silent. The Queen was dressed as usual with quiet splendor, but wearing
few jewels. She wore a robe of crimson cloth, and her beautiful auburn
hair was as usual coifed with pearls. Doña Christina walked a short
distance behind the Queen.
As she approached, talking in a low voice with the Cardinal, who walked
by her side, and followed by Doña Christina and a number of ladies
and gentlemen of the court, the Queen was so absorbed in what she
was saying that she did not observe either Diego or Don Felipe. Her
voice was pitched low, almost a whisper; but both youths heard her say
distinctly to the Cardinal:
"And so, my Lord Cardinal, the rumor has come from Portugal that the
caravels were seen entering the Tagus on the fourth day of March. It is
unconfirmed, and in some respects improbable. Why should the Admiral
land in Portugal before coming to Spain?"
"He may have put in by stress of weather or for repairs, madam," the
Cardinal replied, in a low and earnest voice. "Many unforeseen things
might induce the Admiral to make the first port possible if, indeed, he
has returned from that strange voyage."
The Queen glanced backward and seemed to grow suddenly conscious of the
presence of Diego and Don Felipe. Diego's ruddy face had turned deadly
pale, although he still maintained his rigid military attitude.
"Come here, Don Diego," said the Queen, stopping, "and you, Don Felipe.
Tell me when does the exercise in the manège begin for Prince Juan and
the pages?"
"In half an hour, madam," responded Diego, advancing and bowing low as
the Queen spoke.
"Then we shall have the pleasure of seeing the exercises in the
manège," said the Queen, in her usual gracious manner. "Doña Christina,
will you say to the Princess Katharine and to Doña Luisita that they
may be present to see the exercises in the manège?"
The Queen resumed her earnest conversation with the Cardinal, and the
rest of the suite passed on. When the great doors at the other end of
the corridor had closed after the royal train, Don Felipe said to Diego:
"You heard the Queen's words, and what the Cardinal replied?"
"Yes," answered Diego. "It seemed as if my heart stopped beating. Now
it thumps hard enough, I can tell you."
"But there is no time to count heart-beats," said Don Felipe. "We have
not a moment to spare if we are to be ready in half an hour for the
manège."
Without another word both ran the long length of the corridor, through
various winding passages, and up a narrow stairway until they came
to the rooms of Prince Juan, where Diego knocked. Prince Juan, who
was alone, himself opened the door. He inherited his mother's noble
simplicity of character, and, while fully understanding the duties of
his position, he treated his pages, all youths of his own age, like
companions of his own rank.
"The Queen and her ladies will be present in the manège," breathlessly
burst out Don Felipe, "and we thought your Highness would wish to know
it."
"Certainly I should. Many thanks, Felipe," cried Prince Juan. "When the
Queen honors our exercises we must show at our best."
Prince Juan ran down the stairs, breakneck, followed by Diego and Don
Felipe, through the winding passages, across the wide courtyard, into
a long colonnade that led to the great circular riding-school. It was
an immense space covered with tan-bark, with galleries for spectators.
Adjoining it was a large room surrounded with alcoves, in which the
arms and riding paraphernalia were kept. This room was soon filled
with the pages, twenty youths, all lithe, active, and eager to show
their accomplishments before the Queen. All, including Prince Juan,
disappeared within their alcoves, where there were valets to assist
them in changing their clothes. They kept up, meanwhile, much talk and
laughter, Prince Juan joining as an equal in their merry preparation.
One only, Don Diego de Colon, usually the merriest of them all, was
silent. In a few minutes they trooped out, dressed in leather surcoats
and riding-breeches and boots with huge spurs, and wearing light
helmets. Prince Juan was dressed exactly like the others, except that
on his helmet was engraved a small crown, and on the breast of his
jacket of Cordovan leather was also a small crown embroidered in gold.
The young prince noticed the silence and pallor of Diego, and, going up
to him, put his arm kindly within Diego's, saying:
"What is the matter, Don Diego? You are as solemn as an owl."
"There is a report abroad, so I heard her Majesty the Queen say to the
Cardinal de Mendoza, that the ships of my father, the Admiral, had been
seen in the Tagus. That is enough to make one silent, is it not, your
Highness?"
