He kept his course westward taking advantage of the trade wind which
blows steadily from west to east between the tropics. (Topic sentence).
_With this favorable breeze_ (Explicit reference) they were wafted
gently but speedily over a tranquil sea, so that for many days they did
not shift a sail.
Nevertheless the situation of Columbus was daily becoming critical; his
crews began to grow extremely uneasy at the length of the voyage; they
were already beyond the reach of succor, and beheld themselves still
borne onward over the boundless wastes of what appeared to them a mere
watery desert. They were full of vague terrors, and harassed their
commander by incessant murmurs, or fed each other’s discontents,
gathering together in little knots, and stirring up a spirit of mutiny.
There was great danger of their breaking forth into open rebellion, and
compelling Columbus to turn back. In their secret conferences they
exclaimed against him as a mad desperado, and even talked of throwing
him into the sea.—_Irving._