The Caxton Press 171, 173 Macdougal Street, New York AUTHOR’S NOTE. The present volume is intended to give a general idea of the progress of exploration in the districts now forming Canada and the United States, with the general advance of the white man westwards. The chief authorities consulted in the preparation of the “Heroes of the Exodus to the West” were the reports to their superiors of the early Jesuit missionaries; George Bancroft’s “History of the United States;” Bryant’s “Popular History of the United States;” and Bancroft’s “Native Races of the Pacific.” But reference has also been made to the original works of all the great travelers in the districts under notice; while much valuable geographical information has been culled from the Journals of the learned Societies both of England and America, and from Réclus’s “Geógraphie Universelle.” N. D’ANVERS. HAMPSTEAD, 1884. Illustration: (‡ Captain on bridge of sailing ship) 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. CHAPTER II.