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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lily and the Totem + or, The Huguenots in Florida + +Author: William Gilmore Simms + +Release Date: December 2, 2013 [EBook #44337] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LILY AND THE TOTEM *** + + + + +Produced by RenĂ© Anderson Benitz and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1><span class="h1smfont">THE</span><br /> +LILY AND THE TOTEM,<br /> +<span class="h1smfont">OR,</span><br /> +<span class="h1subt">THE HUGUENOTS IN FLORIDA.</span></h1> + +<div class="front"> +<p>A SERIES OF SKETCHES, PICTURESQUE AND HISTORICAL, OF THE +COLONIES OF COLIGNI, IN NORTH AMERICA.</p> + +<p>1562–1570.</p> + +<p>BY THE AUTHOR OF “THE YEMASSEE,” “LIFE OF MARION,” +“LIFE OF BAYARD” ETC.</p> + +<p><br /><span>NEW YORK:</span><br /> +<span class="ltrspc">BAKER AND SCRIBNER,</span><br /> +145 NASSAU STREET AND 36 PARK ROW.<br /> +<span>1850.</span></p> +</div> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<div class="verso"> +<p>Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, by<br /> +W. GILMORE SIMMS, ESQ.<br /> +In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern +District of New York.</p> + +<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /> +<span class="ltrspc">C. W. BENEDICT,<br /> +<i>Stereotyper</i></span>,<br /> +201 William st.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="EPISTLE" id="EPISTLE">EPISTLE DEDICATORY.</a></h2> + +<hr class="hr10" /> + +<p class="center"><span class="smfont">TO THE</span><br /> +<span class="ltrspc lgfont">HON. JAMES H. HAMMOND,</span><br /> +<span class="smfont">OF</span><br /> +SOUTH CAROLINA.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>M<span class="simcap">Y</span> D<span class="simcap">EAR</span> H<span class="simcap">AMMOND</span>:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">I very</span> well know the deep interest which you take in all +researches which aim to develope the early history of our State +and country, and sympathize with you very sincerely in that local +feeling which delights to trace, on your own grounds, and in your +own neighborhood, the doubtful progresses of French and +Spaniard, in their wild passion for adventure or eager appetite for +gold. I have no doubt that the clues are in your hands which +shall hereafter conduct you along a portion of the route pursued +by that famous cavalier, Hernando de Soto; and I am almost +satisfied that the region of Silver Bluff was that distinguished in +the adventures of the Spanish Adelantado, by the presence of that +dusky but lovely princess of Cofachiqui, who welcomed him with +so much favor and whom he treated with an ingratitude as +unhandsome as unknightly. But I must not dwell on a subject +go seductive; particularly, as I entertain the hope, in some future<a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv"></a> +labor, to weave her legend into an appropriate, and I trust not +unworthy history. For the present, inscribing these pages to you, +as a memorial of a long and grateful intimacy, and of inquiries +and conjectures, musings and meditations, enjoyed together, which, +it is my hope, have resulted no less profitably to you than to +myself, I propose briefly to give you the plan of the volume in +your hands.</p> + +<p>The design of the narrative which follows, contemplates, in +nearly equal degree, the picturesque and the historical. It +belongs to a class of writings with which the world has been long +since made familiar, through a collection of the greatest interest, +the body of which continues to expand, and which has been +entitled the “Romance of History.” This name will justly apply +to the present sketches, yet must not be construed to signify any +large or important departure, in the narrative, from the absolute +records of the Past. The romance here is not suffered to supersede +the history. On the contrary, the design of the writer has +been simply to supply the deficiencies of the record. Where the +author, in this species of writing, has employed history, usually, +as a mere loop, upon which to hang his lively fancies and audacious +inventions, embodying in his narrative as small a portion of +the chronicle as possible, I have been content to reverse the +process, making the fiction simply tributary, and always subordinate +to the fact. I have been studious to preserve all the vital +details of the event, as embodied in the record, and have only +ventured my own “graffings” upon it in those portions of the +history which exhibited a certain baldness in their details, and +seemed to demand the helping agency of art. In thus interweaving +the history with the fiction, I have been solicitous always of +those proprieties and of that <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">vraisemblance</i>, in the introduction of<a name="Page_v" id="Page_v"></a> +new details, which are essential to the chief characteristics of +the history; seeking equally to preserve the general integrity +of the record from which I draw my materials, and of that art +which aims to present them in a costume the most picturesque. +My labor has been not to make, but to perfect, a history; not to +invent facts, but to trace them out to seemingly inevitable +results;—to take the premise and work out the problem;—recognize +the meagre record which affords simply a general outline; +and endeavor, by a severe induction, to supply its details and processes. +I have been at no such pains to disguise the chronicle, +as will prevent the reader from separating,—should he desire +to do so,—the <em>certain</em> from the <em>conjectural</em>; and yet, I trust, that +I have succeeded in so linking the two together, as to prevent the +lines of junction from obtruding themselves offensively upon his +consciousness. Upon the successful prosecution of this object, +apart from the native interest which the subject itself possesses, +depends all the merit of the performance. It is by raising the +tone of the history, warming it with the hues of fancy, and making +it dramatic by the continued exercise of art, rather than by any +actual violation of its recorded facts, that I have endeavored to +awaken interest. To bring out such portions of the event as +demand elevation—to suppress those which are only cumbrous, +and neither raise the imposing, nor relieve the unavoidable; and +to supply, from the <em>probable</em>, the apparent deficiencies of the +<em>actual</em>, have been the chief processes in the art which I have +employed. What is wholly fictitious will appear rather as episodical +matter, than as a part of the narrative; and a brief historical +summary, even in regard to the episode, shall occasionally be +employed to determine, for the reader, upon how much, or how +little, he may properly rely as history.<a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi"></a></p> + +<p>The experiment of Coligny, in colonizing Florida, is one of +those remarkable instances in the early settlement of this country, +which deserve the particular attention of our people. Its wild and +dark events, its startling tragedies, its picturesque and exciting +incidents, long since impressed themselves upon my imagination, +as offering suitable materials for employment in romantic fiction. +In the preparation of the work which follows, I have rather yielded +to the requisitions of publishers and the public, than followed the +suggestions of my own taste and judgment. Originally, I commenced +the treatment of this material, in the form of poetry; but +the stimulus to a keen prosecution of the task was wanting: not +so much, perhaps, in consequence of my own diminished interest +in the subject, as because of the indifference of readers; who, in +all periods have determined the usual direction of the writer. +Hereafter, I may prosecute the experiment upon this history in +still another fashion. I do not regard this work as precluding me +from trying the malleability of its subject, and from seeking to +force it into a mould more grateful to the dictates of my imagination. +In abandoning the design, however, of shaping it to the +form of narrative poetry, I may, at least, submit to the reader +such portions of the verse as are already written. My purpose, +as will be seen, by the fragmentary passages which follow (in the +<i>Appendix</i> at the close of the volume) was to seize upon the strong +points of the subject, and exhibit the whole progress of the action, +in so many successive scenes; as in the plan adopted by Rogers +in his “Columbus”—the one scene naturally forming the introduction +to the other, and the whole, a complete and single history. +To these fragments let me refer you. With these, my +original design found its limit; the spirit which had urged me thus +far, no longer quickening me with that impatient eagerness which<a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii"></a> +can alone justify poetic labors. The plan is one which I am no +longer likely to pursue. It will no doubt have a place of safe-keeping +and harborage in some one of Astolpho’s mansions. It +need not be deplored on earth. I shall be but too happy if those +who read the performance which follows, shall forbear the wish +that it had shared the same destiny. To you, at least, I venture +to commend it with a very different hope.</p> + +<p class="sig1">Very truly yours, as ever,</p> +<p class="sig2">T<span class="simcap">HE</span> A<span class="simcap">UTHOR</span>.</p> + +<table id="sigpl" summary="place and date of signature"> +<tr> + <td>C<span class="simcap">HARLESTON</span>, S. C.,</td> + <td rowspan="2"><span class="xlgfont">}</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td> <i>May 1, 1850</i>.</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii"></a></p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix"></a></p> + +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"><span class="ltrspc">CONTENTS.</span></a></h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table id="toc" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#I">I.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>T<span class="simcap">HE</span> F<span class="simcap">IRST</span> V<span class="simcap">OYAGE OF</span> R<span class="simcap">IBAULT</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#II">II.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>T<span class="simcap">HE</span> C<span class="simcap">OLONY UNDER</span> A<span class="simcap">LBERT</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#III">III.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>T<span class="simcap">HE</span> L<span class="simcap">EGEND OF</span> G<span class="simcap">UERNACHE</span>, Chap. I.</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#IV">IV.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>T<span class="simcap">HE</span> L<span class="simcap">EGEND OF</span> G<span class="simcap">UERNACHE</span>, Chap. II.</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_44">44</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#V">V.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>T<span class="simcap">HE</span> L<span class="simcap">EGEND OF</span> G<span class="simcap">UERNACHE</span>, Chap. III.</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#VI">VI.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>T<span class="simcap">HE</span> L<span class="simcap">EGEND OF</span> G<span class="simcap">UERNACHE</span>, Chap. IV.</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#VII">VII.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>L<span class="simcap">ACHANE, THE</span> D<span class="simcap">ELIVERER</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#VIII">VIII.</a><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x"></a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>F<span class="simcap">LIGHT</span>, F<span class="simcap">AMINE, AND THE</span> B<span class="simcap">LOODY</span> F<span class="simcap">EAST OF THE</span> F<span class="simcap">UGITIVES</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_100">100</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#IX">IX.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>T<span class="simcap">HE</span> S<span class="simcap">ECOND</span> E<span class="simcap">XPEDITION OF THE</span> H<span class="simcap">UGUENOTS TO</span> F<span class="simcap">LORIDA</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#X">X.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>H<span class="simcap">ISTORICAL</span> S<span class="simcap">UMMARY</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_123">123</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#XI">XI.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>T<span class="simcap">HE</span> C<span class="simcap">ONSPIRACY OF</span> L<span class="simcap">E</span> G<span class="simcap">ENRÉ</span>—H<span class="simcap">ISTORICAL</span> S<span class="simcap">UMMARY</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_131">131</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#XII">XII.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>T<span class="simcap">HE</span> C<span class="simcap">ONSPIRACY OF</span> L<span class="simcap">E</span> G<span class="simcap">ENRÉ</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_133">133</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#XIII">XIII.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>H<span class="simcap">ISTORICAL</span> S<span class="simcap">UMMARY</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_164">164</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#XIV">XIV.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>T<span class="simcap">HE</span> S<span class="simcap">EDITION AT</span> L<span class="simcap">A</span> C<span class="simcap">AROLINE</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_166">166</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#XV">XV.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>T<span class="simcap">HE</span> M<span class="simcap">UTINEERS AT</span> S<span class="simcap">EA</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_185">185</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#XVI">XVI.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>T<span class="simcap">HE</span> A<span class="simcap">DVENTURE OF</span> D’E<span class="simcap">RLACH</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_193">193</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#XVII">XVII.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>T<span class="simcap">HE</span> N<span class="simcap">ARRATIVE OF</span> L<span class="simcap">E</span> B<span class="simcap">ARBU</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_218">218</a><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi"></a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#XVIII">XVIII.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>H<span class="simcap">ISTORICAL</span> S<span class="simcap">UMMARY</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_251">251</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#XIX">XIX.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>C<span class="simcap">APTIVITY OF THE</span> G<span class="simcap">REAT</span> P<span class="simcap">ARACOUSSI</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_263">263</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#XX">XX.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>I<span class="simcap">RACANA</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_294">294</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#XXI">XXI.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>H<span class="simcap">ISTORICAL</span> S<span class="simcap">UMMARY</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_310">310</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#XXII">XXII.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>T<span class="simcap">HE</span> F<span class="simcap">ATE OF</span> L<span class="simcap">A</span> C<span class="simcap">AROLINE</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_321">321</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#XXIII">XXIII.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>T<span class="simcap">HE</span> F<span class="simcap">ORTUNES OF</span> R<span class="simcap">IBAULT</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_364">364</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#XXIV">XXIV.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>A<span class="simcap">LPHONSE</span> D’E<span class="simcap">RLACH</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_387">387</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <th colspan="2"><a href="#XXV">XXV.</a></th> +</tr> +<tr> + <td>D<span class="simcap">OMINIQUE DE</span> G<span class="simcap">OURGUES</span>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_414">414</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td><a href="#APPENDIX">A<span class="simcap">PPENDIX</span></a>,</td> + <td class="pg"><a href="#Page_463">463</a></td> +</tr> +</table></div> + +<p><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii"></a></p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><a name="I" id="I"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">- 1 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><span class="lgfont">THE LILY AND THE TOTEM.</span><br /> +I.<br /> +THE FIRST VOYAGE OF RIBAULT.</h2> + +<div class="chapintro"> +<p>Introduction—The Huguenots—Their Condition in France—First Expedition for the +New World, under the auspices of the Admiral Coligny, Conducted by John Ribault—Colony +Established in Florida, and confided to the charge of Captain Albert.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Huguenots, in plain terms, were the Protestants of +France. They were a sect which rose very soon after the +preaching of the Reformation had passed from Germany into the +neighboring countries. In France, they first excited the apprehensions +and provoked the hostility of the Roman Catholic +priesthood, during the reign of Francis the First. This prince, +unstable as water, and governed rather by his humors and caprices +than by any fixed principles of conduct—wanting, perhaps, +equally in head and heart—showed himself, in the outset of his +career, rather friendly to the reformers. But they were soon +destined to suffer, with more decided favorites, from the caprices +of his despotism. He subsequently became one of their most +cruel persecutors. The Huguenots were not originally known by +this name. It does not appear to have been one of their own +choosing. It was the name which distinguished them in the days +of their persecution. Though frequently the subject of conjecture,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">- 2 -</a></span> +its origin is very doubtful. Montluc, the Marshal, whose +position at the time, and whose interests in the subject of religion +were such as might have enabled him to know quite as well as +any other person, confesses that the source and meaning of the +appellation were unknown. It is suggested that the name was +taken from the tower of one Hugon, or Hugo, at Tours, where +the Protestants were in the habit of assembling secretly for +worship. This, by many, is assumed to be the true origin of +the word. But there are numerous etymologies besides, from +which the reader may make his selection,—all more or less +plausibly contended for by the commentators. The commencement +of a petition to the Cardinal Lorraine—“<i lang="la" xml:lang="la">Huc nos</i> venimus, +serenissime princeps, &c.,” furnishes a suggestion to one set of +writers. Another finds in the words “<em>Heus quenaus</em>,” which, in +the Swiss <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">patois</i>, signify “seditious fellows,” conclusive evidence +of the thing for which he seeks. Heghenen or Huguenen, a +Flemish word, which means Puritans, or Cathari, is reasonably +urged by Caseneuve, as the true authority; while Verdier tells us +that they were so called from their being the <em>apes</em> or followers of +John Hus—“<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">les guenons de Hus</i>;”—<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">guenon</i> being a young ape. +This is ingenious enough without being complimentary. The +etymology most generally received, according to Mr. Browning, +(History of the Huguenots,) is that which ascribes the origin of +the name to “the word <em>Eignot</em>, derived from the German +<i lang="de" xml:lang="de">Eidegenossen</i>, q. e. federati. A party thus designated existed at +Geneva; and it is highly probable that the French Protestants +would adopt a term so applicable to themselves.” There are, +however, sundry other etymologies, all of which seem equally +plausible; but these will suffice, at least, to increase the difficulties +of conjecture. Either will answer, since the name by which the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">- 3 -</a></span> +child is christened is never expected to foreshadow his future +character, or determine his career. The name of the Huguenots +was probably bestowed by the enemies of the sect. It is in all +likelihood a term of opprobrium or contempt. It will not materially +concern us, in the scheme of the present performance, that we +should reach any definite conclusion on this point. Their +European history must be read in other volumes. Ours is but +the American episode in their sad and protracted struggle with +their foes and fortune. Unhappily, for present inquiry, this +portion of their history attracted but too little the attention of +the parent country. We are told of colonies in America, and of +their disastrous termination, but the details are meagre, touched +by the chronicler with a slight and careless hand; and, but for +the striking outline of the narrative,—the leading and prominent +events which compelled record,—it is one that we should pass +without comment, and with no awakening curiosity. But the few +terrible particulars which remain to us in the ancient summary, are +of a kind to reward inquiry, and command the most active sympathies; +and the melancholy outline of the Huguenots’ progress, +in the New World, exhibits features of trial, strength and +suffering, which render their career equally unique in both countries;—a +dark and bloody history, involving details of strife, of +enterprise, and sorrow, which denied them the securities of home +in the parent land, and even the most miserable refuge from +persecution in the wildernesses of a savage empire. Their +European fortunes are amply developed in all the European +chronicles. Our narrative relates wholly to those portions of their +history which belong to America.</p> + +<p>It is not so generally known that the colonies of the Huguenots, +in the new world, were almost coeval with those of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">- 4 -</a></span> +Spaniards. They anticipated them in the northern portions of +the continent. These settlements were projected by the active +genius of the justly-celebrated French admiral, Gaspard de Coligny, +one of the great leaders of the Huguenots in France. His +persevering energies, impelled by his sagacious forethought, effected +a beginning in the work of foreign colonization, which, unhappily +for himself and party, he was not permitted to prosecute, +with the proper vigor, to successful completion. His sagacity +led him to apprehend, from an early experience of the character +of the Queen-mother, in the bigoted and brutal reign of Charles +the Ninth, that there would, in little time, be no safety in France +for the dissenters from the established religion. The feebleness +of the youthful Prince, the jealous and malignant character of +Catharine—her utter faithlessness, and the hatred which she felt +for the Protestants, which no pact could bind, and no concession +mollify,—to say nothing of the controlling will of Pius the Fifth, +who had ascended the Papal throne, sworn to the extermination +of all heresies,—all combined to assure the Protestants of the +dangers by which their cause was threatened. The danger was +one of life as well as religion. It was in the destruction of the +one, that the enemies of the Huguenots contemplated the overthrow +of the other. Coligny was not the man to be deceived by +the hollow compromises, the delusive promises, the false truces, +which were all employed in turn to beguile him and his associates +into confidence, and persuade them into the most treacherous +snares. He combined a fair proportion of the cunning of the +serpent with the dove’s purity, and, maintaining strict watch +upon his enemies, succeeded, for a long period, in eluding the +artifices by which he was overcome at last. Availing himself of +the influence of his position, and of a brief respite from that open<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">- 5 -</a></span> +war which preceded the famous Edict of January, 1562, by which +the Huguenots were admitted, with some restrictions, to the exercise +of their religion, Coligny addressed himself to the task of +establishing a colony of Protestants in America. He readily +divined the future importance, to his sect, of such a place of +refuge. The moment was favorable to his objects. The policy +of the Queen-mother was not yet sufficiently matured, to render +it proper that she should oppose herself to his desires. Perhaps, +she also conceived the plan a good one, which should relieve the +country of a race whom she equally loathed and dreaded.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> It is +possible that she did not fully conjecture the ultimate calculations +of the admiral. The king, himself, was a minor, entirely in her +hands, who could add nothing to her counsels, or, for the present, +interfere with her authority; and, without seeking farther to inquire +by what motives she was governed in according to Coligny +the permission which he sought, it is enough that he obtained the +necessary sanction. Of this he readily availed himself. It was not, +by the way, his first attempt at colonization. Having in view the +same objects by which he was governed in the present instance, +he had, in 1555, sent out an expedition to Brazil under Villegagnon. +This enterprise had failed through the perfidy of that commander. +Its failure did not discourage the admiral. Though +the full character of Catharine had not developed itself, in all its +cruel and heartless characteristics, it was yet justly understood by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">- 6 -</a></span> +him, and he never suffered himself to forget how necessary to the +sect which he represented was the desired haven of security which +he sought, in a region beyond her influence.</p> + +<p>From Brazil he turned his eyes on Florida. This <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">terra incognita</i>, +at the period of which we speak, was El Dorado to the +European imagination. It was the New Empire, richer than +Peru or Mexico, in which adventurers as daring as Cortes and +Pizarro were to compass realms of as great magnificence and +wealth. Already had the Spaniard traversed it with his iron-clad +warriors, seeking vainly, and through numberless perils, for the +treasure which he worshipped. Still other treasures had won the +imagination of one of their noblest knights; and in exploring the +wild realm of the Floridian for the magical fountain which was to +restore youth to the heart of age, and a fresh bloom to its withered +aspect, Ponce de Leon pursued one of the loveliest phantoms +that ever deluded the fancy or the heart of man. To him had +succeeded others; all seeking, in turn, the realization of those +unfruitful visions which, like wandering lights of the swamp forest, +only glitter to betray. Vasquez d’Ayllon, John Verazzani, Pamphilo +de Narvaez, and the more brilliant cavalier than all, Hernando +de Soto, had each penetrated this land of hopes and fancies, +to deplore in turn its disappointments and delusions. With the +wildest desires in their hearts, they had disdained the merely possible +within their reach. They had sought for possessions such +as few empires have been known to yield; and had failed to see, or +had beheld with scorn, the simple treasures of fruit and flower which +the country promised and proffered in abundance. This vast region, +claimed equally by Spain, France, and England, still lay +derelict. “Death,” as one of our own writers very happily remarks, +“seemed to guard the avenues of the country.” None<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">- 7 -</a></span> +of the great realms which claimed it as their domain, regarded it +in any light but as a territory which they might ravage. Yet, +well might its delicious climate, the beauty of its groves and +forests, the sweets of its flowers, which beguiled the senses of the +ocean pilgrim a score of leagues from land—to say nothing of the +supposed wealth of its mountains, and of the great cities hid +among their far recesses—have persuaded the enterprise, and implored +the prows of enterprise and adventure. To these attractions +the previous adventurers had not wholly shown themselves insensible. +Ponce de Leon, enraptured with its rich and exquisite +vegetation, as seen in the spring season of the year, first conferred +upon it the name of beauty, which it bears. Nor, had he not been +distracted by baser objects, would he have failed utterly to discover +the salubrious fountains which he sought. Here were met +natives, who, quaffing at medicinal streams by which the country +was everywhere watered, grew to years which almost rival those +of the antediluvian fathers. Verazzani, the Florentine, unfolds a +golden chronicle of the innocence and delight which distinguished +the simple people by whom the territory was possessed, and whose +character was derived from the gentle influences of their climate, +and the exquisite delicacy, beauty, and variety of the productions +of the soil. He, too, had visited the country in the season of +spring, when all things in nature look lovely to the eye. But +such verdure as blessed his vision on this occasion, constituted a +new era in his life, and seemed to lift him to the crowning achievement +of all his enterprises. The region, as far his eye could reach, +was covered with “faire fields and plaines,” “full of mightie +great woodes,” “replenished with divers sort of trees, as pleasant +and delectable to behold as is possible to imagine;”—“Not,” says +the voyager, “like the woodes of Hercynia or the wilde deserts<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">- 8 -</a></span> +of Tartary, and the northerne coasts full of fruitlesse trees,” but +“trees of sortes unknowen in Europe, which yeeld most sweete savours +farre from the shoare.” Nor did these constitute the only +attractions. The appearance of the forests and the land “argued +drugs and spicery,” “and other riches of golde.”</p> + +<p>The woods were “full of many beastes, as stags, deere and +hares, and likewise of lakes and pooles of fresh water, with great +plentie of fowles, convenient for all kinde of pleasant game.” +The air was “goode and wholesome, temperate between hot and +colde;” “no vehement windes doe blowe in these regions, and +those that do commonly reigne are the southwest and west windes +in the summer season;” “the skye cleare and faire, with very +little raine; and if, at any time, the ayre be cloudie and mistie +with the southerne winde, immediately it is dissolved and waxeth +cleare and faire againe. The sea is calme, not boisterous, and +the waves gentle.” And the people were like their climate. +The nature which yielded to their wants, without exacting the +toil of ever-straining sinews, left them unembittered by necessities +which take the heart from youth, and the spirit from play and +exercise. No carking cares interfered with their humanity to +check hospitality in its first impulse, and teach avarice to withhold +the voluntary tribute which the natural virtues would prompt, +in obedience to a selfishness that finds its justification in serious +toils which know no remission, and a forethought that is never +permitted to forget the necessities of the coming day. Verazzani +found the people as mild and grateful as their climate. They +crowded to the shore as the stranger ships drew nigh, “making +divers synes of friendship.” They showed themselves “very +courteous and gentle,” and, in a single incident, won the hearts +of the Europeans, who seldom, at that period, in their intercourse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">- 9 -</a></span> +with the natives, were known to exhibit an instance so beautiful, +of a humanity so Christian. A young sailor, attempting to swim +on shore, had overrated his strength. Cast among the breakers, +he was in danger of being drowned. This, when the Indians +saw, they dashed into the surf, and dragged the fair-skinned +voyager to land. Here, when he recovered from his stupor, he +exhibited signs of the greatest apprehension, finding himself in +the hands of the savages. But his lamentations, which were +piteously loud, only provoked theirs. Their tears flowed at his +weeping. In this way they strove to “cheere him, and to give +him courage.” Nor were they neglectful of other means. +“They set him on the ground, at the foot of a little hill against +the sunne, and began to behold him with great admiration, +marveiling at the whitenesse of his fleshe;” “Putting off his +clothes, they made him warme at a great fire, not without one +great feare, by what remayned in the boate, that they would +have rosted him at that fire and have eaten him.” But the +fear was idle. When they had warmed and revived the stranger, +they reclothed him, and as he showed an anxiety to return to the +ship, “they, with great love, clapping him fast about with many +embracings,” accompanied him to the shore, where they left him, +retiring to a distance, whence they could witness his departure +without awakening the apprehensions of his comrades. These +people were of “middle stature, handsome visage and delicate +limmes; of very little strength, but of prompt wit.”</p> + +<p>We need not pursue the details of these earlier historians. +They suffice to direct attention to Florida, and to persuade adventure +with fanciful ideas of its charming superiority over all unknown +regions. But the adventurers, until Coligny’s enterprise was +conceived, meditated the invasion of the country, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">- 10 -</a></span> +gathering of its hidden treasures, rather than the establishment +of any European settlements in its glorious retreats. It was not +till the eighteenth day of February, in the Year of Grace, one +thousand five hundred and sixty-two, that the plan of the Admiral +of France was sufficiently matured for execution. On that day +he despatched two vessels from France, well manned and +furnished, under the command of one John Ribault,<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> for the +express purpose of making the first permanent European establishment +in these regions of romance. The narrative of this +enterprise is chiefly drawn from the writings of René<!--was Rene--> Laudonniere, +who himself went out as a lieutenant in the expedition. Laudonniere, +in his narrative of their progress, says nothing of the secret +objects of Coligny, of which he probably knew nothing. He +ascribes to the King—the Queen-mother, rather—a nobler policy +than either of them ever entertained. “My Lord of Chastillon,” +(Coligny) thus he writes,—“A nobleman more desirous of the +publique than of his private benefits, understanding the pleasure +of the King, his Prince, which was to discover new and strange +countries, caused vessels for this purpose to be made ready with +all diligence, and men to be levied meet for such an enterprise.”</p> + +<p>This is merely courtly language, wholly conventional, and which, +spoken of Charles the Ninth,—a boy not yet in his teens—savors +rather of the ridiculous. There is no question that the expedition +originated wholly with Coligny; as little is it questionable, though +Laudonniere says nothing on this subject, that it was designed in +consequence of that policy which showed him the ever present<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">- 11 -</a></span> +danger of the Huguenots. It does not militate against this policy +that he made use of a pretext which was suggested by the passion +for maritime discovery common in those days. By the assertion +of this pretext, he was the more easily enabled to persuade the +Queen-mother to a measure upon which she otherwise would never +have suffered the ships of the Huguenots to weigh anchor.</p> + +<p>But this question need not detain us. Laudonniere speaks of +the armament as ample for the purpose for which it was designed—“so +well furnished with gentlemen and with oulde souldiers +that he (Ribault) had meanes to achieve some notable thing, +and worthie of eternall memorie.” This was an exaggeration, +something Spanish in its tenor,—one of those flourishes of rhetoric +among the voyagers of that day, which had already grown to +be a sound without much signification. The vessels were small, +as was the compliment of men dispatched. The objects of the +expedition were limited, did not contemplate exploration but +settlement, and, consequently, were not likely to find opportunity +for great enterprises. The voyage occupied two months; the +route pursued carefully avoided that usually taken by the Spaniards, +whom already our adventurers had cause to fear. At the +end of this period, land was made in the latitude of St. Augustine, +to the cape of which they gave the name of St. François. From +this point, coasting northwardly, they discovered “a very faire +and great river”—the San Matheo of the Spaniards, now the St. +John’s, to which Ribault, as he discovered it on the first of May, +gave the name of that month. This river he penetrated in his +boats. He was met on the shore by many of the natives, men +and women. These received him with gentleness and peace. +Their chief man made an oration, and honored Ribault, at the +close, with a present of “chamois skinnes.” On the ensuing day,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">- 12 -</a></span> +he “caused a pillar of hard stone to be planted within the sayde +river, and not farre from the mouth of the same, upon a little +sandie knappe,” on which the arms of France were engraved. +Crossing to the opposite shores of this river, a religious service +was performed in the presence of the Indians. There the red-men, +perhaps for the first time, beheld the pure and simple rites +of the genuine Christian. Prayers were said, and thanks given to +the Deity, “for that, of his grace, hee had conducted the French +nation into these strange places.” This service being ended, the +Indians conducted the strangers into the presence of their king,<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +who received them in a sitting posture, upon a couch made of +bay leaves and palmetto. Speeches were made between the parties +which were understood by neither. But their tenor was +amicable, the savage chieftain giving to Ribault, at parting, a +basket wrought very ingeniously of palm leaves, “and a great +skinne painted and drawen throughout with the pictures of divers +wilde beastes; so livly drawen and portrayed that nothing lacked +life.” Fish were taken for the Frenchmen by the hospitable +natives, in weirs made of reeds, fashioned like a maze or labyrinth—“troutes, +great mullets, plaise, turbots, and marvellous +store of other sorts of fishes altogether different from ours.” +Another chief upon this river received them with like favors. +Two of the sons of this chief are represented as “exceeding faire +and strong.” They were followed by troops of the natives, “having +their bowes and arrowes, in marveilous good order.”</p> + +<p>From this river, still pursuing a northwardly course, Ribault<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">- 13 -</a></span> +came to another which he explored and named the Seine, (now +the St. Mary’s,) because it appeared to resemble the river of that +name in France.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> We pass over the minor details in this progress—how +he communed with the natives—who, everywhere +seemed to have entertained our Huguenots with equal grace and +gentleness, and who are described as a goodly people, of lively +wit and great stature. Ribault continued to plant columns, and +to take possession of the country after the usual forms, conferring +names upon its several streams, which he borrowed for the purpose +from similar well-known rivers in France. Thus, for a time, +the St. Mary’s became the Seine; the Satilla, the Somme; the +Altamaha, the Loire; the Ogechee, the Garonne; and the Savannah, +the Gironde. The river to which his prows were +especially directed, was that to which the name of Jordan had +been given by Vasquez de Ayllon, some forty years before. This +is our present Combahee. In sailing north, in this search, other +smaller rivers were discovered, one of which was called the Belle-a-veoir. +Separated by a furious tempest from his pinnaces, which +had been kept in advance for the purpose of penetrating and exploring +these streams, Ribault, with his ships, was compelled to +stand out to sea. When he regained the coast and his pinnaces, +he was advised of a “mightie river,” in which they had found +safe harborage from the tempest, a river which, “in beautie +and bignesse” exceeded all the former. Delighted with this discovery, +our Huguenots made sail to reach this noble stream.