enthusiastic as ever; Martin Alonzo Pinzon repeats his offer to sail as
captain of one of the ships; he even goes further, for he offers to
advance money for the venture in case the Crown is unwilling or unable
to provide the entire sum necessary. All this sounds very promising to
the good prior, who vows that he is willing to speak with the queen if
Christopher will give up forever his idea of going to France. It is a
last ray of hope to the discouraged man, and he agrees.

And so that very day a courier started out from the white monastery
among the dark pine trees to find the queen at Granada, and give her
Friar Juan's letter craving an interview on "an important matter." In
those days it took two weeks, at least, for a courier to ride from Palos
to Granada and back. On the fourteenth day, we may be sure, the prior
and his guest kept scanning the eastern horizon anxiously. That very
evening the man returned. He brought a royal letter granting the monk's
request.

"Splendid!" cried the old monk. "I shall start this very night! Find me
a mule, some one."

So everybody scurried around the neighborhood to see who would lend the
prior a mule; and finally a man of Moguer said he would spare his beast
awhile, though he never would have lent him to any other man than the
good prior of La Rabida! Then he ventured to hope that the prior would
not ride him too hard; as if any one, even an enthusiast helping to
discover America, could ride a mule "too hard"!

By midnight the mule was brought up, and off started the prior, followed
by the good wishes of everybody who was in the secret. Queen Isabella
received him the moment he arrived at her camp of Santa Fe (Holy Faith)