may be watched. Speak softly! (Watches the exit conspirators took while apparently busying himself with ropes.) José (getting down to deck): Paulo, Carlos, Enrico, Filipe, and others, but Antonio is the leader. (Enter Columbus.) Mate (saluting): There is more trouble among the men, my Captain! The ugly Antonio plans to make you turn back to Spain tonight or to throw you overboard. Many of the crew are with him. Columbus (laughing): What, more plots! and India like to rise any moment from the waves! By Santiago! what children they are! Mate (anxiously): I like not yonder Antonio. Let me but put him in chains. I fear not the others. Columbus (decidedly): Nay, no chains! Leave them to me! Go! Leave me! 'Tis time these malcon I fear them not. tents were here. Mate (hesitates): Alone? not so, my Captain! Columbus (firmly): Yes, alone. (Puts hand on Mate's shoulder.) Fear nothing, good Mate. (Mate and José go out reluctantly. Columbus wraps cloak about him and paces slowly up and down. Mournful chantey of sailors faintly heard. Antonio suddenly enters, leans on rail, glances furtively at Columbus when his back is turned. After a moment Columbus appears to notice him. Columbus: Still watching for land, my lad? Is it not somewhat dark? Antonio: I can see enough, Captain. (Lazily salutes.) Columbus (continuing to pace up and down): What was your occupation before you embarked with me? Antonio: Occupation? I was dying by inches in one of the comfortable dungeons of her Majesty, Queen Isabella. (Laughs bitterly.) If die I must, better under the stars than between damp stones! so here I am! Columbus: And how came you in prison? Antonio: After the war while I was yet weak from a Moor's spear thrust, I was hungry (defiantly) and I stole bread. Columbus: So you were a soldier? Antonio: Ay, under the walls of Granada I nearly gave this right arm for the Queen's cause. Columbus: The walls of Granada! Here, turn full and look at me, my lad. (Antonio turns and faces him boldly.) -I thought I remembered that voice. 'Twas you, man, that plunged at my heels between the red spears of the Moors to rescue Castile's banner! Ay, and we saved it, too! Antonio (Starts back. In changed voice): What, was it your black helmet I followed through that mass of howling demons? Were you the man who saved me from those mad Mohammedans when I slipped and fell? Columbus (gaily): The same, comrade! and here is the mark of a pretty cut they gave me. (Shows wrist.) (Carlos and Enrico steal on to the stage, keep in the background. Antonio's back is turned to them.) Antonio (excitedly): 'Twas a brave fight you made! By Saint Anthony! How your sword flashed over my head as you beat them off! (During this speech the other Conspirators enter.) Columbus: Ah! you trusted me then, trust me now, comrade! (Points to Sailors.) Antonio (turns with a start, sees Conspirators. Stammers): I-I-I had forgotten. (Steps towards Sailors. Violently.) What are you doing here? The Admiral wants this place to himself after nightfall. What are you doing here? (Steps angrily forward. They step back in confusion.) Carlos, Enrico, Filipe, Paulo and two other Sailors (astonished and bewildered): You-we- we thought we wishedColumbus (kindly): What do you wish? Antonio (fiercely): Yes, what do you wish? Carlos (stammering): We- that that the Admiral Paulo. Here, Paulo. (All push him forward.) Paulo will say what we wish. Paulo (stutters) s-s-sail back to S-Spain. Columbus (firmly): I will sail back to Spain after I have found India. Now I sail on till we get to land. Sailors (angry and threatening): No! no! (They step forward.) Turn back now! We won't obey a madman! Sail on and on! Bah! over with him! Antonio (jumps to Columbus and shields him): He is no madman! He's our Captain! Where he goes I go. Sailors (taunting): You sing a different song now. called him mad! You Antonio: By Santiago! I was mad myself, and blind! but now I know him, and where he leads I follow. (Enter Mate, José, and rest of Crew. Draw around Columbus.) Mate, José, and Others: Where he leads we follow. (After an irresolute pause the two Sailors behind the Conspirators murmur: "Where he leads we follow." They go to the other side, leaving Conspirators alone.) Conspirators (seeing themselves deserted, after consulting, move towards others): Where he leads we follow! Columbus: Take courage again, my lads! new lands lie ahead, fame and fortune are calling us. Who would give up a race nearly won? Who would turn back in fear like the Portuguese? You, Enrico? You, Carlos? Enrico: No! by Saint Anthony's head! we're better men than those Portuguese! Carlos: I'd like to laugh at the Portuguese, my Captain! Columbus: We'll laugh at all the doubters, we'll laugh at our own doubts. We'll sail to the West till we find the East, my men! With our hands full of courage we'll sail on and on! (Claps Antonio on shoulder.) What say you, comrade? Antonio (eagerly): Yes, yes, my Captain! on and on! José (looking over edge of boat. Excitedly): What is that? All: Where? Where? (Turn toward José.) José: There! There! a green branch! (José, Mate and some of the others run out.) Filipe (slyly to Antonio): Who is glib now at echoing the Captain's "On and On!" He had only to smile at you! Antonio: Yes, yes, I know, but this is quite different. He and I rescued Spain's banner from the Moors! He is a great man, Filipe! (José and Sailors re-enter. José bearing branch with berries.) José (exultantly): A fresh branch! See, my Captain! (Gives it to Columbus.) It has just been broken. Sailors (crowd around, exclaiming): A green branch! (Repeat.) Columbus (eagerly): It has not been long in the sea, 'tis true, lad! (Enter Mate.) Mate (bearing carved stick): This stick was close by; I marked it not at first. (Hands stick to Columbus.) (Columbus examines stick. Crew crowd around and try to see over each other's shoulders. Some examine branch.) Columbus: 'Tis curiously wrought by the hand of man: without a doubt, 'tis a rare and costly wood too. (Exultantly.) This means that land is near, my men! a fair and radiant land, a rich and golden land! Land! Land, at last! (Looks eagerly toward land.) Sailors (in excitement, interrupting before he finishes): Land! Land! a fair and radiant land! Land! Land at last! (Repeat.) (Some climb on the benches and stools. José waves branch. Antonio and the Mate and rest seize the rope and pull, singing, and all the Sailors sing gaily Chantey No. 2.) All: Sail on for lands and cities old, Heave ho! my lads, heave ho, oh! Sing loud, my lads, sing loud, oh! Sing loud, my lads, sing loud, oh! |