The story of Columbus, apart from his discovery of America and his many thrilling adventures in the West Indies, should be one of absorbing interest to youth. It is the story of a man who in his youthful days conceived a vast project, for his time, adhered to it with inflexible resolution though confronted with obstacles which would have discouraged any ordinary man, suffered privations and hardships of the most trying kind, meeting threats against his life, shipwreck, physical ailments, poverty, malicious attacks of bitter enemies, shameful calumnies, the disgrace of being sent to Spain in fetters by Bobadilla, his jealous and cruel rival, and the ingratitude and dishonesty of the King of Spain, and yet accomplished a purpose even greater than that which first inspired him, for he died not knowing that he had discovered a new continent. He supposed to the last that the region he had found was the East Indies. The great navigator, seaman, and explorer passed his last days in poverty and neglect, and the rewards which the King had promised were enjoyed not by him but by his son Diego. But his fame is immortal. G. P. U. Chicago, _July, 1911_. Contents Chapter Page I Portuguese Voyages of Discovery—The Youth of Columbus—His Arrival at Lisbon 11 II Columbus’ Scheme Rejected in Lisbon—He Goes to Madrid and Has an Interview with Ferdinand and Isabella, after which he Endures Bitter Disappointments 22 III Three Vessels Fitted Out for Columbus—The First Voyage of Discovery is Made from Palos, August 3, 1492—Columbus on the Open Sea 30 IV Ocean Phenomena, Unknown to Columbus and his Crew, Increase the Fear of the Latter 35 V “Land, Land!” 38 VI Columbus Discovers Several Islands, among them Guanahani, Cuba, and Haiti—Traffic with the Natives 44 VII Prince Guakanahari—The Admiral’s Vessel Wrecked—Forty-three Men Remain Behind—The Return Voyage Begins 52 VIII The Return Voyage—Storm on the Way—Arrival at the Azores, Lisbon, and Palos 60 IX Columbus’ Second Journey in 1493—Several Islands Discovered—The Spaniards Find their Fort Destroyed and the Colonists Dead 67 X New Discoveries—Columbus in Great Danger—Uprising of the Natives 75 XI The Natives are Subjugated—Columbus is Traduced in Spain—He Returns to Europe and Suffers Many Hardships on the