</p> + +<p>The object of Ribault had been some safe and pleasant +harborage, in which his people could refresh themselves for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">- 14 -</a></span> +season. His desires were soon gratified. He cast anchor at the +mouth of a mighty river, to which, “because of the fairnesse +and largenesse thereoff,” he gave the name of Port Royale, the +name which it still bears. The depth of this river is such, that, +according to Laudonniere, “when the sea beginneth to flowe, the +greatest shippes of France, yea, the argosies of Venice, may +enter there.” Ribault, at the head of his soldiers, was the first to +land. Grateful, indeed, to the eye and fancy of our Frenchmen, +was the scene around them. They had already passed through a +fairy-like region, of islet upon islet, reposing upon the deep,—crowned +with green forests, and arresting, as it were, the wild +assaults of ocean upon the shores of which they appeared to keep +watch and guard. And, passing between these islets and the +main, over stillest waters, with a luxuriant shrubbery on either +hand, and vines and flowers of starred luxuriance trailing about +them to the very lips of this ocean, they had arrived at an imperial +growth of forest. The mighty shafts that rose around +them, heavy with giant limbs, and massed in their luxuriant +wealth of leaves, particularly impressed the minds of our +voyagers—“mightye high oakes and infinite store of cedars,” +and pines fitted for the masts of “such great ammirals” as had +never yet floated in the European seas. Their senses were assailed +with fresh and novel delights at every footstep. The superb +magnolia, with its great and snow-white chalices; the flowering +dogwood with its myriad blossoms, thick and richly gleaming as +the starry host of heaven; the wandering jessamine, whose +yellow trophies, mingling with grey mosses of the oak, stooped to +the upward struggling billows of the deep, giving out odor at +every rise and fall of the ambitious wavelet,—these, by their +unwonted treasures of scent and beauty, compelled the silent but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">- 15 -</a></span> +profound admiration of the strangers. “Exceeding pleasant” +did the “very fragrant odour” make the place; while other +novelties interposed to complete the fascinations of a spot, the +peculiarities of which were equally fresh and delightful. Their +farther acquaintance with the country only served to increase its +attractions. As they wandered through the woods, they “saw +nothing but turkey cocks flying in the forests, partridges, gray and +red, little different from ours, but chiefly in bignesse;”—“we +heard also within the woods the voices of stagges, of beares, of +hyenas, of leopards, and divers other sorts of beasts unknown +to us. Being delighted with this place, we set ourselves to fishing +with nets, and caught such a number of fish that it was wonderful.”</p> + +<p>The same region is still renowned for its fish and game, for +the monsters as well as the multitudes of the deep, and for the +deer of its spacious swamps and forests, which still exercise the +skill and enterprise of the angler and the hunter. This is the +peculiar region also, of the “Devil fish,” the “Vampire of the +Ocean,” described by naturalists as of the genus Ray, species +Dio-don, a leviathan of the deep, whose monstrous antennæ are +thrown about the skiff of the fisherman with an embrace as +perilous as that wanton sweep of his mighty extremities with which +the whale flings abroad the crowding boats of his hardy captors. +Sea and land, in this lovely neighborhood, still gleam freshly and +wondrously upon the eye of the visitor as in the days of our +Huguenot adventurers; and still do its forests, in spite of the +<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">cordon</i> which civilization and society have everywhere drawn +around them, harbor colonies of the bear which occasionally cross +the path of the sportsman, and add to his various trophies of the +chase.</p> + +<p>With impressions of the scene and region such as realized to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">- 16 -</a></span> +our Frenchmen the summer glories of an Arabian tale, it was +easy to determine where to plant their colony. Modern conjecture, +however, is still unsatisfied as to the site which was probably +chosen by our voyagers. The language of Laudonniere is sufficiently +vague and general to make the matter doubtful; and, unhappily, +there are no remains which might tend to lessen the +obscurity of the subject. The vessels had cast anchor at the +mouth of Port Royal River. The pilots subsequently counselled +that they should penetrate the stream, so as to secure a +sheltered roadstead. They ascended the river accordingly, some +three leagues from its mouth, when Ribault proceeded to make a +closer examination of the country. The Port Royal “is divided +into two great armes, whereof the one runneth toward the <em>west</em>, +the other toward the <em>north</em>.” Our Huguenot captain chose the +<em>western</em> avenue, which he ascended in his pinnace. For more than +twelve leagues he continued this progress, until he “found another +arme of the river which ranne towards the <em>east</em>, up which the +captain determined to sail and leave the greate current.”</p> + +<p>The red men whom they encounter on this progress are at first +shy of the strangers and take flight at their approach, but they +are soon encouraged by the gentleness and forbearance of the +Frenchmen, who persuade them finally to confidence. An amiable +understanding soon reconciles the parties, and the Floridian +at length brings forward his gifts of maize, his palm baskets with +fruits and flowers, his rudely-dressed skins of bear and beaver, and +these are pledges of his amity which he does not violate. He, in +turn, persuades the voyagers to draw near to the shore and finally +to land. They are soon surrounded by the delighted and simple +natives, whose gifts are multiplied duly in degree with the pleasure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">- 17 -</a></span> +which they feel. Skins of the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">chamois</i>—deer rather—and +baskets of pearls, are offered to the chief among the whites, whom +they proceed to entertain with shows of still greater courtesy. A +bower of forest leaves and shrubs is soon built to shelter them +“from the parching heate of the sunne,” and our Frenchmen lingered +long enough among this artless and hospitable people to +get tidings of a “greate Indian Lorde which had pearles in great +abundance and silver also, all of which should be given them at +the king’s arrival.” They invited the strangers to their dwellings—proffering +to show them a thousand pleasures in shooting, and +seeing the death of the stag.</p> + +<p>Our Huguenots, excellent Christians though they were, were +by no means insensible to the tidings of pearl and gold. These +glimpses of treasures, already familiar to their imaginations, +greatly increase, in their sight, the natural beauties of the country. +The narratives of the red men, imperfectly understood, and +construed by the desires of the strangers, rather than their minds, +were full of marvels of neighboring lands and nations,—great empires +of wealth and strength,—cities in romantic solitudes,—high +places among almost inaccessible mountains, in which the treasures +are equally precious and abundant. Listening to such +legends, our Frenchmen linger with the red men, until the approach +of night counsels them to seek the security of their ships.</p> + +<p>But, with the dawning of the following day the explorations +were resumed. Before leaving his vessel, however, Ribault provides +himself with “a pillar of hard stone, fashioned like a column, +whereon the armes of France were graven,” with the purpose of +planting “the same in the fairest place that he coulde finde.” +“This done, we embarked ourselves, and sayled three leagues +towards the west; where we discovered a little river, up which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">- 18 -</a></span> +wee sayled so long, that, in the ende, wee found it returned into +the great current, and in his return, to make a little island separated +from the firme lande, where wee went on shore, and by +commandment of the captain, because it was exceeding faire +and pleasant, there we planted the pillar upon a hillock open +round about to the view and environed with a lake halfe a fathom +deepe, of very good and sweete water.”</p> + +<p>We are particular in these details, in the hope that future +explorers may be thus assisted in the work of identifying the +places marked by our Huguenots. Everything which they see in +the new world which surrounds them, is imposing to the eye and +grateful to the sense. They wander among avenues of gigantic +pines that remind them of the mighty colonnades in the great +cathedrals of the old world. They are at once exhilarated by a +sense of unwonted freshness and beauty in what they behold, and +by aspects of grandeur and vastness which solemnize all their +thoughts and fancies. With these feelings, when, in their wanderings, +they arouse from the shady covers where they browsed “two +stagges of exceeding bignesse, in respect of those which <em>they</em> had +seene before,” their captain forbids that they should shoot them, +though they might easily have done so. The anecdote speaks +well for Ribault’s humanity. It was not wholly because he was +“moved with the singular fairenesse and bignesse of them,” as +Laudonniere imagines, but because his soul was lifted with religious +sentiment—filled with worship at that wondrous temple of +nature in which the great Jehovah seemed visibly present, in love +and mercy, as in the first sweet days of the creation.</p> + +<p>To the little river which surrounded the islet, on which the +pillar was raised, they gave the name of “Liborne.” The island +itself is supposed to be that which is now called Lemon Island.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">- 19 -</a></span> +The matter is one which still admits of doubt, though scarcely +beyond the reach of certainty, in a close examination from the +guide posts which we still possess. It is a question which may +well provoke the diligence of the local antiquary. “Another isle, +not far distant from” that of the pillar, next claimed the attention +of the voyagers. Here they “found nothing but tall cedars, the +fairest that were seene in this country. For this cause wee called +it the Isle of Cedars.”</p> + +<p>This ended their exploration for the day. A few days were +consumed in farther researches, without leading to any new discoveries. +In the meantime, Ribault prepared to execute the +commands of his sovereign, in the performance of one of the tasks +which civilization but too frequently sanctions at the expense of +humanity. He was commanded by the Queen-mother to capture +and carry home to France a couple of the natives. These, as we +have seen, were a mild race, maintaining among themselves a +gentle intercourse, and exercising towards strangers a grateful +hospitality. It was with a doubtful propriety that our Frenchman +determined to separate any of them from their homes and people. +But it was not for Ribault to question the decrees of that sovereign +whom it was the policy of the Huguenots, at present, to +conciliate. Having selected a special and sufficient complement +of soldiers, he determined “to returne once againe toward the Indians +which inhabiteth that arme of the river which runneth toward +the West.” The pinnace was prepared for this purpose. The +object of the voyage was successful. The Indians were again found +where they had been at first encountered. The Frenchmen were +received with hospitality. Ribault made his desires known to the +king or chief of the tribe, who graciously gave his permission. +Two of the Indians, who fancied that they were more favored than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">- 20 -</a></span> +the rest of their brethren, by the choice of the Frenchmen, yielded +very readily to the entreaties which beguiled them on board one of +the vessels. They probably misunderstood the tenor of the application; +or, in their savage simplicity, concluded that a voyage to +the land of the pale-faces was only some such brief journey as they +were wont to make, in their cypress canoes, from shore to shore +along their rivers—or possibly as far down as the great frith in +which their streams were lost. But it was not long before our +savage voyagers were satisfied with the experiment. They soon +ceased to be pleased or flattered with the novelty of their situation. +The very attentions bestowed upon them only provoked their apprehensions. +The cruise wearied them; and, when they found +that the vessels continued to keep away from the land, they became +seriously uneasy. Born swimmers, they had no fear about +making the shore when once in the water: and it required the +utmost vigilance of the Frenchmen to keep them from darting +overboard. It was in vain, for a long time, that they strove to +appease and to soothe the unhappy captives. Their detention, +against their desires, now made them indignant. Gifts were +pressed upon them, such as they were known to crave and to esteem +above all other possessions. But these they rejected with +scorn. They would receive nothing in exchange for their liberty. +The simple language in which the old chronicler describes the +scene and their sorrows, has in it much that is highly touching, +because of its very simplicity. They felt their captivity, and were +not to be beguiled from this humiliating conviction by any trappings +or soothings. Their freedom—the privilege of eager movements +through billow and forest—sporting as wantonly as bird and +fish in both—was too precious for any compensation. They sank +down upon the deck, with clasped hands, sitting together apart<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">- 21 -</a></span> +from the crew, gazing upon the shores with mournful eyes, and +chaunting a melancholy ditty, which seemed to the watchful and +listening Frenchmen a strain of exile and lamentation—“agreeing +so sweetly together, that, in hearing their song, it seemed that they +lamented the absence of their friendes.” And thus they continued +all night to sing without ceasing.</p> + +<p>The pinnace, meanwhile, lay at anchor, the tide being against +them; with the dawn of day the voyage was resumed, and the +ships were reached in safety where they lay in the roadstead. +Transferred to these, the two captives continued to deplore their +fate. Every effort was made to reconcile them to their situation, +and nothing was withheld which experience had shown to be +especially grateful to the savage fancy. But they rejected everything; +even the food which had now become necessary to their +condition. They held out till nearly sunset, in their rejection of +the courtesies, which, with a show of kindness, deprived them of +the most precious enjoyment and passion of their lives. But the +inferior nature at length insisted upon its rights. “In the end +they were constrained to forget their superstitions,” and to eat +the meat which was set before them. They even received the +gifts which they had formerly rejected; and, as if reconciled to a +condition from which they found it impossible to escape, they put +on a more cheerful countenance. “They became, therefore, +more jocunde; every houre made us a thousand discourses, being +marveillous sorry that we could not understand them.” Laudonniere +set himself to work to acquire their language. He strove +still more to conciliate their favor; engaged them in frequent conversation; +and, by showing them the objects for which he sought +their names, picked up numerous words which he carefully put on +paper. In a few days he was enabled to make himself understood<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">- 22 -</a></span> +by them, in ordinary matters, and to comprehend much that they +said to him. They flattered him in turn. They told him of +their feats and sports, and what pleasures they could give him in +the chase. They would take food from no hands but his; and +succeeded in blinding the vigilance of the Frenchmen. They +were not more reconciled to their prison-bonds than before. +They had simply changed their policy; and, when, after several +days’ detention, they had succeeded in lulling to sleep the suspicions +of their captors, they stole away at midnight from the +ship, leaving behind them all the gifts which had been forced upon +them, as if, to have retained them, would have established, in the +pale-faces, a right to their liberties—thus showing, according to +Laudonniere, “that they were not void of reason.”</p> + +<p>Ribault was not dissatisfied with this result of his endeavor to +comply with the commands of the Queen-mother. His sense of +justice probably revolted at the proceeding; and the escape of +the Indians, who would report only the kindness of their treatment, +would, in all likelihood, have an effect favorable to his main +enterprise,—the establishment of a colony. This design he now +broached to his people in an elaborate speech. He enlarged upon +the importance of the object, drawing numerous examples from +ancient and modern history, in favor of those virtues in the individual +which such enterprise must develope. There is but one +passage in this speech which deserves our special attention. It +is that in which he speaks to his followers of their inferior birth +and condition. He speaks to them as “known neither to the +king nor to the princes of the realme, and, besides, descending +from so poore a stock, that few or none of your parents, <em>having +ever made profession of armes</em>, have beene knowne unto the great +estates.” This is in seeming conflict with what Laudonniere has<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">- 23 -</a></span> +already told us touching the character and condition in society of +the persons employed in the expedition. He has been careful to +say, at the opening of the narrative, that the two ships were “<em>well +furnished with gentlemen</em> (of whose number I was one) and old +soldiers.”<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> The apparent contradiction may be reconciled by a +reference to the distinction, which, until a late period, was made +in France, between the noblesse and mere gentlemen. The word +gentleman had no such signification, in France, at that period, as +it bears to-day. To apply it to a nobleman, indeed, would have +been, at one time, to have given a mortal affront, and a curious +anecdote is on record, to this effect in the case of the Princess de +la Roche Sur Yon, who, using the epithet “gentilhomme” to a +nobleman, was insulted by him; and, on demanding redress of +the monarch, was told that she deserved the indignity, having +been guilty of the first offence.</p> + +<p>But Ribault’s speech suggested to his followers that their inferior +condition made nothing against their heroism. He, himself, +though a soldier by profession, from his tenderest years, had never +yet been able to compass the favor of the nobility. Yet he had +applied himself with all industry, and hazarded his life in many +dangers. It was his misfortune that “more regard is had to birth +than virtue.” But this need not discourage <em>them</em>, as it has never +discouraged him from the performance of his duties. The great +examples of history are in <em>his</em> eyes, and should be in <em>theirs</em>.</p> + +<p>“Howe much then ought so many worthy examples move you to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">- 24 -</a></span> +plant here? Considering, also, that hereby you shall be registered +forever as the first that inhabited this strange country. I +pray you, therefore, all to advise yourselves thereof, and to declare +your mindes freely unto me, protesting that I will so well +imprint your names in the King’s eares, and the other princes, +that your renowne shall hereafter shine unquenchable through our +realm of France.”</p> + +<p>Ribault was evidently not insensible to fame. Had his thoughts +been those of his sovereign, also, how different would have been +the history! His soldiers responded in the proper spirit, and declared +their readiness to establish a colony in the wild empire, the +grandeur and beauty of which had already commended it to their +affections. Delighted with the readiness and enthusiasm of his +men, he weighed anchor the very next day, in order to seek out +the place most fit and convenient for his settlement. “<i>Having +sayled up the great river on the north side, in coasting an isle +which ended with a sharpe point toward the mouth of the river;—having +sailed awhile he discovered a small river which entered +into the islande, which hee would not faile to search out, which +done, he found the same deep enough to harbour therein gallies +and galliots in good number. Proceeding farther, he found an +open place joyning upon the brinke thereof, where he went on land, +and seeing the place fit to build a fortresse in, and commodious +for them that were willing to plant there, he resolved incontinently +to cause the bignesse of the fortification to be measured +out.</i>” The colony was to be a small one. Twenty-six persons +had volunteered to establish it; as many, perhaps, as had been +called for. The dimensions of the fort were small accordingly. +They were taken by Laudonniere, and one Captain Salles, under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">- 25 -</a></span> +Ribault’s directions. The fort was at once begun. Its length +was sixteen fathoms, its breadth thirteen, “with flanks according +to the proportion thereof.” Then, for the first time, the +European axe was laid to the great shafts of the forest trees of +America, waking sounds, at every stroke, whose echoes have been +heard for three hundred years, sounding, and destined to resound, +from the Atlantic to the Pacific seas; leaving no waste of wood +and wild, unawakened by this first music of civilization.</p> + +<p>The site thus chosen by Ribault for his colony, though no +traces have been left of the labor of his hands, is scarcely +doubtful to the present possessors of the country. All the proofs +concur in placing Fort Charles somewhere between North Edisto +and Broad River, and circumstances determine this situation to +be that of the beautiful little town of Beaufort, in South Carolina. +The <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Grande Riviere</i> of the French is our Broad River.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> It was +at the mouth of this river, in an island with a safe and commodious +port, that the fort was established; and of the numerous +islands which rise everywhere along the coast in this region, as a +fortress to defend the verdant shores from the assaults of ocean, +there is none which answers so well as this all the requisitions of +this description. Besides, it is actually in the very latitude of +the site, as given by Laudonniere; and the tradition of the +Indians, as preserved by our own people, seems to confirm and to +conclude the conjectures on this subject. They state that the +first place in which they saw the pale faces of the Europeans<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">- 26 -</a></span> +was at Coosawhatchie, in South Carolina. Now, the Coosawhatchie +is the principal stream that forms the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Grande Riviere</i> of the +Frenchmen; and was, questionless, the first of the streams that +was penetrated by the pinnace of Ribault. It is highly probable +that it bore the name of Coosawhatchie through its entire course, +until it emptied itself into the ocean. The testimony of the +Indians, based simply upon their tradition, is of quite as much +value as that of any other people. It is well known with what +tenacity they preserve the recollection of important events, and +with what singular adherence to general truthfulness. The island +upon which Beaufort now stands was most probably that which +yielded the first American asylum to the Huguenots of France!</p> + +<p>Our Frenchmen travailed so diligently that, in a short space, +the fortress was in some sort prepared for the colonists. It was +soon in a defensible condition. “Victuals and warlike munition” +were transferred from the shipping to the shore, and the garrison +were furnished with all things necessary for the maintenance of +their fortress and themselves. The fort was christened by the +name of Charles, the King of France; while the small river upon +which it was built received the name of Chenonceau. All things +being provided, the colonists marched into their little and lovely +place of refuge. They were confided to the charge of one +Captain Albert, to whom, and to whose followers, Ribault made +a speech at parting. His injunctions were of a parental and +salutary character. He exhorted their Captain to justice, +firmness and moderation in his rule, and his people to obedience; +promising to return with supplies from France, and reinforcements +before their present resources should fail them. But these +exhortations do not seem to have been much regarded by either +party. It will be for us, in future chapters, to pursue their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">- 27 -</a></span> +fortunes, and to pluck, if possible, from the unwritten history, +the detailed events of their melancholy destiny. Sad enough +will it have been, even if no positive evil shall befall them,—that +severance from their ancient comrades—that separation +from the old homes of their fathers in <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">La Belle France</i>—that +lonesome abode, on the verge of “ocean’s gray and melancholy +waste,” on the one hand, and the dense, dark, repelling forests +of Apalachia on the other;—doubtful of all they see,—in spite of +all that is fresh and charming in their sight;—apprehensive of +every sound that reaches them from the wilderness,—and filled +with no better hope than that which springs up in the human +bosom when assured that all hope is cut off—that one hope +excepted, which is born of necessity, and which blossoms amid the +nettles of despair. The isolation was the more oppressive and +likely to be grievous, as we have reason to doubt that, though +founding a colony for the refuge of a religious and persecuted +people, they brought any becoming sense of religion with them. +Our progress thus far with the adventurers has shown us but few +proofs of the presence among them of any feelings of devotion. +Ribault himself was but a soldier, and his ambition was of an +earthly complexion. Had they been elevated duly by religion, +they would have been counselled and strengthened in the solitude +by God. Unhappily, they were men only, rude, untaught, and +full of selfish passions,—badly ruled and often ill-treated, and +probably giving frequent provocation to the pride and passions of +those who had them under rule. But they began their career in +the New World with sufficient cheerfulness. Its climate was +delicious, like that of their own country. Its woods and forests +were of a majesty and splendor beyond any of which their wildest +fancies had ever dreamed; and the security which the remoteness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">- 28 -</a></span> +of the region promised them, and the novelty which invested +every object in their eyes made the parting from their comrades +a tolerably easy one. They heard with lively spirits the farewell +shouts of their companions, and answered them with cheers of +confidence and pride. The simple paragraph which records the +leave-taking of the parties, is at once pleasing and full of pathos. +“Having ended his (Ribault’s) exhortations, we took our leaves +of <em>each</em> of them, and sayled toward our shippes. We hoysed our +sayles about ten of the clocke in the morning. After wee were +ready to depart, Captain Ribault commanded to shoote off our +ordnance, to give a farewell unto our Frenchmen; which fayled +not to do the like on their part. This being done, wee sayled +toward the north.” That last shout, that last sullen roar of +their mutual cannon, and the great waves of the Atlantic rolled, +unbroken by a sail, between our colonists and <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">La Belle France</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">- 29 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="II" id="II">II.</a><br /> +THE COLONY UNDER ALBERT.</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Colonists, thus abandoned by their countrymen, proceeded +to make themselves secure in their forest habitations. Day and +night did they address themselves to the completion of their fortress. +They have seen none of the natives in the immediate +neighborhood of the spot in which they had pitched their tents; +but, aware of the wandering habits of the red-men, they might +naturally look for them at any moment. Their toils, quickened +by their caution, enabled them to make rapid progress. While +they labored, they felt nothing of their loneliness. The employments +which accompanied their situation, and flowed from its necessities, +might be said to exercise their fancies, and to subdue +the tendency to melancholy which might naturally grow out of +their isolation. Besides, the very novelty of the circumstances +in which they found themselves had its attractions, particularly +to a people so lively as the French. Our Huguenots, at the outset, +were very sensible to the picturesque beauties of their +forest habitation. For a season, bird, and beast, and tree, and +flower, presented themselves to their delighted eyes, in guises of +constantly varying attraction. The solitude, itself, possessed its +charm, most fascinating of all,—until it became monotonous—to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">- 30 -</a></span> +those who had been little favored of fortune in the crowded +world of civilization; and, with the feeling of a first freshness in +their hearts, and, while in the performance of duties which were +equally necessary to their safety, and new to their experience, the +whole prospect before them was beheld through that rose-colored +atmosphere which the fancy so readily flings before the mind, +beguiling the soberer thought into forgetfulness. During this +period they toiled successfully upon their fortifications. They +raised the parapet, they mounted the cannon for defence; built +rude dwellings within the walls, and in their boundless contiguity +of shade, with the feeling that they were in some sort “monarchs +of all they beheld;” they felt neither loneliness nor fear.</p> + +<p>Their homes built, their fortifications complete, they proceeded, +in small detachments to explore the neighboring streams and +woods. They had, so far, finished all their tasks without meeting +with the natives. They did not shrink from this meeting. They +now desired it from motives of policy. They had no reason to +believe, from the specimens of the red-men whom they had already +encountered, that they should have any difficulty in soothing any +of the tribes; and they were justified in supposing that the impression +already made upon those whom they met, would operate +favorably upon their future intercourse. Boldly, then, our +Frenchmen darted into the adjacent forests, gathering their game +and provisions in the same grounds with the proprietors. But +the latter were never to be seen. They were shy of the strangers, +or they had not yet discovered their settlement. One day, however, +a fortunate chance enabled a party of the Huguenots to discover, +and to circumvent an Indian hunter, upon whom they came +suddenly in the forests. At first the poor fellow was exceedingly +dismayed at the encounter; but, subduing his fears, he submitted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">- 31 -</a></span> +with a good grace to the wishes of his captors, and was conducted +to the fortress. Here he was treated with consideration, and +made happy by several trifles which were given him. His confidence +was finally won, and his mouth was opened. He became +communicative, and described his people and their territories. +He avowed himself the subject of a great monarch, whom he +called Audusta,<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a>—a name, in which, under the corruptions of a +French pronunciation, we recognize the well-known modern name +of Edisto. He described the boundaries of empire belonging to +this forest chieftain; and gave a general and not incorrect idea of +the whole surrounding country.</p> + +<p>Captain Albert was exceedingly delighted with his acquisition. +It was important that he should open an intercourse with the natives, +to whose maize-fields and supplies of venison his necessities +required he should look. He treated the hunter with liberality +and courtesy, dismissing him at night-fall with many presents, of +a kind most grateful to the savage taste. These hospitalities and +gifts, it was not doubted, would pave the way for an intercourse +equally profitable and pleasant to both the parties. Suffering a +few days to elapse after the departure of the hunter, Albert prepared +to follow his directions, and explore the settlements of King +Audusta. He did so, and was received with great kindness by +the stately savage. The Indian hunter had made a favorable report +of the Frenchmen, and Audusta adopted them as his friends +and allies. He promised them provisions and assistance, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">- 32 -</a></span> +friendship of four other chiefs or princes, his tributaries, whose +names are given as Mayou, Hoya, Touppa, and Stalamè.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> These +were all, in turn,—except the last,—visited by Albert, who found +a frank and generous welcome wherever he came. He consumed +several days in these visits; and the intercourse, in a little while, +between the French and red-men, grew so great, “that, in a manner, +all things were soon common between them.” Returning to +Audusta, Albert prepared to visit Stalamè, whose country lay +north of Fort Charles some fifteen leagues. This would make +his abode somewhere on the Edisto, near Givham’s, perhaps; or, +inclining still north, to the head of Ashley River. Sailing up the +river, (the Edisto probably,) they encountered a great current, +which they followed, to reach the abode of Stalamè. He, too, received +the strangers with hospitality and friendship. The intercourse +thus established between the party soon assumed the most +endearing aspect. The Indian kings took counsel of Albert in all +matters of importance. The Frenchmen were called to the conference +in the round-house of the tribe, quite as frequently as their +own recognized counsellors. In other words, the leaders of the +Huguenots were adopted into the tribe, that being the usual mode +of indicating trust and confidence. Albert was present at all the +assemblages of state in the realm of Audusta; at all ceremonials, +whether of business or pleasure; at his great hunts; and at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">- 33 -</a></span> +singular feasts of his religion. One of these feasts, that of T<span class="simcap">OYA</span>,<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> +which succeeded the visit of Albert to the territories of Audusta +and the four tributary kings, will call for an elaborate description +hereafter, when we narrate the legend of Guernache, upon whose +fate that of the colony seems to have depended.</p> + +<p>The intercourse of our Huguenots with Audusta was of vital +importance to the former. In the form of gifts, he yielded them +a regular tribute of maize and beans, (corn and peas, in modern +parlance,) and was easily persuaded to do so by the simple trifles, +of little value, which the colonists proffered in return. It is not +difficult to win the affections of an inferior people, where the superior +is indulgent. Kindness will disarm the hostility of the +savage, and justice will finally subdue the jealousy of conscious ignorance. +Sympathy in sports and amusements, above all things, +will do much towards bringing together tribes who differ in their +laws and language, and will make them forgetful of all their differences. +The French have been usually much more successful +than any other people in overcoming the prejudices of the red-men +of America. The moral of their nation is much more flexible than +that of the Englishman and Spaniard;—the former of whom has +always subdued, and the latter usually debased or destroyed, the +races with which they came in conflict.</p> + +<p>The policy of Albert did not vary from that which usually distinguished +his countrymen in like situations. The French Protestant +was, by no means, of the faith and temper of the English +Puritan. In simplifying his religion, he did not clothe his exterior +in gloom; he did not deny that there should be sunshine and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">- 34 -</a></span> +blossoms in the land. Our colonists at Fort Charles did not perplex +the Indians with doctrinal questions. It is greatly to be +feared, indeed, that religion did not, in any way, disturb them in +their solitudes. At all events, it was not of such a freezing temper +as to deny them the indulgence of an intercourse with the +natives, which, for a season, was very agreeable and very inspiriting +to both the parties.</p> + +<p>But smiles and sunshine cannot last forever. The granaries +of the Indians began to fail under their own profligacy and the +demands of the Frenchmen. The resources of the former, never +abundant, were soon exhausted in providing for the additional +hungry mouths which had come among them. Shrinking from +labor, they addressed as little of it as they well could, to the cultivation +of their petty maize fields. They planted them, as we do +now, a couple of grains of corn to each hill, at intervals of three +or four square feet, and as the corn grew to a sufficient height, +peas were distributed among the roots, to twine about the stalks +when the vines could no longer impair its growth. They cropped +the same land twice in each summer. The supplies, thus procured, +would have been totally inadequate to their wants, but for the +abundant game, the masts of the forest, and such harsh but +wholesome roots as they could pulverize and convert into breadstuffs. +Their store was thus limited always, and adapted to their +own wants simply. Any additional demand, however small, produced +a scarcity in their granaries. The improvidence of Audusta, +or his liberality, prevented him from considering this danger, +until it began to be felt. He had supplied the Frenchmen +until his stock was exhausted; no more being left in his possession +than would suffice to sow his fields.</p> + +<p>“For this reason,”—such was the language of the savage monarch—“we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">- 35 -</a></span> +must retire to the forests, and live upon its mast and +roots, until harvest time. We are sorry that we can supply you +no longer; you must now seek the granaries of our neighbors. +There is a king called C<span class="simcap">OUEXIS</span>, a prince of great might and renown +in this country, whose province lies toward the south. His +lands are very fertile. His stores are ample at all seasons. He +alone can furnish you with food for a long time. Before you approach +the territories of Couexis, there is his brother, king Ouade, +who is scarcely less wealthy. He is a generous chief, who will be +very joyful if he may but once behold you. Seek out these, and +your wants shall be supplied.”</p> + +<p>The advice was taken. The Frenchmen had no alternative. +They addressed themselves first to Ouade. His territories lay +along the river Belle, some twenty-five leagues south of Port +Royal. He received them with the greatest favor and filled their +pinnace with maize and beans. He welcomed them to his abode +with equal state and hospitality. His house is described as being +hung with a tapestry richly wrought of feathers. The couch +upon which he slept, was dressed with “white coverlettes, embroidered +with devises of very wittie and fine workmanship, and +fringed round about with a fringe dyed in the colour of scarlet.” +His gifts to our Frenchmen were not limited to the commodities +they craved. He gave them six coverlets, and tapestry such as +decorated his couch and dwelling; specimens of a domestic +manufacture which declare for tastes and a degree of art which +seems, in some degree, to prove their intimacy with the more +polished and powerful nations of the south. In regard to food +hereafter, king Ouade promised that his new acquaintance should +never want.</p> + +<p>Thus was the first intercourse maintained by our Huguenots<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">- 36 -</a></span> +with their savage neighbors. It was during this intimacy, and +while all things seemed to promise fair in regard to the colony, +that the tragical events took place which furnish the materials for +the legend which follows, the narrative of which requires that we +should mingle events together, those which occurred in the periods +already noted, and those which belong to our future chapters. +Let it suffice, here, that, with his pinnace stored with +abundance, the mil (meal), corn and peas, of Ouade, Albert returned +in safety to Fort Charles.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">- 37 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="III" id="III">III.</a><br /> +THE LEGEND OF GUERNACHE.—C<span class="simcap">HAP</span>. I.</h2> + +<div class="chapintro"> +<p>Showing how Guernache, the Musician, a great favorite with our Frenchmen, lost the +favor of Captain Albert, and how cruelly he was punished by the latter.