meet none of the natives, so that it was wonderful how they
should come nightly from so great a distance.

[Footnote 169: More probably of deer skins found in the Indian towns, as
goats certainly were not among the indigenous animals of North
America.--E.]

The Spaniards contrived to shift in a very miserable manner at
Chicacolla till about the latter end of March 1542[170], when they
resumed their march. At the end of about four leagues, the advanced
guard returned with a report that they had seen an Indian fort which
appeared to be defended by about four thousand warriors. After viewing
it, Soto told his soldiers that it was indispensably requisite to
dislodge these people, who would otherwise annoy them with night
attacks, and that it was likewise necessary to do this that they might
preserve the reputation they had already gained in so many provinces of
the country. This fort, called _Alibamo_[171], was of a square form,
each side being four hundred paces in length, and the gates were so low
that the horsemen could not ride in, similar in all respects to what has
been already said respecting Mavila.[172] The general therefore gave
orders to three companies of infantry to assail the gates, those who
were best armed being placed in front. When they were all ready to
begin the assault, a thousand Indians sallied out from the town, all
adorned with plumes of feathers, and having their bodies and faces
painted of several colours. At the first flight of arrows, five of the
Spaniards were shot, three of whom died of their wounds. To prevent the
discharge of more arrows, the Spaniards immediately closed and drove the
Indians in at the gates, which they entered along with them, making
dreadful havock with their swords, as may easily be imagined, the
Indians being all naked. To escape from the infantry, the Indians threw
themselves from the walls, by which means they fell into the hands of
the horsemen, who slew many of them with their spears. Others of the
Indians endeavoured to escape by swimming a river behind the fort; but a
squadron of horse passed the river, and killed many of them, so that on
the whole two thousand Indians were supposed to have been slain in this
battle. During this engagement, an Indian challenged Juan de Salinas to
single combat, which he accepted, and when his comrade made offer to
cover him with his target, he refused, saying that it was a shame for
two Spaniards to engage one Indian. Salinas shot