CHAPTER XL 



THE FLORIDA POCAHONTAS-oonH»««f. 



" Entre le ciel qui brule, et la mer qui moutonne 

 Au somnolent soleil d'un midi monotone, 

 Tu songes, O guerriere aux vieux conquistadors." 



Dk Hbrkda. 



" Among races but little advanced from a state of nature, no human 

 quality excites greater reverence than personal bravery, and Ortez 

 inheriting this power as a natural birthright, soon sat in the first 

 ranks among his adopted people. He had to throw aside his 

 arquebus for lack of powder ; but acquired the art of shooting the 

 bow, and flinging the metal ball, with as much accuracy as his 

 instructors. He still retained his basket-hilted sword and his 

 shirt of link mail ; and in the different wars of the tribe there was 

 none who could strike a surer blow, or stand longer in the breach, 

 or was greater feared for his prowess than the adopted Spaniard, 

 who rose to, the position of second chief of the nation, passing 

 those who were immeasurably above him when he began his race. 

 Some were proud of his young renown ; but others, as in every 

 land, imputed their own subordinate position to the honours 

 showered on his head, and were proportionately jealous. But 

 honour or jealousy made no difference in the love of his wife — the 

 same passionate kiss greeted the soldier if he came back honoured 

 or suspected. It was a woman's love, and it flickered not ; and 

 when angry voices told of Spanish aggressions and coming wars, 

 and pointed to him, she merely said, ' He is not a Spaniard, he is 

 my love.' 



" There had been a fierce battle fought between the Yupaha 

 tribes and the Apalaches, in which the latter had returned with 

 not their usual success, bringing home with them the bodies of 

 many of their warriors. They came to the village with all the 



