FROM CORDOVA TO CATHAY.

limit to his demands. And this from an unknown man whose only claims were
to possessions yet to be possessed — nothing more nor less than veritable
«Castles in Spain!”

Perhaps, if the serious queen ever did take a humorous view of a situation,
she may have seen the funny side of this magniloquent proposition and have
yielded at last out of sheer weariness.

At first, however, notwithstanding the
urgent solicitations of her respected con-
fessor, Isabella could not bring herself to
accept the terms of Columbus, and he de-
parted again, this time fully resolved to
abandon Spain entirely. But he was not
to do so, for he had not accomplished
more than two leagues of his journey back
to the Convent of La Rabida before he
was overtaken by a messenger from Isa-
bella, promising acquiescence to his de-
mands. Whether or not the queen did
this of her own volition, or whether her treasurer, Santangel, offered to find
the requisite money for the outlay, or whether she proffered the pledge of her
jewels, are matters for the historians to settle.

Thus far the historians seem to be “ all at sea,” and makes thisor that state-
ment based more upon his prejudices than on any actual knowledge he possesses
of historical facts. The chances are that, Pi
since they were probably already pledged, | a
Isabella did not offer to pledge her jewels :
to aid in furnishing the sinews of war for
the siege of Granada.

But let it suffice that she promised
assistance, and, once embarked in the en-
terprise, gave the future admiral both i
pecuniary and moral support. All the more ee
creditable is this to Isabella, since it was
done at a time when the royal treasury Vad Nea Es
had been completely exhausted by the SR RE
drafts upon it for the Moorish wars, and
when she might have been supposed to be already sated with the glory of
conquest and not anxious for further adventures.

The place at which the royal courier overtook Columbus has been preserved
in tradition ever since; it is pointed out to-day with unerring finger. He had
reached a river flowing through the Vega, spanned then as now by a bridge,
known as the “Bridge of Pines.” It is locally known as Pinos puente, and

 

GATEWAY AND TURRET AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE
BRIDGE OF PINES.