206 NEW TEACXS IN NOETH AMERICA. 



detaclimeiit to arrest Cortez in the midst of his victories, and 

 to deprive him of authority. Cortez was then in the city of 

 Mexico, heset with many and appalling difficulties. ISTever- 

 theless, he marched at once with a few trusted comrades 

 towards the coast, attacked Narvaez with one furious onslaught, 

 overcame him, and took his whole detachment prisoners. 

 "Esteem it great good fortune," said N'arvaez, ''that you 

 have taken me captive." Cortez disdainfully replied, "It is m 

 the least of the things that I have done in Mexico." This Jge 

 was the Is^arvaez who afterwards obtained from Charles Y. the 

 right to make extensive conquests and explorations north of ii 

 the Gulf of Mexico. 



In the winter of 1527-28 he fitted out an expedition, 

 consisting of four hundred men, eighty horses, and five Oi 

 ships, left San Domingo, and, after a prosperous voyage, *e 

 reached the coast of Florida ahout the middle of April. 

 There, while carrying on explorations in the interior, he 

 was deserted by his squadron, and obliged to put out to 

 sea in five rude boats made by his famished soldiers. His 

 usual bad fortune, however, followed him; he was wrecked 

 on one of the islands at the mouth of the Mississippi, and 

 perished with all his companions save three : these were 

 Cabeza de Yaca, treasurer and second in command ; Esteva 

 Dorantes, an Arabian negro ; and Castillo Madonado. Yaca 

 was a man of letters, and of great strength of character, and 

 boldly determined at all hazards to advance into the unknown 

 regions before him, and strike, if possible, the Pacific coast. 

 He was taken prisoner, however, by the wild Indians of 

 Southern Texas, and remained a captive for six years. After 

 that time the three adventurers made their escape, and after 

 travelling for twenty months in a north-westerly direction, 

 amongst hostile tribes and over arid deserts, they struck the 



