ects between
himself and his followers, he found it difficult to credit the
representations which had been made to him. He therefore dressed
himself in a disguise, and secretly wandered about by night among the
frail huts of the soldiers, and soon found, by listening to their
conversation, his worst fears confirmed. It became clear to his mind
that immediately on his return to the ships, his present followers
would disband and shift for themselves, while it would be in vain for
him to attempt to raise another army.

Speaking of the distress with which these considerations oppressed the
mind of De Soto, Mr. Irving well says, referring in confirmation of
his statement, both to the account given by the Portuguese Narrative,
and that by the Inca:

"Should his present forces desert him, therefore, he would
remain stripped of dignity and command, blasted in
reputation, his fortune expended in vain, and his
enterprise, which had caused so much toil and trouble, a
subject of scoffing rather than renown. The Governor was a
man extremely jealous of his honor; and as he reflected upon
these gloomy prospects, they produced sudden and desperate
resolves. He disguised his anger and his knowledge of the
schemes he had overheard, but he determined to frustrate
them by turning back upon the coast, striking again into the
interior, and never seeking the ships nor furnishing any
tidings of himself, until he had crowned his enterprise
gloriously by discovering new regions of wealth like those
of Peru and Mexico.

"A change came over De Soto from this day. He was
disconcerted in his favorite scheme of colonization, and had
lost confidence in his followers. Instead of manifesting his
usual frankness, energy and alacrity, he became a moody,
irritable, discontented man. He no longer pretended to
strike out any grand undertaking, went recklessly wandering
from place to place, apparently without order or object, as
if careless of time and life, and only anxious to finish his
existence."

On the morning of the 15th of November, 1540, the troops, much to
their consternation, received orders to commence their march to the
north, instead of to the south. The established habits of military
discipline, and the stern manner of De Soto, repelled all audible
murmurs. Each soldier took with him two days' provision, which
consisted mai