Identifier: greatfamous01hornuoft (find matches)
Title: Great men and famous women : a series of pen and pencil sketches of the lives of more than 200 of the most prominent personages in history Volume 1
Year: 1894 (1890s)
Authors: Horne, Charles F. (Charles Francis), 1870-1942
Subjects: Biography
Publisher: New York : Selmar Hess
Contributing Library: Kelly - University of Toronto

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civilization ; fields cultivated with maize, cacao, and potatoes ; manyvillages ; and at length a town of more than two thousand houses, laid out withstreets, and thronging with inhabitants. Among the Spaniards wild enthusiasmprevailed. But it was quickly checked by the hostile demonstrations with whichthey were met, when they attempted to gain a foothold on the soil of the Incas.It was useless to make front against such numbers as opposed them. Dividedcounsels and a violent quarrel between the two captains ensued, and the expedi-tion sailed back northward. Once more Almaero returned to Panama for moremen, while Pizarro and his followers remained to starve on the barren isle ofGallo. Instead of permitting any more of his people to depart on what seemed sofoolhardy and fatal a business, Rios, the new governor of Panama, despatched tothe island two vessels, under a commander named Tafur, with orders to bringaway every Spaniard left alive there. Then occurred the famous episode that de-
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o _I_l<o < a z< CO to I az I-a:OIX UJ O CE < N FRANCISCO PIZARRO 159 cided so dramatically the fortunes of Pizarro and the fate of Peru. Tafur hadbrought supplies of provisions to the famished and emaciated, but now jubilantsoldiers ; and all except Pizarro appeared eager to abandon their barren adven-ture and return in the ships. Pizarro alone refused obedience to the governorsagent. Drawing a line on the sand with his sword, he cried: Comrades ! onthat side lie hunger and hardship ; on this side, ease and safety. There lies Peruwith its riches ; here, Panama and poverty. Choose, every man for himself, likebrave Castilians. For me, I go to the south. He stepped across the line. There was a minute of dismay and silence. ThenRuiz followed, and after him twelve others went over, an act of as desperate andresolute courage as ever inspired a forlorn band. They saw the ships containing their comrades sail away without them ; Ruizalso returned, pledged to bring assistance to his

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