visions, which they seem without any questionings to have
appropriated to their own use. The clime was balmy, the region
beautiful, the houses commodious, the food abundant, and the few
Indians who remained behind manifested no hostility. The common
soldiers, following the example of their leader, treated all with
great kindness.

De Soto sent several Indian messengers daily to the retreat of the
chief with proffers of peace and friendship. Though Ocali rejected all
these overtures, it seems that they must have made an impression on
the minds of some of his followers.

One day, four young Floridian warriors, gorgeously dressed and with
nodding plumes, came to the Spanish camp. De Soto received them with
great cordiality and invited them to a handsome collation with his
principal officers. Mr. Irving, in his well authenticated narrative,
gives the following account of the scene which there ensued:

"They sat down and appeared to be eating quietly, when
perceiving the Spaniards to be off their guard, they rose
suddenly and rushed full speed to the woods. It was in vain
for the Spaniards to pursue them on foot, and there was no
horse at hand. A hound of uncommon sagacity, however,
hearing the cry of the Indians, and seeing them run, pursued
them. Overtaking and passing by the first and second and
third, he sprang upon the shoulders of the foremost and
pulled him to the ground; as the next Indian passed on, the
dog, leaving the one already down, sprang upon his successor
and secured him in the same way. In like manner he served
the third and fourth, and then kept running from one to the
other, pulling them down as fast as they rose, and barking
so furiously that the Indians were terrified and confounded
and the Spaniards were enabled to overtake and capture them.
They were taken back to the camp and examined separately.
For as they were armed, the Spaniards apprehended some
treachery; but it appeared that their sudden flight was only
by way of exploit, to show their address and fleetness."[D]

[Footnote D: Irving's Conquest of Florida, p. 100.]

Ocali, after resisting for six days all friendly advances, was at
length induced to visit the Spanish camp. He was received by De Soto
with the greatest kindness, and every effort was made to win his
confidence. There was a deep and wide river near the village which it
was necessary