he forests around forty skirmishers to keep off the Indians, while a
hundred and fifty men were employed in felling trees and burning
brush, in preparation for an encampment for the night.

Exhausted by the toil of the march and of the battle; drenched with
the waters of the lake; many of them suffering from wounds, they threw
themselves down upon the hot and smouldering soil for sleep. But there
was no repose for them that night. During all the hours of darkness,
the prowling natives kept up a continuous clamor, with ever recurring
assaults. With the first dawn of the morning the Spaniards resumed
their march, anxious to get out of the defile and into the open
prairie beyond, where they could avail themselves of their horses, of
which the Indians stood in great dread. As they gradually emerged from
the impenetrable thicket into the more open forest, the army could be
spread out more effectually, and the horsesmen could be brought a
little more into action. But here the valor of the natives did not
forsake them.

"As soon as the Spaniards," writes Mr. Irving, "entered this
more open woodland, they were assailed by showers of arrows
on every side. The Indians, scattered about among the
thickets, sallied forth, plied their bows with intense
rapidity, and plunged again into the forest. The horses were
of no avail. The arquebusiers and archers seemed no longer a
terror; for in the time a Spaniard could make one discharge,
and reload his musket or place another bolt in his cross-bow,
an Indian would launch six or seven arrows. Scarce had one
arrow taken flight before another was in the bow. For two
long leagues did the Spaniards toil and fight their way
forward through this forest.

"Irritated and mortified by these galling attacks and the
impossibility of retaliating, at length they emerged into an
open and level country. Here, overjoyed at being freed from
this forest prison, they gave reins to their horses, and free
vent to their smothered rage, and scoured the plain, lancing
and cutting down every Indian they encountered. But few of
the enemy were taken prisoners, many were put to the sword."

CHAPTER XII.

_Winter Quarters._

Incidents of the March.--Passage of the River.--Entering
Anhayea.--Exploring Expeditions.--De Soto's desire for
Peace.--Capture of Capafi.--His Escape.--Embarrassments
of De Soto.--Letter