LIFE A N D V O Y A G E S
244
OF
[BOOK
V.
were confirmed; a favorable breeze succeeded, but the sea still ran so high and tumultuously, that little sail could be carried during the night. On the morning of the 15th, at daybreak, the cry of land was given by Rui Garcia, a mariner in the main-top.
The trans
ports of the crew, at once more gaining sight of the Old World, were almost equal to those experienced on first beholding the New.
The land bore east-northeast, directly over the prow of the
caravel; and the usual diversity of opinion concerning it arose among the pilots.
One thought it the island of Madeira; another
the rock of Cintra near Lisbon; the most part, deceived by their ardent wishes, placed it near Spain.
Columbus, however, from
his private reckonings and observations, concluded it to be one of the Azores.
A nearer approach proved it to be an island: it was
but five leagues distant, and the voyagers were congratulating themselves upon the assurance of speedily being in port, when the wind veered again to the east-northeast, blowing directly from the land, while a heavy sea kept rolling from the west. For two days they hovered in sight of the island, vainly striv ing to reach it, or to arrive at another island of which they caught glimpses occasionally through the mist and rack of the tempest. On the evening of the 17th they approached so near the first island as to cast anchor, but parting their cable, had to put to sea again, where they remained beating about until the following morning, when they anchored under shelter of its northern side. For several days, Columbus had been in such a state of agitation and anxiety, as scarcely to take food or repose.
Although suffer
ing greatly from a gouty affection to which he was subject, yet he had maintained his watchful post on deck, exposed to wintry cold, to the pelting of the storm, and the drenching surges of the