Ships and men were at last ready to sail from Cadiz on May 30, 1498. It
happened that ten days before Vasco da Gama, following the Portuguese
track around Africa, had left the coast and gone across the Indian
Ocean, reaching the rich mainland of the real India--the brilliant,
civilized city of Calcutta. Let us be thankful for poor Columbus's sake
that there were no cables in those days to apprise him of the fact, else
he might have felt even more keenly what a poor showing his own
discovery had made.

His fleet this time consisted of six vessels. They stopped as usual at
the Canaries, then went farther south to the Cape Verde Islands. Thus a
whole month passed before they were ready to cross the Atlantic.

On leaving the Cape Verdes, the Admiral decided to send his best captain
with three of the ships due west to Haiti,--this because the Isabella
colony was in sore need of provisions. Meanwhile he himself would lead
the other three farther south and discover new lands; for he had
received a letter in Spain from a gem expert saying, "Go to hot lands
for precious stones."

Knowing nothing of currents and calms around the equator in July, he
conducted his three ships into such a strong northern ocean current that
he had to change his course before ever they reached the equator. Next
they lay becalmed for eight days in the most cruel heat imaginable. The
provisions were spoiling; the men's tempers were spoiling, too; and so,
on the last day of July, judging that they must be south of the
Caribbean Islands, Columbus gave up all thought of new investigations
and started northwest for Hispaniola. By the new course land was soon
sighted, a much larger island than any of the Caribbeans. Out of it rose
three imposing mountain peaks; and accordingly it was christened _La