The fact that it refers to discoveries _already made_ and
discoveries to be made in the Ocean Sea is our strongest reason for
believing that the pilot's story had been laid before the sovereigns.
Christopher's long years of uncertainty were ended; the man's great
perseverance had won out at last; and the weary petitioner who, some
months before, had ridden doubtingly forth from La Rabida now rode back,
bursting with joy, to fall on the good prior's neck and weep out his
gratitude.
CHAPTER VIII
OFF AT LAST!
Oddly enough, the ships Columbus was to take on his voyage were,
according to royal command, to be supplied by that very seaport of Palos
by which he is supposed to have entered Spain. Palos, Huelva, and
Moguer, all thriving maritime cities in Columbus's day, are grouped at
the mouth of the Rio Tinto. _Tinto_ means deep-colored, like wine;
and as this river flows through the richest copper region in the whole
world, it is not surprising that its waters are reddish, nor that the
copper trade enriched the neighboring towns. How the now unimportant
Palos at the mouth of the Rio Tinto came to be chosen as the seaport
from which Columbus should embark is an amusing story.
Some time before, its inhabitants had, through disobedience or some
other offense, incurred the displeasure of their sovereigns.
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