islands, from one to the other of which the birds had been flying. * Navarrete, tom. i. p. 16.