very unpopular. So you see, boys and girls, that success is a most
uncertain thing, and the man who is a hero to-day may be a beggar
to-morrow.

But, as is often the case, Columbus was too full of fear. He was not
really in such disgrace as he thought he was. Though his enemies had
said all sorts of hard things against him, the king--and especially the
queen--could not forget that he was, after all, the man who, had found
the new land for Spain; they knew that even though he had not brought
home the great riches that were to have been gathered in the Indies, he
had still found for Spain a land that would surely, in time, give to it
riches, possessions and power.

So they sent knightly messengers to Columbus telling him to come and see
them at once, and greeting him with many pleasant and friendly words.
Columbus was, as you must have seen, quick to feel glad again the moment
things seemed to turn in his favor; so he laid aside his penitent's
gown, and hurried off to court. And almost the first thing he did was to
ask the king and queen to fit out another fleet for him. Six ships, he
said he should want this time; and with these he was certain he could
sail into the yet undiscovered waters that lay beyond Hayti and upon
which he knew he should find Cathay.

I am afraid the king and queen of Spain were beginning to feel a little
doubtful as to this still undiscovered Cathay. At any rate, they had
other matters to think of and they did not seem so very anxious to
spend more money on ships and sailors. But they talked very nicely to
Columbus; they gave him a new title (this time it was duke or marquis);
they made him a present of a great tract of land in Hayti, but it was
months and months before they would help him with the ships and money he