Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-07-05

Our readers know that the discoverer Of
the Mississippi river wa, Fernando DE Soto,
a Spanish explorer, who undertook the con-
quest of Florida, and the whole region now
embraced by the Gulf states, in l5il It
was in his expedition that the incidents be-
low recorded took place.
The Spaniards had taken up their quar-
tors in the village of Ocali. The governor
sent three or four Indian messengers daily
to the Cacique Ocali, endeayoring bnt in
vain, to draw of that chieftain from his re-
treat with proiIers of peace and friendship.
With one of these messengers came TO the
camp four young Indian warriors, gayly
decorated with plumes, who manifested an
eager curiosity to see the Spaniards won
dering at their dress, their arms, and above
all, at their horses The governor gave them
presents, and ordered that acollation should
be set before them.
They sat down and appeared to be eating
very quietly, when, perceiving the Spaniards
to be off their guard, they rose suddenly,
and ran at full speed to the woods. Ii was in
vain for the Spanards to pursue them on
foot, and there was no horse at hand.
A hound of uncommon sagacity, however,
hearing the cry of the Indians, and seeing
them run, pursued them. Overtaking and
passing by the first, and second, and third,
he sprang upon the shoulders of the fore
most and pulled him to the ground as the
next Indian passed on, the dog, leaving the
one already down, sprang upon his successor,
and secured him in the same way. In like
manner he served the third and fourth; and
then kept running from one TO another, pull.
ing them down as fast as they rose, and
barking so furiously, that the Indians were
terrified and COMPOUNDED, and the Spaniards
were enabled TO overtake aud capture them.
They We're taken back TO the camp aud ex.
amined separately, for, as they were armed.
the Spaniards apprehended some treachery /;
but it appeared that their sudden flight was
only by way Of exploit TO show their address
and fieetness.
The same hound had signalized himself
ON another occasion before the army reached
Ocali. As several Indians and four Span-
iards We're talking in friendly way on the
bank of river, one of the Indians struck
Spaniard violently with his bow, and threw
himself into the water, all his companions
following him. The dog Immediately sprang
in after them, but passed by several Of the
Indians without molesting them until he
came 10 the one who had committed the as
sault, when, laying hold of him, he tore him
to pieces.
After repeated solicitations, the Cacique of
Ocali, at the end of six days, ventured from
his place of refuge and visited the army,
where he was well treated, although the
Spaniards doubted much the sincerity of his
professions.
Hard by the village ran a deep and wide
river, with precipitous banks, Notwith-
standing it was the summer season, this river
was too full of water TO be fordqble it was
necessary, therefore, to construct wooden
bridge for the army to pass. DE soto hay-
ing treated with the Cacique for a number
of his subjects 10 aid in its construction
they went forth one day to decide upon the
spot where it should be erected As they
were walking along the bank, comforting
upon the subject, more than five hundred
Indians started up from among bushes and
thckets, on the opposite bank of the river
crying" You want bridge, do you Mer.
cileSs robbers but you will never see il
built by our hands Thus shouting, they let
fly avolley of arrows toward the place where
the Cacique and governor were standing
DE Soto demanded of his savage com.
panlon the meaning of these outrages, seeing
he had given him pledges of friendship
The Cacique replied that these were a re
fractory party of his subjects who had cast
OIL allegiance To him ON account of his at
tachment To the Spaniards, and that he was
not answcrable, therefore, for their acts.
II happened that the hound already men
TONED was at hand, held in q leash by the