CHARACTER OF COLUMBUS. 



refused to furnish him with provisions ; as a confirmation 

 of which he told them they would see the moon deprived 

 of its light. Some of the Indians were alarmed at this; 

 others scoffed ; but all awaited the evening with great 

 anxiety. A dark shadow began to steal slowly over the 

 moon, as they stood watching it in silent awe, and they 

 trembled at the sight. Their fears increased with the 

 progress of the eclipse : and when a mysterious darkness 

 finally covered the whole face of nature, there were no 

 bounds to their terror. They hurried to the ships with 

 whatever provisions were nearest ; threw themselves at 

 the feet of Columbus ; implored him to intercede with 

 his god ; and promised thenceforth to bring him anything 

 and everything which he wished. Columbus, telling 

 them then he would do what he could, retired to his 

 cabin, and shut himself in during the increase of the 

 eclipse, while the forests and shores resounded all the 

 while with the howling of the savages. At last, as the 

 eclipse was about to diminish, he came forth, and gave 

 them to understand that he would soon withdraw the 

 darkness from the moon, in consideration of what they 

 had promised. As more and more of the face of the 

 bright planet now became visible, they were overwhelm- 

 ed with joy and admiration ; nor from that time forth 

 did they cease to propitiate the friendship of Columbus, 

 as a man peculiarly owned by the deity. This anecdote 

 is given in proof of his presence of mind in great dan- 

 ger. It shows also to what an extent he had pursued 

 his astronomical investigation, as he pursued everything 

 ^Ise which he undertook ; and how, indirectly as well as 

 directly, sooner or later, almost all knowledge may be- 

 come useful in the various emergencies of life. At all 

 events, it can never be without value, if it does but in- 

 spire the self-confidence which is indispensable to self- 

 jiossession. 



Nor is it or was it in the case of Columbus of 

 service only in emergencies. It was never absent, as the 

 occasion of it never was, in his mind. It kept up, in the 

 great continuous courses of events which distinguished 

 his life, the universal dignity the moderation the 

 magnanimity of his character. No individual, perhaps, 



