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They praised God and raced down the coast where they found far more disturbing signs of Spaniards. Villages were deserted. Homes were burned to the ground. Fields of maize were choked with weeds. A few Indians wandered around in a daze, so hungry they ate the bark off trees. They told Cabeza de Vaca of men who came on horseback, setting fire to their homes, abducting men, women, and children. Entire villages had fled to the safety of the mountains in fear of these men. Cabeza de Vaca took Estabanico and eleven Indians with him. Following the hoofprints of the soldiers’ horses, they walked day and night through rugged terrain until they came upon four mounted men in full armor. Heavy swords hung from their waists, and in their right hands they held long, pointed lances. They stared at Cabeza de Vaca for a long time, speechless at the sight of the gaunt, nearly naked man, accompanied by a black man and leading a group of savages. It must have been even more confusing when Cabeza de Vaca spoke. In perfect Spanish, and with the authority of a king’s officer, he asked to be taken to their captain. |