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Guernache</span>, the drummer, was one of the finest fellows, +and the handsomest of our little colony of Frenchmen. Though +sprung of very humble origin, Guernache, with a little better +education, might have been deemed to have had his training +among the highest circles of the Court. He was of tall and +erect figure, and of a carriage so noble and graceful that, even +among his associates, he continued to be an object of admiration. +Besides, he was a fellow of the happiest humor. His kindness of +heart was proverbial. His merriment was contagious. His eye +flashed out in gayety, and his spirit was ever on the alert to +seize upon the passing pleasure, and subject it to the enjoyment +of his companions. Never was fellow so fortunate in finding +occasion for merriment; and happy, indeed, was the Frenchman +who could procure Guernache as a comrade in the performance +of his daily tasks. The toil was unfelt in which he shared—the +weight of the task was dissipated, and, where it wore heavily, he +came to the succor of his drooping companion, and his superior +expertness soon succeeded in doing that which his pleasantry had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">- 38 -</a></span> +failed to effect. He was the best fisherman and hunter—was as +brave as he was light-hearted—was, altogether, so perfect a +character, in the estimation of the little band of Albert, that he +found no enemy among his equals, and could always choose his +companion for himself. His successes were not confined to his +own countrymen. He found equal favor in the sight of the +Indians. Among his other accomplishments, he possessed the +most wonderful agility—had belonged, at one time, to a company +of strolling players, and his skill on tight and slack rope—if we +are to credit old stories—would put to the blush the modern +performances of the Ravels and Herr Cline. It was through his +means, and partly by his ingenuity, that the Indian hunter was +entrapped and brought into the fort,—through whose agency the +intimacy had been effected with the people of Audusta and the +other chiefs; and, during this intimacy, Guernache had proved, +in various ways, one of the principal instruments for confirming +the favorable impressions which the Indian had received in his intercourse +with the Frenchmen. He was everywhere popular with +the red men. Nothing, indeed, could be done without him. +Ignorant of his inferior social position among the whites, the +simple savages sent for him to their feasts and frolics, without +caring for the claims of any other person. He had but to carry +his violin—for, among his other accomplishments, that of fiddling +was not the smallest—to secure the smiles of the men and the +favors of the women; and it was not long before he had formed, +among the savages, a class for dancing, after the European +fashion, upon the banks of the Edisto. Think of the red men +of Apalachia, figuring under a Parisian teacher, by night, by +torch-light, beneath the great oaks of the original forest! +Such uncouth antics might well offend, with never-lessening<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">- 39 -</a></span> +wonder, the courtly nymphs of the Seine and the Loire. But +the Indians suffered from no conventional apprehensions. They +were not made to feel their deficiencies under the indulgent +training of Guernache, and footed it away as merrily, as if each +of their damsels sported on a toe as light and exquisite as that of +Ellsler or Taglioni. King Audusta, himself, though well stricken +in years, was yet seduced into the capricious mazes which he +beheld with so much pleasure, and, for a season, the triumph of +Guernache among the palms and pines of <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Grande Riviere</i>, was +sufficiently complete, to make him wonder at times how his +countrymen ever suffered his departure from the shores of La +Belle France!</p> + +<p>At first, and when it was doubtful to what extent the favor of +the red-men might be secured for the colony, Captain Albert +readily countenanced the growing popularity of his fiddler among +them. His permission was frequently given to Guernache, when +king Audusta solicited his presence. His policy prompted him +to regard it as highly fortunate that so excellent an agent for his +purposes was to be found among his followers; and, for some +months, it needed only a suggestion of Guernache, himself, to +procure for him leave of absence. The worthy fellow never +abused his privileges—never was unfaithful to his trust—never +grew insolent upon indulgence. But Captain Albert, though +claiming to be the cadet of a noble house, was yet a person of a +mean and ignoble nature. Small and unimposing of person, +effeminate of habit, and accustomed to low indulgences, he was +not only deficient in the higher resources of intellect, but he was +exceedingly querulous and tyrannical of temper. His aristocratical +connexions alone had secured him the charge of the +colony, for which nature and education had equally unfitted him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">- 40 -</a></span> +His mind was contracted and full of bitter prejudices; and, +as is the case commonly with very small persons, he was always +tenacious, to the very letter, of the nicest observances of +etiquette. After a little while, and when he no longer had reason +to question the fidelity of the red men, he began to exhibit some +share of dislike towards Guernache; and to withhold the privileges +which he had hitherto permitted him to enjoy. He had become +jealous of the degree of favor in which his musician was +held among the savages, and betrayed this change in his temper, +by instances of occasional severity and denial, the secret of which +the companions of Guernache divined much sooner than himself. +Though not prepared, absolutely, to withhold his consent, when +king Audusta entreated that the fiddler might be spared him, he +yet accorded it ungraciously; and Guernache was made to suffer, +in some way, for these concessions, as if they had been so many +favors granted to himself.</p> + +<p>They were, indeed, favors to the musician, though, to what extent, +Albert entertained no suspicion. It so happened that among +his other conquests, Guernache had made that of a very lovely +dark-eyed damsel, a niece of Audusta, and a resident of the king’s +own village. After the informal fashion of the country, into +which our Frenchmen were apt readily to fall, he had made the +damsel his wife. She was a beautiful creature, scarcely more +than sixteen; tall and slender, and so naturally agile and graceful, +that it needed but a moderate degree of instruction to make +her a dancer whose airy movements would not greatly have misbeseemed +the most courtly theatres of Paris. Monaletta,—for +such was the sweet name of the Indian damsel,—was an apt pupil, +because she was a loving one. She heartily responded to that +sentiment of wonder—common among the savages—that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">- 41 -</a></span> +Frenchmen should place themselves under the command of a +chief, so mean of person as Albert, and so inferior in gifts, when +they had among them a fellow of such noble presence as Guernache, +whose qualities were so irresistible. The opinions of her +head were but echoes from the feelings in her heart. Her preference +for our musician was soon apparent and avowed; but, in +taking her to wife, Guernache kept his secret from his best friend. +No one in Fort Charles ever suspected that he had been wived in +the depth of the great forests, through pagan ceremonies, by an +Indian Iawa,<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> to the lovely Monaletta. Whatever may have been +his motive for keeping the secret, whether he feared the ridicule +of his comrades, or the hostility of his superior, or apprehended a +difficulty with rivals among the red men, by a discovery of the +fact, it is yet very certain that he succeeded in persuading Monaletta, +herself, and those who were present at his wild betrothal, to +keep the secret also. It did not lessen, perhaps, the pleasure of +his visits to the settlements of Audusta, that the peculiar joys +which he desired had all the relish of a stolen fruit. It was now, +only in this manner that Monaletta could be seen. Captain Albert, +with a rigid austerity, which contributed also to his evil odor +among his people, had interdicted the visits of all Indian women +at the fort. This interdict was one, however, which gave little +annoyance to Guernache. A peculiar, but not unnatural jealousy, +had already prompted him repeatedly to deny this privilege to +Monaletta. The simple savage had frequently expressed her desire +to see the fortress of the white man, to behold his foreign +curiosities, and, in particular, to hearken to the roar of that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">- 42 -</a></span> +mimic thunder which he had always at command, and which, +when heard, had so frequently shaken the very hearts of the men +of her people.</p> + +<p>In this relation stood the several parties, when, one day, a messenger +came to Fort Charles from King Audusta, bearing a special +invitation to Captain Albert to attend, with the savage tribes, the +celebration of the great religious “feast of <i>Toya</i>.” He was invited +to bring as many of his men as he thought proper, but, in +particular, not to forget their favorite Guernache. The feast of +Toya, seems to have constituted the great religious ceremonial of +the nation. It took place about the middle, or the close of summer, +and seems to have been a sort of annual thanksgiving, after +the laws of a natural religion, for the maturing of their little crops. +Much of the solemnities were obvious and ostentatious in their +character. Much more, however, was involved and mysterious, +and held particularly sacred by the priesthood. The occasion +was one, at all events, to which the Indians attached the greatest +importance; and, naturally anxious to acquire as great a knowledge +as possible of their laws, customs and sentiments, Captain +Albert very readily acceded to the invitation,—preparing, with +some state, to attend the rustic revels of Audusta. He took with +him a fair proportion of his little garrison, and did not omit the +inimitable Guernache. Ascending the river in his pinnace, he +soon reached the territories of the Indian monarch. Audusta, +with equal hospitality and dignity, anticipated his approach, and +met him, with his followers, at the river landing. With a hearty +welcome, he conducted him to his habitations, and gave him, at +entrance, a draught of the cassina beverage, the famous tea of the +country. Then came damsels who washed their hands in vessels +of water over which floated the leaves of the odorous bay, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">- 43 -</a></span> +flowers of rare perfume; drying them after with branches of +plumes, scarlet and white, which were made of the feathers of +native birds of the most glorious variety of hue. Mats of reed, +woven ingeniously together by delicate wythes of all colors, orange +and green, and vermillion, dyed with roots of the forest, were then +spread upon the rush-strewn floor of the royal wigwam; and, with +a grace not unbecoming a sovereign born in the purple, Audusta +invited our Frenchmen to place themselves at ease, each according +to his rank and station. The king took his place among them, +neither above the first, nor below the last, but like a friend within +a favorite circle, in which some might stand more nearly than +others to his affections. They were then attended with the profoundest +deference, and served with the rarest delicacies of the +Indian <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">cuisine</i>. As night came on, fresh rushes were strewed +upon the floor, and they slept with the cheerful music of songs +and laughter, which reached them at intervals, through the night, +from the merry makers in the contiguous forests. With the +dawning of the next day, preparations for the great festival were +begun.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">- 44 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV">IV.</a><br /> +THE LEGEND OF GUERNACHE.—C<span class="simcap">HAP</span>. II.<br /> +<span class="smfont">THE FESTIVAL OF TOYA.</span></h2> + +<div class="chapintro"> +<p>Being a continuation of the legend of Guernache; showing the superstitions of the Red-Men; +how Guernache offended Captain Albert, and what followed from the secret +efforts of the Frenchmen to penetrate the mysteries of Toya!</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> would be difficult to say, from the imperfect narratives +afforded us by the chroniclers, what were the precise objects of +the present ceremonials;—what gods were to be invoked;—what +evil beings implored;—what wrath and anger to be deprecated and +diverted from the devoted tribes. As the Frenchmen received +no explanation of their mystic preparations, so are we left unenlightened +by their revelations. They do not even amuse us by their +conjectures, and Laudonniere stops short in his narrative of what +did happen, apologizing for having said so much on so trifling a +matter. We certainly owe him no gratitude for his forbearance. +What he tells us affords but little clue to the motive of their fantastic +proceedings. The difficulty, which is at present ours, was +not less that of Albert and his Frenchmen. They were compelled +to behold the outlines of a foreign ritual whose mysteries they +were not permitted to explore, and had their curiosity provoked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">- 45 -</a></span> +by shows of a most exciting character, which only mocked their +desires, and tantalized their appetites. On the first arrival of +Albert, and after he had been rested and refreshed, Audusta himself +had conducted him, with his followers, to the spot which had +been selected for the ceremonies of the morrow. “This was a +great circuit of ground with open prospect and round in figure.” +Here they saw “many women roundabout, which labored by all +means to make the place cleane and neate.” The ceremonies +began early on the morning of the ensuing day. Hither they repaired +in season, and found “all they which were chosen to celebrate +the feast,” already “painted and trimmed with rich feathers +of divers colours.” These led the way in a procession from the +dwelling of Audusta to the “place of Toya.” Here, when they +had come, they set themselves in new order under the guidance of +three Indians, who were distinguished by plumes, paint, and a +costume entirely superior to the rest. Each of them carried a +tabret, to the plaintive and lamenting music of which they sang +in wild, strange, melancholy accents; and, in slow measures, +dancing the while, they passed gradually into the very centre of +the sacred circle. They were followed by successive groups, +which answered to their strains, and to whose songs they, in turn, +responded with like echoes. This continued for awhile, the music +gradually rising and swelling from the slow to the swift, from the +sad to the passionate, while the moods of the actors and the spectators, +also varying, the character of the scene changed to one of +the wildest excitement. Suddenly, the characters—those who +were chief officiators in this apparent hymn of fate—broke from +the enchanted circle—darted through the ranks of the spectators, +and dashed, headlong, with frantic cries, into the depths of the +neighboring thickets. Then followed another class of actors. As<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">- 46 -</a></span> +if a sudden and terrible doom overhung the nation, the Indian +women set up cries of grief and lamentation. Their passion grew +to madness. In their rage, the mothers seized upon the young +virgins of the tribe, and, with the sharp edges of muscle shells, they +lanced their arms, till the blood gushed forth in free streams, +which they eagerly flung into the air, crying aloud at every moment, +“He-to-yah! He-to-yah! He-to-yah!”<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a></p> + +<p>These ceremonies, though not more meaningless, perhaps, in +the eyes of the Christian, than would be our most solemn religious +proceedings in those of the Indian, provoked the laughter of Albert +and some of his Frenchmen. This circumstance awakened +the indignation of their excellent friend, Audusta. His displeasure +was now still farther increased by a proceeding of Captain +Albert. It was an attempt upon their mysteries. That portion +of the officiating priesthood—their Iawas—who fled from the +sacred enclosure to deep recesses of the woods, sought there for +the prosecution, in secret, of rites too holy for the vulgar eye. +Here they maintained their <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">sanctum sanctorum</i>. This was the +place consecrated to the communion of the god with his immediate +servants—the holy of holies, which it was death to penetrate +or pass. Albert suffered his curiosity to get the better of +his discretion. Offended by the laughter of the Frenchmen, at +what they had already beheld, and fearing lest their audacity +should lead them farther, the king, Audusta, had gathered them +again within the royal wigwam, where he sought, by marked +kindness and distinction, to make them forgetful of what had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">- 47 -</a></span> +denied. They had seen, as he told them, the more impressive +portions of the ceremonial. There were others, but not of a kind +to interest them. But the fact that there was something to conceal, +stimulated the curiosity of Albert. In due degree with the +king’s anxiety to keep his secret, was that of the French captain’s +to fathom it. Holding a brief consultation with his men, accordingly, +he declared his desire to this effect; and proposed, that one +of their number should contrive to steal forth, and, finding his +way to the forbidden spot, should place himself in such a position +as would enable him to survey all the mysterious proceedings. +To this course, Guernache frankly opposed his opinions. His +greater intimacy with the red-men led him properly to conceive +the danger which might ensue, from their discovery of the intrusion. +He had been well taught by Monaletta, the degree of importance +which they attached to the security of their mystic rites. +Arguing with the honesty of his character, he warned his captain +of the risk which such unbecoming curiosity would incur—the +peril to the offender, himself, if detected; and the hazards to the +colony from the loss of that friendship to which they had been +already so largely indebted. But the counsels of Guernache were +rejected with indignity. Prepared, already, to regard him with +dislike and suspicion, Albert heard his suggestions only as so +much impertinence; and rudely commanded him not to forget +himself and place, nor to thrust his undesired opinions upon the +consideration of gentlemen. The poor fellow was effectually +silenced by this rebuke. He sank out of sight, and presumed no +farther to advise. But the counsel was not wholly thrown away. +Disregarded by Albert, it was caught up, and insisted on, by +others, who had better conventional claims to be heard, and the +proposition might have been defeated but for the ready interposition<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">- 48 -</a></span> +of one Pierre Renaud, a young fellow, who, perceiving the +captain’s strong desire to seek out the mystery, and anxious to ingratiate +himself with that person, boldly laughed at the fears of +the objectors, and volunteered, himself, to defy the danger, in his +own person, in order to gratify his chief. This silenced the controversy. +Albert readily availed himself of the offer, and Pierre +Renaud was commanded to try his fortune. This he did, and, +notwithstanding the surveillance maintained over them by Audusta +and his attendants, “he made such shift, that, by subtle +meanes, he gotte out of the house of Audusta, and secretly went +and hid himselfe behinde a very thick bush, where, at his pleasure, +he might easily descry the ceremonies of the feaste.”</p> + +<p>We will leave Renaud thus busy in his espionage, while we rehearse +the manner in which the venerable Audusta proceeded to +treat his company. A substantial feast was provided for them, +consisting of venison, wild fowl, and fruits. Their breadstuffs +were maize, batatas, and certain roots sodden first in water, and +then prepared in the sun. A drink was prepared from certain +other roots, which, though bitter, was refreshing and slightly +stimulant. Our Frenchmen, in the absence of the beverages of +Italy and France, did not find it unpalatable. They ate and +drank with a hearty relish, which gratified the red-men, who lavished +on them a thousand caresses. The feast was followed by +the dance. In a spacious area, surrounded by great ranks of +oaks, cedars, pines, and other trees, they assembled, men and women, +in their gayest caparison. The men were tatooed and +painted, from head to foot, and not inartistically, in the most +glowing colors. Birds and beasts were figured upon their breasts, +and huge, strange reptiles were made to coil up and around their +legs and arms. From their waists depended light garments of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">- 49 -</a></span> +white cotton, the skirts being trimmed with a thick fringe of red +or scarlet. Some of them wore head-dresses consisting of the +skins of snakes, or eagles, the panther or the wild cat, which, +stuffed ingeniously, were made to sit erect above the forehead, and +to look abroad, from their novel place of perch, in a manner +equally natural and frightful. The women were habited in a similarly +wild but less offensive manner. The taste which presided in +their decorations, was of a purer and a gentler fashion. Their +cheeks were painted red, their arms, occasionally but slightly tattooed, +and sometimes the figure of a bird, a flower or a star, might +be seen engrained upon the breast. A rather scanty robe of +white cotton concealed, in some degree, the bosom, and extended +somewhat below the knees. Around the necks of several, were +hung thick strands of native pearls, partially discolored by the +action of fire which had been employed to extricate them from the +shells. Pearls were also mingled ingeniously with the long tresses +of their straight, black hair; trailing with it, in not unfrequent +instances, even to the ground. Others, in place of this more +valuable ornament, wore necklaces, anklets and tiaras, formed +wholly of one or other of the numerous varieties of little sea +shells, by which, after heavy storms, the low and sandy shores of +the country were literally covered. Strings of the same shell encircled +the legs, which were sometimes of a shape to gratify the +nicest exactions of the civilized standard. The forms of our Indian +damsels were generally symmetrical and erect, their movements +at once agile and graceful—their foreheads high, their lips +thin, and, with a soft, persuasive expression, inclining to melancholy; +while their eyes, black and bright, always shone with a peculiar +forest fire that seemed happily to consort with their dark, but not +unpleasing complexions. Well, indeed, with a pardonable vanity,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">- 50 -</a></span> +might their people call them the “Daughters of the Sun.” He +had made them his, by his warmest and fondest glances. These +were the women, whose descendants, in after days, as Yemassees +and Muscoghees and Seminoles, became the scourge of so large a +portion of the Anglo-American race.</p> + +<p>When the Frenchmen beheld this rude, but really brilliant +assemblage, and saw what an attractive show the young damsels +made, they were delighted beyond measure. Visions of the rout +and revel, as enjoyed in <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">La Belle France</i>, glanced before their +fancies; and the lively capering that followed among the young +Huguenots, informed Captain Albert of the desire which was felt +by all. In stern, compelling accents, he bade Guernache take his +violin, and provide the music, while the rest prepared to dance. +But Guernache excused himself, alleging the want of strings for +his instrument. These were shown, in a broken state, to his +commander. He had broken them, we may state <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">en passant</i>, for +the occasion. His pride had been hurt by the treatment of his +captain. He felt that the purpose of the latter was to degrade +him. Such a performance as that required at his hands, was properly +no part of his duty; and his proud spirit revolted at the +idea of contributing, in any way, to the wishes of his superior, +when the object of the latter was evidently his own degradation. +Albert spoke to him testily, and with brows that did not seek to +subdue or conceal their frowns. But Guernache was firm, and +though he studiously forebore, by word or look, to increase the +provocation which he had already given, he yet made no effort to +pacify the imperious nature which he had offended. The excuse +was such as could not but be taken. There was the violin, indeed, +but there, also, were the broken strings. Albert turned +from the musician with undisguised loathing; and the poor fellow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">- 51 -</a></span> +sunk back with a secret presentiment of evil. He but too well +knew the character of his superior.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the red men had resort to their own primitive +music. Their instruments consisted of simple reeds, which, +bound together, were passed, to and fro, beneath the lips and discoursed +very tolerable harmonies;—and a rude drum formed by +stretching a raw deer skin over the mouth of a monstrous calabash, +enabled them, when the skin had been contracted in the +sun, to extort from it a very tolerable substitute for the music of +the tambourine. There were other instruments, susceptible of +sound if not of sweetness. Numerous damsels, none over fifteen, +lithe and graceful, carried in their hands little gourds, which were +filled with shells and pebbles, and tied over with skins, dried also +in the sun. With these, as they danced, they kept time so admirably +as might have charmed the most practised European +master. Thus, all provided, some with the drum, and others with +flute-like reeds and hollow, tinkling gourds, they only awaited the +summons of their partners to the area. Shaking their tinkling +gourds, as if in pretty impatience at the delay, the girls each +waited, with anxious looks, the signal from her favorite.</p> + +<p>The Frenchmen were not slow in seeking out their partners. +At the word and signal of their captain, they dashed in among the +laughing group of dusky maidens, each seeking for the girl whose +beauties had been most grateful to his tastes. Nor was Captain +Albert, himself, with all his pride and asceticism, unwilling to forget +his dignity for a season, and partake of the rude festivities of +the occasion. When, indeed, did mirth and music fail to usurp +dominion in the Frenchman’s heart? Albert greedily cast his +eyes about, seeking a partner, upon whom he might bestow his +smiles. He was not slow in the selection. It so happened, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">- 52 -</a></span> +Monaletta, the spouse of Guernache, was not only one of the +loveliest damsels present, but she was well known as the niece of +King Audusta. Her beauty and royal blood, equally commended +her to the favor of our captain. She stood apart from all the +rest, stately and graceful as the cedar, not seeming to care for the +merriment in which all were now engaged. There was a dash of +sadness in her countenance. Her thoughts were elsewhere—her +eyes scarcely with the assembly, when the approach of Albert +startled her from her reverie. He came as Cæsar did, to certain +conquest; and was about to take her hand, as a matter of course, +when he was equally astounded and enraged to find her draw it +away from his grasp.</p> + +<p>“You will not dance with <em>me</em>, Monaletta?”</p> + +<p>“No,” she answered him in broken French—“No dance with +you—dance with <em>him</em>!” pointing to Guernache.</p> + +<p>Speaking these words, she crossed the floor, with all the bold +imprudence of a truly loving heart, to the place where stood our +sorrowful and unhappy violinist. He had followed the movements +of Albert, with looks of most serious apprehension, and his heart +had sunk, with a sudden terror, when he saw that he approached +Monaletta. The scene which followed, however grateful to his +affections, was seriously calculated to arouse his fears. He feared +for Monaletta, as he feared for himself. Nothing escaped him in +the brief interview, and he saw, in the vindictive glances of Albert, +the most evil auguries for the future. Yet how precious was her +fondness to his heart! He half forgot his apprehensions as he +felt her hand upon his shoulder, and beheld her eyes looking with +appealing fondness up into his own. That glance was full of the +sweetest consolation,—and said everything that was grateful to his +terrified affections. She, too, had seen the look of hate and anger<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">- 53 -</a></span> +in the face of Albert, and she joyed in the opportunity of rebuking +the one with her disdain, and of consoling the other with her +sympathies. It was an unhappy error. Bitter, indeed, was the +look with which the aroused and mortified Albert regarded the +couple as they stood apart from all the rest. Guernache beheld +this look. He knew the meaning of that answering glance of his +superior which encountered his own. His looks were those of entreaty, +of deprecation. They seemed to say, “I feel that you +are offended, but I had no purpose or part in the offence.” His +glance of humility met with no answering indulgence. It seemed, +indeed, still farther to provoke his tyrant, who, advancing midway +across the room, addressed him in stern, hissing accents, +through his closed and almost gnashing teeth.</p> + +<p>“Away, sirrah, to the pinnace! See that you remain in her +until I summon you! Away!”</p> + +<p>The poor fellow turned off from Monaletta. He shook himself +free from the grasp which she had taken of his hand. He prepared +to obey the wanton and cruel order, but he could not forbear +saying reproachfully as he <span class="nowrap">retired—</span></p> + +<p>“You push me too hard, Captain Albert.”</p> + +<p>“No words, sir! Away!” was the stern response. The submissive +fellow instantly disappeared. With his disappearance, +Albert again approached Monaletta, and renewed his application. +But this time he met with a rejection even more decided than before. +He looked to King Audusta; but an Indian princess, while +she remains unmarried, enjoys a degree of social liberty which +the same class of persons in Europe would sigh for and supplicate +in vain. There were no answering sympathies in the king’s face, +to encourage Albert in the prosecution of his suit. Nay, he had +the mortification to perceive, from the expression of his countenance,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">- 54 -</a></span> +that his proceedings towards Guernache—who was a general +favorite—had afforded not more satisfaction to him, than they +had done to Monaletta. It was, therefore, in no very pleasant +mood with himself and those around him, that our captain consoled +himself in the dance with the hand of an inferior beauty. +Jealous of temper and frivolous of mind—characteristics which +are frequently found together—Albert was very fond of dancing, +and enjoyed the sport quite as greatly as any of his companions. +But, even while he capered, his soul, stung and dissatisfied, was +brooding vexatiously over its petty hurts. His thoughts were +busied in devising ways to revenge himself upon the humble +offender by whom his mortification originally grew. Upon this +sweet and bitter cud did he chew while the merry music sounded +in his ears, and the gaily twinkling feet of the dusky maidens +were whirling in promiscuous mazes beneath his eye. But these +festivities, and his own evil meditations, were destined to have an +interruption as startling as unexpected.</p> + +<p>While the mirth was at its highest, and the merriment most +contagious, the ears of the assembly were startled by screams, the +most terrible, of fright and anguish. The Frenchmen felt a +nameless terror seizing upon them. The cries and shrieks were +from an European throat. Wild was the discord which accompanied +them,—whoops of wrath and vengeance, which, as evidently +issued only from the throats of most infuriated savages. +The music ceased in an instant. The dance was arrested. The +Frenchmen rushed to their arms, fully believing that they +were surrounded by treachery—that they had been beguiled to +the feast only to become its victims. With desperate decision, +they prepared themselves for the worst. While their suspense and +fear were at their highest, the cause of the alarm and uproar soon became<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">- 55 -</a></span> +apparent to their eyes. Bursting, like a wounded deer, +suddenly, from the woods by which the dwelling of Audusta was +surrounded, a bloody figure, ghastly and spotted, appeared before +the crowd. In another moment the Frenchmen recognized the +spy, Pierre Renaud, who had volunteered to get at the heart of +the Indian mysteries—to follow the priesthood to their sacred +haunts, and gather all the secrets of their ceremonials.</p> + +<p>We have already seen that he reached his place of watch in +safety. But here his good fortune failed him: his place of espionage +was not one of concealment. In the wild orgies of their +religion,—for they seem to have practised rites not dissimilar to, +and not less violent and terrible than those of the British +Druids,—the priests darted over the crouching spy. Detected in +the very act, where he lay, “squat like a toad,” the Iawas fell +upon him with the sharp instruments of flint with which they had +been lancing and lacerating their own bodies. With these they +contrived, in spite of all his struggles and entreaties, to inflict upon +him some very severe wounds. Their rage was unmeasured, and +the will to slay him was not wanting. But Renaud was a fellow +equally vigorous and active. He baffled their blows as well as he +could, and at length breaking from their folds, he took fairly to his +heels. Howling with rage and fury, they darted upon his track, +their wild shrieks ringing through the wood like those of so many +demons suffering in mortal agony. They cried to all whom they +saw, to stay and slay the offender. Others joined in the chase, as +they heard this summons. But fortune favored the fugitive. His +terror added wings to his flight. He was not, it seems, destined +to such a death as they designed him. He outran his pursuers, +and, dodging those whom he accidentally encountered, he made +his way into the thick of the area, where his comrades, half bewildered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">- 56 -</a></span> +by the uproar, were breaking up the dance. He sank +down in the midst of them, exhausted by loss of blood and fatigue, +only a moment before the appearance of his pursuers.</p> + +<p>The French instantly closed around their companion. They +had not put aside their weapons, and they now prepared themselves +to encounter the worst. The aspect of the danger was +threatening in the last degree. The Iawas were boiling with +sacred fury. They were the true rulers of their people. Their +will was sovereign over the popular moods. They demanded, +with violent outcry, the blood of the individual by whom their +sacred retreats had been violated, and their shekinah polluted by +vulgar and profane presence. They demanded the blood of <em>all</em> +the Frenchmen, as participating in the crime. They called +upon Audusta to assert his own privileges and theirs. They +appealed to the people in a style of phrenzied eloquence, the +effects of which were soon visible in the inflamed features and +wild action of the more youthful warriors. Already were these +to be seen slapping their sides, tossing their hands in air, +and, with loud shrieks, lashing themselves into a fury like that +which enflamed their prophets. King Audusta looked confounded. +The Frenchmen were his guests. He had invited +them to partake of his hospitality, and to enjoy the rites of his +religion. He was in some sort pledged for their safety, though +one of them had violated the conditions of their coming. His +own feelings revolted at giving any sanction for the assault, yet +he appeared unable or unwilling to resist the clamors of the +priesthood. But <em>he</em> also demanded, though with evident reluctance, +the blood of the offender. He was not violent, though +urgent, in this demand. He showed indignation rather than +hostility; and he gave Albert to understand that in no way<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">- 57 -</a></span> +could the people or the priesthood be appeased, unless by the +sacrifice of the guilty person.</p> + +<p>But Albert could not yield the victim. The French were +prepared to perish to a man before complying with any such +demand. They were firm. They fenced him in with their +weapons, and declared their readiness to brave every peril ere +they would abandon their comrade. This resolution was the +more honorable, as Pierre Renaud was no favorite among +them. Though seriously disquieted by the event, and apprehensive +of the issue, Albert was man enough to second their spirit. +Besides, Renaud had been his own emissary in the adventure +which threatened to terminate so fatally. His denial was inferred +from his deportment; and the clamor of the Indians was +increased. The rage of the Iawas was renewed with the conviction +that no redress was to be given them. Already had the +young warriors of Audusta procured their weapons. More than +an hundred of them surrounded our little band of Frenchmen, +who were only thirteen in number. Bows were bent, lances +were set in rest, javelins were seen lifted, and ready to be +thrown; and the drum which had been just made to sound, in +lively tones, for the dance, now gave forth the most dismal din, +significant of massacre and war. Already were to be seen, in +the hands of some more daring Indian than the rest, the heavy +war-club, or the many-teethed macana, waving aloft and threatening +momently to descend upon the victim; and nothing was +wanting but a first blow to bring on a general massacre. Suddenly, +at this perilous moment, the fiddle of Guernache was +heard without; followed, in a moment after, by the appearance +of the brave fellow himself. Darting in between the opposing +ranks, attended by the faithful Monaletta, with a grand crash<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">- 58 -</a></span> +upon his instrument, now newly-strung, followed by a rapid +gush of the merriest music, he took both parties by the happiest +surprise, and instantly produced a revulsion of feeling among +the savages as complete as it was sudden.</p> + +<p>“Ami! ami! ami!” was the only cry from an hundred voices, +at the reappearance of Guernache among them. They had +acquired this friendly epithet among the first words which they +had learned at their coming, from the French; and their affection +for our fiddler had made its application to himself, in particular, +a thing of general usage. He <em>was</em> their friend. He had shown +himself their friend, and they had a faith in <em>him</em> which they +accorded to no other of his people. The people were with him, +and the priesthood not unfriendly. Time was gained by this +diversion; and, in such an outbreak as that which has been +described, time is all that is needful, perhaps, to stay the arm +of slaughter. Guernache played out his tune, and cut a few +pleasant antics, in which the now happy Monaletta, though of the +blood royal, readily joined him. The musician had probably +saved the party from massacre. The subsequent work of treaty +and pacification was comparatively easy. Pierre Renaud was +permitted to depart for the pinnace, under the immediate care +of Guernache and Monaletta. The Iawas received some presents +of gaudy costume, bells, and other gew-gaws, while a liberal gift +of knives and beads gratified their warriors and their women. +The old ties of friendship were happily reunited, and the calumet +went round, from mouth to mouth, in token of restored confidence +and renewed faith. Before nightfall, happily relieved from his +apprehensions, Albert, with his detachment, was rapidly making +his way with his pinnace, down the waters of the swiftly-rolling +Edisto.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">- 59 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="V" id="V">V.</a><br /> +THE LEGEND OF GUERNACHE.—C<span class="simcap">HAP</span>. III.</h2> + +<div class="chapintro"> +<p>The Legend of Guernache is continued, showing how the Fortress of the Huguenots was +destroyed, and what happened thereafter to Guernache the Musician.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> fidelity which Guernache had shown in the recent difficulty +with the Indians, did not appear to lessen in any degree +the unfavorable impressions which Capt. Albert had received of +that worthy fellow. Indeed, the recent and remarkable service +which he had rendered, by which, in all probability, the whole +party had been preserved from massacre, rather increased, if any +thing, the hostile temper of his superior. The evil spirit still +raged within the bosom of Capt. Albert, utterly baffling a judgment +at no period of particular excellence, and blinding every +honorable sentiment which might have distinguished him under +other influences. He was now doubly mortified, that he should +be supposed to owe his present safety to the person he had +wronged—a mortification which found due increase as he remembered +how much greater had been the respect and deference of +the savages for his drummer than for himself. This recollection +was a perpetual goad to that working malice in his heart, which +was already busied in devising schemes of revenge, which were +to salve his hurts of pride and vanity, by the sufferings as well<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">- 60 -</a></span> +as humiliation of his subordinate. It will scarcely be believed +that, when fairly out of sight of the village of Audusta, he rebuked +Guernache sharply, for leaving the pinnace against his +orders, and even spoke of punishing him for this disobedience.