" Yet, there were the birds flying out to
them, bringing their message of hope, if only the poor frightened men
could have had more faith! The Pinzons meanwhile were having less
trouble; for when their sailors wished to turn back because nothing had
been found seven hundred and fifty leagues west of the Canaries, Martin
Alonzo told them all the absurd tales he had read about Cipango, and
promised them, if only they went ahead, that its wealth would make their
fortune. This appears to have hushed their murmuring; but Christopher
had no such flowery promises to hold forth.
Martin Pinzon, having observed a few days before that most of the birds
flew from the southwest rather than the exact west, suggested to
Columbus that land probably lay nearer in that direction; and Columbus,
to please him, changed his course. It is interesting to speculate on
what might have happened had Pinzon not interfered, for the fleet, by
continuing due west, would have shortly entered the Gulf Stream, and
this strong current would surely have borne them northward to a landing
on the coast of the future United States. But this was not to be. On
Pinzon's advice the rudders were set for the southwest, and nothing
happened for several days except that same passing of birds. On October
11 a fresh green branch floated by; and Columbus, after dark had fallen,
declared he saw a light moving at a distance.
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