Thus did the punishment of Palos
end in her witnessing the greatest day of the fifteenth century.
CHAPTER XII
DAYS OF TRIUMPH
Before following our happy Admiral into the presence of the king and
queen, let us remain in Palos a little moment with that other courageous
navigator, Martin Alonzo Pinzon. Poor Martin was not happy; in fact, he
was very miserable. He had slunk from his storm-battered caravel and
into his house without saying a word to any one. His wife, overjoyed at
seeing him, threw her arms around him.
"Oh, my good Martin!" she exclaimed, "we were mourning you as dead!
Cristobal Colon believed that you and your _Pinta_ had gone to the
bottom off the Azores!"
"I only wish I had!" groaned Martin, dejectedly. "I only wish I had!"
Perhaps you think he was repenting too deeply of that insubordination
off the coast of Cuba, 'way back in November. No, it was not that;
Martin had another matter to regret now, more's the pity; for he was a
good sailor and a brave, energetic man, ready to risk his life and his
money in the discovery. He knew that, next to Columbus, he had played
the most important part in the discovery, and he now realized that he
was not to share the honor in what he considered the right proportion.
He felt ill-used; moreover his health was shattered.
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