This monk was an excellent cartographer, or map-maker, and Christopher
wished to talk with him about the western lands.
This good monk may have already heard in Portugal about the pilot. At
any rate he was much interested in his visitor, and ordered that the
monks should feed the hungry little Diego while he and Diego's father
held council in one of the cool little cells of the convent.
"Tarry with us a while, Senor," said the monk, "and I will send for the
learned Doctor Fernandez of Palos, who has read much science, and for
the brave Captain Martin Alonzo Pinzon, who has made many voyages. Let
us hear what they have to say about the possibility of finding this
island which you believe to lie off in the western sea."
So a messenger was sent back over the dusty road to Palos, and soon
Doctor Garcia Fernandez, mounted on his mule, appeared at the gate of La
Rabida. The monks showed him in and made him acquainted with their
visitor. The doctor was at once impressed and saw that this was no
ordinary traveler. White hair surmounting a highly intelligent face,
dreaming eyes, inspired voice--this combination did not come every day
to La Rabida. He knew that the foreigner would prove interesting and he
proceeded to explain that his friend Martin Alonzo Pinzon could not
come, as he was at that moment away on a voyage.
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