desert island, but the poor fellow got on his knees and
begged so hard for his life that the captain at length forgave him. But
he made him work to pay his way, and very likely used the rope's end to
stir him up.

Of course you have learned from your geographies where the Isthmus of
Darien (now called Panama) is, that narrow strip of land that is like a
string tying together the great continents of North and South America.
It was to the town of Darien, on this isthmus, that the ship made its
way, and here Balboa made a surprising discovery. Some of the Indian
chiefs told him of a mighty ocean which lay on the other side of the
isthmus, and that beyond that ocean was the wonderful land of gold which
the Spaniards wished to find.

What would you have done if you had been in Balboa's place, and wanted
gold to pay your debts? Some of you, I think, would have done what he
did. You would have made your way into the thick forest and climbed the
rugged mountains of the isthmus, until, like Balboa, you got to the top
of the highest peak. And, like him, you would have been filled with joy
when you saw in the far distance the vast Pacific ocean, its waves
glittering in the summer sun.

Here was glory; here was fortune. The poor debtor had become a great
discoverer. Before his eyes spread a mighty ocean, its waves beating on
the shore. He hurried with his men down the mountain sides to this
shining sea, and raised on its shores the great banner of Spain. And
soon after he set sail on its waters for Peru, the land of gold. But he
did not get very far, for the stormy weather drove him back.

Poor Balboa! he was to win fame, but not fortune, and his debts were
never to be paid. A jealous Spanish governor seized him, condemned him
as a traitor, and had his head cut off in the market place. And so ended
Balboa's dream of gold and glory. I could tell you of other wonderful
adventures in these new lands. There is the story of Cortez, who found
the great kingdom of Mexico, and conquered it with a few hundred
Spaniards in armor of steel. And there is the story of Pizarro, who
sailed to Peru, Balboa's land of gold, and won it for Spain, and sent
home tons of silver and gold. But these stories have nothing to do with
the history of the United States, so we must pass them by and go back to
the early days of the country in which we dwell.

The first Spaniard to set foot on what is now the United States was an
old man named Ponce de Leon, w