All a New World."
"How should we map it?" said the other. "Faith of
God! I should like to see the maps a hundred years
from now!"
He had something to say of Sebastian Cabot who was
finding northward for King Henry of England. But laying
a fine small hand upon the Admiral's mighty one, he called
him "_magister et dominus_, Christopherus Columbus."
Winter wore away. With the spring he seemed to be
better in health. He left his bed. But the physician, Juan
Lepe, believed that ports and havens, new lands, and service
of an order above this order were even now coloring and
thrilling within.
When all spring was singing high, the Admiral, having
had a letter from the king, said he would go to court. His
sons would have had him travel in a litter, but he waved
that away. The Adelantado procured him a mule, and with
his sons and brother and a small train beside he started,
the King being at Segovia. He had a hardly scraped together
purse of gold, and all his matters seemed dejected.
Yet his family riding with him rode as nobles of Spain,
and his son, Don Diego, should one day become Governor
of Hispaniola. Earthly speaking, for all his feeling "All
is vain!" he had made his family. Unlike many families
so made, this one was grateful.
On the road to Segovia, stayings, restings and meetings
were cordial enough to him, for here flocked the people to
see the Discoverer.
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