PART I SOUTH AMERICAN FIGHTS AND FIGHTERS

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PANAMA AND THE KNIGHTS-ERRANT OF COLONIZATION

I. THE SPANISH MAIN 3

II. THE DON QUIXOTE OF DISCOVERERS AND HIS RIVAL 5

III. THE ADVENTURES OF OJEDA 10

IV. ENTER ONE VASCO NUÑEZ DE BALBOA 17

V. THE DESPERATE STRAITS OF NICUESA 20

PANAMA, BALBOA AND A FORGOTTEN ROMANCE

I. THE COMING OF THE DEVASTATOR 31

II. THE GREATEST EXPLOIT SINCE COLUMBUS'S VOYAGE 34

III. "FUROR DOMINI" 42

IV. THE END OF BALBOA 44

PERU AND THE PIZARROS

I. THE CHIEF SCION OF A FAMOUS FAMILY 53

II. THE TERRIBLE PERSISTENCE OF PIZARRO 57

III. "A COMMUNISTIC DESPOTISM" 68

IV. THE TREACHEROUS AND BLOODY MASSACRE OF CAXAMARCA 73

V. THE RANSOM AND MURDER OF THE INCA 85

VI. THE INCA AND THE PERUVIANS STRIKE VAINLY FOR FREEDOM 93

VII. "THE MEN OF CHILI" AND THE CIVIL WARS 102

VIII. THE MEAN END OF THE GREAT CONQUISTADOR 105

IX. THE LAST OF THE BRETHREN 108

THE GREATEST ADVENTURE IN HISTORY

I. THE CHIEF OF ALL THE SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE 115

II. THE EXPEDITION TO MEXICO 120

III. THE RELIGION OF THE AZTECS 125

IV. THE MARCH TO TENOCHTITLAN 130

V. THE REPUBLIC OF TLASCALA 138

VI. CORTES'S DESCRIPTION OF MEXICO 147

VII. THE MEETING WITH MONTEZUMA 162

VIII. THE SEIZURE OF THE EMPEROR 171

IX. THE REVOLT OF THE CAPITAL 174

X. IN GOD'S WAY 177

XI. THE MELANCHOLY NIGHT 182

XII. THE SIEGE AND DESTRUCTION OF MEXICO 194

XIII. A DAY OF DESPERATE FIGHTING 198

XIV. THE LAST MEXICAN 215

XV. THE END OF CORTES 218