constantly Columbus supposed that he was near the coast of Asia. On the
sixth of October Pinzon asked that the course might be changed to the
southwest. But Columbus held on. On the seventh the Nina was ahead, and
fired a gun and hoisted her flag in token that she saw land. But again
they were disappointed. Columbus gave directions to keep close order
at sunrise and sunset. The next day he did change the course to west
southwest, following flights of birds from the north which went in that
direction. On the eighth "the sea was like the river at Seville," the
weeds were very few and they took land birds on board the ships. On the
ninth they sailed southwest five leagues, and then with a change of wind
went west by north. All night they heard the birds of passage passing.

On the tenth of October the men made remonstrance, which has been
exaggerated in history into a revolt. It is said, in books of authority,
that Columbus begged them to sail west only three days more. But in the
private journal of the tenth he says simply: "The seamen complained
of the length of the voyage. They did not wish to go any farther. The
Admiral did his best to renew their courage, and reminded them of the
profits which would come to them. He added, boldly, that no complaints
would change his purpose, that he had set out to go to the Indies, and
that with the Lord's assistance he should keep on until he came there."
This is the only passage in the journal which has any resemblance to the
account of the mutiny.

If it happened, as Oviedo says, three days before the discovery, it
would have been on the eighth of October. On that day the entry is,
"Steered west southwest, and sailed day and night eleven or twelve
leagues--at times, during the night, fifteen miles an hour--if the log
can be relied upon. Found the sea like the river at Seville, thanks to
God. The air was as soft as that of Seville in April, and so fragrant