Thethrongworkedandputforwardaspokesman,wholookedfromtheAdmiraltotheclearnorth.``Itisthestar,sir!Theneedlenolongerpointstoit!Wethoughtyoumightexplaintousunlearned——Whatwethinkisthatdistanceisgoingtowidenandwiden!What\'stokeepneedlefromswingingrightsouth?ThenwillwenevergethometoPalosandourwivesandchildren——neverandneverandnever!\'\'
SaidtheAdmiral,``Itwillnotchangefurther,orifitdoesaverylittlefurther!\'\'Inhismostdecisive,mostconvincingvoiceheexplainedwhytheneedlenolongerpointedpreciselytothestar.Thedeviationmarkedandallowedfor,itwasnearenoughforpracticalpurposes,andthereasonsforthewandering——
Idonotknowifthewisdomofourdescendantswillconfirmhisexplanation.Itissooftentoexplaintheexplanation!
Butoneaswellasanothermightdohere.Whatthe_SantaMaria_wantedwasreassurance,generalandlarge,stretchingfromtheCanariestoIndiaandCathayandbackagain.Heknewthat,andafternogreattimespentwithcompassneedleandcircularlytravelingpolarstar,hebegantotalkgoldandestate,andthepearlsandsilkandspicestheywouldsurelytakeforgiftstotheirfamilyandneighbors,PalosorHuelvaorFishertown!
Itwastrulythehopethatupheldmanyonavoyagethattheychosetothinkawitches\'one.HetalkednowoutofMarcoPoloandhecladwhatthattravelerhadsaidinmoregorgeousattire.Hemeantnothingfalse;hisexaltedimaginationsawitso.Hewaspainterofgreatpageants,heighteningandremodeling,deepeningandpurifyingcolors,makinghumdrumandworkadayovertohisheart\'sdesire.TheVenetianinhisbook,andothertravelersintheirbooks,hadrelatedwondersenough.Thesegrewwithhim,itmightbesaid——andindeedinhislifetimewasoftensaid——intowonderswithoutafootuponearth.Butifonetookasfiguresandsymbolshisgoldroofsandplatters,templesandgardens,everymanamerchantinsilksandspices,strangefruit-droppingtreesandpearlsincarcanets,theGrandKhanandPresterJohn——whocouldsaythatinthelong,patientlifeofTimetheAdmiralwasover-esteeming?Thepityofitwasthatmostherecouldnotliveingreatlengthsoftime.Theywantedrichesnow,now!Andtheywantedonlyonekindofriches;hereandnow,oratthemostinanothermonth,inthehandsandlapsofPedroandFernandoandDiego.