At this, the haughty cacique became still more indignant.

"I am king in my own land," he exclaimed, "and will not become the vassal of a mortal like myself and no better. Small of soul and coward by nature must be one who submits to the yoke of another, when he may be free. As for me and my people, we prefer death to the loss of our liberty and the subjugation of our country."

"It is useless to try to make peace with him," said Estevan on his return to De Soto. Acuera is prejudiced against the Spaniards, and will listen to nothing but war to the hilt."

Nicosia took Estevan aside and pleaded with him.

"Do not go to the cacique again! He may assassinate you, and then what would become of me, alone in this dreadful wilderness?"

For twenty days De Soto remained in the vicinity of the cacique, hoping to patch up some sort of a truce. Again and again he sent his ambassadors to the cacique with propositions for a treaty.

"Keep on! robbers and traitors!" cried Acuera. "In my province and in Apalachee you will be treated as you deserve. We will quarter and hang every captive on the highest tree.”

The chief kept his word. Fourteen Spaniards were slain while in his province, and some who were taken captive were horribly mutilated,

"I will begin the war of extermination at once,” declared De Soto, one morning, on finding a sentry dead. "It has grown so that we hardly dare post a sentry anywhere. The treacherous, cunning savages creep upon the unwary soldier and slay him when he least expects a foe near."

"They can beat us at extermination," Estevan answered.

"Why so?

Have they better arms?"

"No; we are superior to them in arms, discipline, and courage, but they have the advantage in numWhile we cannot afford to spare half a score, they can lose half a million.”

bers.

"We cannot make a treaty; then we must fight,” said De Soto.

Estevan Her sex

Cutting their way through hostile tribes, the Spaniards reached the fertile region of Tallahasse, where they encamped for the winter. erected a small log hut for Christoval. was, of course, kept a secret from all. loved and respected her as a very dear sister, her gentle bosom was stirred by a stronger and deeper emotion.

While he

"Sister, if you would let me send you away out of this danger, I could pursue the journey through the trackless wilderness with actual pleasure.'

"I would be miserable anywhere else," she answered.

There was such a look of meek appeal in those tender eyes, such an expression of consuming love, that the awful truth began at last to dawn upon the foster brother, and, turning aside, he groaned in pain.

"Saint Anthony preserve me! am I responsible

for this?"

An expedition sailing westward in De Soto's ships to explore the coasts, returned in February to report that the skeletons of the men and horses of the Narvaez party had been discovered. The com

mander was ordered to return to Cuba and bring supplies to Pensacola, whilst De Soto should march across the country to the same point. De Soto was about to break up winter camp and go in that direction, when a rumor of gold in the north reached him. He also heard of a beautiful Indian maiden who ruled over a large country, and he decided to await her visit before leaving his present location,

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE FATHER OF WATERS.

DE SOTO had suffered so sorely from the continued attacks of the Indians, that he was anxious to make any sort of a treaty which promised to secure him an ally. The friendly visit of the queen's embassadors filled him with hope, and on the morning she was expected, he had his troops drawn up in military order to receive her.

"She comes! she comes!"

A whisper ran through the camp, and all eyes were turned eagerly toward the river from whence the dusky friend, who was expected to share their toils and dangers, was to come.

In a richly wrought canoe, filled with shawls and skins and other presents for the wonderful men who had come to their shores, the dusky cacia glided across the river.

Leaping ashore with a nimble grace, she advanced toward the governor, who came to meet her. She was no doubt amazed at the great man, clothed

in shining steel producing a hollow clanking sound at every tread.

"I come to welcome the great pale men from the far-off country," she said. To this, De Soto, through his interpreter, answered:

"I come from my monarch, who is a great king living across the ocean, to offer you my services, and to assure you, if you will

but become his vassal, he will protect and defend you against all your enemies."

After this formal greeting, presents

were exchanged.

Those she had brought in her canoe were fetched and laid at

the feet of the conqueror.

She wore about her neck a magnificent string of pearls. Drawing this off over her head, she timidly advanced toward the great governor and hung it about his neck, saying, as she did so, "Wear this, great warrior, in token of your regard for

me."

That he promised to do, and then she invited him and his followers to cross the river to her village. Estevan was in another part of the camp when news reached him that the army was going to cross the river and accept the bounteous hospitality of the Indian queen. Every canoe and raft was already