"Indeed it is," replied Prince Juan. "For my part, I often dream at
night that the Admiral has returned and has discovered a new world for
Spain. Ah, Don Diego, what a great day that will be for Spain!"
There was no time to say more as the trumpet-call sounded for the
riding-hall, into which the pages now marched. The grooms were bringing
in the chargers, the finest breeds of Andalusia, celebrated for its
horses, their coats like satin, their muscles like steel, their hoofs
black and polished. The horses knew well enough for what they were
brought, and were keen for the sport. Before mounting, Don Tomaso de
Gama, the Daredevil Knight, reckoned the most accomplished horseman
in Spain and master of the riding-school, appeared. He, too, wore
riding-dress and a glittering casque. He gave the order at once to
mount, that they might have a warming-up canter before the Queen and
her ladies arrived. Then began a quick gallop around the circular
space, the horses' hoofs sounding softly on the tan-bark. In a few
minutes the signal was given to retire, and the young horsemen all
filed out through an arched gateway into the great courtyard of the
stables beyond.
At this moment the Queen, preceded and followed by her ladies and
attended by several gentlemen and escorted by the Cardinal, entered
the ladies' gallery. The Queen sat with Doña Christina on one side of
her and the Cardinal on the other. Many ladies were sitting on chairs
behind her, and on the step below the Queen's chair the Princess
Katharine and Doña Luisita sat on silken cushions. Doña Luisita looked
no longer a child, but a charming young lady.
Four trumpeters with silver trumpets were stationed at the farther side
of the great circular hall, and at a signal from the Queen played a
fanfare. At that the doors under the archway were flung open, and the
long line of pages entered headed by Prince Juan. As he dashed through
the great archway, sitting square and steady upon a splendid black
horse, the Queen's eyes lighted up with pleasure at the appearance of
this gallant youth.
When Prince Juan came abreast of the Queen's gallery, he pulled up
quickly, the horse rising for a moment on his haunches and then
standing like a statue, as Prince Juan saluted first the Queen and
then the other ladies present. The same thing was done by each of the
twenty pages, every charger acting with an intelligence almost human.
When the Daredevil Knight, the master of riding, brought up the rear
of the line, his horse, too--a sinewy chestnut charger--stood on his
haunches and then came down gracefully on his knees as if making an
obeisance to the Queen, then rose and stood as still as a bronze horse.
The Queen was charmed with this pretty trick of horsemanship, and,
leaning over, bowed and smiled and waved her hand to the Daredevil
Knight. Then the exercises began, Prince Juan always riding first and
the Daredevil Knight last. They galloped around the ring twice to show
their manner of ordinary riding. Then the grooms brought four rings,
which they hung at the four quarters of the circle; and the pages, with
glittering lances, rode around, taking the rings as they went. Some
took all the rings, while others took only three or sometimes two.
Next a stuffed horse with a manikin mounted on him was rolled in; and
each young horseman, galloping by at full speed, had to knock off the
manikin's head with a single blow of the sword, and again passing it
had to dismount at full speed, taking up the head, and mount again.
This was most exciting, and some of the pages failed to get the head.
Prince Juan, however, succeeded in getting it each time. There were
various other tricks of horsemanship shown which amused and delighted
the Queen and her ladies, especially the Princess Katharine and Doña
Luisita. In one of the feats, Prince Juan galloping past the gallery,
his horse apparently shied and unseated him. A cry of dismay went up
which changed to a burst of applause when Prince Juan sprang back and
stood up on his horse's back, galloping around the tan-bark in that
fashion, followed by all the other pages. All through Diego and Don
Felipe acquitted themselves with credit. It was usually the pleasantest
hour of the day with them all, this hour in the manège, and when there
were no spectators it was a time of jokes and merriment. But Diego felt
as if he were in another world. He went through his part well, but
mechanically, and his look was so grave that Doña Luisita whispered to
the Princess Katharine:
"What can be the matter with Don Diego to-day? His body may be here,
but his mind is somewhere else."
When all was over the Queen sent for Don Tomaso and questioned him upon
the proficiency of her son and his companions. The Daredevil Knight,
who was as frank as he was brave, assured the Queen that Prince Juan
was an admirable horseman, but there were several of the pages who
surpassed him. Don Felipe he considered the best horseman of them all.