<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> +But the murmurs of some of his officers, and, perhaps, a little +lurking sentiment of shame in his own bosom, prevented him +from attempting any such disgraceful proceeding. But the feeling +of hostility only rankled the more because of its suppression, +and he soon contrived to show Guernache and, indeed, everybody +besides, that from that hour he was his most bitter and unforgiving +enemy, with a little and malignant spirit, he employed various +petty arts, which a superior of a base nature may readily +command on all occasions, by which to make the poor fellow feel +how completely he was at his mercy; and each day exposed him +to some little snare, or some stern caprice, by which Guernache +became involuntarily an offender. His tyrant subjected him to +duties the most troublesome and humiliating, while denying, or +stinting him of all those privileges which were yet commonly accorded +to his comrades. But all this would have been as nothing +to Guernache, if he had not been denied permission to visit, as +before, the hamlet of Audusta, where his princess dwelt. On +the miserable pretext that the priesthood might revenge upon +him the misconduct of Renaud, Albert insisted upon his abstaining +wholly from the Indian territories. But this pretence deceived +nobody, and nobody less than Guernache. Little did the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">- 61 -</a></span> +petty tyrant of Fort Charles imagine that the object of his +malice enjoyed a peculiar source of consolation for all these +privations. His comrades were his friends. They treated him +with a warmth and kindness, studiously proportioned to the ill-treatment +of his superior. They assisted him in the severer +tasks which were allotted him to fulfil—gave him their company +whenever this was possible, while he was engaged in the execution +of his most cheerless duties, and soothed his sorrows by the +expression of their almost unanimous sympathies. Nor did they +always withhold their bitter denunciations of the miserable despotism +under which he suffered, and which they feared. Dark +hints of remedy were spoken, brows frowned at the mention of +the wrongs of their companion, and the head shaken ominously, +when words of threatening significance were uttered—appealed +gratefully to certain bitter desires which had taken root in the +mind of the victim. But these sympathies, though grateful, +were of small amount in comparison with another source of +consolation, which contributed to sustain Guernache in his tribulation. +This was found in the secret companionship of his young +and beautiful Indian wife. Denied to see him at the village of +Audusta, the fond and fearless woman determined to seek him at +all hazards in his own domain. She stole away secretly to the +fortress of the Huguenots. Long and earnest was the watch which +she maintained upon its portals, from the thickets of the neighboring +wood. Here, vigilant as the sentinel that momently +expects his foe, she harbored close, in waiting for the beloved +one. Her quick instincts had already taught her the true cause +of his denial, and of her disappointment; and her Indian lessons +had made that concealment, which she now believed to be necessary +to her purpose, a part of the habitual policy of her people.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">- 62 -</a></span> +She showed herself to none of the people of the fortress. She +suspected them all; she had no faith but in the single one. And +he, at length, came forth, unaccompanied, in the prosecution of an +occasional labor—that of cutting and procuring wood. She suffered +him to make his way into the forests—to lose sight of the +fortress, and, with a weary spirit and a wounded soul, to begin +his lonely labors with the axe. Then did she steal behind him, +and beside him; and when he moaned aloud—supposing that he +had no auditor—how startling fell upon his ear the sweet, soft +whisper of that precious voice which he had so lovingly learned +to distinguish from all others. He turned with a gush of rapturous +delight, and, weeping, she rushed into his arms, pouring +forth, in a wild cry, upon his breast, the whole full volume of +her warm, devoted heart!</p> + +<p>That moment, in spite of all his fears, was amply compensative +to Guernache for all his troubles. He forgot them all in the intensity +of his new delights. And when Monaletta led him off +from his tasks to the umbrageous retreat in the deeper woods +where her nights had been recently passed,—when she conducted +him to the spot where her own hands had built a mystic bower for +her own shelter—when she declared her purpose still to occupy +this retreat, in the solitude alone,—that she might be ever near +him, to behold him at a distance, herself unseen, when he came +forth accompanied by others—to join him, to feel his embrace, +hear his words of love, and assist him in his labors when he came +forth unattended—when, speaking and promising thus, she lay +upon the poor fellow’s bosom, looking up with tearful and bright +eyes in his wan and apprehensive countenance—then it was that +he could forget his tyrant—could lose his fears and sorrows in his +love, and in the enjoyment of moments the most precious to his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">- 63 -</a></span> +heart, forget all the accompanying influences which might endanger +his safety.</p> + +<p>But necessity arose sternly between the two, and pointed to the +exactions of duty. The tasks of Guernache were to be completed. +His axe was required to sound among the trees of the +forest, and a certain number of pieces of timber were required +by sunset at his hands. It was surprising as it was sweet to +behold the Indian woman as she assisted him in his tasks. Her +strength did not suffice for the severer toils of the wood-cutter, +but she contrived a thousand modes for contributing to his performances. +Love lightens every labor, and invents a thousand +arts by which to do so. Monaletta anticipated the wants of +Guernache. She removed the branches as he smote them, she +threw the impediments from his way,—helped him to lift and turn +the logs as each successive side was to be hewn. She brought +him water, when he thirsted, from the spring. She spoke and +sung to him in the most encouraging voice when he was weary. +He was never weary when with her.</p> + +<p>Guernache combatted her determination to remain in the neighborhood +of the fortress; but his objections were feebly urged, and +she soon overcame them. He had not the courage to insist upon +his argument, as he had not the strength to resist the consolations +which her presence brought him. She soon succeeded in assuring +him that there was little or no danger of detection by their enemy. +She laughed at the idea of the Frenchmen discovering her place +of concealment, surprising her in her progress through the woods, +or overtaking her in flight; and Guernache knew enough of Indian +subtlety readily to believe that the white was no match for the +dusky race in the exercise of all those arts which are taught by +forest life. “But her loneliness and privation, exposed to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">- 64 -</a></span> +season’s changes, and growing melancholy in the absence from old +associates?” But how could she be lonely, was her argument, +when near the spot where he dwelt—when she could see and hear +and speak with him occasionally? She wished no other communion. +As for the exposure of her present abode, was it +greater than that to which the wandering life of the red-man +subjects his people at all seasons? The Indian woman is quite as +much at home in the forest as the Indian warrior. She acquires +her resources of strength and dexterity in his company, and by +the endurance of similar necessities and the employment of like +exercises. She learns even in childhood to build her own green +bower at night, to gather her own fuel, light her own fire, dress +her own meat—nay, provide it; and, weaponed with bow, and +javelin and arrow, bring down buck or doe bounding at full speed +through the wildest forests. Her skill and spirit are only not +equal to those of the master by whom she is taught, but she +acquires his arts to a degree which makes her sometimes worthy +to be lifted by the tribe from her own rank into his. Monaletta +reminded Guernache of all these things. She had the most conclusive +and convincing methods of argument. She reassured him +on all his doubts, and, in truth, it was but too easy to do so. It +was unhappy for them both, as we shall see hereafter, that the +selfish passion of the poor musician too readily reconciled him to +a self-devotion on the part of his wife, which subjected her to his +own perils, and greatly tended to their increase. With the evil +eye of Albert upon him, he should have known that safety was +impossible for him in the event of error. And error was inevitable +now, with the pleasant tempter so near his place of +coventry. We must not wonder to discover now that Guernache +seldom sleeps within the limits of the fortress. At midnight,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">- 65 -</a></span> +when all is dark and quiet, he leaps over the walls, those nights +excepted when it is his turn of duty to watch within. His secret +is known to some of his comrades; but they are too entirely his +friends to betray him to a despot who had, by this time, outraged +the feelings of most of those who remained under his command. +Guernache was now enabled to bear up more firmly than +ever against the tyranny of Albert. His, indeed, were nights of +happiness. How sweetly sped the weeks, in which, despite his +persecutions, he felt that he enjoyed a life of luxurious pleasures, +such as few enjoy in any situation. His were the honest excitements +of a genuine passion, which, nourished by privation +and solitude, and indulged in secresy, was of an intensity corresponding +with the apparent denial, and the real embarrassments of +such a condition. His pleasures were at once stolen and legitimate; +the apprehension which attends their pursuit giving a +wild zest to their enjoyment; though, in the case of Guernache, +unlike that of most of those who indulge in stolen joys, they were +honest, and left no cruel memories behind them.</p> + +<p>It was the subject of a curious study and surprise to Captain +Albert, that our musician was enabled to bear up against his +tyranny with so much equal firmness and forbearance. He +watched the countenance of Guernache, whenever they met, with +a curious interest. By what secret resource of fortitude and hope +was it that he could command so much elasticity, exhibit so much +cheerfulness, bear with so much meekness, and utter no complaint. +He wondered that the irksome duties which he studiously +thrust upon him, and the frequently brutal language with which +his performances were acknowledged, seemed to produce none +of the cruel effects which he desired. His victim grew neither +sad nor sullen. His violin still was heard resounding merrily at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">- 66 -</a></span> +the instance of his comrades; and still his hearty, whole-souled +laughter rang over the encampment, smiting ungraciously upon +the senses of his basely-minded chief. In vain did this despot +study how to increase and frame new annoyances for his subordinate. +His tyranny contrived daily some new method to make +the poor fellow unhappy. But, consoled by the peculiar secret +which he possessed, of sympathy and comfort, the worthy drummer +bore up cheerfully under his afflictions. He was resolved to +wait patiently the return of Ribault with the promised supplies +for the colony, and meanwhile to submit to his evil destiny without +a murmur. It was always with a secret sense of triumph +that he reminded himself of the near neighborhood of his joys, +and he exulted in the success with which he could baffle nightly +the malice of his superior. But, however docile, the patience +and forbearance of Guernache availed him little. They did not +tend to mitigate the annoyances which he was constantly compelled +to endure. We are now to recall a portion of the preceding +narrative, and to remind our reader of the visit which Captain +Albert paid to the territories of Ouade, and the generous hospitalities +of the King thereof. Guernache had been one of the +party, and the absence of several days had been a serious loss to +him in the delightful intercourse with his dusky bride. He might +naturally hope, after his return from a journey so fatiguing, to be +permitted a brief respite from his regular duties. But this was +not according to the policy of his malignant superior. Some +hours were consumed after arriving at the fort, in disposing of the +provisions which had been obtained. In this labor Guernache +had been compelled to partake with others of his companions. +Whether it was that he betrayed an unusual degree of eagerness +in getting through his task—showing an impatience to escape<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">- 67 -</a></span> +which his enemy detected and resolved to baffle, cannot now be +said; but to his great annoyance and indignation, he was burdened +with a portion of the watch for the night—a duty which +was clearly incumbent only upon those who had not shared in the +fatigues of the expedition. But to expostulate or repine was +alike useless, and Guernache submitted to his destiny with the +best possible grace. The provisions were stored, the gates closed, +the watches set, and the garrison sunk to sleep, leaving our +unhappy musician to pace, for several hours, the weary watch +along the ramparts. How he looked forth into the dense forests +which harbored his Monaletta! How he thought of the weary +watch she kept! What were her fears, her anxieties? Did she +know of his return? Did she look for his coming? The garrison +slept—the woods were mysteriously silent! How delightful it +would be to surprise her in the midst of her dreams, and answer +to her murmurs of reproach—uttered in the sweetest fragmentary +Gallic—“Monaletta! I am here! Here is your own +Guernache!”</p> + +<p>The temptation was perilously sweet! The suggestion was +irresistible; and, in a moment of excited fancy and passion, +Guernache laid down his piece, and leaped the walls of the fortress. +He committed an unhappy error to enjoy a great happiness, +for which the penalties were not slow to come. In the dead of +midnight, the garrison, still in a deep sleep, they were suddenly +aroused in terror by the appalling cry of “fire!” The fort, the +tenements in which they slept, the granary, which had just been +stored with their provisions, were all ablaze, and our Frenchmen +woke in confusion and terror, unknowing where to turn, how to +work, or what to apprehend. Their military stores were saved—their +powder and munitions of war—but the “mils and beanes,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">- 68 -</a></span> +so recently acquired from the granaries of King Ouade, with the +building that contained them, were swept in ashes to the ground.</p> + +<p>This disaster, full of evil in itself, was productive of others, as +it led to the partial discovery of the secret of our drummer. +Guernache was not within the fort when the alarm was given. It +is not improbable that, had he not left his post, the conflagration +would have been arrested in time to save the fort and its provisions. +His absence was noted, and he was discovered, approaching +from the forests, by those who bore forth the goods as they +were rescued from the flames. These were mostly friends of +Guernache, who would have maintained a generous silence; but, +unhappily, Pierre Renaud was also one of the discoverers. This +person not only bore him no good will,—though gratitude for the +service rendered him at the feast of Toya should have bound him +forever to the cause of Guernache,—but he was one who had become +a gross sycophant and the mere creature of the governor. +He knew the hatred which the latter bore to Guernache, and a +sympathizing nature led him promptly to divine the cause. Overjoyed +with the discovery which he had made, the base fellow immediately +carried the secret to his master, and when the first confusion +was over, which followed the disaster, Guernache was taken +into custody, and a day assigned for his trial as a criminal. To +him was ascribed the fire as well as desertion from his post. The +latter fact was unquestionable—the former was inferred. It +might naturally be assumed, indeed, that, if the watch had not +been abandoned, the flames could not have made such fearful +headway. It was fortunate for our Frenchmen that the intercourse +maintained with the Indians had been of such friendly +character. With the first intimation of their misfortune, the +kings, Audusta and Maccou, bringing with them a numerous train<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">- 69 -</a></span> +of followers, came to assist them in the labor of restoration and +repair. “They uttered unto their subjects the speedy diligence +which they were to use in building another house, showing unto +them that the Frenchmen were their loving friends and that they +had made it evident unto them by the gifts and presents which +they had received;—protesting that he whosoever put not his +helping hand to the worke with all his might, should be esteemed +as unprofitable.” The entreaties and commands of the two kings +were irresistible. But for this, our Huguenots, “being farre from +all succours, and in such extremitie,” would have been, in the +language of their own chronicler, “quite and cleane out of all +hope.” The Indians went with such hearty good will to the work, +and in such numbers, that, in less than twelve hours, the losses +of the colonists were nearly all repaired. New houses were built; +new granaries erected; and, among the fabrics of this busy period, +it was not forgotten to construct a keep—a close, dark, +heavy den of logs, designed as a prison, into which, as soon as his +Indian friends had departed, our poor fiddler, Guernache, was +thrust, neck and heels! The former were rewarded and went +away well satisfied with what they had seen and done. They little +conjectured the troubles which awaited their favorite. He was +soon brought to trial under a number of charges—disobedience of +orders, neglect of duty, desertion of his post, and treason! To +all of these, the poor fellow pleaded “<em>not guilty</em>;” and, with one +exception, with a good conscience. But he had not the courage +to confess the truth, and to declare where he had been, and on +what mission, when he left the fort, on the night of the fire. He +had committed a great fault, the consequences of which were +serious, and might have been still more so; and the pleas of invariable +good conduct, in his behalf, and the assertion of his innocence<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">- 70 -</a></span> +of all evil intention, did not avail. His judges were not his +friends; he was found guilty and remanded to his dungeon, to +await the farther caprices and the judgment of his enemy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">- 71 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="VI" id="VI">VI.</a><br /> +THE LEGEND OF GUERNACHE.—C<span class="simcap">HAP</span>. IV.<br /> +<span class="smfont">THE DUNGEON AND THE SCOURGE.</span></h2> + +<div class="chapintro"> +<p>Being the continuation of the melancholy Legend of Guernache.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> absence of Guernache from his usual place of meeting +with Monaletta, brought the most impatient apprehension to the +heart of the devoted woman. As the time wore away—as night +after night passed without his coming, she found the suspense +unendurable, and gradually drew nigh to the fortress of the +Huguenots. More than once had he cautioned her against incurring +a peril equally great to them both. But her heart was +already too full of fears to be restrained by such dangers as he +alone could have foreseen; and she now lurked about the fort at +nightfall, and continued to hover around long after dawn, keeping +watch upon its walls and portal. So close and careful, however, +was this watch, that she herself remained undetected. +One day, however, to her great satisfaction, one of the inmates +came forth whom she knew to be a friend and associate of Guernache. +This was one Lachane, affectionately called <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">La Chere</i><a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">- 72 -</a></span> +by the soldiery, by whom he was very much beloved. Lachane +was a sergeant, a good soldier, brave as a lion, but with as tender +a heart, when the case required it, as ever beat in human bosom. +He had long since learned to sympathize with the fate of Guernache, +and had made frequent attempts to mollify the hostile +feelings of his captain, in behalf of his friend. To the latter he +had given much good counsel; and, but for <em>his</em> earnest entreaties +and injunctions, he would have revealed to Albert the true +reason for the absence of Guernache from his post. But Guernache +dreaded, as well he might, that the revelation would only +increase the hate and rage of his superior, and, perhaps, draw +down a portion of his vengeance upon the head of the unoffending +woman. Lachane acquiesced in his reasoning, and was +silent. But he was not the less active in bringing consolation, +whenever he could, to the respective parties. He afforded to +Monaletta, whose approach to the fort he suspected, an opportunity +of meeting with him; and their interviews, once begun, +were regularly continued. Day by day he contrived to convey +to her the messages, and to inform her of the condition of the +prisoner; to whom, in turn, he bore all necessary intelligence, +and every fond avowal which was sent by Monaletta. But the +loving and devoted wife was not satisfied with so frigid a mode +of intercourse; and, in an evil hour, Lachane, whose own heart +was too tender to resist the entreaties of one so fond, was persuaded +to admit her within the fort, and into the dungeon of +Guernache. We may censure his prudence and hers, but who +shall venture to condemn either? The first visit led to a second, +the second to a third, and, at length, the meetings between the +lovers took place nightly. Lachane, often entreating, often exhorting, +was yet always complying. Monaletta was admitted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">- 73 -</a></span> +at midnight, and conducted forth by the dawn in safety; and +thus meeting, Guernache soon forgot his own danger, and was +readily persuaded by Monaletta to believe that she stood in +none. The hours passed with them as with any other children, +who, sitting on the shores of the sea, in the bright sunset, see +not the rising of the waters, and feel not the falling of the night, +until they are wholly overwhelmed. They were happy, and in +their happiness but too easily forgot that there was such a person +as Captain Albert in their little paradise.</p> + +<p>But the pitcher which goes often to the well, is at last broken. +They were soon destined to realize the proverb in their own +experience. Something in the movements of Lachane, awakened +the suspicions of Pierre Renaud, whose active hostility to Guernache +has been shown already. This man now bore within the +fortress the unenviable reputation of being the captain’s spy upon +the people. This miserable creature, his suspicion’s once +awakened, soon addressed all his abilities to the task of detecting +the connection of Lachane with his prisoner; and it was not +long before he had the malignant satisfaction of seeing him +accompany another into the dungeon of Guernache. Though it +was after midnight when the discovery was made, it was of a kind +too precious to suffer delay in revealing it, and he hurried at once +to the captain’s quarters, well aware that, with such intelligence +as he brought, he might safely venture to disturb him at any +hour. But his eagerness did not lessen his caution, and every +step was taken with the greatest deliberation and care. Albert +was immediately aroused; but, unwilling, by a premature alarm, +to afford the offenders an opportunity to escape, or to place +themselves in any situation to defy scrutiny, some time was lost +in making arrangements. The progress of Albert, and his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">- 74 -</a></span> +satellites, going the rounds, was circuitous. The sentries were +doubled with singular secrecy and skill. Such soldiers as were +conceived to be most particularly bound to him, were awakened, +and placed in positions most convenient for action and observation;—for +Albert and Renaud, alike, conscious as it would seem +of their own demerits, had come to suspect many of the soldiers +of treachery and insurrection. These, perhaps, are always the +fears most natural to a tyranny. Accordingly, with everything +prepared for an explosion of the worst description, Captain Albert, +in complete armor, made his appearance upon the scene.</p> + +<p>Meantime, however, the proceedings of Renaud had not been +carried on without, at length, commanding the attention and +awakening the fears of so good a soldier as Lachane. Having +discovered, on his rounds, that the guards were doubled, and that +the sentinel at the sally-port had not only received a companion, +but that the individual by whom Monaletta had been admitted +was now removed to make way for another, he hurried away to +the dungeon of Guernache. Here, whispering hurriedly his +apprehensions, he endeavored to hasten the departure of the +Indian woman. But his efforts were made too late. He was +arrested, even while thus busied, by the Commandant himself, +who, followed by Renaud and two other soldiers, suddenly came +upon him from the rear of the building, where they had been +harboring in ambush. Lachane was taken into immediate custody. +An uproar followed, the alarm was given to the garrison, torches +were brought, and Guernache, with the devoted Monaletta, were +dragged forth together from the dungeon. She was wrapped up +closely in the cloak of Lachane, but when Renaud waved a torch +before her eyes, in order to discover who she was, she boldly +threw aside the disguise, and stood revealed to the malignant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">- 75 -</a></span> +scrutiny of the astonished but delighted despot. Upon beholding +her, the fury of Albert knew no bounds. The secret of Guernache +was now apparent; and the man whose vanity she had +outraged, by preferring another in the dance, was now in full +possession of the power to revenge himself upon both offenders. +In that very moment, remembering his mortification, he formed +a resolution of vengeance, which declared all the venom of a +mean and malignant nature. He needed no art beyond his own +to devise an ingenious torture for his victim. A few words sufficed +to instruct the willing Renaud in the duty of the executioner. +He commanded that the Indian woman should be scourged from +the fort in the presence of the garrison. Then it was that the +sullen soul of Guernache shuddered and succumbed beneath his +tortures. With husky and trembling accents, he appealed to his +tyrant in behalf of the woman of his heart.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Captain Albert, as you are a man, do not this cruel +thing. Monaletta is innocent of any crime but that of loving +one so worthless as Guernache. She is my wife! Do with me +as you will, but spare her—have mercy on the innocent woman!”</p> + +<p>“Ah! you can humble yourself now, insolent. I have found +the way, at last, to make you feel. You shall feel yet more. I +will crush you to the dust. What, ho! there, Pierre Renaud! +Have I not said? the lash! the lash! Wherefore do ye linger?”</p> + +<p>“Do not, Captain Albert! I implore you, for your own sake, +do not lay the accursed lash upon this young and innocent creature. +Remember! She is a woman—a princess—a blood relation +of our good friend, King Audusta. Upon me—upon my +back bestow the punishment, but spare her—spare her, in +mercy!”</p> + +<p>But the prayers and supplications of the wretched man were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">- 76 -</a></span> +met only by denunciation and scorn. The base nature of Albert +felt only his own mortification. His appetite for revenge darkened +his vision wholly. He saw neither his policy nor humanity; +and the creatures of his will were not permitted to hesitate in +carrying out his brutal resolution. Armed with little hickories +from the neighboring woods, they awaited but his command, and +with its repeated utterance, the lash descended heavily upon the +uncovered shoulders of the unhappy woman. With the first stroke, +she bounded from the earth with a piercing shriek, at once of +entreaty, of agony, and horror. Up to this moment, neither she, +nor, indeed, any of the spectators, except Renaud, and possibly +Guernache himself, had imagined that Albert would put in execution +a purpose so equally impolitic and cruel. But when the blow +fell upon the almost fair and naked shoulders of the woman—when +her wild, girlish, almost childlike shriek rent the air, then +the long suppressed agonies of Guernache broke forth in a passion +of fury that looked more like the excess of the madman than the +mere ebullition, however intense, of a simply desperate man. +He had struggled long at endurance. He had borne, hitherto, +without flinching, everything in the shape of penalty which +his petty tyrant could fasten upon him—much more, indeed, +than the ordinary nature, vexed with frequent injustice, is +willing to endure. But, in the fury and agony of that +humiliating moment, all restraints of prudence or fear were +forgotten, or trampled under foot. He flung himself loose from +the men who held him, and darting upon the individual by whom +the merciless blow had been struck, he felled him to the earth by +a single blow of his Herculean fist. But he was permitted to do +no more. In another instant, grappled by a dozen powerful +arms, he was borne to the earth, and secured with cords which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">- 77 -</a></span> +not only bound his limbs but were drawn so tightly as to cut remorselessly +into the flesh. Here he lay, and his agony may be far +more easily conceived than described, thus compelled to behold +the further tortures of the woman of his heart, without being +able to struggle and to die in her defence. His own tortures +were forgotten, as he witnessed hers. In vain would his ears have +rejected the terrible sound, stroke upon stroke, which testified the +continuance of this brutal outrage upon humanity. Without +mercy was the punishment bestowed; and, bleeding at every +blow from the biting scourge, the wretched innocent was at +length tortured out of the garrison. But with that first shriek +to which she gave utterance, and which declared rather the +mental horror than the bodily pain which she suffered from +such a cruel degradation, she ceased any longer to acknowledge +her suffering. Oh! very powerful for endurance is the strength +of a loving heart! The rest of the punishment she bore with +the silence of one who suffers martyrdom in the approving eye of +heaven; as if, beholding the insane agonies of Guernache, she +had steeled herself to bear with any degree of torture rather +than increase his sufferings by her complaints. In this manner, +and thus silent under her own pains, she was expelled from the +fortress. She was driven to the margin of the cleared space by +which it was surrounded. She heard the shouts which drove her +thence, and heard nothing farther. She had barely strength to +totter forward, like the deer with a mortal hurt, to the secret cover +of the forest, when she sank down in exhaustion;—nature kindly +interposing with insensibility, to save her from those physical +sufferings which she could no longer feel and live!</p> + +<p>With the morning of the next day, Guernache was brought +before the judgment-seat of Albert. The charges were sufficiently<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">- 78 -</a></span> +serious under which he was arraigned. He had neglected +his duty—had permitted, if not caused, the destruction of the +fort by fire—had violated the laws, resisted their execution, and +used violence against the officer of justice! In this last proven +offence all of these which had been alleged were assumed against +him. He was convicted by the rapid action of his superior, as a +traitor and a mutineer; and, to the horror of his friends, and the +surprise of all his comrades, was condemned to expiate his faults +by death upon the gallows. Few of the garrison had anticipated +so sharp a judgment. They knew that Guernache had been +faulty, but they also knew what had been his provocations. They +felt that his faults had been the fruit of the injustice under which +he suffered. But they dared not interpose. The prompt severity +with which Captain Albert carried out his decisions—the merciless +character of his vindictiveness—discouraged even remonstrance. +Guernache, as we have shown, was greatly beloved, and had many +true friends among his people; but they were taken by surprise; +and, so much stunned and confounded by the rapidity with which +events had taken place, that they could only look on the terrible +proceedings with a mute and self-reproachful horror. The transition +from the seat of judgment to the place of execution was +instantaneous. Guernache appealed in vain to the justice of +Ribault, whose coming from France was momently expected. +This denied, he implored the less ignoble doom of the sword or +the shot, in place of that upon the scaffold. But it did not suit +the mean malice of Albert to omit any of his tortures. Short +was the shrift allowed the victim;—ten minutes for prayer—and +sure the cord which stifled it forever. In deep horror, in a +hushed terror, which itself was full of horror, his gloomy comrades +gathered at the place of execution, by the commands of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">- 79 -</a></span> +their petty despot. There was no concert among them, by which +the incipient indignation and fury in their bosoms might have declared +itself in rescue and commotion. One groan, the involuntary +expression of a terror that had almost ceased to breathe, +answered the convulsive motion which indicated the last struggle +of their beloved comrade.<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> Then it was that they began to feel +that they could have died for him, and might have saved him. +But it was now too late; and prudence timely interposed to +prevent a rash explosion. The armed myrmidons of Albert +were about them. He, himself, in complete armor, with his +satellite, Pierre Renaud, also fully armed, standing beside him; +and it was evident that every preparation had been made to quell +insubordination, and punish the refractory with as sharp and +sudden a judgment as that which had just descended upon their +comrade.</p> + +<p>The poor Monaletta, crouching in the cover of the woods, +recovered from her stupor in the cool air of the morning, but it +was sunset before she could regain the necessary strength to +move. Then it was, that, with the natural tendency of a loving +heart, curious only about the fate of him for whom alone her +heart desired life, she bent her steps towards that cruel fortress +which had been the source of so much misery to both. Very +feeble and slow was her progress, but it was still too rapid; it +brought her too soon to a knowledge of that final blow which fell, +with worse terrors than the scourge, upon the soul. She arrived<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">- 80 -</a></span> +in season to behold the form of the unfortunate Guernache, +abandoned by all, and totally lifeless, waving in the wind from +the branches of a perished oak, directly in front of the fortress. +The deepest sorrows of the heart are those which are born dumb. +There are some woes which the lip can never speak, nor the pen +describe. There are some agonies over which we draw the veil +without daring to look upon them, lest we freeze to stone in the +terrible inspection. There is no record of that grief which +seized upon the heart of the poor Indian woman, Monaletta, as +she gazed upon the beloved but unconscious form of her husband. +She approached it not, though watching it from sunset till the +gray twilight lapsed away into the denser shadows of the night. +But, with the dawn of day, when the Frenchmen looked forth +from the fortress for the body of their comrade, it had disappeared. +They searched for it in vain. From that day Monaletta disappeared +also. She was neither to be found in the neighboring +woods, nor among the people of her kindred. But, long afterwards +they told, with shuddering and apprehension, of a voice +upon the midnight air, which resembled that of their murdered +comrade, followed always by the piercing shriek of a woman, +which reminded them of the dreadful utterance of the Indian +woman, when first smitten upon the shoulders by the lash of the +ruffian. Thus endeth the legend of Guernache, and the Princess +Monaletta.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">- 81 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="VII" id="VII">VII.</a><br /> +LACHANE, THE DELIVERER.</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">But</span> the sacrifice of Guernache brought no peace to the colony. +Our Huguenots were scarcely Christians. They were of a rude, +wild temper, to which the constant civil wars prevailing in France +had brought a prejudicial training. Our chronicler tells us nothing +of their devotions. We hear sometimes that they prayed, +but rather for the benefit of the savages than their own. Their +public religious services were ostentatious ceremonials, designed to +impress the red-men with an idea of their superior faith and worship. +Laudonniere, who writes for them, and was one of their +number, seldom deals in a religious phraseology, which he might +reasonably be expected to have done as one of a people leaving +their homes for the sake of conscience. But there is good reason +to suppose that, with our Huguenots, as in the case of the New +England Puritans, the idea of religion was more properly the idea +of party. It was a struggle for political power that moved the +Dissenters, as well in France as England, quite as much as any +feeling of denial or privation on the score of their religion. This +pretext was made to justify a cause which might have well found +its sanction in its intrinsic merits; but which it was deemed politic +to urge on the higher grounds of conscience and duty to God.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">- 82 -</a></span> +Certain it is that we do not anywhere see, in the history of the +colony established by Coligny, any proofs of that strong devotional +sentiment which has been urged as the motive to its establishment. +Doubtless, this was a prevailing motive, along with +others, for Coligny himself; but the adventurers chosen to begin +the settlement for the reception of the persecuted sect in Florida, +were evidently not very deeply imbued with religion of any kind. +They were a wild and reckless body of men, whose deeds were +wholly in conflict with the pure and lovely profession of sentiment +which has been made in their behalf. How far their deeds are to +be justified by the provocations which they received, and the tyrannies +which they endured, may be a question; but there can be +no question with regard to the general temper which they exhibited—the +tone of their minds—the feelings of their hearts—by +all of which they are shown as stubborn, insubordinate and selfish. +It is not denied that they had great provocation to violence; but +Laudonniere himself admits that they were, in all probability, +“not so obedient to their captain as they should have been.” +“Misfortune,” he adds, “or rather the just judgment of God +would have it that those which could not bee overcome by fire nor +water, should be undone by their ownselves. This is the common +fashion of men, which cannot continue in one state, and had +rather to overthrow themselves, than not to attempt some new +thing dayly.”</p> + +<p>Not only was no peace in the colony after the execution of +Guernache, but the evil spirit, in the mood of Captain Albert, +was very far from being laid. “His madness,” in the language +of the chronicler, “seemed to increase from day to day.” He +was not content to punish Guernache; he determined to extend +his severities to the friends and associates of the unhappy victim.