o till it. The quiet life of the planter, however, little
suited the restless young fellow; and after taking part in several
military expeditions against insurgent natives, under the command
of Diego Velasquez, he sailed in 1511, with that officer, to
undertake the conquest of Cuba.

He displayed great courage and activity during the campaign, and
his cheerful manner and fund of high spirits made him a great
favorite with the soldiers. When the fighting was over, Cortez soon
became discontented with the quiet life in the island, and joined a
party of men who were disaffected to Velasquez, owing to their not
having received such rewards as they considered their services
merited. Cortez undertook to carry their complaints to the Governor
of Hispaniola, and was about starting when the matter came to the
ears of Velasquez, who seized him, put him in irons, and threw him
into prison. He was not long in making his escape, and sought
sanctuary in a church; but a few days later, when carelessly
strolling outside its walls, he was again seized and imprisoned.

He was put on board a ship to be sent to Hispaniola, there to be
tried for exciting disaffection and revolt; but at night, before
she set sail, he managed to free himself from his irons, gain the
deck, and swim ashore, where he again took refuge in the church.
Here several influential people interfered on his behalf--among
them the family of Catalina Xuares, a young lady to whom he was
engaged--and a reconciliation was brought about between him and the
governor. Cortez received a large estate, with an ample number of
Indians for its cultivation; married, and settled down, and for
some years devoted himself to agriculture and gold mining.

Success attended him, and he accumulated some three thousand
castalanos--a considerable sum. So he might have lived and died,
had not the news of discoveries made by Grijalva--who had sailed
west and discovered Yucatan, and traded with Tabasco, and had
returned with a good deal of gold and wonderful tales of fabulous
wealth, existing in a great nation farther to the north--caused an
excitement in the islands. The governor at once prepared to fit out
a large expedition, and among the many who offered to undertake its
command, and to contribute largely towards its expenses, he finally
selected Cortez, who had gained the ear and influence of the
governor's secretary, Duero, and the royal treasurer, Lares.

Cortez was appointed captain g