The enthusiasm and excitement aroused by the success of the expedition were unbounded.

At Palos, especially, where few families had not a personal interest in some of the band of explorers, the little community was filled with extraordinary delight.

Not an individual member of the expedition but was elevated into a hero,--not a debtor or a criminal whom the charter of immunity had led, rather than bear the ills he had, to fly to others that he knew not of,-- but had expiated his social misdeeds, and had become a person of consideration and an object of enthusiasm.

The court was at Barcelona.
Immediately on his arrival Columbus despatched a letter to the king and queen, stating in general terms the success of his project; and proceeded forthwith to present himself in person to their highnesses.
BAD FAITH OF PINZON.
Almost at the same time, the "Pinta," which had been separated from her consort in the first storm which they encountered, made the port of Bayonne, whence Pinzon had forwarded a letter to the sovereigns, announcing "his" discoveries, and proposing to come to court and give full intelligence as to them.

Columbus, whom he probably supposed to have perished at sea, he seems to have ignored utterly, and when he received a reply from the king and queen, directing him not to go to court without the admiral, chagrin and grief overcame him to such an extent that he took to his bed; and if any man ever died from mental distress and a broken heart, that man was Martin Alonzo Pinzon.
SOLEMN RECEPTION.
Herrera tells us that the admiral now "entered into the greatest reputation," and the historian goes on to explain to his readers what the meaning of "reputation" is.