There
was much angry arguing back and forth, for Spain and Portugal were old
enemies; but finally the Portuguese governor dropped his high-
handedness, sent back the prisoners, and the poor storm-tossed little
_Nina_ bravely set out again to cover the many remaining miles
between her and Spain.
Even after all their hardships and their sorrow over the loss of their
friends on the _Pinta_, the unhappy mariners were not to be left in
peace. After a few days another violent storm beat against them and
buffeted them for days, while a terrific wind came and tore their sails
away. The poor little _Nina_, bare-poled, was now driven helpless
before the gale. And yet, marvelous to relate, she did not founder, but
kept afloat, and on the morning of March 4, sailors and Admiral saw land
not far away.
"The Madeiras!" cried some, just as they had cried before when off the
Azores.
"Spain!" cried others, more hopefully.
"The Rock of Cintra, near Lisbon!" cried their Admiral, whose power of
gauging distances, considering his lack of instruments, was little short
of marvelous. And Cintra it was. Again chance brought him to an
unfriendly coast, and gave him no choice but to run into the mouth of
the Portuguese river Tagus for shelter.
Like wildfire the report ran up and down the coast that a ship had just
returned across the Atlantic from the Indies (for the Spanish sailors
called the new islands the Indies of Antilla) and of course the ship was
full of treasure! In command of this ship was Christopher Columbus, the
very man whom King John of Portugal had refused to aid years before!
Hundreds of small boats surrounded the little caravel, and the curious
Portuguese clambered aboard and asked, among their many eager questions,
to be shown the treasures and "Los Indios.
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