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">- 83 -</a></span> +Some of these he only frowned upon and threatened; but his +threats were apt to be fulfilled. Others he brought up for +punishment;—sympathy with his enemy, being a prime offence +against the dignity and safety of our petty sovereign. Among +those who had thus rendered themselves obnoxious, Lachane was +necessarily a conspicuous object. In the same unwise and violent +spirit in which he had pursued Guernache, Captain Albert was +determined to proceed against this man, who was really equally +inoffensive with Guernache, and quite as much beloved among +the people. But the aspect of the two cases was not precisely +the same. The friends of Lachane, warned by the fate of Guernache, +were somewhat more upon their guard,—more watchful +and suspicious,—and inclined to make the support and maintenance +of the one, a tribute to the manes of the other. Besides, +Pierre Renaud, who had some how been the deadly enemy of +Guernache, had no hostility to Lachane. The latter, too, had +not so singularly offended the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">amour propre</i> of Captain Albert, +by his successful rivalry among the damsels of Audusta. They +had not so decidedly shown the preference for him as they had +for the fiddler, over his superior. No doubt he was preferred, for +he, too, like Guernache, was a person very superior in form and +physiognomy to Albert. But, if they felt any preference for the +former, they had not so offensively declared it, as the indiscreet +Monaletta had done; and, with these qualifying circumstances, +in his favor, Lachane was brought up for judgment. His offence, +such as it was, did not admit of denial. Some palliation was +attempted by a reference to the claims of Guernache, the excellence +of his character, his usefulness, and the general favor he +had found equally among the red-men and his own people. +These suggestions were unwisely made. They censured equally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">- 84 -</a></span> +the justice and the policy of the tyrant, and thus irritated anew +his self-esteem. He thought himself exceedingly merciful, +accordingly, in banishing the offender, whom it was just as easy +and quite as agreeable to him, to hang. Lachane was accordingly +sentenced to perpetual exile to a desert island along the sea. To +this point he was conducted in melancholy state, by the trusted +creatures of the despot.</p> + +<p>It is not known to us at the present day, though the matter is +still, probably, within the province of the antiquarian, to which of +the numerous sea islands of the neighborhood the unhappy man +was banished. It was one divided from the colony, and from the +main, by an arm of the sea of such breadth, and so open to the +most violent action of the waves, that any return of the exile by +swimming, or without assistance from his comrades, was not apprehended +or hoped for. His little desolate domain is described +as about three leagues from Fort Charles, as almost entirely barren, +a mere realm of sand, treeless and herbless, without foliage +sufficient to shelter from sun and storm, or to provide against famine +by its fruits. Should this island ever be identified with +that of Lachane’s place of exile, it should receive his name to +the exclusion of every other.</p> + +<p>Here, then, hopeless and companionless, was the unhappy victim +destined to remain, until death should bring him that escape +which the mercy of his fellows had denied. Yet he was not to +be abandoned wholly; a certain pittance of provisions was allowed +him that he might not absolutely die of famine. This allowance +was calculated nicely against his merest necessities. It was to be +brought him on the return of every eighth day, and this period +was that, accordingly, on which, alone, could he be permitted to +gaze upon the face of a fellow being and a countryman.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">- 85 -</a></span></p> + +<p>Certainly, a more cruel punishment, adopted in a mere wanton +exercise of despotic power, could not have been devised for +any victim by the ingenuity of any superior. Death, even the +death by which Guernache had perished, had been a doom more +merciful; for if, as was the case, the colonists at Fort Charles +themselves had already begun to find their condition of solitude +almost beyond endurance—if they, living as they did together, +cheered by the exercise of old sports and homely converse, the +ties and assurances of support and friendship, the consciousness +of strength—duties which were necessary and not irksome, and +the interchange of thoughts which enliven the desponding temper;—if, +with all these resources in their favor, they had sunk +into gloomy discontent, eager for change, and anxious for the returning +vessels of Ribault, that they might abandon for their old, +the new home which they found so desolate; what must have +been the sufferings and agonies of him whom they had thus banished, +even from such solace as they themselves possessed—uncheered +even by the familiar faces and the well-known voices of +his fellows, and deprived of all the resources whereby ingenuity +might devise some methods of relief, and totally unblessed by any +of those exercises which might furnish a substitute for habitual +employments. No sentence, more than this, could have shown +to our Frenchmen so completely the utter absence of sympathy +between themselves and their commander; could have shown how +slight was the value which he put upon their lives, and with what +utter contempt he regarded their feelings and affections. Albert +little dreamed how actively he was at work, while thus feeding his +morbid passions, in arousing the avenging spirit by which they +were to be scourged and punished.</p> + +<p>These rash and cruel proceedings of their chief produced a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">- 86 -</a></span> +great and active sensation among the colonists—a sensation not +the less deep and active, because a sense of their own danger kept +them from its open expression. Had Albert pardoned Lachane, +or let him off with some slight punishment, it is not improbable +that the matter would have ended there; and the cruel proceedings +against Guernache might have been forgiven if not forgotten. +But these were kept alive by those which followed against their +other favorite; and some of the boldest, feeling how desperate +their condition threatened to become, now ventured to expostulate +with their superior upon his wanton and unwise severities. +But they were confounded to find that they themselves incurred +the danger of Lachane, in the attempt to plead against it. It +was one of the miserable weaknesses in the character of Captain +Albert, to suppose his authority in danger whenever he was approached +with the language of expostulation. To question his +justice seemed to him to defy his power—to entreat for mercy, +such a showing of hostility as to demand punishment also. He +resented, as an impertinence to himself, all such approaches; and +his answer to the prayers of his people was couched in the language +of contumely and threat. They retired from his presence +accordingly, with feelings of increased dislike and disgust, and +with a discontent which was the more dangerous as they succeeded +most effectually in controlling its exhibition.</p> + +<p>But if such was the state of the relations between Albert and +his people, how much worse did they become, when, at the close of +the first eighth day after the banishment of Lachane, it was discovered +that the orders for providing him with the allowance of food +had been suspended, or countermanded. The captain was silent; +and no one, unless at his bidding, could venture to carry the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">- 87 -</a></span> +poor exile his allotted pittance. The eighth day passed. The +men murmured among themselves, and their murmurs soon encouraged +the utterance of a bolder voice. Nicholas Barré, a +man of great firmness and intelligence, one of their number, at +length presented himself before the captain. He boldly reminded +him of the condition of Lachane, and urged him to hasten his +supplies of food before he perished. But the self-esteem and +consequence of Albert, under provocation, became a sort of madness. +He answered the suggestion with indignity and insult.</p> + +<p>“Begone!” he exclaimed, “and trouble me no more with +your complaints. What is it to me if the scoundrel does perish? +I mean that he shall perish! He deserves his fate! I shall be +glad when ye can tell me that he no longer needs his allowance. +Away! you deserve a like punishment. Let me hear another +word on this subject, and the offender shall share his fate!”</p> + +<p>The insulting answer was accompanied by all the tokens +of brute anger and severity. The most furious oaths sufficed +equally to show his insanity and earnestness. His, indeed, +was now an insanity such as seizes usually upon those +whom God is preparing for destruction. Barré deemed it only +prudent to retire from the presence of a rage which it was no +longer politic to provoke; but, in his soul, the purpose was +already taking form and strength, which contemplated resistance +to a tyranny so wild and reckless. He was not alone in this +purpose. The sentiment of resistance and disaffection was +growing all around him, and it only needed one who should +embody it for successful exercise. But, for this, time was requisite. +To decide for action, on the part of a conspiracy, it is +first required that what is the common sentiment shall become +the common necessity.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">- 88 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“Meanwhile,” said Barré, “our poor comrade must not +starve!”</p> + +<p>This was said to certain of his associates when they met that +night in secret. When two or three get together to complain of +a tyranny, resistance is already begun. They echoed his sentiments, +and arrangements were at once made for transmitting provisions +to the exile. A canoe was procured for this purpose, +and Barré, with one other comrade, set forth secretly at midnight +on their generous and perilous mission.</p> + +<p>The night was calm and beautiful—the sea, unruffled by a +breeze, lay smooth as a mirror between the lonely island and the +main. Though barren, and without shrub or tree, the island +looked lovely also—a very realm of faery, in the silver smiling +of the moon. With active and sinewy limbs, cheered by the +sight, our adventurous comrades pulled towards it, reaching it +with little effort, the current favoring their course. What, however, +was their surprise and consternation, when, on reaching the +islet, there was no answer to their summons. Drawing their +boat upon the shore, they soon compassed the little empire with +hasty footsteps; but they found nothing of the exile. The islet +lay bare and bright in the unshadowed moonlight, so that, whether +asleep or dead, his prostrate form must still have been +perceptible. What bewildering imaginations seized upon the +seekers? What had become of their comrade? Had he been +carried off by the savages, by a foreign vessel, or, in his desperation, +had he cast himself into the devouring sea? What +more probable? Yet, as there was no answer to their questioning, +there was no solution of their doubts. Hopeless of his fate, +after a frequent and a weary search, and dreading the worst, they +re-entered their canoe, and re-crossed the bay in safety—their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">- 89 -</a></span> +hearts more than ever filled with disgust and indignation at the +cruelty and malice of their commander.</p> + +<p>But their quest was not wholly hopeless. When they had +reached the main, and while approaching the garrison, they were +greatly surprised by the sudden appearance of a human form +between the fortress and the river. They remembered the poor +Guernache, and, for a moment, a fearful superstition fastened +upon their hearts. At first, the fugitive seemed to be approaching +them; but, in an instant, wheeling about, as if in panic, he +darted into the woods, and sought concealment in the thicket. +This re-inspired them. They gave chase instantly. The efforts +of the pursued were feebly made, and they soon overtook him. +To their great relief and surprise, they found him to be the person +they had been seeking—the banished and half-starved Lachane!</p> + +<p>His story was soon told. He was nearly perished of hunger. +Beyond the crude berries and bitter roots which he had gathered +in the woods, he had not eaten for three days. The food which +had been furnished him from the garrison had been partly carried +from him by birds or beasts—he knew not which—while he +slept; and, in the failure of his promised supplies, he had become +desperate.</p> + +<p>“For that matter,” said the wretched exile, “I had become +desperate before. Food was not my only or my chief want. I +wanted shade from the desolating sun. I wanted rescue from +the heavy hand of fire upon my brain; and, by day, I could +scarcely keep from quenching the furnace that seemed boiling in +my blood, by plunging deep down into the bowels of the sea. By +night, when the fiery feeling passed away, then I yearned, above +all, for the face and voice of man. It was this craving which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">- 90 -</a></span> +made me resolve to brave the death which threatened me which-ever +way I turned—that, if I perished, it should still be in the +struggle once more to behold the people of my love.”</p> + +<p>How closely did they press the poor fellow to their hearts!</p> + +<p>“You should not have perished,” said Nicholas Barré, boldly. +“I, for one, have become tired of this tyranny, under which we +no longer breathe in safety. I am resolved to bear it no longer +than I can. There are others who have resolved like me. But +of this hereafter. Tell us, Lachane, how you contrived to swim +across this great stretch of sea?”</p> + +<p>“By the mercy of God which made me desperate—which +made the seas calm—which gave me a favoring current, and +which threw yon fragment of a ship’s spar within my reach. +But I nearly sunk. Twice did I feel the waters going over me; +but I thought of France, and all, and the strength came back to +me. I can say no more. I am weak—very weak. Give me to +eat.”</p> + +<p>A flask of generous wine with which they had provided themselves, +cheered and inspirited the sufferer. They laid him down +at the foot of a broad palmetto, while one of them brought +food from the canoe. Much it rejoiced them to see him eat. +Ere he had satisfied his hunger, Lachane spoke again as follows:</p> + +<p>“I rejoice to hear that you, and others, have resolved to submit +no longer to this tyranny. It was not the desire of food, or +friendship, only, that strengthened me to throw myself into the +sea, in the desperate desire to see the garrison once more. But +while my head flamed beneath the sun’s downward blaze upon that +waste of sand, while mine eyes burned like living coals fresh from +the furnace, and my blood leaped and bounded like a mad thing +about my temples and in all my veins, I saw all the terrible sufferings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">- 91 -</a></span> +of our poor Guernache anew. I heard his voice—his bitter +reproaches—and then the terrible scream of the poor Indian woman +when the heavy rods descended upon her shoulder. Then I +felt that I had not done what my soul commanded!—that I had +abandoned my innocent comrade like a lamb to the butcher. I +swore to do myself justice—to seek the garrison at Fort Charles, +if, for no other purpose, to have revenge upon Albert. I verily +believe, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">mes amis</i>, that it was that oath that strengthened me in +the sea—that lifted me when the waves went over me, and my +heart was sinking with my body. I thought of the blows which +might yet be struck for vengeance and freedom. I thought of +Guernache and his murderer,—and I rose,—I struck out. I had +no fear! I got a strength which I had not at the beginning; +and I am here; the merciful God be praised forever more—ready +to strike a fair blow at the tyrant, though I die the moment +after!”</p> + +<p>“That blow must now be struck very soon,” said Nicholas +Barré. “We are no longer safe. Albert rules us just as it +pleases him, by his mere humor, and not according to the laws or +usages of France. Every day witnesses against him. Some new +tyranny—some new cruelty—adds hourly to our afflictions, and +makes life, on such terms, endurable no longer. We are not men +if we submit to it.”</p> + +<p>“Hear me,” said Lachane; “you have not laid the plan for +his overthrow?”</p> + +<p>“Not yet! But we are ready for it. All’s ripe. The proper +spirit is at work.”</p> + +<p>“Let it work! All right; but look you, comrades, it is for +this hand to strike the blow. I demand the right, because Guernache<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">- 92 -</a></span> +was my closest friend. I demand it in compensation for +my own sufferings.”</p> + +<p>“It is yours, Lachane! You have the right!”</p> + +<p>“Thanks, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">mes amis</i>! And now for the plan. You have resolved +on none yourselves. Hearken to mine.”</p> + +<p>They lent willing ears, and Lachane continued. His counsel +was that Captain Albert should be advised of an unusual multitude +of deer on one of the “hunting islands” in the neighborhood. +These islands are remarkable—some of them—for the +luxuriance and beauty of their forests. Here, the deer were +accustomed to assemble in great numbers, particularly when +pressed by clouds of Indian hunters along the main; nor were +they loth to visit them at other seasons, when the tides were low +and the seas smooth. Swimming across the dividing rivers, and +arms of the sea, at such periods, in little groups of five or ten, +they found here an almost certain refuge and favorite browsing +patches. To one of these islands, Barré, or some other less objectionable +person, was to beguile Captain Albert. His fondness +for the chase was known, and was gratified on all convenient +occasions. He was to be advised of numerous herds upon the +island, which passed to it the night before. They had been seen +crossing in the moonlight from the main. Lachane, meanwhile, +possessing himself of the canoe which his friends had just employed, +armed with weapons which they were to provide, was to +place himself in a convenient shelter upon the island, and take +such a position as would enable him to seize upon the first safe +opportunity for striking the blow. Numerous details, not necessary +for our purpose, but essential to that of the conspirators, +were suggested, discussed, and finally agreed upon, or rejected. +Lachane simply concluded with repeating his demand for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">- 93 -</a></span> +privilege of the first blow—a claim farther insisted upon, as, in +the event of failure, he who had already incurred the doom of +outlawry, and had offended against hope, might thus save others +harmless, who occupied a position of greater security. We need +not follow the arrangement of the parties. Enough, that, when +they were discussed fully, the three separated—Barré and his +companion to regain the fort, and Lachane to embark in the +canoe, ere day should dawn, for the destined islet where he was +equally to find security and vengeance.</p> + +<p>Everything succeeded to the wishes of the conspirators. Albert, +who was passionately fond of the chase, was easily persuaded by +the representations of Barré and his comrades. The pinnace +was fitted out at an early hour, and, attended by the two conspirators, +and some half dozen other persons, the greater number +of whom were supposed to be as hostile to the tyrant as themselves, +the Captain set forth, little dreaming that he should be +the hunted instead of the hunter. Pierre Renaud, by whom he +was also accompanied, was the only person of the party upon +whom he could rely. But neither his creature nor himself had +the slightest apprehension of the danger. The jealousies of the +despot seemed for the moment entirely at rest, and, as if in the +exercise of a pleasant novelty, Albert threw aside all the terrors +of his authority. He could jest when the fit was on him. He, +too, had his moments of play; a sort of feline faculty, in the +exercise of which the cat and the tiger seem positively amiable. +His jests were echoed by his men, and their laughter gratified +him. But there was one exception to the general mirth, which +arrested his attention. Nicholas Barré alone preserved a stern, +unbroken composure, which the gay humor of his superior failed +entirely to overcome. Nothing so much vexes superiority as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">- 94 -</a></span> +that it should condescend in vain; and the silence and coldness +of Barré, and the utter insensibility with which he heard the +good things of his captain, and which occasioned the ready +laughter of all the rest, finally extorted a comment from Albert, +which gave full utterance to his spleen.</p> + +<p>“By my life, Lieutenant Barré,”—such was the rank of this +conspirator—“but that I know thee better, I should hold thee to +be one of those unhappy wretches to whom all merriment is a +hateful thing—to whom a clever jest gives offence only, and +whom a cheerful laugh sends off sullenly to bed. Pray, if it +be not too serious a humor, tell us the cause of thy present +dullness.”</p> + +<p>“Verily, Captain Albert,” replied the person addressed, fixing +his eyes steadily upon him, and speaking in the most deliberate +accents, “I was thinking of the deer that we shall strike to-day. +Doubtless, he is even now making as merry as thyself among his +comrades—little dreaming that the hunter hath his thoughts +already fixed upon the choice morsels of his flanks, which, a few +hours hence, shall be smoking above the fire. Truly, are we but +little wiser than the thoughtless deer. The merriest of us may +be struck as soon. The man hath as few securities from the +morrow as the beast that runs.”</p> + +<p>Captain Albert was not the most sagacious tyrant in the world, +or the moral reflections of our conspirator might have tended to +his disquiet. He saw no peculiar significance in the remark, +though the matter of it was all well remembered, when the subsequent +events came to be known. Little, indeed, did the victim +then dream of the fate which lay in wait for him. He laughed +at the shallow reflection of Barré, which seemed so equally mistimed +and unmeaning, and his merriment increased with every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">- 95 -</a></span> +stroke of the oar which sent the pinnace towards the scene chosen +for the tragedy. All his severities were thrown aside; never had +he shown himself more gracious; and, though his good humor +was rather the condescension of one who is secure in his authority, +and can resume his functions at any moment, than the proof of +any sympathy with his comrades, yet he seemed willing for once +that it should not lose any of its pleasant quality by any frequent +exhibition of his usual caprice. But for an occasional sarcasm +in which he sometimes indulged, and by which he continued to +keep alive the antipathies of the conspirators, the gentler mood +in which he now suffered them to behold him, might have rendered +them reluctant to prosecute their purpose. They might have +relented, even at the last moment, had they been prepared to +believe that his present good humor was the fruit of any sincere +relentings in him. But he did not succeed to this extent, and, +with a single significant look to his comrades, the stern Nicholas +Barré showed to them that he, at least, was firm in the secret +purpose which they had in view. His silence and gravity for a +time served to amuse his superior, who exercised his wit at the +expense of the sullen soldier, little dreaming, all the while, at +what a price he should be required to pay for his temporary +indulgence. But as Barré continued in his mood, the pride of +the haughty superior was at length hurt; and, when they reached +the shore, the insolence of Albert had resumed much of its old +ascendancy.</p> + +<p>Albert was the first to spring to land. He was impatient to +begin the chase, of which he was passionately fond. The sport, +as conducted in that day and region, was after a very simple +fashion. It consisted rather in a judicious distribution of the +hunters, at various places of watch, than in the possession of any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">- 96 -</a></span> +particular skill of weapon or speed of foot. The island was +small—the woods not very dense or intricate, and the only outlet +of escape was across the little arm of the sea which separated +the island from the main. The hunters were required to watch +this passage, with a few other avenues from the forest. We need +not observe their order or arrangement. It will be enough to +note that Barré chose as the sentinel left in charge of the boat +one of the firmest of the conspirators. This was a person named +Lamotte—a small but fiery spirit—a man of equal passion and +vindictiveness, who had suffered frequent indignities from Albert, +which his own inferior position as a common soldier had compelled +him to endure without complaint. But he was not the less sensible +of his hurts, because not suffered to complain of them; and +his hatred only assumed a more intense and unforgiving character, +because it seemed cut off from all the outlets to revenge.</p> + +<p>The arrangements of the hunters all completed, they began to +skirt slowly the woody region by which the centre of the island +was chiefly occupied. Gradually separating as they advanced, +they finally, one by one, found their way into its recesses. A +single dog which they carried with them, was now unleashed, and +his eager tongue very soon gave notice to the hunters that their +victim was afoot. As the bay of the hound became more +frequent, the blood of Albert became more and more excited, +and, pressing forward, in advance of all his companions, the +sinuosities of the route pursued soon scattered the whole party. +But this he did not heed. The one consciousness,—that which +appealed to his love of sport,—led to a forgetfulness of all others; +and it was no disquiet to our captain to find himself alone in +forests where he had never trod before, particularly when his +eager eye caught a glimpse of a fine herd of the sleek-skinned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">- 97 -</a></span> +foresters, well-limbed, and nobly-headed, darting suddenly from +cover into the occasional openings before him. A good shot was +Captain Albert. He fired, and had the joy to see tumbled, headlong, +sprawling, in his tracks, one of the largest bucks of the +herd. He shouted his delight aloud;—shouted twice and clapped +his hands!</p> + +<p>His shouts were echoed, near at hand, by a voice at once +strange and familiar! His instinct divined a sudden danger in +this strange echo. He stopped short, even as he was about to +bound forward to the spot in which the deer had fallen. Another +shout!—but this was to his companions! He was now confounded +at the new echo and the fearful vision which this summons +conjured up. At his side, and in his very ears, rose another +shout—a shriek rather—much louder than his own—a wild, indescribable +yell,—which sent a thrill of horror through his soul. +At the same instant, a gaunt, wild man—a half-naked, half-famished +form—darted from the thicket and stood directly before +him in his path!</p> + +<p>“Ho! Ho! Ho!” howled the stranger.</p> + +<p>“Guernache!” was the single word, forced from the guilty +soul of the criminal!</p> + +<p>“Guernache! Yes! Guernache, in his friend Lachane! +Both are here! See you not? Look! Ho! Captain Albert,—look +and see, and make yourself ready. Your time is short. +You will hang and banish no longer!”</p> + +<p>Wild with exulting fury was the face of the speaker—terrible +the language of his eyes—threatening the action of the uplifted +arm. A keen blade flashed in his grasp, and the discovery which +Albert made, that, in the wild man before him, he saw the person +whom he had so wantonly and cruelly decreed to perish, sufficed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">- 98 -</a></span> +to make him nerveless. The surprise deprived him of resource, +while his guilty conscience enfeebled his arm, and took all courage +from his soul. His match-lock was already discharged. The +<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">couteau de chasse</i> was at his side; but, before this could be drawn, +he must be hewn down by the already uplifted weapon of his foe. +Besides, even if drawn, what could he hope, by its employment, +against the superior muscle and vigor of Lachane? These +thoughts passed with a lightning-like rapidity through the brain +of Albert. He felt that he had met his fate! He shrunk back +from its encounter, and sent up a feeble but a painful cry for his +creature,—“Pierre Renaud!”</p> + +<p>“Ha! ha! you cry for him in vain!” was the mocking answer +of Lachane. “Renaud, that miserable villain—that wretch +after thy own heart and fashion—hath quite as much need of +thee as thou of him! Ye will serve each other never more to the +prejudice of better men. Hark! hear you not? Even now +they are dealing with him!”</p> + +<p>And, sure enough, even as he spoke, the screams of one in +mortal terror, interrupted by several heavy blows in quick succession, +seemed to confirm the truth of what Lachane had spoken. +In that fearful moment Albert remembered the words, now full of +meaning, which Nicholas Barré had spoken while they set forth. +The hunter had indeed become the hunted. Lachane gave him +little time for meditation.</p> + +<p>“They have done with him! Prepare! To your knees, Captain +Albert! I give you time to make your peace with God—such +time as you gave my poor Guernache! Prepare!”</p> + +<p>But, though Albert had not courage for combat, he yet found +strength enough for flight. He was slight of form, small, and +tolerably swift of foot. Flinging his now useless firelock to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">- 99 -</a></span> +ground, he suddenly darted off through the forests, with a degree +of energy and spirit which it tasked all the efforts of the less +wieldy frame of Lachane to approach. Life and death were on +the event, and Albert succeeded in gaining the beach where the +boat had been left before he was overtaken. But Lamotte, to +whom the boat had been given in charge, pushed off, with a +mocking yell of laughter, at his approach! His cries for succor +were unheeded. Lamotte himself would have slain the fugitive +but that he knew Lachane had claimed for himself this privilege. +His spear had been uplifted as Albert drew nigh the water, but +the shout of Lachane, emerging from the woods, warned him to +desist. He used the weapon to push the pinnace into deep water, +leaving Albert to his fate!</p> + +<p>“Save me, Lamotte!” was the prayer, of the tyrant in his +desperation, urged with every promise that he fancied might prove +potent with the soldier. But few moments were allowed him for +entreaty, and they were unavailing. Lamotte contented himself +with looking on the event, ready to finish with his spear what +Lachane might leave undone. Albert gazed around him, and as +Lachane came, with one shriek of terror, darted into the sea. +The avenger was close behind him. The water rose to the waist +and finally to the neck of the fugitive. He turned in supplication, +only to receive the stroke. The steel entered his shoulder, +just below the neck. He staggered and fell forwards upon the +slayer. The blade snapped in the fall, and the wounded man +sunk down irretrievably beneath the waters. Lachane raised the +fragment of his sword to Heaven, while, with something of a +Roman fervor, he <span class="nowrap">ejaculated—</span></p> + +<p>“Guernache! dear friend, behold! the hand of Lachane hath +avenged thee upon thy murderer!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">- 100 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII">VIII.</a><br /> +FLIGHT, FAMINE, AND THE BLOODY FEAST OF THE FUGITIVES.</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> assassination of Captain Albert restored peace, at least, +to the little colony of Fort Charles. He had been the chief danger +to the garrison, by reason of his vexatious tyranny, fomented +ever by the miserable malice and espionage of Pierre Renaud. +Both of these had perished, and a sense of new security filled the +hearts of the survivors. They had also gratified all revenges. +The sequel of the narrative may be told, almost in the very +words of the simple chronicle from which our facts are mostly +drawn.</p> + +<p>“When they (the conspirators) were come home againe, they +assembled themselves together to choose one to be Governor over +them.” In this selection there was no difficulty. Jealousies and +dissensions had ceased to exist, and the choice naturally fell upon +Nicholas Barré,<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> whose former position, as Lieutenant under Albert, +and whose recent connection with the party by which he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">- 101 -</a></span> +was slain, had naturally given him a large influence among the colonists. +He was equal to his new duties. He “knewe so well to +quite himself of this charge that all rancour and dissention +ceased among them, and they lived peaceably one with another.” +But, though harmony was restored among them, it was a harmony +without hope. They had been abandoned by their countrymen. +The supplies which Ribault had promised them had +utterly failed. They had never, indeed, been levied. Ribault +returned to France only to find it convulsed with a renewal of the +civil war, under the auspices of that incarnate mischief, Catherine +de Medicis, and her fatherless and cruel son, in whose name +she swayed the country to its ruin. Coligny, the father of the +colony, had enough to do in fighting the battles of the Huguenots +at home. He could do nothing for those whom he had sent +abroad. The peace of Longjumean had been of short duration, +and there had been really no remission of hostilities on the part +of the Catholics. In the space of three months more than two +thousand of the former fell victims to the rage of the populace; +and, though reluctantly, the Prince of Condé and Coligny were +forced into a resumption of arms for the safety of their own persons. +The immediate necessities of their situation were such as +to defeat their efforts in behalf of the remote settlement at Fort +Charles. They needed all their soldiers and Huguenots in +France. Feeling themselves abandoned—they knew not why—the +colonists in Florida ceased to behold a charm or solace in +their solitary realm of refuge. Its securities were no longer sufficient +to compensate for its loneliness. Better the strife, perhaps, +than this unmeaning and unbroken silence. They were too +few for adventure, and the discouragements resulting from their +domestic grievances were enough to paralyze any such spirit.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">- 102 -</a></span> +But for this there had been no lack of the necessary inducements. +In their second voyage to King Ouade, seeking “mil and beans,” +they had learned some of the secrets of the country which made +their eyes brighten. They had discovered that there was gold in +the land, and that the gold of the land was good. This prince +had freely given them of his treasure. He had bestowed on +them pearls of the native waters, stones of finest chrystal, and +certain specimens of silver ore, which he described, in reply to +their eager inquiries, as having been gathered at the foot of certain +high mountains, the bowels of which contained it in greatest +quantity. These were the mountains of Apalachia, and the truth +of Ouade’s revelations have been confirmed by subsequent discovery. +The intelligence had greatly gladdened the hearts of our +Frenchmen, and nothing but the feebleness of the garrison prevented +Albert from prosecuting a search which promised so +largely to gratify the lusts of avarice. His subsequent errors and +fate put an end to the desire among his followers. They longed +for nothing now so much as home. They had been temporarily +abandoned by the Indians whose granaries they had emptied, and +who had been compelled to wander off to remote forests in search +of their own supplies. The gloom of the Frenchmen naturally +increased in the absence of their allies, who had furnished them +equally with food and recreation. Their provisions again began +to fail them. Their resources in corn and peas were quite exhausted; +and no more could be procured from the red-men, who +had preserved a supply barely sufficient for the planting of their +little fields. In this condition of want, with this feeling of destitution +and abandonment, it was resolved among the Huguenots, to +depart the colony. With a fond hope once more of recovering +the shores of that country, still most beloved, which had so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">- 103 -</a></span> +unkindly cast them forth, they began to build themselves a +vessel sufficiently large to bear their little company. “And +though there were no men among them,” says the chronicle, +“that had any skill, notwithstanding, necessitye, which is the +maistresse of all sciences, taught them the way to build it.” +But how were they to provide the sails, the tackle and the +cordage? “Having no meanes to recover these things they were +in worse case than at the first, and almost ready to fall into +despayre.” They were succored, when most desponding, by the +help of Providence. “That good God, which never forsaketh +the afflicted, did favor them in their necessitie.” The Indians, +who had been for some time absent, seeking, by the chase, in +distant forests, to supply themselves with provisions in place of +those which they had yielded to the white men, now began to reappear; +and, in the midst of their perplexities, they were visited +by the Caciques, Audusta and Maccou, with more than two +hundred of their followers. These, our Frenchmen went forth to +meet, with great show of satisfaction; and had they been sufficiently +re-assured by the return of their red friends—had they +not been too much the victims of <i>nostalgia</i>, or homesickness, the +cloud might have passed from their fortunes, and the little colony +might have been re-established under favoring auspices. But +their only thought was of their native land. They declared their +wishes to the Indian chieftains, and, showing in what need of +cordage they stood, they were told that this would be provided +in the space of a few days. The Caciques kept their word, and, +in little time, brought an abundance of cordage. But other +things were wanted, and “our men sought all meanes to recover +rosen in the woodes, wherein they cut the pine trees round about, +out of which they drew sufficient reasonable quantitie to bray the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">- 104 -</a></span> +vessel. Also they gathered a kind of mosse, which groweth on +the trees of this countrie, to serve to caulke the same withall. +There now wanted nothing but sayles, which they made of their +own shirtes and of their sheetes.” Thus provided with the things +requisite, our Frenchmen hastened to finish their brigantine, and +“used so speedie diligence,” that they were soon ready to launch +forth upon the great deep. They gave to their Indian friends all +their surplus goods and chattels, leaving to them all the merchandise +of the fort which they could not take away;—a liberality +which gave the red-men the “greatest contentation in the +worlde.” But they re-embarked their forge, their artillery and +other munitions of war. Unhappily, they were too impatient to +begin their journey. In the too sanguine hope of reaching +France, with a speed proportioned to their eager desires, they +laid in no adequate provision for a long voyage. “In the meane +season the wind came so fit for their purpose, that it seemed to +invite them to put to sea. Being drunken with the too excessive +joy which they had conceived for their returning into France, or +rather deprived of all foresight and consideration:—without +regarding the inconsistencie of the winds which change in a +moment, they put themselves to sea, and, with so slender victuals, +that the end of their enterprise became unlucky and unfortunate.”</p> + +<p>They had not sailed a third part of the distance, when they +were surprised with calms, which so much hindered their progress +that, during the space of three weeks, they had not advanced +twenty-five leagues. In this period their provisions underwent +daily diminution. In a short time their stock had sunk so low +that it was necessary to limit the allowance to each man. We +may conceive their destitution from this allowance. “Twelve +grains of mill by the day, which may be in value as much as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">- 105 -</a></span> +twelve peason!” But even this poor quantity was not long continued. +It was “a felicity,” in the language of the chronicle, +which was of brief duration. Soon the “mill” failed them +entirely—all at once—and they “had nothing for their more +assured refuge, but their shoes and leather jerkins, which they +did eate.” But their misfortune was not confined to their food. +Their supplies of fresh water failed them also. Never had +adventurers set forth upon the seas with such wretched provision. +Their beverage finally became the water of the ocean—the thirst-provoking +brine. Such beverage as this increased their miseries—atrophy +and madness followed—and death stretched himself +out among them on every side. Nor were they suffered to escape +from the most painful toils while thus contending against thirst +and famine. Their wretched vessel sprang a-leak. The water +grew upon them. Day and night were they kept busy in casting +it forth, without cessation or repose. Each day added to their +griefs and dangers. Their shoes and jerkins they had already +devoured in their desperation, and where to look for other material +to supply the materiel of distension, puzzled their thoughts. +While thus distressed by their anxieties, with their comrades +dying about them, a new danger assailed them, as if fortune was +resolved to crush them at a blow, and thus conclude their miseries. +The winds rose, the seas were lashed into fury by the storm. +Their vessel, no longer buoyant, “in the turning of a hand” +shipped a fearful sea, and was nearly swamped—“filled halfe full +of water, and bruised in upon the one side.” This was the last +drop in the cup of misfortune which finally makes it overflow. +Then it was that the hearts of our Frenchmen sunk utterly within +them. They no longer cared to contend for life. They gave +themselves up to despair. “Being now more out of hope than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">- 106 -</a></span> +ever to escape out of this extreme peril, they cared not for casting +out of the water which now was almost ready to drown them; +and as men resolved to die, everie one fell downe backwarde, and +gave themselves over, altogether unto the will of the waves.”