rous
Results. 259

CHAPTER XVI.

_Days of Darkness._

The Melancholy Encampment.--The Fleet at Pensacola.--Singular Resolve
of De Soto.--Hostility of the Natives.--Beautiful Scenery.--Winter
Quarters on the Yazoo.--Feigned Friendship of the Cacique.--Trickery
of Juan Ortiz.--The Terrible Battle of Chickasaw.--Dreadful Loss of
the Spaniards. 276

CHAPTER XVII.

_The Discovery of the Mississippi._

The Fortress of Hostile Indians.--Its Capture.--The Disastrous
Conflict.--The Advance of the Army.--Discovery of the Mississippi
River.--Preparations for Crossing.--Extraordinary
Pageants.--Unjustifiable Attack.--The passage of the River.--Friendly
Reception by Casquin.--Extraordinary Religious Festival. 296

CHAPTER XVIII.

_Vagrant Wanderings._

Trickery of Casquin.--The March to Capaha.--The Battle and its
Results.--Friendly Relations with Capaha.--The Return Journey.--The
March Southward.--Salt Springs.--The Savages of Tula.--Their
Ferocity.--Anecdote.--Despondency of De Soto. 315

CHAPTER XIX.

_Death of De Soto._

Ascent of the Mississippi.--Revenge of Guachoya.--Sickness of
De Soto.--Affecting Leave-taking.--His Death and Burial.--The
March for Mexico.--Return to the Mississippi.--Descent of the
River.--Dispersion of the Expedition.--Death of Isabella. 334

CHAPTER I.

_Childhood and Youth._

Birthplace of Ferdinand De Soto.--Spanish Colony at Darien.--Don
Pedro de Avila, Governor of Darien.--Vasco Nunez.--Famine.--Love
in the Spanish Castle.--Character of Isabella.--Embarrassment of
De Soto.--Isabella's Parting Counsel.

In the interior of Spain, about one hundred and thirty miles southwest
of Madrid, there is the small walled town of Xeres. It is remote from
all great routes of travel, and contains about nine thousand
inhabitants, living very frugally, and in a state of primitive
simplicity. There are several rude castles of the ancient nobility
here, and numerous gloomy, monastic institutions. In one of these
dilapidated castles, there was born, in the year 1500, a boy, who
received the name of Ferdinand de Soto. His parents were Spanish
nobles, perhaps the most haughty class of nobility which has ever
existed. It was, however, a decayed family, so impoverished as to find
it difficult to maint