t September, 1526, with
two ships, the two captains set forth once more. This time they had
with them a capable pilot named Ruiz. They avoided the coast and
steered direct for the mouth of the San Juan River. Pizarro surprised
a village here, carried off some of the natives, and a considerable
amount of gold. This Almagro, as the best "persuader," took back to
Panama in the hope that by exhibiting it he could gain much needed
reenforcements for their expedition.

The ships were very much undermanned. The experience of the first
expedition, as related by the survivors, had been so horrible that it
was with difficulty that they could get anybody to go with them on the
second. Pizarro agreed to remain at the mouth of the river and examine
the vicinity, while Ruiz with the second ship sailed southward to see
what he could discover. Pizarro's men found no gold, although they
explored the country with prodigious labor. Indians fell upon them, at
one time killing fourteen who had stranded in a canoe on the bank of a
river. Many other Spaniards perished, and all except Pizarro and a few
of the stoutest hearts begged to return to Panama.

Ruiz came back just as they had begun to despair. He had crossed the
Equator, the first European to {61} cross it from the north, and had
sailed half a degree south from the line.[2]

He brought back some Indians, further specimens of gold and silver
ornaments, exquisitely woven woollen garments, _et cetera_, which he
had taken from a craft cruising near the shore, which were proofs
positive of the existence of the long-desired country.

Almagro now made his appearance with reenforcements and the keels were
soon turned to the south. Coasting along the shore, they saw
increasing evidence of cultivation in the valleys and uplands, backed
by the huge snow-crowned range of the Andes. Large villages appeared
here and there. Finally, they anchored opposite a considerable town
laid out in well-defined streets, containing about two thousand houses,
many of them built of stone. From their position close to the shore
they thought that they could make out that the inhabitants wore
ornaments of gold. Several canoes approached the ship, one of them
crowded with warriors carrying a species of gold mask as an ensign.

There appeared to be at least ten thousand warriors assembled on the
shore but Pizarro landed with the few horses which he had brought along
in the ship. A sharp engagement