"I believe what you tell me," replied Queen Isabella, "for I see that
you tell the truth and are no flatterer and do not tell me that my son
excels all, although I see that he does well."
The nobility of the Queen was such that all about her were encouraged
to tell the truth, and not to seek to deceive by flattery and falsehood.
It was nearly six o'clock when the pages left the riding-hall, and in
a half-hour they were washed and dressed in their ordinary clothes
and were seated at supper at the long table in their dining-hall.
Everything was good but plain, as it was the wish of the King and the
Queen to bring Prince Juan up as a soldier rather than a courtier. At
one end of the table sat the great Duke of Medina Coeli, governor of
the pages; and at the other end sat Don Tomaso de Gama, the Daredevil
Knight. The Duke was a rigid governor, and made no difference in his
discipline between Prince Juan and any of the other youths under his
charge. The sovereigns interfered in no way with this discipline, and
Prince Juan had to ask permission from the stern Duke for everything he
wished to do, as much as any of his attendant pages. Nevertheless, the
governor had a kindly heart. He encouraged the pages to talk at their
meals, using this as a means of discovering their natural temper and
disposition. They often spoke with the enthusiastic hopes of boyhood of
the return of the Admiral; their patriotism was aroused in his favor;
and they looked forward with eager confidence to the day when he would
add a magnificent empire to the Kingdom of Spain. This had secured for
Diego perfect good-will among his companions, none of whom had ever
taunted him with his humble origin or had spoken of his father except
with the highest respect.
On this evening a singular silence prevailed at the pages' supper. The
young men spoke in undertones among themselves, and Diego was conscious
that strange looks were cast upon him. When supper was over and the
pages, with Prince Juan, retired to their study-hall, where they had an
hour of study, Diego found out the cause of the silence and suppressed
excitement. The pages crowded around him; and Prince Juan, acting as
spokesman, said:
"Two reports have come this day, Diego; one that Captain Martin Alonzo
Pinzon has landed at Bayonne, and the other that your father, the
Admiral, has returned in a caravel which is anchored in the Tagus. I
do not know who was the messenger that brought the letter from Captain
Pinzon, nor the person who brought the news from Portugal."
"But it is true, my Prince!" shouted Diego, raising his arms in triumph
above his head. "I know it, I feel it! For a fortnight past I have
had the feeling that my father was nearing land. The stories of the
dreadful storms and tempests have not frightened me. Each day my father
has been in my mind, and I dream every night of him. Ah, my Prince, it
is true!"
Then, seizing Don Felipe in his strong arms, the two youths hugged
each other and rubbed their cheeks together in a rapture of boyish
affection. Their companions around them broke into an involuntary
cheer, led by Prince Juan. They were young and sanguine, and found it
easy to believe in anything which redounded to the glory and honor of
their country.
Over the noise a ringing voice was heard at the door, that of the
Daredevil Knight.
"The presence of Don Diego de Colon is required by the governor of the
pages."
An instant silence fell upon the shouting and cheering youths. They
could see through the open door the soldierly figure of the governor,
who in general permitted no noisy outbreaks; but to-night he said no
word and uttered no rebuke. The door closed immediately after Diego,
and the Duke said to him:
"Come with me at once, Don Diego, to the presence of her Majesty."
Diego followed the Duke and Don Tomaso as they rapidly walked through
the halls and corridors of the palace toward the wing occupied by the
Queen and the King. Nothing was said except a brief inquiry made by
the Duke of Don Tomaso as to when King Ferdinand might be expected to
return from a hunting expedition upon which he had that day started.
"In five days the King will return," was Don Tomaso's reply.
When they reached the door of the Queen's private apartments it was
opened at once by Doña Christina. The Queen was alone except for her
favorite lady-in-waiting and Cardinal Mendoza. For the first time in
all the years that Diego had seen the Queen, she showed deep agitation.
Usually of calm demeanor, she was that night extremely restless,
sometimes sitting in her stately chair, again rising and walking about
the small but richly furnished room lighted with silver lamps. As soon
as Diego entered, the Queen spoke to him kindly, saying to the Duke:
"Tell Don Diego what we have heard."
