below the walls of Granada. With intense fervor he pleaded Columbus's
cause. The Marchioness of Moya--the lady who had been wounded by the
Moor at Malaga in mistake for the queen--was present, and she added her
persuasions. The result was that Isabella not only commanded Columbus to
appear before her, but she sent him money to buy suitable court raiment
and to travel to Granada in comfort. How happy Friar Juan must have been
when he sent the following letter back by royal courier to the waiting
guest in La Rabida:--

"All has turned out well. Far from despising your project, the queen has
adopted it from this time. My heart swims in a sea of comfort and my
spirit leaps with joy in the Lord. Start at once, for the queen waits
for you, and I more than she. Commend me to the prayers of my good
brethren and of your little boy Diego."

What a dear, human, lovable old gentleman was that Rabida prior! May his
spirit still "leap with joy in the Lord!"

Columbus was buoyed up again. To be sure the queen promised nothing
definite; but she had always told him that she would give him more
attention when the war was over, and the courier declared that things
were going very badly for the beleaguered Moorish city of Granada. It
was the enemy's last citadel and, said he, it could not hold out much
longer. Columbus, perhaps, took the news with moderation, for he was
used to having things go wrong; but if only for the sake of the good
brethren, he must have tried to look happy as he put on his new garments
and rode out of La Rabida for Granada.