We
succeeded by great skill and with Providence over us, for
we met as it were an under wall of water ridged atop with
strong waves. The ships were tossed as by a tempest, yet
was the air serene, the sky blue. We came hardly through
and afterwards called that strait Mouth of the Serpent.
Now we were in a great bay or gulf, and still the sea shook
us and drove us. Calm above, around, but underneath an
agitation of waters, strong currents and boilings. Among
our mariners many took fright. "What is it? Are there
witches? We are in a cauldron!"
Christopherus Columbus himself took the helm of the
_Esperanza_. Many a man in these times chose to doubt
what kind of Viceroy he made, but no man who ever sailed
with him but at last said, "Child of Neptune, and the
greatest seaman we have!"
We outrode danger and came under land to a quiet anchorage,
the _San Sebastian_ and the _San Martin_ following
us as the chickens the hen. Still before us we saw that
current ridge the sea. The Admiral stood gazing upon the
southward shore that hung in a dazzling haze. Now we
thought water, now we thought land. He called to a ship
boy and the lad presently brought him a pannikin of water
dipped from the sea. The Admiral tasted. "Fresh! It is
almost fresh!"
He stood with a kindling face. "A river runs into sea
from this land! Surely the mightiest that may be, rushing
forth like a dragon and fighting all the salt water! So great
a river could not come from an island, no, not if it were
twice as large as Hispaniola! Such a river comes downward
with force hundreds of leagues and gathers children to itself
as it comes.
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