Then the Duke spoke.
"A Portuguese merchant has just arrived, reporting that on the third
of March, the weather off the mouth of the Tagus being very wild and
stormy, a caravel was seen in great distress. The tempest continued
very violent all that day, and the caravel was in great danger of being
dashed to pieces on the rock of Cintra. The people watched it all day,
making many prayers for the mariners in such peril, but unable to be
of any assistance to them. The storm continued the best part of the
night, but subsided, and the next morning broke fair and sunny. The
caravel had survived and was entering the mouth of the Tagus with a
fair wind. It was said to be the Niña with the Admiral, your father, in
command, and several men of a strange race on board with animals and
objects hitherto unknown. The merchant says that a large Portuguese
ship-of-war, commanded by Don Alonzo d'Acunha, one of the greatest
captains in Portugal, was anchored in the Tagus, and that Don Alonzo
sent a boat to the caravel commanding that her captain report on board
the Portuguese ship to give an account of himself. The caravel's
commander refused to go, sending word in reply that he outranked Don
Alonzo d'Acunha, being under letters patent of the King of Arragon
and the Queen of Castile, Admiral of the Ocean Seas, Viceroy and
Captain-General of all lands to the westward. He therefore desired that
Don Alonzo d'Acunha, as his inferior in rank, should pay him a visit of
ceremony."
"That was my father!" cried Diego, forgetful of all etiquette, his soul
in a tumult of pride and joy.
The Queen, who was walking about the room restlessly while the Duke
spoke, instead of rebuking the lad, came up to him and, laying a hand
upon his shoulder, said, smiling proudly:
"And there your father showed the true and lofty spirit of a Spanish
admiral. Small might be his ship, but great must be his soul. Happy am
I in having an admiral who knows so well how to maintain the honor of
his flag."
The Queen sat down, her face aglow, her eyes sparkling; and, turning
to Doña Christina, she put her hand in that of her lady-in-waiting and
said:
"We are but women; but we have hearts like men."
Diego stood throbbing and palpitating and longing to hear more. The
Duke continued quickly:
"The merchant left Portugal soon after this happened. There are,
however, some discrepancies in his story. He says that the caravel was
the Niña, while the Admiral sailed in the Santa Maria. The merchant
also says that the caravel's commander was to proceed to Lisbon instead
of coming direct to a Spanish port. Again, at almost the same moment
the Portuguese merchant appeared, a messenger came bearing a letter
from Captain Martin Alonzo Pinzon, at the port of Bayonne, saying that
land was found to the westward; but that he was separated from the
Admiral many weeks ago and knows not if he still survives. All might
be explained except the persistence with which the Portuguese merchant
insists that the commander of the caravel was undoubtedly going to
Lisbon, and that he saw, before leaving, the preparations to travel
thence by land."
Then the Cardinal said:
"If the King of Portugal commanded the Admiral to come to Lisbon, he
could scarcely refuse. And, in that event, how poignant must be the
regret of the King of Portugal, who abandoned the glorious project
offered him by the Admiral and left it to your Majesty and King
Ferdinand to reap the glory of it."
"Ah!" cried the Queen. "Once more have you, my Lord Cardinal, spoken
words of wisdom. One thing seems certain, two of the ships have
returned. How unfortunate it is the King is not here! However, if more
definite news comes, I will send messengers for the King. You may go
now, Don Diego. I will send a messenger to La Rabida telling the Prior,
Juan Perez, of what we have heard."
Then Diego's soul became possessed with courage. He went up to the
Queen's chair and, kneeling on one knee, said:
"Will your Majesty pardon me for what I am about to ask? May I go with
that messenger to La Rabida? My father gave his word that unless driven
elsewhere by stress of weather he would make his first landing in Spain
at the port of Palos. I saw him depart, my Queen, and a voice like the
voice of God spoke in my heart, saying, 'He will return with immortal
glory.' His first thought next his sovereigns will be for his sons,
for me and my little brother. If my father lands at Palos and I am not
there, it will give him a pang, for my father loves his children with
all his heart. May I go, my Queen? Oh, let me go, let me go, my Queen!"
