" In
those days it took two weeks, at least, for a courier to ride from Palos
to Granada and back. On the fourteenth day, we may be sure, the prior
and his guest kept scanning the eastern horizon anxiously. That very
evening the man returned. He brought a royal letter granting the monk's
request.
"Splendid!" cried the old monk. "I shall start this very night! Find me
a mule, some one."
So everybody scurried around the neighborhood to see who would lend the
prior a mule; and finally a man of Moguer said he would spare his beast
awhile, though he never would have lent him to any other man than the
good prior of La Rabida! Then he ventured to hope that the prior would
not ride him too hard; as if any one, even an enthusiast helping to
discover America, could ride a mule "too hard"!
By midnight the mule was brought up, and off started the prior, followed
by the good wishes of everybody who was in the secret. Queen Isabella
received him the moment he arrived at her camp of Santa Fe (Holy Faith)
below the walls of Granada. With intense fervor he pleaded Columbus's
cause. The Marchioness of Moya--the lady who had been wounded by the
Moor at Malaga in mistake for the queen--was present, and she added her
persuasions. The result was that Isabella not only commanded Columbus to
appear before her, but she sent him money to buy suitable court raiment
and to travel to Granada in comfort.
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