Page 344 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

READING LESSONS.
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lead on the hopes of his companions, and that it was impossible to rekindle any zeal r the success of the expedition, among men in ·whose breasts ar had ex­ tinguished every generous sentiment.
4. He und it necessary to soothe passions, which
he could no loger command, and to give way to a torrent too impetuous to be checked. He according­ ly promised his men, that he would comply with their request, provided they would accompany him, and obey his commands, r three days longer; and i during that time, land were not discovered, he wo d then abandon the enterprise, and direct his course towards Spain.
5. Enraged as the sailors were, and impatient as they were of returning to their native country, this , proposition did not appear to them unreasonable: nor did Columbus ha a1·d muh in con ning himself to a time so short; r the presages of discovering land had become so numerous and promising, that
he deemed them in llible.
6. For some days the sounding line had reached the bottom; and the soil, which it brought up, indi­ cated land to be at no great distance. The ocks of birds increased, and were composed not only of sea­ wl, but of such land birds as could not be supposed to y r om the shore.
7. The crew of the Pinta observed a cane oating, which seemed to have been newly cut, and likewise a piece of timber arti cially carved. The sailors aboard the Nigna took up the branch of a tree, with red berries, perfectly esh. The clouds, around the setting sun, assumed a new appearance ; the air was more mild and warm; and during night, the wind became unequal and variable.