At ten o'clock Columbus was walking on the poop of his vessel, when he suddenly saw a light right ahead.

The light seemed to rise and fall as though it were a candle or a lantern held in some one's hand and waved up and down.

The Admiral called Pedro Gutierrez to him and asked him whether he saw anything; and he also saw the light.

Then he sent for Rodrigo Sanchez and asked him if he saw the light; but he did not, perhaps because from where he was standing it was occulted.

But the others were left in no doubt, for the light was seen once or twice more, and to the eyes of the anxious little group standing on the high stern deck of the Santa Maria it appeared unmistakably.