probably as distasteful to
Pizarro as it was surprising to Balboa.

II. The Terrible Persistence of Pizarro

In 1519, Pizarro was living in Panama in rather straightened
circumstances. His life had been a failure. A soldier of fortune, he
possessed little but his sword. He was discontented, and although now
nearly fifty years of age, he still had ambition. With remembrance of
what he had heard the young Indian chief tell Balboa, constantly
inciting him to a further grapple with hitherto coy and elusive
fortune, he formed a partnership with another poverty-stricken but
enterprising veteran named Diego de Almagro, whose parentage was as
obscure as Pizarro's--indeed more so, for he is reputed to have been a
foundling, although Oviedo describes him as the son of a Spanish
laboring man. The two men supplemented each other. Pizarro, although
astute and circumspect, was taciturn and chary of speech, though fluent
enough on occasion; he was slow in making up his mind, too, but when it
{58} was made up, resolute and tenacious of his purpose. Almagro was
quick, impulsive, generous, frank in manner, "wonderfully skilled in
gaining the hearts of men," but sadly deficient in other qualities of
leadership. Both were experienced soldiers, as brave as lions and
nearly as cruel as Pedrarias himself--being indeed worthy disciples of
his school.

The two penniless, middle-aged soldiers of fortune determined to
undertake the conquest of that distant empire--a stupendous resolution.
Being almost without means, they were forced to enlarge the company by
taking on a third partner, a priest named Luque, who had, or could
command, the necessary funds. With the sanction of Pedrarias, who
demanded and received a share, largely gratuitous, in the expedition,
they bought two of the four vessels which Balboa had caused to be taken
to pieces, transported them across the Isthmus, then set them up again,
and relaunched in the Pacific. Enlisting one hundred men under his
banner, Pizarro set sail with the first vessel on the 14th of November,
1524. Almagro was to follow after with reenforcements and supplies in
the second ship. One Andagoya had made a short excursion southward
some time before, but they soon passed his latitude and were the first
white men to cleave those southern seas.

With only their hopes to guide them, without pilot, chart or
experience, being, I suspect, indifferent sailors and wretched
navigators, they crept alo