A BACKWARD GLANCE. 27 



and vigor of youth is a boon cherished by all ; hence, to 

 preserve it, or to recover it when lost, the natives bathed 

 frequently, and by so doing did much to attain their object, 

 since cleanliness is certainly a great promoter of health, 

 and health simulates youth. This was, doubtless, the full 

 and entire extent of the wise cacique's meaning, and as 

 such the great majority of his people received it; but here 

 and there one might be found who took the matter less lit- 

 erally, and held fast to the belief that the cacique's words 

 referred to one particular spring or fountain, which, it was 

 true, they had not yet discovered, but only because it had 

 not been perseveringly searched for. 



With sundry of these believers the veteran De Leon 

 took counsel, and at once decided in his own mind that 

 the Fountain of Youth was an actual, tangible fact, some- 

 where ; therefore, that it could be discovered, and that 

 Ponce De Leon was the happy man destined to accomplish 

 this great feat and to be the first to profit by it. Week 

 after week, month after month, the Governor of Bimini 

 brooded over this wonderful fountain, until he became a 

 man with but one idea, a monomaniac. He boldly avowed 

 his firm belief that any man, no matter how worn out with 

 age he might be, who should dip his body into the waters 

 of this mighty spring, would emerge restored to the full 

 bloom of youth and strength. Imbued with the idea that 

 his own lost youth might be regained did he but make the 

 effort, the sturdy warrior at length threw prudence to the 

 winds, and with a few followers embarked on a voyage 

 among the neighboring islands, determined to find the life- 

 giving fountain, if he spent years in the search; for of 

 what value were years upon years when once the wonder- 

 ful youth restorer were discovered? In the light of our 

 modern knowledge and contempt of superstition, it is pit- 

 iful to think of a strong man, a renowned soldier and 



