As they approached Columbus' three ships, Vinnie noticed a few sickly men.
They were very thin and pale.
One man had dark spots on his legs.
"Julio," Vinnie whispered. "Those men look very ill."
Julio nodded sadly.
"They have just gotten back from a long journey.
They have scurvy."
"Scurvy?" asked Vinnie.
"It's a disease some sailors get," said Julio.
"The ship's doctor thinks it's because sailors don't eat enough fruit."
"But fruit is good for you!" exclaimed Mandy.
Julio smiled at her.
"You're right, Mandy.
But, aboard ship, fruit rots very quickly.
On long voyages, it's impossible to keep fruit fresh."
Vinnie and Mandy looked at the sick men.
"That's sad," said Mandy.
Suddenly, a high-pitched whistle blew and the pier buzzed with excitement.
"Time to sail," said Julio.
"But what about the book?" Mandy asked.
Julio looked around.
Sailors were rushing past him and boarding the ships.
"Look!" he shouted.
"There's Columbus on the Santa Maria. Come on!"
Julio ran onto the ship, and the children followed.
On deck, a man stood by the ship's rail.
He was holding several sheets of paper.
"Julio, get to your post," ordered the man.
"Diego, these children must see Columbus," said Julio.
"Can you take them to him?"
Diego looked at the children impatiently.
"He has no time for children," he said.
"Go away."
"Please," pleaded Julio.
"It's important that they see the captain.
This little girl found his book and wants to give it back to him."
"Since you are Martin Alonzo's nephew, I will do as you ask," said Diego.
"Good-bye, Vinnie and Mandy.
It was nice meeting you," said Julio.
He waved before running off to another part of the ship.
"Thank you, Julio!" cried the children.
"Come on, we're sailing in a few minutes," said Diego.
He led them past sailors getting the ship ready.
"I can't believe we're on the Santa Maria!" gasped Vinnie.
He looked around excitedly.
Mandy noticed some men carrying big sacks to an opening in the deck.
A ladder led down into the cargo hold.
With a loud crash, one of the men dropped a sack.
Potatoes spilled out, all over the deck.
"Watch out!" shouted Diego. "Grab those potatoes!"
Everyone stopped to catch the rolling potatoes.
"I got one!" Mandy shouted.
"I'll get that one,"
Vinnie called, running after a potato that rolled a long way down the deck.
Soon the potatoes were collected in the sack again.
A young boy stepped forward and tied the sack tight.
Mandy wiped her hands on her skirt.
"That was fun," she said, laughing.
Then she stopped.
"Vinnie! The ship is moving!"
Mandy looked around, but could not see her brother.
Vinnie had disappeared into the crowd of sailors.
The Santa Maria was pulling slowly away from the pier.
"Oh no! What am I going to do?" she said to herself.