ound on his hand, This was the only wound received by a Spaniard
during the attack.

At length the Inca was cast from his throne, and, falling to the ground,
was caught by Pizarro. He was then imprisoned and placed under a strong
guard. As soon as the news of the capture of the Inca spread, all
resistance ceased. Many of the Indians fled to the mountains, leaving
untold wealth at the disposal of their conquerors, while others
remained, hoping to be able to assist their fallen ruler.

As soon as the Inca had an opportunity, he tried to think of some way
of obtaining his freedom.

The room in which he was confined was twenty-two feet in length by
seventeen feet in width. Raising his hand as high as he could, the
Inca made a mark upon the wall, and told Pizarro that gold enough to
fill the room to that mark would be given as a ransom for his release.

Pizarro agreed to this bargain, and the natives began to send gold
to the Inca to secure his release. Some of the treasures in the temples
were buried and hidden by the priests; but ornaments of all kinds,
vases, and plate were collected, and in a few months gold amounting
to fifteen millions of dollars in our money was divided among the
Spaniards.

Millions of dollars' worth of gold and silver were shipped to Spain,
and the Spanish nation grew very wealthy. Pizarro himself returned
to Spain to take Charles V. his share of the plunder. During Pizarro's
absence the Spaniards caused the Inca to be killed, notwithstanding
the large ransom which they had accepted.

The richer the Spanish people grew, the more careless they became in
their treatment of other nations and of those under their rule. They
grew more cruel and more merciless and more greedy for gold. They
flocked in great numbers to South America, a reckless, adventurous,
unprincipled horde, ready to commit any crime in order to secure gold.

FERDINAND DE SOTO.

Among the men who had been with Pizarro in Peru was Ferdinand de Soto,
a bold and dashing Spanish cavalier.

[Illustration: Ferdinand de Soto.]

De Soto was appointed governor of Cuba in 1537, and at the same time
received permission from the Spanish king to conquer Florida. This
permission to conquer Florida was received by De Soto with great
delight. He felt certain that in the interior of Florida there were
cities as large and as wealthy as those of Peru. To conquer these cities,
obtain their treasure, and win for himself riches and fame,