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 ♦Moscoso de Alvarado――Murder of Louis Cancello, the Missionary――Expedition of De Luna. ♠ ‘Anias’ used throughout, refers to Peter Arias ♦ ‘Muscoso’ replaced with ‘Moscoso’ CHAPTER III. Verrazano sent out by Francis I.――Discovery of the Hudson ――Jacques Cartier in Canada, and his Discovery of the St. Lawrence――Touching Scene at Hochelaga――Foundation of Fort Charles on the Site of Quebec――Kidnapping of Donnacona and other Natives, and return to Europe――Death of Indian Captives, and cold Reception at Hochelaga on the Return of Cartier without them――Break-up of the Colony and Flight of Cartier ――Arrival of ♦Roberval――Sad Fate of his People――Ribault and the French Refugees on the River of May――Return home of Ribault――Assassination of Pierria――Escape of Colonists in a crazy Pinnace――Their Murder of a Comrade for Food――Their Rescue by an English Vessel――Laudonnière’s Colony on the May ――Mutiny, and Troubles with the Indians――Famine, and Arrival of Ribault――Disgrace of Laudonnière――Arrival of Menendez ――Massacre of French Huguenots by Spaniards――Escape of a little Remnant to Anastasia――Second and third Massacres ――Gallant Bearing of Ribault――Foundation of St. Augustine ――Vengeance of De Gourgues on the Spanish――Murder of Missionaries in Florida――St. Augustine burned by Drake. ♦ ‘Robeval’ replaced with ‘Roberval’ CHAPTER IV.