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The Life of Columbus; in his own words by Edward Everett Hale
page 63 of 186 (33%)
land to the west, where they told him that there was gold, and again he
thought he was approaching Cipango, or Japan.

The next day he left these hospitable people, raising anchor in the
morning, and with a light land wind continued towards the west. At
eleven in the evening Columbus retired to rest. While he slept, on
Christmas Day, there occurred an accident which changed all plans for
the expedition so far as any had been formed, and from which there
followed the establishment of the ill-fated first colony. The evening
was calm when Columbus himself retired to sleep, and the master of the
vessel followed his example, entrusting the helm to one of the boys.
Every person on the ship, excepting this boy, was asleep, and he seems
to have been awake to little purpose.

The young steersman let the ship drift upon a ridge of rock, although,
as Columbus says, indignantly, there were breakers abundant to show the
danger. So soon as she struck, the boy cried out, and Columbus was
the first to wake. He says, by way of apology for himself, that for
thirty-six hours he had not slept until now. The master of the ship
followed him. But it was too late. The tide, such as there was, was
ebbing, and the Santa Maria was hopelessly aground. Columbus ordered the
masts cut away, but this did not relieve her.

He sent out his boat with directions to carry aft an anchor and cable,
but its crew escaped to the Nina with their tale of disaster. The Nina's
people would not receive them, reproached them as traitors, and in their
own vessel came to the scene of danger. Columbus was obliged to transfer
to her the crew of the Santa Maria.

So soon as it was day, their friendly ally, Guacanagari, came on board.
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