</p> + +<p>It was at this moment of extreme despondency, that Lachane +tried to cheer them with new hope, and to new exertions. He +encouraged them by various assurance, to hold out against fate, +and struggle manfully to the last. He told them “how little +way they had to sayle, assuring them that if the winde helde, +they should see land within three dayes.” “At worst,” he added, +“we can die when we can do no better. It will be always time +enough for that. But this necessity is not now. We can surely +put it off for some time longer. At present, let us live!”</p> + +<p>Speaking thus, in the most cheerful manner, the brave fellow +set them a proper example by which to dissipate their fears and +to provide against them. He began to bail and cast out the water +in which, in their extreme indifference to their fate, they either +sat or lay. They took heart as they beheld him, and joined in +the labor with new vigor, and that elastic spirit which is so characteristic +of Frenchmen. But, when the three days had gone +by, and still their eyes were unblessed with the sight of the promised +land—when they had consumed every remnant of shoe and +jerkin, and nothing more was left them to consume, they turned +their eyes in bitter reproach upon the man who had persuaded +them to live. He met their reproachful glances with a smile, +and instantly devised a remedy for their fears and weaknesses, +through one of those terrible thoughts which, at any other period, +would revolt, with extremest loathing, the humanity of the man, +however little human.</p> + +<p>“My comrades!” said the noble fellow, “you hunger—you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">- 107 -</a></span> +starve! You will perish unless you can get some food. I see it +in your eyes. They have no lustre, and the courage seems to +have gone out entirely from your hearts. You must not die! +You must not lose your courage. You <em>shall</em> not. You shall +drink life and courage out of my breast. I have enough there +for all who thirst and faint. You shall feed upon my heart—you +shall drink the blood of a brave man, and live for your friends +and country. I have few friends, and my country can spare me. +Better that one of us should die than that all should perish. I +am ready to die for you! What! You shake your heads—you +would not have it so—but it shall be so! You have loved me—you +have suffered for me. Well, Lachane loves you in return—he +will die for you. You shall remember him hereafter, when +our own dear France receives you again in safety. You will +bless his memory!”</p> + +<p>A groan was the only reply of those around him. Lachane +threw open his breast.</p> + +<p>“There!” he cried; “Look! I am ready! I fear not death. +Strike! See you not, my bosom is open to the knife. My hand +is down—there!”—grasping the seat upon which he sate,—“There! +it shall not be lifted to arrest the blow!”</p> + +<p>The famished wretches looked with wolfish yearnings upon the +white breast of the offered sacrifice; but there was still a human +revolting in their hearts that kept them moveless and silent. +They longed for the horrible banquet, but still turned from it with +a lingering human loathing. But Lachane was resolute.</p> + +<p>“Ah!” said he, reproachfully; “you fear—you would not +that I should die in this manner; but, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">mes amis</i>, you know me not. +You know not how it will glad my heart to know that its dying +pulse shall add new life to yours. Here, Lafourche, Genet—you are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">- 108 -</a></span> +both beside me. You are the feeblest. You are dying fast. +You thirst; another day and you perish! You have a mother, +Genet—a dear sister, Lafourche—why will you not live for them? +Lo! you, now,—when I strike the blow,—do you both clap your +mouths upon the wound. Drink freely—drink deep—that you +may have strength—and let the rest drink after you. There!—my +braves!—there.”</p> + +<p>With each of these last words, the brave fellow—thence called +“Lachane, the Deliverer”—struck two fatal blows, one upon his +heart, and one upon his throat. He leaned back between the +two famished persons whom he had especially addressed, and, +while the consciousness was yet in the eyes of the dying man, +they sprang like thirsting tigers, and fastened their mouths upon +each streaming orifice. The victim, smarting and conscious to +the last, sunk in a few seconds, into the sacred slumber of death. +This heroism saved the rest. He had struck with a firm hand and +a resolute spirit. In his death they lived. Slow to accept his +proffered sacrifice, he was scarcely<!--was scarcly--> cold, ere the survivors fastened +upon his body; and, ere the last morsel of the victim was +consumed, they had assurances of safety.<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a></p> + +<p>It seemed as if expiation had been done; as if the sacrifice had +purged their offences and made them acceptable to heaven. The +land rose upon their vision,—a glimpse like that of salvation to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">- 109 -</a></span> +the doomed one,—a sight “whereof they were so exceeding glad, +that the pleasure caused them to remain a long time as men without +sense; whereby they let the pinnesse floate this and that +way without holding any right way or course.” While thus wandering, +in sight of France, but still at the mercy of the winds and +waves, they were boarded by an English vessel. Here they were +recognized by a Frenchman who happened to be one of the crew +that had accompanied Ribault in his voyage. The most feeble +were put upon the coast of France; the rest were taken to England, +with the design that Queen Elizabeth, who meditated sending +an expedition to Florida, might have the benefit of their +report.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">- 110 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="IX" id="IX">IX.</a><br /> +THE SECOND EXPEDITION OF THE HUGUENOTS TO +FLORIDA.</h2> + +<div class="chapintro"> +<p>The Fortress of La Caroline and the Colony of Laudonniere.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Thus</span>, unhappily, as we have seen, ended the first experiment +of Coligny for the establishment of a Huguenot colony in the +territory of the Floridian. The disasters which had attended +the fortunes of the garrison at Fort Charles, were due, in some +degree, to its seeming abandonment by their founder. But +Coligny was blameless in this abandonment. When Ribault +returned to France, from his first voyage, the civil wars had +again begun, depriving the admiral of the means for succoring +the colony, as had been promised. Nearly two years had now +elapsed from that period, before he could recover the power +which would enable him to send supplies or recruits for its maintenance. +In all this time, with the exception of the small domain +occupied by Fort Charles, the country lay wholly derelict, and +in the keeping of the savages. But Coligny was now in a condition +to resume his endeavors in behalf of his colony. He +was again in possession of authority. The assassination +of the Duke of Guise had restored to France the blessings of +peace; and Coligny seized upon this interval of repose, to inquire<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">- 111 -</a></span> +after the settlement which had been made by Ribault. +Three ships, and a considerable amount of money, were accorded +to his application; and the new armament was assigned to the +command of René Laudonniere—a man of intelligence, a good +seaman rather than a soldier, and one who had accompanied +Ribault on his first expedition, though he had not remained with +the colony.<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> Laudonniere found it easy enough to procure his +men, not only for the voyage but the colony. The civil wars had +produced vast numbers of restless and destitute spirits, who +longed for nothing so much as employment and excitement. +Besides, there was a vague attraction for the imagination, in the +tales which had reached the European world, of the wondrous +sweetness and beauty of the region to which they were invited. +Florida still continued, even at this period, to be the country +beyond all others in the new world, which appealed to the fancies +and the appetites of the romantic, the selfish, and the merely +adventurous. Ribault’s own account of it had described the +wondrous sweetness of its climate, and the exquisite richness and +variety of its fruits and flowers. Then, there were the old dreams +which had beguiled the Spanish cavalier, Hernando de Soto, and +had filled with the desires and the hopes of youth, the aged +heart of Juan Ponce de Leon. It did not matter if death did +keep the portals of the country. This guardianship only seemed +the more certainly to denote the precious treasures which were +concealed within. In the absence of any certain knowledge, +men dreamed of spoils within its bowels, such as had been +yielded to Cortes and Pizarro, by the great cities and teeming +mountains of Tenochtitlan and Peru. They had heard true<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">- 112 -</a></span> +stories of its fruits and flowers; of its bland airs, so friendly to +the invalid; of its delicious fountains, in which healing and joy +lay together in sweet communion. It was the region in which, +according to tradition, life enjoyed not only an exquisite, but an +extended tenure, almost equalling that of the antediluvian ages. +Its genial atmosphere was supposed to possess properties particularly +favorable to the prolongation of human life. Laudonniere +himself tells us of natives whom he had seen who were certainly +more than two hundred and fifty years old, and yet, who entertained +a reasonable hope of living fifty or a hundred years +longer. These may have been exaggerations, but they are such +as the human imagination loves to indulge in. But there was +comparative truth in the assertion. Portions of the Floridian +territory are, to this day, known to be favorable to health and +longevity in a far greater degree than regions in other respects +more favored; and, in the temperate habits, the hardy exercises, +the simple lives of the red-men, unvexed by cares and anxieties, +and unsubdued by toils, they probably realized many of the +alleged blessings of a golden age. But the attractions of this +region were not estimated only with respect to attractions such +as these. The fountains of the marvellous which had been +opened by the great discoverers, Columbus and Cortes, Balboa +and Pizarro, were not to be quickly closed. The passion for +adventure, in the exploration of new countries, made men easy +of belief; and any number of emigrants were prepared to +accompany our second Huguenot expedition. The armament of +Laudonniere was ready for sea, and sailed from France on the +22d April, 1564.<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> A voyage of two months brought the voyagers +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">- 113 -</a></span> +to the shores of New France, which they reached the +25th of June, 1564. The land made was very nearly in the +same latitude as in the former expedition. It was a favorable +period for seeing the country in all its natural loveliness; and +the delight of the voyagers may be imagined, when, at May +River, they found themselves welcomed by the Indians, such of +the whites particularly as were recognized to have been of the +squadron of Ribault. The savages hailed them as personal +friends and old acquaintances. When they landed, they were +eagerly surrounded by the simple and delighted natives, men +and women, and conducted, with great ceremonials, to the spot +where Ribault had set up a stone column, with the arms of +France, “upon a little sandie knappe, not far from the mouth +of the said river.” It was with a pleased surprise that Laudonniere +found the pillar encircled and crowned with wreaths of bay +and laurel, with which the affectionate red-men had dressed the +stone, in proof of the interest which they had taken in this imposing +memorial of their intercourse with the white strangers. +The foot of the pillar was surrounded by little baskets of maize +and beans; and these were brought in abundance, in token of +their welcome, and yielded by these generous sons of the forest +to their new visitors, at the foot of the pillar which they had thus +consecrated to their former friendship. They kissed the column, +and made the French do likewise. Their <i>Paracoussy</i>, or king, +was named Satouriova, the oldest of whose sons, named Athore,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">- 114 -</a></span> +is described by Laudonniere as “perfect in beautie.” Satouriova +presented Laudonniere with a “wedge of silver”—one of +those gifts which by no means lessened the importance of the +giver, or of his country, in the eyes of our voyager. His natural +inquiry was whence the silver came.</p> + +<p>“Then he showed me by evident signes that all of it came +from a place more within the river, by certain days journeyes +from this place, and declared unto us that all that which they had +thereof, they gat it by force of armes of the inhabitants of this +place, named by them <i>Thimogoa</i>, their most ancient and natural +enemies, as hee largely declared. Whereupon, when I saw with +what affection and passion hee spake when hee pronounced +<i>Thimogoa</i>, I understood what he would say; and to bring myself +more into his favour, I promised him to accompany him with all +my force, if hee would fight against them: which thing pleased +him in such sorte, that, from thenceforth, hee promised himselfe +the victorie of them, and assured mee that hee would make a +voyage thither within a short space, and would commaund his +men to make ready their bowes and furnish themselves with such +store of arrows, that nothing should bee wanting to give battaile +to Thimogoa. In fine, he prayed me very earnestly not to faile +of my promise, and, in so doing, he hoped to procure me golde +and silver, in such good quantitie, that mine affaires should take +effect according to mine owne and his desire.”</p> + +<p>Here then we see cupidity beginning to plant in place of +religion. Our Huguenot tells us of no prayers which he made, of +no religious services which he ordered, in presence of the savages, +for their benefit and his own. But his sole curiosity is to know +where the gold grows, and to prompt the evil passions of the red-men<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">- 115 -</a></span> +to violence and strife with one another, in order that he may +procure the object of his avarice.</p> + +<p>With night, the parties separated, the French retiring to +their ships and the Indians to the cover of their forests. But +Laudonniere had something more to learn. The next day, +“being allured with this good entertainment,” the visit was renewed. +“We found him, (the Paracoussy) under shadow of an +arbor, accompanied with four-score Indians at the least, and +apparelled, at that time, after the Indian fashion; to wit, with a +great hart’s skin dressed like chamois, and painted with divers +colours, but of so lively a portraiture, and representing antiquity, +with rules so justly compassed, that there is no painter so exquisite +that coulde finde fault therewith. The natural disposition of +this strange people is so perfect and well guided, that, without +any ayd and favour of artes, they are able, by the help of nature +onely, to content the eye of artizans; yea, even of those which, +by their industry, are able to aspire unto things most absolute.”</p> + +<p>What Laudonniere means by the paintings of the Indians, +“representing antiquity,” is not so clear. But it may be well, +in this place, to mention that we do not rely here on the opinions +of a mere sailor or soldier. In this expedition, Coligny had sent +out a painter of considerable merit, named James Le Moyne, +otherwise <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">de Morgues</i>, who was commissioned to execute colored +drawings of all the objects which might be supposed likely to interest +the European eye. To this painter are we indebted for +numerous pictures of the people and the region, their modes of +life, costume and exercises, which are now invaluable.</p> + +<p>The Huguenots left their Indian friends with reluctance. As +the ships coasted along the shores, pursuing their way up the +river, the word “<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">ami</i>,” one of the few French words which the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">- 116 -</a></span> +simple red-men had retained, resounded, in varied accents, from +men and women, who followed the progress of the strangers, +running along the margin of the river, as long as the ships continued +in sight. The French have not often abused the +hospitality of the aborigines. In this respect, they rank much +more humanly and honorably than either the English or the +Spanish people. With a greater moral flexibility, which yields +something to acquire more, they accommodated themselves to the +race which they discovered, and, readily conforming to some of the +habits of the red-men, acquired an influence over them which the +people of no other nation have ever been able to obtain. It was +with tears that the simple hunters along May River beheld the +vessels of the Frenchmen gradually sinking from their eyes.</p> + +<p>The vessels of Laudonniere passed up the river, himself and +parties of his people landing occasionally, to examine particular +spots of country. They are everywhere received with kindness. +Two of the Indian words—“Antipola Bonassou,”—meaning +“Friend and Brother,”—the French made use of to secure a +favorable welcome everywhere.</p> + +<p>Monsieur de Ottigny, a lieutenant of Laudonniere, with a small +party, is conducted into the presence of a Cassique, whose great +apparent age prompts him to inquire concerning it. “Whereunto +he made answer, shewing that he was the first living originall +from whence five generations were descended, as he shewed unto +them by another olde man that sate directly over against him, +which farre exceeded him in age. And this man was his father, +which seemed to be rather a dead carkiss than a living body; for +his sinewes, his veines, his arteries, his bones and other partes +appeared so cleerely thorow his skinne, that a man might easily tell +them and discerne them one from one another. Also his age was so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">- 117 -</a></span> +great that the goode man had lost his sight, and could not speake +one onely word but with exceeding great paine. Monsieur de +Ottigni, having seene so strange a thing, turned to the younger of +these two olde men, praying him to vouchsafe to answer to him +that which he demanded touching his age. Then the olde man +called a company of Indians, and striking twise upon his thigh, +and laying his hand upon two of them, he shewed him by synes +that these two were his sonnes; again smiting upon their thighes, +he shewed him others not so olde which were the children of the +two first, which he continued in the same manner until the fifth +generation. But, though this olde man had his father alive, more +olde than himselfe, and that bothe of them did weare their haire +very long and as white as was possible, yet it was tolde them that +they might yet live thirtie or fortie yeeres more by the course of +nature: although the younger of them both was not lesse than +two hundred and fiftie yeeres olde. After he had ended his communication +he commanded two young eagles to be given to our +men, which hee had bred up for his pleasure in his house.”</p> + +<p>A fitting gift at the close of such a narrative! Certainly, a +patriarchal family; and, though we may doubt the correctness +of this primitive mode of computing the progress of the sun, +there can be no question that the Floridians were distinguished +by a longevity wholly unparalleled in modern experience. It is +claimed that the anglo-American races who have since occupied +the same region, have shared, in some degree, in this prolonged +duration of human life.</p> + +<p>While the lieutenant of Laudonniere was thus held in discourse +by the aged Indians, his commander was enjoying himself in more +luxurious fashion. A particular eminence in the neighborhood +of the river had fixed his eye, which he explored. Here he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">- 118 -</a></span> +reposed himself for several hours. It is pleasant to hear our +Frenchman’s discourse of the beauty of the spot where his siesta +was enjoyed.</p> + +<p>“Upon the top thereof, we found nothing else but cedars, +palms, and bay trees, of so sovereign odor, that balm smelleth +nothing in comparison. The trees were environed round with +vines, bearing grapes in such quantity that the number would +suffice to make the place habitable. Touching the pleasure of the +place, the sea may be seen plain and open from it; and more +than five leagues off, near the river Belle, a man may behold the +meadowes, divided asunder into isles and islets, interlacing one +another. Briefly, the place is so pleasant, that those who are +melancholie would be forced to change their humour.”</p> + +<p>There is no exaggeration in this. Such is the odor of the +shrubs—such is the picturesqueness of the prospect.</p> + +<p>Laudonniere departed with great reluctance from a region so +favorable to health, so beautiful to the eye, and which promised +so abundantly of fruits and mineral treasures. His course lay +northwardly, in search of the colony of Captain Albert. He +passes the river of Seine, four leagues distant from the May, and +continues to the mouth of the Somme, some six leagues further. +Here he casts anchor, lands, and is received with friendly welcome +by the Paracoussy, or king of the place, whom he describes +as “one of the tallest and best-proportioned men that may be +found. His wife sate by him, which, besides her Indian beautie, +wherewith she was greatly endued, had so virtuous a countenance +and modest gravitie, that there was not one amongst us but +did greatly commend her. She had in her traine five of her +daughters, of so good grace and so well brought up, that I easily +persuaded myself that their mother was their mistresse.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">- 119 -</a></span></p> + +<p>Here Laudonniere is again presented with specimens of the +precious metals, and here we find him already in consultation with +his men, touching the propriety of abandoning the settlement of +Fort Charles, the fate of which he has heard in his progress +from the Indians, for the more attractive regions of the river +May. His arguments for this preference, may be given in his +own language.</p> + +<p>“If we passed farther to the north to seeke out Port Royall, it +would be neither very profitable nor convenient,.... although +the haven were one of the fairest of the West Indies: but that, in +this case, the question was not so much of the beautie of the place +as of things necessary to sustaine life. And that for our inhabiting, +it was much more needful for us to plant in places plentiful of +victuall, than in goodly havens, faire, deepe and pleasante to the +view. In consideration whereof, I was of opinion, if it seemed +goode unto them, to seate ourselves about the river of May: seeing +also, that, in our first voyage, wee found the same onely, among +all the rest, to abounde in maize and corn; <em>besides the golde and +silver that was found there; a thing that put me in hope of some +happie discoverie in time to come</em>.”</p> + +<p>Doubtless the last was the conclusive suggestion. The views +of Laudonniere were promptly agreed to by his followers; and, +sailing back to the river of May, they reached it at daybreak on +the 29th June. “Having cast anchor, I embarked all my stuffe +and the souldiers of my company, (in the pinnace we may suppose,) +to sayle right towards the opening of the river: wherein +we entered a good way up, and found a creeke of a reasonable +bignisse which invited us to refresh ourselves a little, while wee +reposed ourselves there. Afterward, wee went on shore to seeke<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">- 120 -</a></span> +out a place, plaine, without trees, which wee perceived from the +creeke.”</p> + +<p>But this spot, upon examination, does not prove commodious, +and it was determined to return to a point they had before discovered +when sailing up the river. “This place is joyning to a +mountaine (hill), and it seemed unto us more fit and commodious +to build a fortresse;..... therefore we took our way towards +the forests..... Afterwards, we found a large plaine, covered +with high pine trees, distant a little from the other; under which +we perceived an infinite number of stagges, which brayed amidst +the plaine, athwart the which we passed: then we discovered a +little hill adjoyning unto a great vale, very greene and in forme +flat: wherein were the fairest meadows of the worlde, and grasse +to feede cattel. Moreover, it is environed with a great number of +brookes of fresh water, and high woodes which make the vale most +delectable to the eye.”</p> + +<p>Laudonniere names this pleasant region after himself, the “<i>vale +of Laudonniere</i>.” They pass through it, and, at length, after +temporary exhaustion from fatigue and heat, they recover their +spirits, and, penetrating a high wood, reach the brink of the river, +and the spot which they have chosen for the settlement.</p> + +<p>We have preferred, at the risk of being tedious, to quote these +details, in order that the modern antiquarian may, if he pleases, +seek for the traces of this ancient settlement. The foundation was +not laid without due solemnity. Laudonniere remembers that his +people are Christians; and, at the break of day, on the 30th June, +1564, the trumpets were sounded, and our Huguenots were called +to prayer. The banks of the May, otherwise the St. Johns,<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> then +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">- 121 -</a></span> +echoed, for the first time, with a hymn of lofty cheer from European +voices.</p> + +<p>“There we sang a psalme of thanksgiving unto God.” +Prayer was made, and, gathering courage from the exercise of +their devotions, our Huguenots applied themselves to the duty of +building themselves a fortress. In this work they were assisted +by the Indians.<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> A few days sufficed, with this help, to give their +fabric form. It was built in the shape of a triangle. “The +side towarde the west, which was towarde the lande, was enclosed +with a little trench and raised with towers made in forme of a +battlement of nine foote high: the other side, which was towarde +the river, was inclosed with a palisado of plankes of timber, after +the manner that gabions are made. On the south side, there was +a kinde of bastion, within which I caused an house for the munition +to be built. It was all builded of fagots and sand, saving about +two or three foote high with turfes, whereof the battlements were +made. In the middest I caused a great court to be made of +eighteen paces long and broad; in the middest whereof, on the +one side, drawing toward the south, I builded a <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">corps de garde</i>, +and an house, on the other side, towarde the north.” * * * <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">- 122 -</a></span> +“One of the sides that enclosed my court, which I made very faire +and large, reached unto the grange of my munitions: and, on the +other side, towarde the river, was mine owne lodgings, round +which were galleries all covered. The principal doore of my +lodging was in the middest of the great place, and the other was +towarde the river. A good distance from the fort, I built an +oven.”</p> + +<p>It will be an employment of curious interest, whenever the +people of Florida shall happen upon the true site of the settlement +and structure of Laudonniere, to trace out, in detail, these several +localities, and fix them for the benefit of posterity. The work is +scarcely beyond the hammer and chisel of some Old Mortality, +who has learned to place his affections, and fix his sympathies, +upon the achievements of the Past.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">- 123 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="X" id="X">X.</a><br /> +HISTORICAL SUMMARY.</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Thus</span>, then, was founded the second European settlement +on the Continent of America. The fortress was named L<span class="simcap">A</span> +C<span class="simcap">AROLINE</span>, in honor of the French monarch, whom it was still +the policy of the Huguenots to conciliate. The houses were of +frail structure, and thatched with leaves of the palmetto. The +domain was a narrow one, but it was probably sufficiently wide for +the genius of Laudonniere. He soon shows himself sensible of all +his dignities as the sole representative of his master in the New +World. From his own account, he does not appear to have been +the proper person for the conduct of so difficult, if not so great, +an enterprise. There is no doubt that he was sufficiently brave; +but bravery, unsustained by judgment, is at best a doubtful virtue, +and, in a situation of great responsibility, is apt to show itself at +the expense of all discretion. The object of the colony of La +Caroline was a permanent establishment—a place of refuge from +persecution—where the seeds of a new empire might be +planted on a basis which should ensure civil liberty to the citizen. +The proper aim of such a settlement should have been security, +self-maintenance, and peace with all men. These could only have +been found in the economizing of their resources, in the application<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">- 124 -</a></span> +of all their skill and industry to the cultivation of the soil, +and in the preservation of the most friendly relations among the +Indians. These, unhappily, were not objects sufficiently appreciated +by Laudonniere. His first error was that which arose +from the universal passion of his time. He had seen the precious +metals of the country—wedges of silver and scraps of gold—which +declared the abundance of its treasures, and aroused all his +passions for its acquisition. His whole energies were accordingly +directed to the most delusive researches. He had scarcely built +his fortress before he sent off his exploring expeditions. “I +would not lose a minute of an hour,” is his language, “without +imploying the same in some <em>vertuous</em> exercise,” and therefore he +despatches his Lieutenant, Ottigny, in seeking for Thimogoa; that +king, hostile to the Paracoussi Satouriova, whom he has pledged +himself to the latter to make war upon. Satouriova gives the +lieutenant a couple of warriors as guides, who were delighted at +the mission,—“seeming to goe as unto a wedding, so desirous +they were to fight with their enemies.”</p> + +<p>But Ottigny, whose real purpose is to obtain the gold of the +people of Thimogoa, does not indulge his warlike guides in their +desires. They encounter some of the people whom they seek, +and make inquiries after the treasure. This is promised them +hereafter. With the report of a king named Mayrra, who lives +farther up the river, and abounds in gold and silver, Ottigny +returns to La Caroline. Other adventurers follow, other kings +and chiefs are brought to the knowledge of our Frenchmen. +Plates of gold and silver are procured; large bars of the latter +metal; and the lures are quite sufficient to keep the colonists +employed in the one pursuit to the complete neglect of every +other. Instead of planting, they rely for their provisions wholly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">- 125 -</a></span> +upon the Indians; and, for eighteen<!--was eighteeen--> months, the lieutenants of +Laudonniere penetrated the forests in every possible direction. +They appear not only to have explored the interior of Florida, +Georgia and South Carolina, but to have prosecuted their insane +search even to the Apalachian mountains. It is not improbable +that our antiquarians frequently stumble upon the proofs +of their progress, which they fondly ascribe to a much earlier +period. We preserve, as subjects of proper comparison with +aboriginal words still in use, and by which localities may yet be +identified, the names of many of the chiefs with whom our +Frenchmen maintained communion. From the Indians of King +Mollova, Captain Vasseur obtains five or six pounds of silver. +Mollova is the subject of a greater prince, named Olata Ovae +Utina. The tributaries of this great chief are numerous;—Cadecha, +Chilili, Eclavou, Enacappe, Calany, Anacharaqua, +Omittaqua, Acquera, Moquoso, and many others. Satouriova is +the chief sovereign along the waters of the May. He too hath +numerous tributaries. He is the great rival monarch of Olata +Utina. Potanou is one of his chiefs, “a manne cruel in warre, +but pitiful in the execution of his furie.” He usually took his +prisoners to mercy, branding them upon the arm, and setting +them free. Onatheaqua and Hostaqua are great chiefs, abounding +in riches, that dwell near the mountains. According to the +tales of the Indians of May River, the warriors of Olata Utina +“armed their breasts, armes, thighes, legs and foreheads with +large plates of gold and silver.” Molona is a chief of the river +of May, near the Frenchmen, and hostile also to the Thimogoans. +Malicá is another of these chiefs of Satouriova, eager, like all +the rest, to shed the blood of the hostile people whom the +Frenchmen have unwisely promised to destroy. In order to win<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">- 126 -</a></span> +the favor of Molona, while that Paracoussi is entertaining them +at his dwelling, Capt. Vasseur, returning from an expedition to +the territories of Thimogoa, reports that nothing but their flight +prevented him from utterly destroying that people. Improving +upon his superior, one Francis La Caille, a sergeant, insisted that, +with his sword, he has run two of the Thimogoans through the +body. But this falsehood demands another for its security. The +suspicious Indian insists upon handling the sword, “which the +sergeant would not denie him, thinking that hee would have +beheld the fashion of his weapon; but hee soon perceived that it +was to another ende; for the old man, holding it in his hand, +behelde it a long while on every place, to see if he could find any +blood upon it which might show that any of their enemies had +beene killed. Hee was on the point to say that he had killed +none of the men of Thimogoa; when La Vasseur preventing that +which hee might object, showing, that, by reason of the two +Indians which he had slain, his sword was so bloody, he was +enforced to wash and make it cleane a long while in the river.”</p> + +<p>Another of the chiefs, dwelling near the Frenchmen, is Omoloa, +an ally of Satouriova. These two summon Laudonniere to the +expedition for which they have prepared themselves against the +Thimogoans, and are offended that he now excuses himself. He +was too busy with his explorations for any other object. But he +sent to request two of his prisoners from Satouriova, which were +denied him; the old savage properly saying that he owed him no +service, as he had taken no part in the expedition. This irritated +the Frenchman, who, with twenty soldiers, suddenly appeared +in the dwelling of the Paracoussi, and demanded and carried +off the prisoners. His policy was, by freeing these prisoners, +and sending them home to their sovereign, to conciliate his favor;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">- 127 -</a></span> +but, in the meantime, he made an enemy of Satouriova. An +expedition was prepared to carry back the prisoners to Olata +Utina. It was confided to Monsieur D’Erlach, one of Laudonniere’s +lieutenants, and consisted of ten soldiers. Their course +lay up the river of May, more than fourscore leagues. They +were received by the great Paracoussi Utina, with much favor, +and were easily persuaded by him to take part in a war which +he was even then waging with his hereditary enemy, Potanou. +A surprise is attempted, and a battle ensues, in which the fire-arms +of the French confound Potanou, and subject him to a +sore defeat. One of his towns is captured, and all its men, +women, and children, are made prisoners. Monsieur D’Erlach +returns to <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">La Caroline</i>, with no inconsiderable spoil of gold and +silver, skins painted, and other commodities of the Indians.</p> + +<p>While thus engaged in the avaricious search for the precious +metals, Laudonniere began to receive some intimations of the +error into which he had fallen. The mistakes of his policy were +beginning to appear in their consequences. His ships had long +since departed for France. He had no present hope but in himself +and his neighbors; and his garrison were about to suffer +from the want of necessaries such as they should have relied upon +their own industry to secure. The provisions furnished by the +Indians were rapidly failing them. They had offended Satouriova, +and thus forfeited the supplies which his favor might have furnished. +In the always limited stores of the natives, there was a +natural limit, beyond which they could neither sell nor give; +since, to do so, would be to lose the grain necessary for sowing +their fields at the approaching season. The exigencies of the +colonies finally compelled them to seize upon the stores which the +providence of the Indians compelled them to retain. These<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">- 128 -</a></span> +thus despoiled, withdrew promptly from the dangerous neighborhood, +and, but for a fortunate, and seemingly providential circumstance, +which afforded them succor for awhile, the distress of the +garrison might have realized anew the misfortunes of the people +of Fort Charles. We must let Laudonniere himself record the +event, which had such beneficial consequences, in his own language:</p> + +<p>“Thus,” said he, “things passed on in this manner, and the +hatred of Paracoussi Satouriova against mee did still continue, +untill that, on the nine and twentieth of August, a lightning from +heaven fell within halfe a league of our fort, more worthy, I believe, +to be wondered at, and to be put in writing, than all the +strange signes which have beene scene in times past. For, although +the meadows were at that season all greene, and halfe +covered over with water, neverthelesse the lightning, in one instant, +consumed above five hundred acres thereof, and burned, +with the ardent heate thereof, all the foules which took their +pastime in the meadowes—which thus continued for three dayes +space—which caused us not a little to muse, not being able to +judge whence this fire proceeded. One while we thought that +the Indians had burnt their houses and abandoned their places +for feare of us. Another while we thought that they had discovered +some shippes in the sea, and that, according to their +custome, they had kindled many fires here and there. * * * I +determined to sende to Paracoussi Serranay to knowe the truth. +But, even as I was about to sende one by boate, sixe Indians +came unto me from Paracoussi Allimicany, which, at their first +entrie, made unto mee a long discourse, and a very large and +ample oration (after they had presented mee with certain baskets +full of maiz, of pompions, and of grapes), of the loving amity<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">- 129 -</a></span> +which Allimicany desired to continue with mee, and that he +looked, from day to day, when it would please mee to employ +him in my service. Therefore, considering the serviceable affection +that hee bare unto mee, he found it very strange that I thus +<em>discharged mine ordnance against his dwelling</em>, which had burnt +up an infinite sight of greene meadowes, and consumed even +downe unto the bottom of the water.”</p> + +<p>The simple message of the Paracoussi, suggested some advantages +to Laudonniere, who did not now scruple to admit that all +the mischief had been done by his wanton ordnance. He had +shot, not really to injure his neighbor, but to let him form a proper +idea of what he might do, in the way of mischief, should he +have the provocation at any time. Since, however, the Paracoussi +had come to the recollection of his duties, he, Laudonniere, +would protect him hereafter. The red-man had only to continue +faithful, and the white man would stifle his ordnance.