Cuba
with tidings of safety to his wife, and procure reinforcements and
supplies. It seems that his pride would not allow him to return
himself a ruined man to his friends.

With the early spring he broke up his cantonment, and commenced a
rapid march for the Mississippi. He had heard of a village called
Anilco, at the mouth of a large stream emptying into that majestic
river. They followed down the south side of the Arkansas river for ten
days, when they crossed on rafts to the north or east side. It was
probably the intention of De Soto to reach the Mississippi nearly at
the point at which they had crossed it before.

Continuing his journey through morasses and miry grounds, where the
horses often waded up to their girths in water, where there were few
inhabitants, and little food to be obtained, he at length reached the
village of Anilco, and found it to be on the northern bank of the
Arkansas river. Here he learned that, at the distance of some leagues
to the south, there was a populous and fertile country such as he
thought would be suitable for the establishment of his colony. Again
he crossed the Arkansas river to the south side, and moving in a
southerly direction reached the Mississippi at a village called
Guachoya, about twenty miles below the mouth of the Arkansas river.

CHAPTER XIX.

_Death of De Soto._

Ascent of the Mississippi.--Revenge of Guachoya.--Sickness
of De Soto.--Affecting Leave-taking.--His Death and
Burial.--The March for Mexico.--Return to the
Mississippi.--Descent of the River.--Dispersion of the
Expedition.--Death of Isabella.

The village of Guachoya was situated on a bluff on the western bank of
the Mississippi, and was strongly fortified with palisades. De Soto
succeeded in establishing friendly relations with the chief, and was
hospitably entertained within the town. The Cacique and Governor ate
at the same table, and were served by Indian attendants. Still, for
some unexplained reason, the Cacique with his warriors retired at
sunset in their canoes, to the eastern side of the Mississippi, and
did not return till after sunrise the next morning.

De Soto's great anxiety now was to get access to the ocean. But he
could not learn that the Cacique had ever heard of such a body of
water. He then sent Juan de Anasco with eight horsemen to follow down
the banks of the river in search of the sea. They returned in eight
days, having explored but about