Written on the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ famous voyage across the Atlantic in search of the Orient, this is a fictional story of a 15 year old boy, Diego Pinzon, who is taken aboard the Pinta against his will. He is very resourceful and eventually makes the most of his talents to play a very important role in the success of the mission. John Coryell weaves fact and fiction into a believable tale of the first voyage to the Americas of the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.
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Here is an excerpt:
“Breakers! Breakers off the starboard bow!”
In an instant all was confusion, and Martin Alonzo was shouting orders that sent the men flying about the vessel, some here and some there. The Pinta was suddenly brought about, and pointed almost at right angles to her course. Diego, Juan, Rodrigo, and Miguel, quick to the order of the captain, had jumped into the bow, and were hanging on by the low rail, awaiting the next word, when the Pinta swung around in the topping seas.
The frail craft quivered and shook for a moment, and then buried her nose in a monster wave. When she came up again a cry—wild and terrified—fell upon the ears of the men.
“Save him! save him! O Miguel!” The cry was from the lips of Juan.
And Rodrigo, straining his eyes from the other side of the deck, saw three terrible things: Diego dropping through the blackness of the night, Miguel with his hand upraised, Juan leaping from his place into the air.
“Man overboard!” yelled Rodrigo.
But the ship was in great danger, and no boat could live in such a sea; and so, though shuddering and anxious, Martin Alonzo continued to give orders, and the ship shot away through the waves after a moment of quivering hesitation.