</p> + +<p>The sequel of this strange fire from heaven, may be given in +few words. For three days it remained unextinguished, and, for +two more days, the heat in the atmosphere was insupportable. +The river suffered from a sympathetic heat, and seemed ready +to seethe. The fish in it died in such abundance, of all sorts, +<em>that enough were founde to have laden fiftie carts</em>. The air became +putrid with the effluvia; the greater number of the garrison +fell sick, and suffered nearly to death; while the poor savages +removed to a distance from the region, which, since the settlement +of the colonists, had been productive of little but mischief +unto them. The distress of Laudonniere, under these events, was +increased by discontents and mutinies among his people. They +were not of a class so docile as their predecessors under Albert. +These, certainly, would not have borne so patiently with such a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">- 130 -</a></span> +sway. The government of Laudonniere, if not a wise, was not +a brutal or despotic one. But they threatened equally his peace +and safety. They had cause for apprehension, if not for commotion. +The promised supplies from France, which were to be +brought by Ribault, had failed to arrive, and the discontent in +the colony was beginning to assume an aspect the most serious. +At this point, our narrative must enter somewhat more into details, +and, for the sake of compactness, we must somewhat anticipate +events.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">- 131 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XI" id="XI">XI.</a><br /> +CONSPIRACY OF LE GENRÉ.<br /> +<span class="smfont">HISTORICAL SUMMARY.</span></h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> necessities of the colony now began to open the eyes of +Laudonniere in respect to the errors of which he had been guilty. +He found it important to discontinue his explorations among the +Indian tribes, and to employ his garrison in domestic labors. +They must either work or starve. Their tasks in the fields were +assigned accordingly. This produced discontent among those +who, having for some time, in Europe as well as recently in the +new world, been chiefly employed as soldiers, regarded labor as +degrading, and still flattered themselves with the more agreeable +hope of achieving their fortunes by shorter processes. Their appetite +for the precious metals had been sufficiently enlivened by the +glimpses which had been given them, during their intercourse +with the natives, of the unquestionable treasures of the country. +It was still farther whetted by the influence of two persons of the +garrison. One of these was named La Roquette, of the country +of Perigort; the other was known as Le Genré, a lieutenant, and +somewhat in the confidence of Laudonniere. Le Genré was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">- 132 -</a></span> +bold conspirator. La Roquette was perhaps quite as potential, +though from art rather than audacity. He pretended to be a +great magician, and acquired large influence over the more ignorant +soldiers on the score of his supposed capacity to read the +book of fate. Among his professed discoveries through this +medium, were certain mines of gold and silver, far in the interior, +the wealth of which was such—and he pledged his life upon it—that, +upon a fair division, after awarding the king’s portion, each +soldier would receive not less than ten thousand crowns. The +arguments and assurances of La Roquette persuaded Le Genré, +among the rest. He was exceedingly covetous, and sought eagerly +all royal roads for the acquisition of fortune. He was more easily +beguiled into conspiracy, in consequence of the refusal of Laudonniere +to give him the command of a packet returning into France. +It was determined to depose and destroy the latter. Several +schemes were tried for this purpose; by poison, by gunpowder, +all of which failed, and resulted in the ruin only of the conspirators. +With this introduction we introduce the reader more +particularly to the parties of our history.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">- 133 -</a></span></p> + +<div class="center"><br /> +<h2 class="inline"><a name="XII" id="XII">XII.</a><br /> +THE CONSPIRACY OF LE GENRÉ.—</h2> + +<h3 class="inline">C<span class="simcap">HAP</span>. I.<br /></h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Le Genré</span>, one of the lieutenants of Laudonniere, was of +fierce and intractable temper. His passions had been thwarted +by his superior, whose preferences were clearly with another of +his lieutenants, named D’Erlach.<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> This preference was quite +sufficient to provoke the envy and enmity of Le Genré. His +dislike was fully retorted, and with equal spirit by his brother +officer. But the feelings of D’Erlach, who was the more noble +and manly of the two, were restrained by his prudence and sense +of duty. It had been the task of Laudonniere more than once +to interfere between these persons, and prevent those outrages +which he had every reason to apprehend from their mutual +excitability; and it was partly with the view to keep the parties +separate, that he had so frequently despatched D’Erlach upon +his exploring expeditions. One of these appointments, however, +which Le Genré had desired for himself, had given him no little +mortification when he found that, as usual, D’Erlach had received<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">- 134 -</a></span> +the preference from his superior. It was no proper disparagement +of the claims of others that D’Erlach had been thus preferred. +That he was a favorite, was, perhaps, quite as much due to his +own merits as to the blind partiality of his superior. In choosing +him for the command of his most important expeditions, Laudonniere +was, in fact, doing simple justice to the superior endowments +of caution, prudence, moderation, and firmness, which the young +officer confessedly possessed in very eminent degree. But Le +Genré was not the person to recognize these arguments, or to +acknowledge the superior fitness of his colleague. His discontents, +fanned by the arts of others, and daily receiving provocation +from new causes, finally wrought his blood into such a state +of feverish irritation, as left but little wanting to goad him to +actual insubordination and mutiny.</p> + +<p>Laudonniere was not ignorant of the factious spirit of his discontented +lieutenant. He had been warned by D’Erlach that he +was a person to be watched, and his own observations had led +him equally to this conviction. His eye, accordingly, was fixed +keenly and suspiciously upon the offender, but cautiously, however, +so as to avoid giving unnecessary pain or provocation. But +Laudonniere’s vigilance was partial only; and his suspicions were +by no means so intense as those of D’Erlach. Besides, his attention +was divided among his discontents. He had become painfully +conscious that Le Genré was not alone in his factious feelings. +He felt that the spirit of this officer was widely spreading in the +garrison. The moods of others, sullen, peevish, and doubtful, +had already startled his fears; and he too well knew the character +of his <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">personnel</i>, and from what sources they had been drawn, not +to be apprehensive of their tempers. Signs of insubordination +had been shown already, on various occasions; and had not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">- 135 -</a></span> +Laudonniere been of that character which more easily frets with +its doubts than provides against them, he might have legitimately +employed a salutary punishment in anticipating worse offences. +The looks of many had become habitually sullen, their words few +and abrupt when addressed to their commander, while their tasks +were performed coldly and with evident reluctance. Without +exhibiting any positive or very decided conduct, by which to leave +themselves open to rebuke, their deportment was such as to +betray the impatience of bitter and resentful moods, which only +forbore open utterance by reason of their fears. Laudonniere, +without having absolute cause to punish, was equally wanting in +the nice tact which can, adroitly, and without a fall from dignity, +conciliate the inferior. Angry at the appearances which he could +neither restrain nor chastise, he was not sufficiently the commander +to descend happily to soothe. In this distracted condition +of mind, he prepared to despatch his third and last vessel to +France, to implore the long-expected supplies and assistance.</p> + +<p>It was a fine evening, at the close of September, such an +evening as we frequently experience during that month in the +South, when a cool breeze, arising from the ocean, ascends to the +shores and the forests, and compensates, by its exquisite and +soothing freshness, for the burning heat and suffocating atmosphere +of the day. Our Frenchmen at La Caroline were prepared +to enjoy the embraces of this soothing minister. Some walked +upon the parapets of the fortress, others lay at length along the +bluff of the river, while others again, in the shade of trees farther +inland, grouped together in pleasant communion, enjoyed the song +or the story, with as much gaiety as if all their cares were about +to be buried with the sun that now hung, shorn of his fiery locks, +just above the horizon. Laudonniere passed among these groups<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">- 136 -</a></span> +with the look of one who did not sympathize with their enjoyments. +He was feeble, dull, and only just recovering from a +sickness which had nigh been fatal. His eye rested upon the +river where lay the vessel, the last remaining to his command, +which, in two days more, was to be despatched for France. He +had just left her, and his course now lay for the deep woods, a +mile or more inland. He was followed, or rather accompanied, by +a youth, apparently about nineteen or twenty years of age—a +younger brother of D’Erlach, his favorite lieutenant. This +young man shared in the odium of his brother, as he also was +supposed to enjoy too largely the favors of Laudonniere. The +truth was, that he was much more the favorite than his brother. +He was a youth of great intelligence and sagacity, observing +mind, quick wit, and shrewd, capacious remark. The slower +thought of his commander was quickened by his intelligence, and +relied, much more than the latter would have been willing to +allow, upon the insinuated, rather than expressed, suggestions of +the youth. Alphonse D’Erlach, but for his breadth of shoulders +and activity of muscle, would have seemed delicately made. He +was certainly effeminately habited. He had a boyish love of +ornament which was perhaps natural at his age, but it had been +observed that his brother Achille, though thirty-five, displayed +something of a like passion. Our youth wore his dagger and his +pistols, the former hung about his neck by a scarf, and the latter +were stuck in the belt about his waist. The dagger was richly +hilted, and the pistols, though of excellent structure, were rather +more remarkable for the beauty of their ornaments than for their +size and seeming usefulness as weapons for conflict.</p> + +<p>“And you think, Alphonse,” said Laudonniere, when they had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">- 137 -</a></span> +entered the wood, “that Le Genré is really anxious to return to +France in the Sylph.”</p> + +<p>“I say nothing about his return to France, but that he will +apply to you for the command of the Sylph, I am very certain.”</p> + +<p>“Well! And you?——”</p> + +<p>“Would let him have her.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed! I am sorry, Alphonse, to hear you say so. Le +Genré is not fit for such a trust. He has no judgment, no +discretion. It would be a hundred to one that he never reached +France.”</p> + +<p>“That is just my opinion,” said the youth, coolly.</p> + +<p>“Well! And with this opinion, you would have me risk the +vessel in his hands?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I would! The simple question is, not so much the +safety of the vessel as our own. He is a dangerous person. His +presence here is dangerous to us. If he stays, unless our force is +increased, in another month he will have the fortress in his hands; +he will be master here. You have no power even now to prevent +him. You know not whom to trust. The very parties that you +arm and send out for provisions, might, if they pleased, turn upon +and rend us. If <em>he</em> were not the most suspicious person in the +world—doubtful of the very men that serve him—he would soon +bring the affair to an issue. Fortunately, he doubts rather more +than we confide. He knows not his own strength, and your seeming +composure leads him to overrate ours. But he is getting wiser. +The conspiracy grows every day. I am clear that you should let +him go, take his vessel, pick his crew, and disappear. He will not +go to France, that I am certain. He will shape his course for the +West Indies as soon as he is out of our sight, and be a famous +picaroon before the year is over.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">- 138 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“Alphonse, you are an enemy of Le Genré.”</p> + +<p>“That is certain,” replied the youth; “but if I am his +enemy, that is no good reason why I should be the enemy of +truth.”</p> + +<p>“True, but you suspect much of this. You know nothing.”</p> + +<p>“I <em>know</em> all that I have told you,” replied the young man, +warmly.</p> + +<p>“Indeed! How?”</p> + +<p>“That I cannot tell. Enough that I am free to swear upon +the Holy Evangel, that all I say is true. Le Genré is at the +head of a faction which is conspiring against you.”</p> + +<p>“Can you give me proof of this?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, whenever you dare issue the order for his arrest and that +of others. But this you cannot do. You must not. They are +too strong for you. If Achille were here now!”</p> + +<p>“Ay! Would he were!”</p> + +<p>They now paused, as if the end of their walk had been reached. +Laudonniere wheeled about, with the purpose of returning. They +had not begun well to retrace their steps before the figure of a +person was seen approaching them.</p> + +<p>“Speak of the devil,” said Alphonse, “and he thinks himself +called; here comes Le Genré.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed!” said Laudonniere.</p> + +<p>“See now if I am not right—he comes to solicit the command +of the Sylph.”</p> + +<p>They were joined by the person of whom they had been speaking. +His approach was respectful—his manner civil—his tones +subdued. There was certainly a change for the better in his +deportment. A slight smile might have been seen to turn the +corner of the lips of young D’Erlach, as he heard the address of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">- 139 -</a></span> +the new comer. Le Genré began by requesting a private interview +with his commander. Upon the words, D’Erlach went aside +and was soon out of hearing. His prediction was true. Le Genré +respectfully, but earnestly, solicited the command of the vessel +about to sail for France. He was civilly but positively denied. +Laudonniere had not been impressed by the suggestion of his +youthful counsellor; or, if he were, he was not prepared to yield +a vessel of the king, with all its men and munitions, to the control +of one who might abuse them to the worst purposes. The +face of Le Genré changed upon this refusal.</p> + +<p>“You deny me all trust, Monsieur,” he said. “You refused +me the command when my claim was at least equal to that of +Ottigny. You denied me that which you gave to D’Erlach, +and now—Monsieur, do you hold me incompetent to this +command?”</p> + +<p>“Nay,” said Laudonniere, “but I better prefer your services +here—I cannot so well dispense with them.”</p> + +<p>A bitter smile crossed the lips of the applicant.</p> + +<p>“I cannot complain of a refusal founded upon so gracious a +compliment. But, enough, Monsieur, you refuse me! May I +ask, who will be honored with this command?”</p> + +<p>“Lenoir!”</p> + +<p>“I thought so—another favorite! Well!—Monsieur, I wish +you a good evening.”</p> + +<p>“You have refused him, I see,” said Alphonse, returning as +the other disappeared.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I could do no less. The very suggestion that he might +convert the vessel to piratical purposes, was enough to make me +resolve against him.”</p> + +<p>And, still discussing that and other kindred subjects, Laudonniere<!--was Laudonnierre--><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">- 140 -</a></span> +and his young companion followed in the steps of La +Genré towards the fortress.</p> + +<h3><a name="XII_CH2" id="XII_CH2">CHAPTER II.</a></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">That</span> night the young Alphonse D’Erlach might have been +seen stealing cautiously from the quarters of Laudonniere<!--was Laudonnierre-->, and +winding along under cover of the palisades to one of the entrances +of the fortress. He was wrapped in a huge and heavy cloak +which effectually disguised his person. Here he was joined by +another, whom he immediately addressed:</p> + +<p>“Bon Pre?”</p> + +<p>“The same: all’s ready.”</p> + +<p>“Have they gone?”</p> + +<p>“Yes!”</p> + +<p>“Let us go.”</p> + +<p>They went together to the entrance. The person whom +Alphonse called Bon Pre, was a short, thick-set person, fully +fifty years of age. They approached the sentry at the gate.</p> + +<p>“Let us out, my son,” said Bon Pre; “we are late.”</p> + +<p>When they were without the walls, they stole along through +the ditch, concealed in the deep shade of the place, cautiously +avoiding all exposure to the star-light. On reaching a certain +point, they ascended, and, taking the cover of bush and tree, +made their way to the river, and getting into a boat which lay +beneath the banks, pushed off, and suffered her to drop down the +stream, the old man simply using the paddle to shape her course. +A brief conversation, in whispers, followed between them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">- 141 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“You told him all?” asked Bon Pre.</p> + +<p>“No; but just enough for our purpose. As I told you, he +believes nothing. He is too good a man himself to believe any +body thoroughly bad.”</p> + +<p>“He will grow wiser before he is done. You did not suffer +him to know where you got your information?”</p> + +<p>“No—surely not. He would have been for having a court, +and a trial, and all that sort of thing. You would have sworn to +the truth in vain, and they would assassinate you. We must only +do what we can to prevent, and leave the punishment for another +season. If time is allowed us——”</p> + +<p>“Ay, but that ‘if!’” said the old man. “Time will not be +allowed. Le Genré will be rather slow—but there are some +persons not disposed to wait for the return of the parties under +Ottigny and your brother.”</p> + +<p>“Enough!” said D’Erlach—“Here is the cypress.”</p> + +<p>With these words, the course of the canoe was arrested, the +prow turned in towards the shore, and adroitly impelled, by the +stroke of Bon Pre’s paddle, directly into the cavernous opening +of an ancient cypress which stood in the water, but close to the +banks. This ancient tree stood, as it were, upon two massive +abutments. The cavern into which the boat passed was open in +like manner on the opposite side. The prow of the canoe ran in +upon the land, while the stern rested within the body of the tree. +Alphonse cautiously stepped ashore, and was followed by his older +companion. They were now upon the same side of the river +with the fortress. The course which they had taken had two +objects. To avoid fatigue and detection in a progress by land, +and to reach a given point in advance of the conspirators, who +had taken that route. Of course, our two companions had timed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">- 142 -</a></span> +their movements with reference to the previous progress of the +former. They advanced in the direction of the fort, which lay +some three miles distant, but at the distance of fifty or sixty +yards from the place where they landed, came to a knoll thickly +overgrown with trees and shrubbery. A creek ran at its foot, in +the bed of which stood numerous cypresses—amongst these +Alphonse D’Erlach disappeared, while Bon Pre ascended the +knoll, and seated himself in waiting upon a fallen cypress.</p> + +<p>He had not long to wait. In less than twenty minutes, a +whistle was heard—to which Bon Pre responded, in the notes of +an owl. The sound of voices followed, and, after a little interval, +one by one, seven persons ascended the knoll, and entered the +area which was already partially occupied by Bon Pre. There +were few preliminaries, and Le Genré opened the business. +Bon Pre, it is seen, was one of the conspirators and in their +fullest confidence. He had left the fort before them, or had +pretended to do so. They had each left at different periods. +We have seen his route. It is only necessary to add, that they +had come together but a little while before their junction at the +knoll. Of course, their several revelations had yet to be made. +Le Genré commenced by relating his ill success in regard to the +vessel.</p> + +<p>“We must have it, at all hazards,” said Stephen Le Genevois, +“we can do nothing without it.”</p> + +<p>“I do not see that;” was the reply of Jean La Roquette. +This person, it may be well to say, was one possessing large influence +among the conspirators. He claimed to be a magician, +dealt much in predictions, consulted the stars, and other signs, +as well of earth as of heaven; and, among other things, pretended, +by reason of his art, to know where, at no great distance, was a mine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">- 143 -</a></span> +of silver, the richest in the world. Almost his sole reason for +linking himself with the conspirators, was the contempt with +which his pretensions had been treated by his commander, in regard +to the search after this mine.</p> + +<p>“I do not see,” he replied, “that this vessel is so necessary to +us. A few canoes will serve us better.”</p> + +<p>“Canoes—for what?” was the demand of Le Genevois.</p> + +<p>“Why, for ascending the rivers, for avoiding the fatigue of +land travel, for bringing down our bullion.”</p> + +<p>“Pshaw! You are at your silver mine again; but that is slow +work. I prefer that which the Spaniard has already gathered; +which he has run into solid bars and made ready for the king’s +face. I prefer fighting for my silver, to digging for it.”</p> + +<p>“Ay! fighting—no digging;” said Le Genré and he was echoed +by other voices. But La Roquette was not to be silenced. His +opinions were re-stated and insisted upon with no small vehemence, +and the controversy grew warm as to the future course of +the party—whether they should explore the land for silver ore, +or the Spanish seas for bullion.</p> + +<p>“<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Messieurs</i>,” said one named Fourneaux, “permit me to say +that you are counting your chickens before they are out of the +shell. Why cumber our discussion with unnecessary difficulties? +The first thing to consider is how to get our freedom. We can +determine hereafter what use we shall make of it. There are +men enough, or will be enough, when we have got rid of Laudonniere, +to undertake both objects. Some may take the seas, +and some the land; some to digging. Each man to his taste. +All may be satisfied—there need be no restraint. The only matter +now to be adjusted, is to be able to choose at all. Let us not +turn aside from the subject.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">- 144 -</a></span></p> + +<p>These sensible suggestions quieted the parties, and each proceeded +to report progress. One made a return of the men he +had got over, another of the arms in possession, and a third of +ammunition. But the question finally settled down upon the fate +of Laudonniere, and a few of his particular friends, the young +D’Erlach being the first among them. On this subject, the conspirators +not only all spoke, but they all spoke together. They +were vehement enough, willing to destroy their enemy, but their +words rather declared their anger, than any particular mode of +effecting their object. At length Fourneaux again spoke.</p> + +<p>“<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Messieurs</i>,” said he, “you all seem agreed upon two things; +the first is, that, before we can do anything, Laudonniere and that +young devil, D’Erlach, must be disposed of; the second, that this +is rather a difficult matter. It is understood that they may rally a +sufficient force to defeat us—that we are not in the majority yet, +though we hope to be so; and that a great number who are now +slow to join us, will be ready enough, if the blow were once struck +successfully. In this, I think, you all perfectly agree.”</p> + +<p>“Ay—ay! There you are right—that’s it;” was the response +of Le Genré and Stephen Le Genevois.</p> + +<p>“Very well; now, as it is doubtful who are certainly the friends +of Laudonniere, it is agreed that we must move against him +secretly. Is there any difficulty in this? There are several ways +of getting rid of an enemy without lifting dagger or pistol. Is +not the magician here—the chemist, La Roquette?—has he no +knowledge of certain poisons, which, once mingled in the drink of +a captain, can shut his eyes as effectually as if it were done with +bullet or steel? And if this fails, are there not other modes of +contriving an accident? I have a plan now, which, with your +leave, I think the very thing for our purpose. Laudonniere’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">- 145 -</a></span> +quarters, as you all know, stand apart from all the rest, with the +exception of the little building occupied by the division of Le +Genré, with which it is connected by the old bath-room. This +bath-room is abandoned since Laudonniere has taken to the river. +Suppose Le Genré here should, for safe-keeping, put a keg of +gunpowder under the captain’s quarters? and suppose farther, +that, by the merest mischance, he should suffer a train of powder +to follow his footsteps, as he crawls from one apartment to the +other; and suppose again, that, while Laudonniere sleeps, some +careless person should suffer a coal of fire to rest, only for a moment, +upon the train in the bath-house. By my life, I think such +an accident would spare us the necessity of attempting the life of +our beloved captain. It would be a sort of providential interposition.”</p> + +<p>“Say no more! It shall be done!” said Le Genré. “I will +do it!”</p> + +<p>“Ay, should the other measure fail; but I am for trying the +poison first;” said Fourneaux, “for such an explosion would send +a few fragments of timber about other ears than those of the captain. +He takes his coffee at sunrise. Can we not drug it?”</p> + +<p>“Let that be my task;” said old Bon Pre, who had hitherto +taken little part in this conference.</p> + +<p>“You are the very man,” said Fourneaux. “He takes his +coffee from your hands. La Roquette will provide the poison.”</p> + +<p>“When shall this be done?” demanded Le Genré. “We can +do nothing to-night. It will require time to-morrow to prepare +the train.”</p> + +<p>“Ay, that is your part; but may not Bon Pre do his to-morrow? +and should he fail——”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">- 146 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“Why should he fail?” demanded La Roquette. “Let him +but dress his coffee with my spices, and he cannot fail.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Bon Pre, “but it is not always that Laudonniere +drinks his coffee. If he happens to be asleep when I bring +it, I do not wake him, but put it on the table by his bedside, and, +very frequently, if it is cold when he wakes, he leaves it untasted.”</p> + +<p>“Umph! but at all events, there is the other accident. That +can be made to take effect at mid-night to-morrow—eh! what +say you, Le Genré?”</p> + +<p>“Without fail! It is sworn!”</p> + +<p>Their plans being adjusted, the meeting was dissolved, and the +parties separately dispersed, each to make his way back, as he +best might, so as to avoid suspicion or detection, to Fort Caroline. +They had scarcely disappeared when Alphonse D’Erlach emerged +from the hollow of a cypress which stood upon the edge of the +knoll where their conference had taken place.</p> + +<h3><a name="XII_CH3" id="XII_CH3">CHAPTER III.</a></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Alphonse D’Erlach</span> was one of those remarkable persons +who seem, in periods of great excitement, to be entirely superior +to its influence. He appeared to be entirely without emotions. +Though a mere youth, not yet firm in physical manhood, he was, +in morals, endowed with a strength, a hardihood and maturity, +which do not often fall to the lot of middle age. In times of +difficulty, he possessed a coolness which enabled him to contemplate +deliberately the approach of danger, and he was utterly beyond<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">- 147 -</a></span> +surprises. His conference with old Bon Pre, when they +met again that night was remarkably illustrative of these characteristics.</p> + +<p>“What shall we do?” demanded the old man.</p> + +<p>“Your part is easily done,” was the reply—“you are simply +to do nothing—to forbear doing. I understand your purpose in +volunteering to do the poisoning. I will see Laudonniere in an +hour. You will prepare the coffee—nay, let Fourneaux, or that +fool of a magician himself, introduce the poison. Laudonniere +will sleep, you understand.”</p> + +<p>“But, Le Genré—the gunpowder!”</p> + +<p>“I will see to that.”</p> + +<p>“What will you do?”</p> + +<p>“Nay, time must find the answer. I am not resolved; but, at +all events, for the present, Laudonniere must know nothing. He +must remain in ignorance.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“For the best reason in the world. Did he guess what we +know, he would be for arming himself and all around him—creating +a confusion under the name of law—attempting arrests, and +so proceeding as to give opportunities to the conspirators to do +that boldly, which they are now content to do basely. I think we +shall thwart them with their own weapons. Let us separate now. +I will see Laudonniere but a few moments before I sleep.”</p> + +<p>“<em>Can</em> you sleep to-night? I cannot! I shall hardly be able +to sleep till the affair is over. I do not think, honestly speaking, +that I have slept a good hour for the last week. I am certainly +not conscious of having done so.”</p> + +<p>“Nature provides for all such cases. For my part I never +want sleep—I always have it. I can sleep in a storm and enjoy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">- 148 -</a></span> +it just as well. The uproar of winds and seas never troubles me. +If it does, it is only to lull me into sleep again. I am a philosopher +without knowing it, and by accident. But come—we must +part.”</p> + +<p>The chamber of D’Erlach was in the same building with that +of Laudonniere. They slept in adjoining apartments. D’Erlach +purposely made some noise in approaching his, and Laudonniere +cried out,</p> + +<p>“Who is there?—Alphonse?”</p> + +<p>“The same, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Come in—where have you been at this hour; is it not very +late?”</p> + +<p>“Almost time for waking—an hour probably from dawn, though +I know not exactly. But, suffer me to extinguish this light. We +can talk as well in the dark.”</p> + +<p>“What have you to say?” demanded Laudonniere, half rising +at this preliminary.</p> + +<p>“I have been getting some new lessons in chess from old Marchand.”</p> + +<p>“Ah! what new lesson?” asked Laudonniere, whose passion +for the game had prompted D’Erlach with the suggestion he made +use of.</p> + +<p>“Marchand, sir, is a most wonderful player. I have seen a +great many persons skilled at the game, not to speak of yourself, +and I am sure there is no one who can stand him. He absolutely +laughs at my opposition. I wish you could play with him, sir.”</p> + +<p>“I should like it, Alphonse,” replied the other, “but you +know my position. This man, Marchand, is a turbulent person; +scarcely respectful to me, and, if there be, as you think, a conspiracy +on foot against me, he is at the head of it, be sure.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">- 149 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“Not so;” said the other, quietly, but decisively; “not so. +His bluntness is that of an honest man. His turbulence is that +of self-esteem. He is above a base action, and, secure in his own +character, he defies the scrutiny of superiority. I think you mistake +him; at all events it is necessary that you should know him +in chess. I am anxious to see you and him in conflict; and, if +you will permit me, he shall bring his own men—for he will play +with no other—he has his notions on the point—here, to-morrow +night, when you will discover that he is not only a great player +but a good fellow.”</p> + +<p>“You are a singular person, Alphonse;” said Laudonniere, +smiling. “What should put chess into your head at such a time, +particularly when you say there is such danger?”</p> + +<p>“The man who can play chess when danger threatens is the +very man to discover it; and the conspirator is never more likely +to become resolved in his purpose than when he finds his destined +victim in a state of anxiety. I should rather my enemy see me +at chess—provided I can see him—than that he should find me +putting my arms in readiness. They may be conveniently under +the table, while the chess-board is upon it; and while I am moving +my pawn with one hand, I can prepare my pistol with the other. +But, sir, with your further permission, I will bring Challus and +Le Moyne to see the match. They are both passionately fond of +the game, and Le Moyne plays well, though nothing to compare +either with yourself or Marchand.”</p> + +<p>“By the way, Alphonse, how is Le Moyne getting on with his +pictures? It certainly was a strange idea of the Admiral, that of +sending out, with such an expedition, painters of pictures and such +persons. I can see the use of a mineralogist and botanist, but—these +painters!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">- 150 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“Le Moyne has made some very lovely pictures of the country. +His landscapes are to the life, and he has that rare knowledge of +the painter, which enables him to choose his point of view happily, +and tells him how much to take in, and how much to leave out. +The Admiral will be able to form a better idea of the country from +the pictures of Le Moyne, than he will from the pebbles of Delille +or the dried flowers and leaves of Serrier. Le Moyne shows him +the rivers and the trees, the valleys and the hills; and, if his pictures +get safely to France, the people there will envy us the paradise +here which we are so little able to enjoy.”</p> + +<p>Laudonniere heard the youth with half-shut eyes, and the dialogue +languished on the part of the former; but D’Erlach seemed +resolute to keep him wakeful, and suggested continually new provocatives +to conversation, until his superior, absolutely worn out +with exhaustion, bade him go to sleep himself or suffer him to do +so. Alphonse smiled, and left the room perfectly satisfied, as he +beheld the faint streakings of daylight gliding through the interstices +between the logs of which the building was composed. In +less than an hour, hearing a sound as of one entering, he hastily +went out of his chamber, for he had neither undressed himself nor +slept, and met Bon Pre, with the salver of coffee, about to go into +the chamber of Laudonniere.</p> + +<p>“Well, is it spiced? Has La Roquette furnished the drug?”</p> + +<p>“His own hands put it in.”</p> + +<p>“Very well; let us in together. Laudonniere is not likely to +awaken soon, and I will remain with him ’till he does. If the +coffee cools, and he offers not to drink, well. I will say nothing. +It is best that he should know nothing ’till all’s over.”</p> + +<p>“But the rest!” said Bon Pre, in a whisper.</p> + +<p>“We must manage that, also, quite as well as this.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">- 151 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“If you should want help?”</p> + +<p>“We must find it. But the thing must go forward to the end. +Remember <em>that</em>! This scoundrel must be suffered to burn his +fingers.”</p> + +<p>“Can you contrive it—<em>you, alone</em>?”</p> + +<p>“I think so; but, Bon Pre, you are here, and Challus, and +Le Moyne, and Beauvais and Marchand, and, perhaps, one or two +more—true men upon whom we can rely—and these, mark me, +must be in readiness. Of this you shall learn hereafter.”</p> + +<p>They entered the chamber of Laudonniere. He still slept. +Bon Pre placed the vessel of coffee beside him and disappeared. +D’Erlach seated himself at a little distance from the couch. +When Laudonniere wakened the liquor was cold. He laid it down +again.</p> + +<p>“What! you here, Alphonse; but you have been to bed?”</p> + +<p>“I do not sleep as soundly as you. I left my chamber as old +Bon Pre brought your coffee, and entered with him. You do not +drink?”</p> + +<p>“The coffee is cold.”</p> + +<p>“It spoils your breakfast, too, I imagine. You do not eat +heartily at breakfast.”</p> + +<p>“No; dinner is my meal. But, Alphonse—did I dream, or +did we not have some conversation about Marchand and chess-playing +last night?”</p> + +<p>“We did! This morning rather.”</p> + +<p>“Is he the great player you describe him?”</p> + +<p>“He is. I can think of none better.”</p> + +<p>“Well—saucy as he is, I must meet him.”</p> + +<p>“You permitted me to arrange for it, to-night. I had your consent +to bring some amateurs.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">- 152 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes, I <em>do</em> recollect something of it—Le Moyne and—”</p> + +<p>“Challus.”</p> + +<p>“Very well—let them come; but they must be patient. If +Marchand is such a player, I must be cool and cautious. I must +beat him.”</p> + +<p>“You will, but you will work for it. Marchand will keep you +busy. And now, sir, there is another matter which I beg leave to +bring to your remembrance. You remember the cypress canoe +that lies upon the river banks, three miles or more above. It was +claimed by the old chief Satouriova. We shall want it here for various, +and, perhaps, important uses, when the ship sails. She will +take most of your boats with her. Let me recommend that you +send a detachment for this boat to-day. It should be an armed +detachment, for the old chief is most certainly our enemy, and may +be in the neighborhood. I would send Lieutenant Le Genré, as +he lacks employment. I would give him his choice of six or eight +companions, as, if he does not choose his own men, he might be +apt to tyrannize over those who are friendly to you. Perhaps it +would be better to give your orders early, that he should start at +noon, as, at mid-day, the tide will serve for bringing the boat up +without toil.”</p> + +<p>“Why, Alphonse, you are very nice in your details. But, you +are right, and the arrangement is a good one.”</p> + +<p>“The sooner Le Genré receives his orders the more time for +preparations;” said the youth indifferently.</p> + +<p>“He shall have them as soon as I go below.”</p> + +<p>By this time Laudonniere was dressed and they descended the +court together.</p> + +<p>“Has he drunk,” asked Le Genré anxiously, with Forneaux and +La Roquette on each side, as they beheld Bon Pre descending<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">- 153 -</a></span> +from the chamber of Laudonniere with the vessel in his hand. +The old man raised the silver lid of the coffee-pot, and showed the +contents.</p> + +<p>“Diable!” was the half-suppressed exclamation of La Roquette.</p> + +<p>“Enough, comrade!” said Le Genré, in a whisper—“it remains +for me.”</p> + +<p>They separated, and entered, from different points, the area +where Laudonniere stood.</p> + +<p>“Lieutenant;” said the latter, as Le Genré appeared in sight—“Take +six men at noon and go up to the bluff of the old chief +Satouriova and bring away the cypress canoe of which we took possession +some time since. Launch her and bring her up. The tide +will serve at that hour. Let your men be armed to the teeth, and +keep on your guard, for you may meet the old savage on your +way.”</p> + +<p>Le Genré touched his hat and retired.</p> + +<p>“It is well,” said he to Fourneaux, whom he had chosen as one +of his companions, “that the commission did not send me off at +once. I must make my preparation quickly and before I go.”</p> + +<p>Unseen and unsuspected, Alphonse D’Erlach was conscious all +the while that the enemy was busy. But Laudonniere saw nothing +to suspect, either in his countenance, or in the proceedings of the +conspirator. At noon, Le Genré commenced his march, the only +toils of which were over, when once the canoe was in their possession. +The vessel was amply large to carry twenty soldiers as well +as six, and the tide alone would bring them to the fortress in an +hour or two.