CHAPTER XV.--The Port of Palos--The Superstition of its Mariners--The

Hand of Satan--A Bird which lifted Vessels to the Clouds--The Pinta and the Nina--The Santa Maria--Capacity of a Spanish Caravel--The three Pinzons--The Departure--Columbus' Journal--The Helm of the Pinta unshipped--The Variation of the Needle--The Appearance of the Tropical Atlantic--Floating Vegetation--The Sargasso Sea--Alarm and threatened Mutiny of the Sailors--Perplexities of Columbus--Land! Land! a False Alarm--Indications of the Vicinity of Land--Murmurs of the Crews--Open Revolt quelled by Columbus--Floating Reeds and Tufts of Grass--Land at last--The Vessels anchor over-night 147