Then lifteth Zanzibar
whose women are monsters and where the market is in
elephant teeth. And so I come at last to the extremity of
Africa which Bartholomew Diaz found--my brother, Don
Bartholomew being with him--and named Good Hope.
So I round Good Hope, and I come home by Cape Bojador
which I myself have seen. I will pass Fez and Ercilla and
the straits and Cadiz. I will enter the River Sagres at
Palos, for there was where I first put forth. The bells of
La Rabida will ring, for a thing is done that was never done
before, and that will not cease to resound! I shall have
sailed around the earth. Christopherus Columbus. Ten
ships. Ten chances of there being one in which I may come
home!"
"There have been worse dreams!" said Juan Lepe.
"I warrant you! But I am not dreaming."
He rose and stood with arms outstretched, crosswise.
" `Nought is hid,' saith Scripture, `but shall be found!'
Here is Earth. Do you not think that one day we shall go
all about it? Aye, freely, freely! With zest and joy, discovering
that it is a loved home. For every road some man
or men broke the clods!"
They hailed us from the _Cordera_. One had seen from
topmast the _Santa Clara_.
Still we sailed by the south coast of Hispaniola. We
knew now that it was not Cipango. But it was a great
island, natheless, and one day might be as Cipango.
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