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Juan Ortiz and an Indian Princess
by William Van Fleet

One dark night, shortly after, the Princess crept into the place where Ortiz was sleeping. Being awakened, Ortiz was told that on a coming feast day the Chief was determined to kill him. This time she could not protect him. He must flee this very night and go to a neighboring Chief she was to wed. Silently she led him out of the sleeping village to a place where she had secretly posted a trusted Indian who would guide him. Giving Ortiz over to this Indian she said, "Go to Mococo. Go this night. Tell him I sent you. He will give you protection. Go and may the God you speak of be with you."

Ortiz with tears in his eyes, thanked the girl for her kindness and faithfulness to him. The trusted Indian guided him some distance, the giving Ortiz directions, he left so as to be back in his own village before day and to avoid suspicion. About sun up, Ortiz saw some Indians fishing on a river. He called to them in the tongue of the tribe from which he came. These Indians spoke a different language, but one understood him. Ortiz was taken to the village of Mococo and gave the Chief the Princess' message. Mococo took Ortiz into his tribe, treated him as a brother, and gave him every protection.

The Spanish Chroniclers who wrote this story, vary some in the name of the Chief that Ortiz escaped from. Some call him Ucita or Ocita. Others say his name was Hirrihigua. We will use the former. It is related when Ucita learned where Ortiz was, he twice demanded his slave return. This demand Mococo met with refusal. Then another Chief, Urribaricayi, Ucitas' brother-in-law came with a message, Mococo treated this message as an insult of his honor, and sternly refused again. Thus two made a sacrifice of love on a principle of honor. Ortiz remained in the protection of Mococo about eight years until his rescue by DeSoto.

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