Page:Columbus and other heroes of American discovery; (IA columbusotherher00bell).pdf/17

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CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

America known to the Ancients—The Island of Atlantis—Scandinavian Emigration—Eric
the Red and Gunnbiorn—Bjarni Herjulfson and Leif the Lucky—Discovery
of Vinland—Thorvald and the Skrællings—A terrible Struggle—An heroic
Amazon—Retreat of the Danes—Return of Freydis to Vinland—Massacre of
Colonists by her Orders—Total Disappearance of Scandinavian Settlement—Madoc
of Wales—The Brothers Zeni—Marco Polo—Early Life of Columbus—The
Astrolabe applied to Navigation—A Hearing at last—Duplicity of John
II.—Columbus in Poverty and Exile—A generous Prior—Hope and Despair—Isabella
is won over—Full Powers granted to Columbus—The Start from Saltos—Discontent
of Sailors—Variation of Compass—Mutiny—Land Ahead!—Discovery
of the West Indian Islands—Return to Spain—Second and Third
Voyages—Death in Poverty and Disgrace—Amerigo Vespucci—The Cabots—First
Landing in North America—The Cortereals—Breton Fishermen. 7

CHAPTER II.

The Spanish in the Gulf of Mexico—Vasco Nuñez de Balboa concealed in a Cask—His
Pardon—Shipwreck and Rescue of Explorers by Balboa—His Discovery of
the Pacific—His Murder by Anias—Expedition of Ponce de Leon—The
Discovery of Florida and Search for the Fountain of Youth—Leon's Death from
poisoned Arrows—Discovery of the Mouths of the Pacific by Francis Garay—Lucas
Vasquez de Ayllon in Florida—His Cruelty to the Natives—Their
Retaliation—Verrazano on the Atlantic coast of North America—The Invasion of
Florida by Pamphilo de Narvaez—His Disappointment, Retreat, and Death—The
Captivity and Escape of four of his Followers—The Expedition of Hernando
de Soto—Meeting with Juan Ortiz—His romantic Story—An Indian burned
alive—A native Princess—At the foot of the Apalachian Mountains—Southward
to Mavilla—Struggle with Indians—Westward ho! and Discovery
of the Mississippi—De Soto in a new Character—His Death and Burial in the
Mississippi—Escape of his Men under his Successor, Luis Muscoso de Alvarado—Murder
of Louis Cancello, the Missionary—Expedition of De Luna. 30