There was yet one more great adventure in the Fall of 1539 which seemingly provides evidence of Soto's starting place in Florida -- by the simple process of back-tracking along a well-measured trail from Inachio (Tallahassee).

The eyewitnesses mention briefly that 30 horsemen were sent back to the port by Soto with orders for the base camp to move forward.

Garcilaso, however, recounts the event in much detail. From his pen we get a stirring narrative of courage and stamina in the face of danger. Significantly one of the cavaliers singled out for praise was Gonzalo Silvestre who is generally believed to be the Inca's principal source of information.

To command this mission, Soto selected his luckiest and most capable officer -- Juan Anasco.

"The assignment was a most rigorous one for these cavaliers," says Garcilaso, "since they were to retrace their steps over almost 150 leagues of terrain peopled by valiant and cruel enemies and obstructed by woods, swamps, swollen rivers and difficult passes in which the army already had en-countered grave danger."

The 30 cavaliers set out before dawn on Oct. 20, 1539. They carried only helmet, mail, lance, spare horseshoes, nails, hatchets and parched corn to feed both themselves and mounts. Garcilaso conveys the excitement:

In order to prevent the news of their departure from preceding them, thereby giving the Indians time to come out and occupy the passes, they traveled as rapidly as possible, running whenever it was feasible to do so.

On this day they lanced and killed two Indians encountered along the road, lest by some outcry these men warn the other Indians scattered throughout the countryside to be on guard. As they traveled on they continued to observe this same precaution so that news of

their coming should not precede them.

Thus they covered that day the 11 leagues which lie between Apalache and the swamp. When night fell they slept on an open plain away from the forest, having run and walked that day more than 13 leagues.

Before daybreak they continued their journey across the 12 leagues of unpopulated land between the swamp of Apalache and the village of Osachile.

Note that the cavaliers on the first night slept two leagues beyond the Apalache boundary swamp; that is, two leagues into the province of Ocachile. Inasmuch as the town of Osachile was 12 leagues from the swamp, the cavaliers traveled only 10 leagues the second day to reach the town. Garcilaso counts the two leagues in both the first and second days.

Still fearful that Indians might learn of their approach and come out to obstruct their passage, the cavaliers proceeded slowly, awaiting nightfall. Then, near midnight, they rushed through Osachile at a half speed. When they had ridden a league beyond the town, they rested for the remainder of the night at a place off from the road. On this day they had traveled another 13 leagues.

At the crack of dawn they were on their way, again running at a half speed because there were people in the fields. They continued to travel thus when moving through populated regions in order that news of their approach might not precede them, a possibility which constituted their greatest fear.

The whole five leagues from where they had slept to the river of Osachile they covered in this manner and at the expense of their horses, but these animals were so fine that they bore it all.

All now crossed over without any misfortune whatsoever, and, with much fiesta and rejoicing at having done so, began their lunch. Afterward, they traveled at a moderate pace the four leagues lying between the river of Osachile and the town of