him for statements he had made which did not agree with those of the
Admiral concerning the voyage, then Martin never wanted to get up again;
he had himself carried to La Rabida, where he died in a few days, the
good friars comforting him. So no more of Martin Alonzo Pinzon, whose
end was inglorious, but whose courage and enterprise were later
remembered gratefully by Spain; for Charles V., Queen Isabella's
grandson, made public acknowledgment of Pinzon's great services in
discovering the New World.

And now to pleasanter things. What has the Admiral been doing since the
Palos bells pealed out their joyous welcome to him? First, of course, he
greeted the good Friar Juan Perez. And next he dispatched another letter
to court announcing his discovery. In fact, he sent several letters;
for, as we know, he was an energetic letter-writer; one to their
Majesties, one to Luis de Santangel, King Ferdinand's treasurer, who had
urged the queen to help him, and one to another friend at court. Here is
the beginning of the Santangel letter:--

Senor:

As I know you will have pleasure in the great success which Our Lord
hath given me in my voyage, I write you this by which you shall know
that in thirty-three days I passed over to the Indies where I found very
many islands peopled with inhabitants beyond number.

"I passed over to the Indies." says the letter. The writer, we see, has
decided to give his islands the vague general name that Europe applied
to all unknown, distant lands--the Indies. Christopher was always ready
to take a chance. If, as he had probably begun to hope, the western path
might ultimately lead to India, why not at once adopt that important