Chapter I

America known to the Ancients――The Island of Atlantis
――Scandinavian Emigration――Eric the Red and Gunnbiorn
――Bjarni Herjulfson and Leif the Lucky――Discovery of Vinland
――Thorvald and the Skrællings――A terrible Struggle――An heroic
Amazon――Retreat of the Danes――Return of Freydis to Vinland
――Massacre of Colonists by her Orders――Total Disappearance
of Scandinavian Settlement――Madoc of Wales――The Brothers Zeni
――Marco Polo――Early Life of Columbus――The Astrolabe applied to
Navigation――A Hearing at last――Duplicity of John II.――Columbus
in Poverty and Exile――A generous Prior――Hope and Despair
――Isabella is won over――Full Powers granted to Columbus――The
Start from Saltos――Discontent of Sailors――Variation of Compass
――Mutiny――Land Ahead!――Discovery of the West Indian Islands
――Return to Spain――Second and Third Voyages――Death in Poverty
and Disgrace――Amerigo Vespucci――The Cabots――First Landing in
North America――The Cortereals――Breton Fishermen.