Diego, in his eagerness, had laid his hand upon the Queen's robe.
Her eyes, ever kind, grew more kindly; but while maintaining her own
authority well she never forgot the authority of others. She turned to
the Duke and said, smiling:
"My Lord Duke, can you spare this young man from his duties and studies
for a little while. It is an occasion which so far has never arisen but
this once in the life of a royal page."
"If your Majesty requests it," replied the Duke, "leave shall be given
to Don Diego, and I agree with your Majesty that the occasion is so
great that Don Diego may well be excused."
Diego, overjoyed, kissed the Queen's hand and thanked the Duke. The
Queen nodded by way of dismissal. It was then obviously time for Diego
to retire; but he stood irresolutely glancing toward the door, but
apparently unwilling to leave. He looked imploringly at Doña Christina,
who, smiling, went toward him. The next moment the Duke smiled and the
Queen laughed outright as they heard Diego say to Doña Christina, in a
loud whisper:
"Oh, how much would Don Felipe like to see the caravel come in!"
"I am sure he would," responded Don Felipe's mother, amused at Diego's
straight-forward simplicity.
Then Diego, looking around and seeing only smiling faces, went and
knelt before the Queen.
"Your Majesty," he said, "together Don Felipe and I saw the caravel
depart. Don Felipe believed in my father as much as I do, and if he
had not we should not have been like brothers, but we should have
fought like tigers. Don Felipe was ever good to me from the beginning.
He was a grandee of Spain, and I was the son of a poor Genoese
navigator; but Don Felipe never let me feel the difference between us.
He has ever been the best of friends and comrades to me, and now for me
to see the caravel come in and Don Felipe not to--"
Diego sighed heavily, while the Queen and all present could not forbear
smiling.
"Could you, my Lord Duke, grant the request of this young man?" asked
the Queen.
The Duke hesitated a moment, and Diego thought he would be refused. He
rose, the picture of dejection, and, hanging his head, said mournfully:
"Poor, poor Felipe!"
The Queen at that laughed once more. Diego, turning to Doña Christina,
said sadly:
"Madam, I would ask you to plead for Don Felipe with the Duke; but if
the Duke will not grant the Queen's request I am afraid he will not
listen to any one else."
"But I shall obey the Queen's wishes," said the Duke. "I will give Don
Felipe leave also; but you are to start upon your return two days after
the caravel arrives."
A thrill ran through Diego, his eyes shone, his mouth opened wide with
delight; and Queen Isabella, who understood youth well, nodded to him
again as a sign of dismissal. Diego retained his senses enough to make
an obeisance to the Queen and low bows to the Cardinal, the Duke, and
Doña Christina. Then, slipping out of the door, he ran like a deer back
to the hall of the pages. As he entered it Prince Juan sprang forward
and, clasping him around the neck, shouted:
"Tell us all, all, all!"
The other pages, with Don Felipe, clustered around; and Diego, with
Prince Juan's arm about his neck, poured forth the story told by the
Portuguese merchant, and also the news that the Pinta had arrived at
Bayonne.
"And the Duke has given me leave, and Don Felipe, too, to go to Palos
immediately to see the caravel come in. I knew that it would be so
hard for him to stay here when I went to Palos and saw all the people
crowding the quays and shores and the caravel come sailing in with my
father on the poop."
"And why," cried Prince Juan, shaking Diego, "cannot I see that
glorious sight as well as you and Don Felipe?"
"Because your Highness is a royal prince," answered Diego. "Your
Highness cannot run about the country as we do. We are not heirs to
thrones, we are not so important, and so we have more liberty."
The door opened, and Father de Deza, tutor to Prince Juan and master of
studies, entered. Instantly all sat down and took their books, Prince
Juan with the others, but the minds of all were elsewhere speculating
upon the glorious discovery, the gain of new worlds for Spain.
It was the way of the Duke to act quickly, and the next day by noon
Diego and Don Felipe were starting off with a party consisting of Don
Tomaso de Gama, Alonzo de Quintanilla, the Queen's accountant, and a
dozen men-at-arms. De Quintanilla was to make official records of the
return of the ship, to take charge of important papers, and carried a
letter from Queen Isabella to the Admiral.