those rumors.

Certainly the majority looked upon him as either a heretic or a foolish
dreamer, or perhaps a bold adventurer trying to get money from their
king; but happily a few believed in him, argued on his side, and became
his steadfast friends. The most noted of these was the learned monk,
Diego de Deza. He was intelligent, broad-minded, and generous; and
though he was not able to prevail upon the other professors nor upon the
king, still it must have helped Columbus's cause to have such a
distinguished churchman for his friend.

In the spring of 1487 the monarchs left Salamanca without giving a
definite answer to the anxious man. They were about to begin a campaign
against the Moors in Malaga, down on the Mediterranean coast, and
thither Columbus followed them. Once, when there was a lull in the
siege, he was summoned to the royal tent. Again no definite answer was
given, but again he made a powerful friend. This time it was the
Marchioness of Moya, the queen's dearest companion; and when, soon
after, this lady was wounded by a Moorish assassin who mistook her for
the queen, we may be sure that Isabella's affection deepened; and that,
in gratitude, she listened readily when the kind-hearted marchioness
praised the Genoese navigator.

From the surrender of Malaga until that of Granada, the last Moorish
city, Ferdinand and Isabella were ever busy,--sometimes in the south
with their armies, sometimes attending to general government affairs in
various cities of the north. All this time they were having hard work to
raise war funds. It would not be strange, therefore, if they felt unable
to spend money on Columbus's doubtful scheme, or if they told him that
it would be impossible further to consider his project until the Moorish