One thing came forth here that I had not before heard.
"And the unthinkable wealth that surely shall be found and gained, for these countries to which you sail have eight-tenths of the world's riches, shall put Castile and Leon where of old stood Pagan Rome, and shall make, God willing, of this very Palos a new Genoa or Venice! And this man, your Admiral, how hath he proposed to the Sovereigns to use first fruits?
Why, friends, by taking finally and forever from Mahound, and for Holy Church and her servant the Spains, the Holy Sepulchre!" In the end, we the going forth, kneeling, made general confession and the priest's hands in the dusk above absolved us.

There was solemnity and there was tenderness.

A hundred and twenty, we came forth from church, and around us flowed the hundreds of Palos, men and women and children.

All was red under a red sunset, the boats waiting to take us out to the _Santa Maria_, the Pinta and the Nina.
We marched to waterside.

Priests and friars moved with us, singing loudly the hymn to the Virgin, Lady of all seamen.