But on the 12th of February a storm overtook them, and became more and
more furious, until, on the 14th, it rose to a hurricane, before which
Pinzon's vessel could only drift helplessly, while the Nina was able to
set a close-reefed foresail, which kept her from being buried in the
trough of the sea. In the evening both caravels were scudding under bare
poles, and when darkness fell, and the signal light of the "Pinta" gleamed
farther and farther off, through the blinding spray, until at last it
could be seen no more, when his panic-stricken crew gave themselves up to
despair, as the winds howled louder and louder, and the seas burst over
his frail vessel--then, indeed, without a single skilled navigator to
advise or to aid him, Columbus must have felt himself alone with the
tempest and the night. But his brave heart bore him up, and his wonderful
capacity for devising expedients on sudden emergencies did not forsake
him. As the stores were consumed, the Nina felt the want of the ballast
which Columbus had intended to take on board at the Amazonian Island.
"Fill the empty casks with water," he said, "and let them serve as
ballast," an expedient which has grown common enough now, but which then
was probably original.


THE PROMISED PILGRAMAGE

Nor, while he did all that human skill could suggest for the safety of his
vessel, did Columbus neglect to invoke the aid of that Higher Power, at
whose special instigation he believed himself to have undertaken the
expedition. With his whole crew he drew lots to choose one of their number
to perform a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadaloupe. The
admiral was chosen. Twice more were lots drawn with a similar object, and
once again the lot fell to the admiral. Afterwards, he and all the crew
made a vow to go in procession, clothed in penitential garments, to the