. Our pioneer heroes and their daring deeds . h for the admission of the cavalry. The village soon presented a scene of the utmost horror. Thecavalry had dashed in upon the Indians, who retreated hastily tothe houses; the infantry followed. From every side the flint-headed arrows came in showers, dealing death to man and Spaniards set fire to the houses, and the terrors of the flameswere added to those of the SAVord. The light structures of reedsand dry timbers burnt with fearful rapidity, and the fire spreadall over the town in a short time. The cries of the women, morethan a thousa
. Our pioneer heroes and their daring deeds . h for the admission of the cavalry. The village soon presented a scene of the utmost horror. Thecavalry had dashed in upon the Indians, who retreated hastily tothe houses; the infantry followed. From every side the flint-headed arrows came in showers, dealing death to man and Spaniards set fire to the houses, and the terrors of the flameswere added to those of the SAVord. The light structures of reedsand dry timbers burnt with fearful rapidity, and the fire spreadall over the town in a short time. The cries of the women, morethan a thousand of whom were burned to death, were added tothe horrid din of the battle. In the market-place of the town wasTuscaloosa, with a small body of his bravest warriors, whofought desperately while their countrymen perished around them. FERDINAND DE SOTO. 37 Not even did the charge of cavalry which De Soto led make themdisperse. Shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, stood these earli-est defenders of our country. Now the two chiefs press forward. to a personal encounter with each other—tlie mounted, mail-cladknight of Spain and the gigantic warrior of the wilderness. Butif one he defended by his shining armor, the other is shielded by 38 FERDINAND DE SOTO. the love of his people. Other warriors throw themselves beforehim, and engage in the hopeless combat. One by one they fallbefore that lance, dripjiing with the |^blood of their race, and atlast De Soto and Tuscaloosa meet. The immense war-club israised for a blow, but with a chivalry that the lion-hearted kingmight have envied, and the fearless and blameless knight ofFrance would have admired, its descent is arrested. An arrowhas pierced Do Sotos haiiberk, and the wounded man is sparedby the chief. Be Soto conceals his wound, lest his men be dis-heartened and yield to the enemy. For hours the fight continues,and the Spanish army is weakened by fatigue, fainting withhunger and thirst. But fortunately for them, the main bodycame
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectindiansofnorthamerica, bookyear1887
