queen isabella agreed to give columbus what he had askedfor，and ships were prepared for the voyage.from the canaryislands winds blew to the west.by sailing with these winds，columbus hoped to arrive in the indies in about three weeks.
but like all sailors then，columbus's young crew had neversailed very far from land.unless they saw land frequently，theycouldn't tell where they were.columbus was taking them intowhat they called the“sea of darkness”，an unknown area full ofreal and imagined dangers.in fact，after just a few days the sailorswere afraid they had already gone too far，so far that they wouldnever be able to find their way home. besides，since they werebeing pushed by winds blowing west，how could they ever getback to spain going against those winds？
still seventeen days and no land.the crew's grumbling became fearful complaints.they said that columbus was riskingtheir lives just to gain royalty and wealth，just to be honored andrewarded by the king and queen of spain.besides，he wasn'teven a spaniard like they were.he was an italian from genoa.
on the thirtieth day，columbus had been sailing nine dayslonger than the three weeks he thought it would take to reach theindies，and food was running out.he was anxiously looking forevidence that land was near.
suddenly on that day，his frightened crew threatened to takeover the ship.however，columbus encouraged them to go on，promising that if they didn't find land in three more days，theycould turn back.he even told them that they could cut off his head and threw it into the sea.
he wrote in his journal why he had made his three-daypromise.
last night i saw some birds and also some vegetation（plants）floating in the water.
two days later，columbus thought he saw a light.the shipsanchored and waited for daylight.they had sailed for thirty-four days，farther than any other european had sailed out of sightof land.
but where they were？columbus was certain they had foundone of the islands of the indies，just south of japan or china.butthey had arrived in the bahamas ，islands between cuba andflorida.
as dawn broke，they saw a village，with dark-skinned peoplewatching them from the beach.columbus called them“indians”，people of the indies islands.
伊莎贝拉女王同意给哥伦布提供他要求的一切东西，而且航行的船也准备好了。从加纳利群岛吹来的风向西刮着。顺着这些风航行，哥伦布希望用大约三个星期的时间到达印度群岛。
但是象当时的所有水手一样，哥伦布的年轻船员们从未远离陆地航行。要是他们不能经常看到陆地，他们就不知道自己在哪儿。哥伦布把他们带进了他们称为“黑暗之海”——，充满真实和想象的、危险的不为人知的地方。实际上，仅几天之后，船员们就担心他们已经走得太远了，远得恐怕他们再也不能找到回家的路了。另外，他们是被向西刮的风推着走，他们怎么能顶着风再返回西班牙？
又过了十七天，没有见到陆地。船员们的牢骚变成了可怕的埋怨。他们说哥伦布正拿他们的生命冒险，只是为了获得皇室特权和财产，受到西班牙国王和女王的尊敬和嘉奖。另外，他也不和他们一样是西班牙人。他是从热那亚来的意大利人。
到了第三十天，哥伦布已经比他预计到达印度群岛的三个星期多航行了九天，食物也快要吃完了。他正焦急地寻找接近陆地的证据。
突然就在那一天，吓坏了的船员们威胁说要接管船只，然而，哥伦布鼓励他们继续前进，并答应如果再过三天仍然见不到陆地就往回走。他还甚至告诉他们可以把他的头砍下来扔进大海。
他在日记里记下了他作三天许诺的原因。
昨天晚上我看见一些鸟，还看见一些植物（作物）漂在水面上。
两天后，哥伦布认为他看到了灯光。船抛了锚等着天亮。他们已经航行了三十四天，比任何欧洲人远离陆地的航行都要远。
但他们在哪里呢？哥伦布肯定他们已经发现了日本或中国南边的印度群岛的一个岛屿。但是他们已经到达了，古巴和佛罗里达之间群的巴哈马岛。
天亮以后，他们看见一个村庄，长着黑皮肤的人正从海滩上看着他们。哥伦布称他们为“印第安人”即在印度群岛居住的人。