356 LIFE OF COLUMBUS. 



which he used at this early period for beguiling a discon- 

 tented crew into a continuation of the enterprise, by 

 deceiving them as to the ship's course, strongly reminds 

 us of the character which he subsequently developed in 

 still bolder relief. ' When I arrived off Sardinia,' he 

 writes long afterwards, ' I was told there were two ships 

 and a carrack with the galley ; by which intelligence my 

 crew were so' troubled that they determined to proceed 

 no further, but to return to Marseilles for another vessel 

 and more people. As I could not by any means compel 

 them, I assented apparently to their wishes, altered the 

 point of the compass, and spread all sail. It was then 

 evening, and the next morning we were within the cape of 

 Carthagcna, when all werejirmly of opinion thatthey were 

 sailing toioards Marseilles? After this though the ex- 

 act date is not known he was concerned in a naval 

 exploit of Colombo the younger, nephew to the veteran, 

 and himself so celebrated a corsair, that the Moorish 

 mothers are said to have frightened their unruly children 

 with his name. It was an attack upon four richly laden 

 Venetian galleys, intercepted by the corsair on their re- 

 turn voyage from Flanders. A desperate engagement 

 took place ; the vessels grappled each other, and the 

 crews fought hand to hand, and from ship to ship ; and 

 thus the battle continued from morning to evening with 

 great carnage upon both sides. The vessel commanded 

 by our young navigator was engaged with a huge Vene- 

 tian galley. By means of hand-grenades and other fiery 

 missiles, the latter was wrapped in flames ; and the two 

 being fastened together by chains and grappling irons, 

 both were involved in the same fire, and soon became a 

 mere burning mass. The crews threw themselves into the 

 sea, and Columbus to save himself seized an oar which was 

 floating within reach, and being an expert swimmer, 

 attained the shore, though five or six miles distant. This 

 action was fought on the coast of Portugal: and such was 

 the occasion of his arrival by some writers it is said, 

 his first arrival in the city of Lisbon. 



This was about the year 1470, when Columbus is de- 

 scribed as in the full vigor of manhood, tall, well formed, 

 muscular, of commanding and dignified manners, moder- 



