"He must have been almost bursting with pride and joy," cried Joe. "And the voyage home must have seemed long, because he had so much to tell."
"It came to an end at last, although there were terrible storms and the ships came very near being wrecked," Uncle Sam went on. "At length, however, they reached Spain.
"The news of their return spread quickly. As soon as Columbus landed crowds gathered to hear about his voyage and the whole country was filled with joy.
"When Columbus went to court to tell his story to the king and queen they would not let him stand before them. 'He is too great a man,' they thought. 'He has gained the right to sit in our presence.'"
"O, my!" said Joe, "I thought everybody had to stand before kings and queens."
"Columbus wasn't a king, but he was certainly as great, only in another way. Ferdinand was quite right in thinking so. He and his good wife listened with delight to the story of the greatest voyage any man ever made.
"They believed as Columbus did that a short way to India had been found. They eagerly examined the curious things brought to them from the west. They ate of the delicious fruits and admired the bright birds and beautiful woods.
"They said: 'We will have a grand procession through the streets of our city. Columbus shall wear beautiful garments and shall ride in the midst.'
"The Indians, bright with paint and feathers, went first of all in the procession. Crowds of people lined the streets to see the Red Men, the curious fruits and flowers, the parrots, and the stuffed bodies of animals they had never heard of before.
"They wished, most of all, to look upon the great man who had dared to sail so far into the west and who had brought India with all its riches to Spain. For everyone believed this was what Columbus had done.