The Eclipse Of The Moon - 3
It was from this critical situation that the spirit and resource of Columbus once more
furnished a way of escape, and in these circumstances that he invented and worked a
device that has since become famous—the great Eclipse Trick. Among his small library
in the cabin of the ship was the book containing the astronomical tables of
Regiomontanus; and from his study of this work he was aware that an eclipse of the
moon was due on a certain date near at hand. He sent his Indian interpreter to visit the
neighbouring caciques, summoning them to a great conference to be held on the evening
of the eclipse, as the Admiral had matters of great importance to reveal to them. They
duly arrived on the evening appointed; not the caciques alone, but large numbers of the
native population, well prepared for whatever might take place. Columbus then addressed
them through his interpreter, informing him that he was under the protection of a God
who dwelt in the skies and who rewarded all who assisted him and punished all his
enemies. He made an effective use of the adventures of Mendez and Porras, pointing out
that Mendez, who took his voyage by the Admiral's orders, had got away in safety, but
that Porras and his followers, who had departed in disobedience and mutiny, had been
prevented by the heavenly power from achieving their object. He told them that his God
was angry with them for their hostility and for their neglect to supply him with
provisions; and that in token of his anger he was going to send them a dreadful
punishment, as a sign of which they would presently see the moon change colour and lose
its light, and the earth become dark.
This address was spun out as long as possible; but even so it was followed by an interval
in which, we may be sure, Columbus anxiously eyed the serene orb of night, and
doubtless prayed that Regiomontanus might not have made a mistake in his calculations.
Some of the Indians were alarmed, some of them contemptuous; but it was pretty clearly
realised on both sides that matters between them had come to a head; and probably if
Regiomontanus, who had worked out these tables of figures and calculations so many
years ago in his German home, had done his work carelessly or made a mistake,
Columbus and his followers would have been massacred on the spot. But
Regiomontanus, God bless him! had made no mistake. Sure enough, and punctually to
the appointed time, the dark shadow began to steal over the moon's disc; its light
gradually faded, and a ghostly darkness crept over the face of the world. Columbus,
having seen that all was right with the celestial machinery, had retired to his cabin; and
presently he found himself besieged there in the dark night by crowds of natives
frantically bringing what provisions they had and protesting their intention of continuing
to bring them for the rest of their lives. If only the Admiral would ask his God to forgive
them, there was no limit to the amount of provisions that he might have! The Admiral,
piously thankful, and perhaps beginning to enjoy the situation a little, kept himself shut
up in his cabin as though communing with the implacable deity, while the darkness
deepened over the land and the shore resounded with the howling and sobbing of the
terrified natives. He kept a look-out on the sky; and when he saw that the eclipse was
about to pass away, he came out and informed the natives that God had decided to pardon
them on condition of their remaining faithful in the matter of provisions, and that as a
sign of His mercy He would restore the light. The beautiful miracle went on through its
changing phases; and, watching in the darkness, the terrified natives saw the silver edge
of the moon appearing again, the curtain that had obscured it gradually rolling away, and
land and sea lying visible to them and once more steeped in the serene light which they
worshipped. It is likely that Christopher slept more soundly that night than he had slept
for many nights before.
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