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 Navigating this dangerous, watery maze took all of Magellan’s skill. He ordered lookouts to the tops of the masts where they had a bird’s eye view of the waterway ahead. He sent boats ahead of the ships to explore the side channels. From time to time, the men in the boats would dip their hands in the water and taste it. If it was no longer salty, it meant they were no longer in the strait. The men would then return to their ships, and Magellan would plot the course based on their report. In this way, the armada slowly and carefully weaved its way through the strait. One bright, clear morning a crewman from the Trinidad went ashore and climbed a 1,000-foot hill. In the distance, he saw the narrow strait flowing into open water. Waves pounded against the shore. It was the sea! When the crewman reported his discovery, Magellan burst into tears. |