all Spaniards and all Christians hated them and tried to drive them out
of Europe.

The king and queen of Spain who were fighting the Moors were named
Ferdinand and Isabella. They were pretty good people as kings and queens
went in those days, but they did a great many very cruel and very mean
things, just as the kings and queens of those days were apt to do. I
am afraid we should not think they were very nice people nowadays. We
certainly should not wish our American boys and girls to look up to them
as good and true and noble.

When Columbus first came to them, they were with the army in the camp
near the city of Cordova. The king and queen had no time to listen to
what they thought were crazy plans, and poor Columbus could get no one
to talk with him who could be of any help. So he was obliged to go
back to drawing maps and selling books to make enough money to support
himself and his little Diego.

But at last, through the friend of good Friar Juan Perez of Rabida,
who was a priest at the court, and named Talavera, and to whom he had a
letter of introduction, Columbus found a chance to talk over his plans
with a number of priests and scholars in the city of Salamanca where
there was a famous college and many learned men.

Columbus told his story. He said what he wished to do, and asked these
learned men to say a good word for him to, Ferdinand and Isabella so
that he could have the ships and sailors to sail to Cathay. But it was
of no use.

What! sail away around the world? those wise men cried in horror. Why,