was the
dream of De Soto.

Strange as it may seem to you, De Soto was also anxious to convert
the natives to his own religion. He intended to take from them all
their possessions, but he meant to save their souls, if possible.

So, leaving his young and beautiful wife Isabella to rule over Cuba
in his absence, De Soto, in May, 1539, started from Havana with nine
vessels, about six hundred men, and two hundred and twenty-three
horses.

After a safe voyage, the expedition landed on the coast of Florida,
at Tampa Bay. Before starting on the march to the interior of the
country, De Soto sent all the vessels back to Cuba. In this way he
cut off all hope of retreat, in case the men should become discouraged.
But no one thought of wanting to return now. Everybody was in high
spirits.

The soldiers wore brilliant uniforms, their caps were adorned with
waving plumes, and their polished armor glistened and sparkled in the
sunshine.

In the company were twelve priests, who were expected to convert the
prisoners which De Soto meant to capture. The Spaniards carried with
them chains to secure these prisoners, and bloodhounds to track them
in case any escaped.

It was a gay company which marched off into the interior of Florida
with prancing horses, waving flags and banners, and beating drums.

At first De Soto marched directly north, plunging into a wilderness
which proved to be almost impassable. The country was full of swamps,
through which the horses could scarcely travel. The large trees were
bound together by tangled vines; and their roots, which protruded from
the earth, were like traps, catching the feet of the travelers and
throwing them to the ground.

Besides all this, the heavy baggage which the men and horses carried
weighed them down and made the journey almost impossible.

De Soto, however, kept bravely on, encouraging his men as best he could,
and at last reached the Savannah River. Here he changed his course
to westward, hoping to find gold in that direction.

Week after week, month after month, the Spaniards traveled on through
a dense wilderness, enduring great hardships and finding nothing but
tribes of hostile Indians.

De Soto asked one of these Indian chiefs to give him slaves enough
to carry his baggage through the forest. The chief refused; whereupon
De Soto and his men attacked the tribe and took many prisoners. These
prisoners De Soto caused to be chained together and placed in front
of the