</p> + +<p>The labors of Alphonse began as soon as Le Genré had disappeared +with his party. The six men whom he had taken with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">- 154 -</a></span> +him, were his confederates. The object of the youth was to operate +in security, free from their <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">surveillance</i>. Still, his proceedings +were conducted with great caution. Laudonniere neither +suspected his industry nor its object. Arms and ammunition +were accumulated in his chamber. Beauvais, and one or two +brave and trusty friends, were placed there without the privity of +any one, and the chess-party, including Marchand, Le Moyne and +Challus, were properly apprized of the arrangements for the game +between the former and Laudonniere. They were all amateurs, +and there was good wine to be had on such occasions. They did +not refuse. Alphonse took pains to noise about the expected +meeting, and its object, and showed his own interest by betting +freely upon his captain. He soon found those who were willing +to risk their gold upon Marchand; and the lively Frenchmen of +La Caroline, were very soon all agog for the approaching contest. +But the labors of the youth did not cease here. He explored the +cellar of the building in which he and Laudonniere slept, and +there, as he expected, the arrangements had been already made +for sending the Chief and himself by the shortest possible road +to heaven. A keg of powder had been wedged in beneath the +beams, with a train, following which, on hands and knees, Alphonse +was conducted under the old bath-house, till he found +himself beneath that of Le Genré. He did not disturb the train. +He simply withdrew the keg of powder, carefully putting back, in +the manner he found them, the old boxes and piles of wood, with +which the incendiary had wedged it between the beams. This +done, he rolled the keg before him over the path, by which it had +evidently come, beneath the bath-house, and to that of Le Genré. +Here he left it, still connected with the train of powder, but +rather less distant from the match than Le Genré had ever contemplated.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">- 155 -</a></span> +Perhaps, he sprinkled the train anew with fresh +powder—it is certain that he went away secure and satisfied, long +before Le Genré returned from his expedition, with the canoe of +Satouriova.</p> + +<h3><a name="XII_CH4" id="XII_CH4">CHAPTER IV.</a></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">At</span> the hour appointed that night, for the contest between the +chess players, Marchand, accompanied by Le Moyne and Challus, +made his appearance in the apartments of René Laudonniere. +Those of Alphonse D’Erlach were already occupied by four or +five trusty fellows; and the arms which filled the apartment were +ample for the defence of the party, while in the building, against +any number assailing from without. The foresight of Alphonse +had made all the necessary preparations, to encounter any foe, +who might, after the explosion, attempt to carry their object in a +bold way. He had no fear of this, but his habitual forethought +led to the precautions. Meanwhile, of the designs against him +and of the means taken for his safety, Laudonniere had not the +slightest suspicion. His thoughts were occupied with one danger +only—that of being beaten by Marchand. He valued himself +upon his play—was one of those persons who never suffer themselves +to be beaten when they can possibly help it—even by a +lady. If our captain made any preparations, that day, it was for +the supper that night, and the contest which was to follow it. +His instruction, on the first matter, given to his cook, he retired +to his chamber and exercised himself throughout the day in a +series of studies in the game—planning new combinations to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">- 156 -</a></span> +brought into play, if possible, in the contest which was to follow. +His welcome to Marchand declared the opinion which he himself +entertained of his studies.</p> + +<p>“I shall beat you, Marchand.”</p> + +<p>“You can’t—you shan’t,” was the ready answer; “you’re +not my match, captain.”</p> + +<p>This answer piqued Laudonniere.</p> + +<p>“We shall see—we shall see; not your match! Well! we +shall see.”</p> + +<p>We need not waste time upon the preliminaries of the contest. +Enough that, about ten o’clock at night, we find the rival players +placed at the table; the opposing pieces arrayed in proper order +of battle, with Le Moyne and Challus, looking on with faces filled +with expectation and curiosity. The face of Alphonse D’Erlach +might also be perceptible, in a momentary glance over the +shoulders of one or other of the parties; but his movements were +capricious, and, passing frequently between his own and the chamber +of Laudonniere, he only looked at intervals upon the progress +of the game. Unhappily, the details of this great match, the +several moves, and the final position of the remaining pieces, at +the end of the contest, have not been preserved to us, though it is +not improbable that the painter Le Moyne, as well as Challus, +took notes of it. Enough, that Laudonniere put forth all his skill, +exercised all his caution, played as slowly and heedfully as possible, +and was——but we anticipate. Marchand, on the contrary, +seemed never more indifferent. He scarcely seemed to look at +the board—played promptly, even rapidly, and wore one of those +cool, almost contemptuous, countenances which seemed to say, +“I know myself and my enemy, and feel sure that I have no +cause of fear.” That his opinions were of this character is beyond<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">- 157 -</a></span> +all question; but, though his countenance expressed as +much, Laudonniere reassured himself with the reflection that Marchand +was well understood to be one of those fortunate persons +who know admirably how to disguise their real emotions, however +deeply they may be excited or anxious. Laudonniere’s self-esteem +was not deficient, in the absence of better virtues. He had +his vanity at chess, and the game was so played, that the issue +continued doubtful, except possibly to one of the spectators, +almost to the last moment. Leaving the parties at the board, +silent and studious, let us turn to the counsels of the conspirators, +whom we must not suppose to be idle all this time.</p> + +<p>They had assembled—half a dozen of them at least—and were +in close conference at the quarters of La Roquette, at the opposite +extremity of the fortress. They were all excited to the highest +pitch of expectation. The hour was drawing nigh for the attempt, +and all eyes were turned upon Le Genré.</p> + +<p>“It is half past eleven,” he exclaimed, “and the thing is to be +done. But what is to be done, if those men whom we hold doubtful +should take courage, and, in the moment of uproar take arms +against us? We have made no preparations for this event. +Now, this firing the train from my lodgings is but the work of a +boy. It may be done by any body. It is more fitting that, with +six or eight select men, well armed, I should be in reserve, ready +to encounter resistance should there be any after the explosion.”</p> + +<p>Villemain, a youth of twenty-two, a dark, sinister-looking person, +slight and short, promptly volunteered to fire the train. His offer +was at once accepted.</p> + +<p>“It is half-past eleven, you say? I will go at once,” said Villemain.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">- 158 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“We will go with you,” cried La Roquette and Stephen Le +Genevois in the same breath.</p> + +<p>“No! no! not so!” said Le Genré. “You have each duties to +perform. You must scatter yourselves as much as possible, so as to +increase the alarm at the proper moment. There will be little +danger, I grant you, with Laudonniere, and that imp of the devil, +D’Erlach, out of the way; but it must be prepared for. Once +show the rest that these are done for, and we shall do as we think +proper.”</p> + +<p>“What a fortunate thing for us is this game of chess. It disposes +of the only persons we could not so easily have managed;” +said Fourneaux. “Boxes them up, as one may say, so that they +only need a mark upon them to be ready for shipment.”</p> + +<p>“And yet, somehow, I could wish,” said Le Genevois, “that +Marchand were not among them. I like that fellow. He is so +bold, so blunt, and plays his game just as if it were his religion.”</p> + +<p>“I could wish to save the painter, if any,” remarked La Roquette; +“but at all events, we shall inherit his pictures.”</p> + +<p>“Bah! let the devil take him and them together! Why bother +about such stuff; what’s his pictures of the country to us, +when the country itself is our own, to keep or to quit just as it +pleases us? We are wasting time. Where’s Villemain?”</p> + +<p>“Here—ready!”</p> + +<p>“Depart, then,” said Le Genré; “the sooner you light the +match after you reach my quarters, the better. We shall be ready +for the blast.”</p> + +<p>“He is gone!” said Fourneaux.</p> + +<p>“Let us follow, and each to his task;” cried Le Genré. “Each +of you take care of the flying timbers; find you covers as you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">- 159 -</a></span> +may. My men are mustered behind the old granary. <em>Adieu, my +friends</em>,—the time has come!”</p> + +<p>With these words, the company dispersed, each seeking his +several position and duty. Let us adjourn our progress to the chamber +of Laudonniere, where that meditative gamester still sits deliberate, +with knotted brow, watching the movements of Marchand.</p> + +<h3><a name="XII_CH5" id="XII_CH5">CHAPTER V.</a></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> game was still unfinished. The repeater of Alphonse +D’Erlach was in his hand, as he entered from his own chamber, +and threw a hasty glance across the chess-board. There Laudonniere +sate, seeing nothing but the pieces before him. He +was in the brownest of studies. His thoughts were wholly with +the game, which had the power of contracting his forehead with a +more serious anxiety than possibly all the cares of his colony had +done. His opponent was the very personification of well-satisfied +indifference. He leaned back in his seat, smiling grimly, and +with a wink, now and then, to those who watched and waited upon +the movements of Laudonniere. Alphonse D’Erlach smiled also. +The slightest shade of anxiety might be observed upon his brow, +and his lips were more rigidly compressed than usual. He +leaned quietly towards the board, and remarked <span class="nowrap">indifferently—</span></p> + +<p>“I see you are nearly at the close of your game.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed!” said Laudonniere, with some sharpness in his accents,—“and +pray Monsieur Alphonse, how do you see that?”</p> + +<p>“You will finish by twelve,” was the reply. “I see that it now +lacks but a few minutes of that hour.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">- 160 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“Pshaw, Monsieur!” exclaimed Laudonniere—“you talk illogically, +you know nothing about it. Chess is one of those +games——”</p> + +<p>And he proceeded to expatiate upon the latent resources of the +game, and how a good player might retrieve a bad situation in +the last perilous extremity, by a lucky diversion.</p> + +<p>“But there is no such extremity now,” he continued to say, +“and it is not improbable that we shall keep up the struggle till +morning. The game cannot finish under an hour, let him do his +best, even if he conquers in the end, which is very far from certain, +though I confess he has some advantages.”</p> + +<p>“We shall see,” was the reply, as Alphonse left the room, and +returned in a few moments after. It was not observed by the +parties, so intent were they on the game, that he now made his +appearance in complete armor, nor did they hear the bustle in +the adjoining apartment. Alphonse still held his watch in his +grasp.</p> + +<p>“The game is nearly finished. According to my notion, you +have but two minutes for it.”</p> + +<p>“Two! how!” said Laudonniere, not lifting his head.</p> + +<p>“But one!”</p> + +<p>“There!” said Laudonniere, making the move that Marchand +had anticipated. Marchand bent forward with extended finger +to the white queen, when a shade of uneasiness might be traced +by a nice observer in the countenance of D’Erlach. His lips +were suddenly and closely compressed. The hand of the timepiece +was upon the fatal minute. On a sudden, a hissing sound +was heard, and, in the next instant, the house reeled and quivered +as if torn from its foundation. A deep roar followed, as if the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">- 161 -</a></span> +thunderbolt had just broke at their feet, and the whole was succeeded +by a deafening ringing sound in all their ears.</p> + +<p>“Jesus—mercy!” exclaimed Laudonniere—“The magazine!”</p> + +<p>“Checkmate!” cried Marchand, as he set down the white +queen in the final position which secured the game.</p> + +<p>“Ay! it is checkmate to more games than one! Gentlemen, +to arms, and follow me!” exclaimed Alphonse. “We are safe +now!”</p> + +<h3><a name="XII_CH6" id="XII_CH6">CHAPTER VI.</a></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">They</span> rushed out, and were immediately joined by the select +party from the chamber of D’Erlach, all armed to the teeth. +Another party, under Bon Pre, of which none knew but the same +person, encountered them when they emerged into the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Place +D’Armes</i>. Alphonse led the way with confidence, and, while all +was uproar and confusion below—while men were seen scattered +throughout the area, uncertain where to turn, the sharp, stern voice +of command was heard in their midst, in tones that forbade the idea +of surprise. The drums rolled. The faithful were soon brought +together, and presented such an orderly and strong array, that +conspiracy would have been confounded by their appearance, even +was there nothing else in the event to palsy their enterprise. But +their engine had exploded in their own house. The dwelling of +Laudonniere was only shaken by the explosion. It was that of +Le Genré which was overthrown, and was now in flames. Its +blazing timbers were soon scattered, and the flames extinguished, +when the body of the conspirator was drawn forth, blackened and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">- 162 -</a></span> +mangled, from the place where he had met his death; still grasping +between his fingers the fragment of match with which he had +lighted the train to his own destruction. The conspirators, in an +instant, felt all their feebleness. Already were the trusted soldiers +of Laudonniere approaching them. Baffled in the scheme from +which they had promised themselves so much, and apprehending +worse dangers, they lost all confidence in themselves and one +another; and Le Genré, apprehending everything, seizing the +moment of greatest confusion, leaped the walls of the fortress, and +succeeded in escaping to the woods. The other leading conspirators, +Le Genevois, La Fourneaux, and La Roquette, at first +determined not to fly, not yet dreaming that they were the objects +of suspicion; but when they beheld Bon Pre, late one of their +associates, marshalling one of the squads of Laudonniere, they at +once conjectured the mode and the extent of the discovery. +They saw that they had been betrayed, and soon followed the +example of Le Genré. In regard to the inferior persons concerned +in the conspiracy, D’Erlach said nothing to Laudonniere, +and counselled Bon Pre to silence also. He was better pleased +that they should wholly escape than that the colony should lose +their services, and easily persuaded himself that in driving Le +Genré and his three associates from the field, he had effectually +paralyzed the spirit of faction within the fortress. He had made +one mistake, however, but for which he might not have been so +easily content. Not anticipating the change in the plan of the +conspirators, by which it had been confided to Villemain to fire +the train instead of Le Genré, he had naturally come to the +conclusion that the only victim was the chief conspirator. He +was soon undeceived, and his chagrin and disappointment were +great accordingly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">- 163 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“Whose carcass is this?” demanded Laudonniere, as they +threw out the mangled remains of the incendiary from the scene +of ruin.</p> + +<p>“That of your lieutenant, Le Genré,” was the answer of +D’Erlach, given without looking at the object.</p> + +<p>“Not so!” was the immediate reply of more than one of the +persons present. “This is quite too slight and short a person +for Le Genré.”</p> + +<p>“Who can it be, then?” said D’Erlach, looking closely at the +body, which was torn and blackened almost beyond identification. +The face of the corpse was washed, and with some difficulty it was +recognized as that of Philip Villemain, a thoughtless youth, whom +levity rather than evil nature had thrown into the meshes of +conspiracy.</p> + +<p>“But what does it all mean, Alphonse?” demanded the bewildered +Laudonniere, not yet recovered from his astonishment and +alarm.</p> + +<p>“Treason! as I told you!” was the reply. “There lies one +of the traitors—the poor tool of a cunning which escapes. I had +looked to make his principal perish by his own petard. But we +must look to this hereafter. We must stir the woods to-morrow. +They will shelter the arch traitor for a season only. Enough +now, captain, that we are safe. Let us in to our fish. Those +trout were of the finest, and I somehow have a monstrous appetite +for supper.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">- 164 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XIII" id="XIII">XIII.</a><br /> +HISTORICAL SUMMARY.</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> policy of Laudonniere, influenced by the judgment of +Alphonse D’Erlach suffered the proceedings of the conspiracy to +pass without farther scrutiny. His chief care was to provide +against future attempts of the same character. He had been for +some time past engaged, among other labors, in putting the +fortress in the best possible order, and he now strenuously addressed +all his efforts to the completion of this work. A portion +of his force was employed in sawing plank, and getting out timber; +others were engaged in making brick for buildings, at or near +an Indian village called Saravahi, which stood about a league and +a half from the fort, upon an arm of the same river; others were +employed in gathering food, and still other parties in exploring +the Indian settlements for traffic. Le Genré, meanwhile, wrote +to Laudonniere, in repentant language, from the neighboring +forests. He had taken shelter among the red-men,—probably of +the tribes of Satouriova, at present the enemy of the Frenchmen. +He admitted that he deserved death, but declared his sorrow for +his crime and entreated mercy. But his professions did not +soothe or deceive his superior. About this time, a vessel with +supplies arrived from France which enabled Laudonniere to send<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">- 165 -</a></span> +despatches home, containing a full narrative of the events which +had passed. It was the misfortune of the garrison to have received +an addition by the arrival of this vessel. Six or seven of +the most refractory of the soldiers of the garrison were put on +board ship, and others left in their place with our captain. +These proved in the end, quite as mischievous as those which he +had dismissed. They leagued with the old discontents of the +colony. They stole the barks and boats of the garrison, ran +away to sea, and became picaroons, seizing, among others, upon +a Spanish vessel of the Island of Cuba, from which they gathered +a quantity of gold and silver. Laudonniere proceeded to build +other boats; which were seized when finished by the leaders of a +new conspiracy, among whom were La Fourneaux, Stephen le +Genevois, and others who were distinguished in this manner before. +They finally seized Laudonniere in person, and extorted +from him a privateer’s commission. Then, compelling him to +yield up artillery, guns, and the usual munitions of war, together +with Trenchant, his most faithful pilot, they hurried away to sea +under the command of one of his sergeants, Bertrand Conferrant, +while La Croix became their ensign. Thus was the commandant +of La Caroline stripped of every vessel of whatever sort, his stores +plundered, and his garrison greatly lessened by desertions, while +select detachments of his men, under favorite lieutenants, were +engaged in new explorations among the red-men of the country. +Our detailed narrative of these proceedings will employ the following +chapters.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">- 166 -</a></span></p> + +<div class="center"><br /> +<h2 class="inline"><a name="XIV" id="XIV">XIV.</a><br /> +THE SEDITION AT LA CAROLINE.—</h2> + +<h3 class="inline">C<span class="simcap">HAP</span>. I.<br /> +<span class="smfont">MOUVEMENT.</span><br /></h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">There</span> was bustle of no common sort in the fortress of La Caroline. +The breezes of September had purged and relieved of its +evil influences the stagnant atmosphere of summer. The sick of +the garrison had crawled forth beneath the pleasant shadows of +the palms, that grew between the fortress and the river banks, +and there were signs of life and animation in the scene and among +its occupants, which testified to the favorable change which healthier +breezes and more encouraging moral influences, were about +to produce among the sluggish inhabitants of our little colony. +There were particular occasions for movement apart from the +cheering aspects of the season. Enterprise was afoot with all its +eagerness and hope. Men were to be seen, in armor, hurrying to +and fro, busy in the work of preparation, while Monsieur Laudonniere +himself, just recovered from a severe illness, conspicuous in +the scene, appeared to have cast aside no small portion of his +wonted apathy and inactivity. He was in the full enjoyment of his +authority. He had baffled the disease which preyed upon him, and +had defeated the conspiracy by which his life and power had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">- 167 -</a></span> +threatened. He was now disposed to think lightly of the dangers +he had passed, though his having passed them, in safety, had +tended greatly to encourage his hope and to stimulate his adventure. +He now stood, in full uniform, at the great gate of the +fortress, reading at intervals from a paper in his grasp, while extending +his orders to his lieutenants. He was evidently preparing +to make considerable use of his authority. It is, perhaps, permitted +to a Gascon to do so, at all seasons, even when he owes his security +to better wits than his own, and has achieved his successes +in his own despite. Our worthy captain of the Huguenot garrison +upon the river of May, was not the less disposed to insist upon +his authority, because it had been saved to him without his own +participation. It might have been difficult, under any circumstances, +to persuade him of that, and certainly, the conviction, +even if he had entertained it, would, at this juncture, have done +nothing to dissipate or lessen the confident hope which prompted +his present purposes. The present was no ordinary occasion. It +was as an ally of sovereigns that Laudonniere was extending his +orders. He had, already, on several occasions, permitted his lieutenants +to take part in the warfare between the domestic chieftains, +and he was now preparing to engage in a contest which threatened +to be of more than common magnitude and duration. A warfare +that seldom knew remission had been long waged between the rival +warriors, whose several dominions embraced the western line of the +great Apalachian chain. Already had the Huguenots fought on +the side of the great potentate Olata Utina, commonly called +Utina, against another formidable prince called Potanou. He +was now preparing to second with arms the ambition of Kings Hostaqua +and Onathaqua, who were preparing for the utter annihilation +of the power of the formidable Potanou. Of the two former<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">- 168 -</a></span> +kings, such had been the account brought to Laudonniere, that he +at first imagined them to be Spaniards. They were described as +going to battle in complete armor, with their breasts, arms and +thighs covered with plates of gold, and with a helmet or headpiece +of the same metal. Their armor defied the arrows of the +savages, and proved the possession of a degree of civilization +very far superior to anything in the experience or customs of the +red-men. Subsequently it was ascertained that they were Indians +like the rest, differing from the rest, however, in this other remarkable +trait, that, while all the other tribes painted their faces red, +these warriors of Hostaqua and Onathaqua employed black only to +increase the formidable appearance which they made in battle. +The golden armor used by this people, and the excess of the +precious metals which this habit implied, were sufficient inducements +for our Huguenot leader to attempt his present enterprise. +It had furnished the argument of the conspirators against him, +that he done so little towards the discovery of the precious metals; +having provoked that cupidity, which his necessities alone compelled +him to refuse to gratify. His error, at the present moment +was, in employing other than the discontents of his colony in making +the discovery. But of this hereafter.</p> + +<p>Laudonniere had not been wholly neglectful, even while he +seemed to sleep upon his arms, of the reported treasures of the +country. He had sent two of his men, La Roche Ferrière a +clever young ensign, and another, to dwell in the dominions of +King Utina, and these two had been absent all the summer, engaged +in rambling about the country. Others, as we have seen, +were sent in other directions. Lieutenant Achille D’Erlach, the +brother of the favorite Alphonse, had been absent in this way, +during all the period when Laudonniere was threatened by conspiracy;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">- 169 -</a></span> +and it was now decreed that, even while his brother +continued absent, Alphonse should depart also. The eagerness +of Laudonniere would admit of no delay. His curiosity had just +received a new impulse from a present which had been sent him +by Hostaqua, consisting of a “Luzerne’s skinne full of arrows, a +couple of bowes, foure or five skinnes painted after their manner, +and a chaine of silver weighing about a pounde weight.” These +came with overtures of friendship and alliance, which the Huguenot +chief did not deem it polite to disregard. He sent to the +savage king, “two whole sutes of apparell, with certain cutting +hookes or hatchets,” and prepared to follow up his gifts, by sending +a small detachment of picked soldiers, under Alphonse D’Erlach<!--was d'Erlach-->, +still more thoroughly to fathom the secrets of the country, +but ostensibly to unite with Hostaqua and his ally against the +potent savage Potanou, who was described as a man of boundless +treasures, also.</p> + +<p>The bearer of these presents from Hostaqua was an inferior +chieftain named Oolenoe. This cunning savage, of whom we +shall know more hereafter, did not fail to perceive that the ruling +passion of our Huguenots was gold. It was only, therefore, to +mumble the precious word in imperfect Gallic—to extend his +hand vaguely in the direction of the Apalachian summits, and +cry “gold—gold!” and the adroit orator of the Lower Cherokees, +on behalf of his tribe or nation, readily commanded the +attention of his gluttonous auditors. His arguments<!--was auguments--> and entreaties +proved irresistible, and the present earnestness of Laudonniere, +at La Caroline, was in preparing for this expedition. +To conquer Potanou, and to obtain from Hostaqua the clues to +the precious region where the gold was reputed to grow, with almost +a vegetable nature, was the motive for arming his European<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">- 170 -</a></span> +warriors. It was also his policy, borrowed from that of the +Spaniards, to set the native tribes upon one another;—a fatal +policy in the end, since they must invariably, having first destroyed +the inferior, turn upon the superior, through the irresistible +force of habit. But, even with the former object, we do not perceive +that there was any necessity to take any undue pains in its +attainment. Tribes that live by hunting only, must unavoidably +come into constant collision. No doubt the natural tendency of +the savage might be stimulated and made more inveterate and +active, by European arts; and Laudonniere, however Huguenot, +was too little the Christian to forbear them. With this policy he +proposed to justify himself to those who were averse to the present +enterprise. One of these was his favorite, Alphonse D’Erlach, +the youth to whom he owed his life. This young man, on +the present occasion, approached him where he stood, eager and +excited with the business of draughting the proper officers and +men for the present hopeful expedition. At a little distance, +stood the stern old savage, Oolenoe, grimly looking on with a satisfaction +at his heart, which was not suffered to appear on his +immovable features. The artist of the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">statuesque</i> might have +found in his attitude and appearance, an admirable model. +While his eye caught and noted every look and movement, and +his ear every known and unknown sound and accent, the calm +unvarying expression of his glance and muscles was that of the +most perfect and cool indifference. They only did not sleep. +He leaned against a sapling that stood some twenty paces removed +from the entrance of the fort, a loose cotton tunic about his loins, +and his bow and quiver suspended from his shoulders, in a richly-stained +and shell-woven belt, the ground work of which was cotton +also. A knife, the gift of Laudonniere, was the only other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">- 171 -</a></span> +weapon which he bore; but this was one of those very precious +acquisitions which the Indian had already purposed to bury with +him.</p> + +<p>As Alphonse D’Erlach approached his commander, a close observer +might have seen in the eyes of Oolenoe, an increased brilliancy +of expression. The sentiment which it conveyed was not +that of love. It is with quick, intelligent natures to comprehend, +as by an instinct of their own, in what quarter to find sympathies, +and whence their antipathies are to follow. Oolenoe had soon +discovered that D’Erlach was not friendly to his objects. With +this conviction there arose another feeling, that of contempt, with +which the extreme youth, and general effeminacy of the young +man’s appearance, had inspired him. He did not <em>seem</em> the warrior,—and +the Indian is not apt to esteem the person of whose +conduct in battle he has doubts. Besides, the costume of D’Erlach +was that of dandyism; and, though the North American +savage was no humble proficient in the arts of the toilet, yet +these are never ventured upon until the reputation of the hunter +and warrior have been acquired. Of the abilities of D’Erlach, +in these respects, Oolenoe had no knowledge; and his doubts, +therefore, and disrespects, were the natural result of his conviction +that the youth was suspicious of, and hostile to, himself. Of +these feelings, D’Erlach knew nothing, and perhaps cared as little. +His features, as he drew nigh to Laudonniere, were marked +with more gravity and earnestness than they usually expressed; +and, touching the wrist of his commander, as he approached him, +he beckoned him somewhat farther from his followers:</p> + +<p>“It is not too late,” said he, “to escape this arrangement.”</p> + +<p>“And why seek to escape it, Alphonse?” replied the other, +with something like impatience in his tones.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">- 172 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“For the best of reasons. You can have no faith in this savage. +If there be this abundance of gold in the country, why +brings he so little. Where are his proofs? But this is not all. +But lately our enemy, jealous of our presence, and only respectful +because of his fears, we can have no confidence in him, as an +ally. He will lead the men whom you give him, into ambuscade—into +remote lands, where provision will be found with difficulty,—require +to be fought for at every step, and where the best valor +in the world, and the best conduct will be unavailing for their extrication.”</p> + +<p>“To prevent this danger, Alphonse, you shall have command +of the detachment,” said Laudonniere, with a dry accent, and a +satirical glance of the eye.</p> + +<p>“I thank you, sir, for this proof of confidence,” replied the +other, no ways disquieted, “and shall do my best to avoid or +prevent the evils that I apprehend from it; but——”</p> + +<p>“I have every confidence in your ability to do so, Alphonse,” +said the other, interrupting him in a tone which still betrayed the +annoyance which he felt from the expostulations of his favorite. +The latter proceeded, after a slight but respectful inclination of +the head.</p> + +<p>“But there is another consideration of still greater importance. +Your security in La Caroline is still a matter of uncertainty. You +know not the extent of the late conspiracy. You know not who +are sound, and who doubtful, among your men. Le Genré, +Fourneaux, Le Genevois, and La Roquette, are still in the woods. +You are weakening yourself, lessening the resources of the fortress, +and may, at any moment——”</p> + +<p>“Pshaw!” exclaimed Laudonniere, with renewed impatience. +“You are only too suspicious, Alphonse. You make too much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">- 173 -</a></span> +of this conspiracy. It does not seem to me that it was ever so +dangerous. At all events, the danger is over, the ringleaders +banished and in the woods, and will rot there, if the wolves do +not devour them. They, at least, shall not be made wolves of +for me.”</p> + +<p>D’Erlach bowed in silence. His mouth was sealed against all +further expostulation. He saw that it was hopeless—that his +captain had got a fixed idea, and men of few ideas, making one +of them a favorite, are generally as immovable as death. Besides, +Alphonse saw that the obligations which he had so lately conferred +upon his commander, in baffling the conspiracy of Le Genré, by +his vigilance, had somewhat wounded his <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">amour propre</i>. It is a +misfortune, sometimes, to have been too useful. The consciousness +of a benefit received, is apt to be very burdensome to the +feeble nature. The quick instinct of Alphonse D’Erlach readily +perceived the condition of his captain’s heart. A momentary +pause ensued. Lifting his cap, he again addressed him, but with +different suggestions.</p> + +<p>“Am I to hope, sir, that you really design to honor me with +this command?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly, if you wish it, Alphonse.”</p> + +<p>“I certainly wish it, sir, if the expedition be resolved on.”</p> + +<p>“It is resolved on,” said Laudonniere, with grave emphasis.</p> + +<p>“I shall then feel myself honored with the command.”</p> + +<p>“Be it yours, lieutenant. In one hour be ready to receive +your orders.”</p> + +<p>“One minute, sir, will suffice for all personal preparation;” +and, with the formal customs of military etiquette, the two officers +bowed, as the younger of them withdrew to his quarters. In one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">- 174 -</a></span> +hour, he was on the march with twenty men, accompanied by +Oolenoe and his dusky warriors.</p> + +<h3><a name="XIV_CH2" id="XIV_CH2">CHAPTER II.—THE OUTLAWS.</a></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> little battalion of Alphonse D’Erlach marched along the +edge of a wood which skirted a pleasantly rising ground—one of +those gentle undulations which serve to relieve the monotonous +levels of the lower regions of Florida. Deep was the umbrage—dense +in its depth of green, and dark in its voluminous foliage, +the thicket which overlooked their march. Their eyes might not +penetrate the enclosure, from which eyes of hate were yet looking +forth upon them. The wood concealed the outlaws who had +lately made their escape from La Caroline, after the exposure of +their conspiracy. They had not ceased to be conspirators. Bold, +bad men—sleepless discontents, yearning for plunder and power—the +defeat of their schemes, and the necessity of their sudden +flight from the scene of their operations, had not lessened the +bitterness of their feelings, nor their propensity to evil. Fierce +were the glances which they shot forth upon the small troop which +D’Erlach conducted before their eyes on his purposes of doubtful +policy. Little did he dream what eyes were looking upon him. +Could they have blasted with a glance or curse, he had been +transformed with all his followers where he passed. But the +three conspirators had no power for more than curses. These, +though “not loud, were deep.” With clenched fists extended +towards him on his progress, they devoted him to the wrath of a +power which they did not themselves possess; and, watching his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">- 175 -</a></span> +course through the parted foliage, until he was fairly out of sight, +they delivered themselves, in muttered execrations, of the hate +with which his very sight had inspired them. Stephen Le Genevois +was the first to speak. He was a stalwart savage, of broad +chest, black beard, and most dauntless expression.</p> + +<p>“Death of my soul!” was his exclamation; “but that we +have lost so much by the game, it were almost merry to laugh at +the way in which that brat of a boy has outwitted us. We have +been children in his hands.”</p> + +<p>“He is now in ours,” said La Roquette, gloomily.</p> + +<p>“Aye, if the Indian keeps his faith,” was the desponding +comment of Fourneaux.</p> + +<p>“And why should he not keep faith,” said Le Genevois. “He +has good reason for it. When did the hope of plunder fail to +secure the savage?”</p> + +<p>“You must give him blood with it,” responded Fourneaux.</p> + +<p>“Aye, it must be seasoned. He must have blood,” echoed La +Roquette.</p> + +<p>“Well, and why not? Do we not give him blood? will he +not have this imp of Satan in his power? may he not feed on him +if he will? Aye, and upon all his twenty!” exclaimed Le Genevois, +fiercely.</p> + +<p>“True—but——”</p> + +<p>“But, but, but—ever with your buts! You lack confidence, +courage, heart, Fourneaux—you despair too easily! I wonder +how you ever became a conspirator!”</p> + +<p>“I sometimes wonder myself. Ask La Roquette, there. He +can tell you. I owe it all to his magic.”</p> + +<p>“What says your magic now, Roquette—have you any signs +for us?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">- 176 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“Aye, good ones! We shall have what we desire. I have +seen—I have said! Be satisfied.” This was spoken with due +solemnity by the person in whom the credulity of his companions +had found sources of power unknown to their experience.</p> + +<p>“But why not show us what you have seen? Speak plainly, +man. Out with it, and leave that mysterious shaking of the head, +which has really nothing in it.”</p> + +<p>Such was the language of the more manly and impetuous Le +Genevois. It provoked only a fierce glance from the magician.</p> + +<p>“All in good time,” said the latter. “Be patient. We shall +soon hear from Oolenoe.”</p> + +<p>“Good! and you have seen that we shall be successful?” +demanded Fourneaux.</p> + +<p>“We shall be successful.”</p> + +<p>“That will depend upon ourselves, rather than upon your +visions, I’m thinking,” said Le Genevois. “We must have +courage, my friends. The signs are not good when we call for +signs. If we despond, we are undone.”</p> + +<p>“Stay—hark!” said Fourneaux, interrupting him eagerly. +“I hear sounds.”</p> + +<p>“The wind only.”</p> + +<p>“No!—hist.”</p> + +<p>They bent forward in the attitude of listeners, but heard +nothing. They had begun again to speak, when an Indian, covered +with leaves artfully glued upon his person, stood suddenly +among them. They started to their feet and grasped their +weapons.</p> + +<p>“<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Ami!</i>” was the single word of the intruder, at he stretched +out his arms in signification of friendship.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">- 177 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“Said I not?” demanded the magician, confidently. “This +is our man.”</p> + +<p>His assurance was confirmed by the savage, who spoke the +French sufficiently to make himself understood. He came from +Oolenoe, and a few sentences sufficed to place both parties in +possession of their mutual plans. The outlaws were not without +friends in La Caroline. They were to find their way once more +into that fortress. They had no fears from the sagacity of Laudonniere, +during the absence of the youthful but vigilant D’Erlach; +and, for the latter, he was to be disposed of by Oolenoe. And +now the question arose, who should venture to “bell the cat?” +who should venture himself within the walls of La Caroline?</p> + +<p>“Ah!” said one of the conspirators, “if we could only bring +Le Genré to his senses. He would be the man.”</p> + +<p>“Speak nothing of him,” cried Le Genevois, quickly; “he +is no longer a man. He is a priest. That defeat has killed his +courage. He repents, and is constantly writing to Laudonniere +for mercy and pity, and all that sort of thing. He must not +know what we design.”</p> + +<p>“Who has seen him lately?”</p> + +<p>“I know not. He was crossed to the other side of the river +by Captain Bourdet in his boats. He crossed to seek refuge with +the people of Mollova.”</p> + +<p>“He is not far, be sure. He will linger close to the fort, in +the hope to get back to it, and, finally, to France. He is not to +be thought of in this expedition.”</p> + +<p>“Who then?” was the demand of Le Genevois. “Somebody +must muzzle the cannon. Who? Who will take the peril and +the glory of the enterprise, and in the character of an Indian will +put his head in the jaws of the danger?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">- 178 -</a></span></p> + +<p>The question remained unanswered. Fourneaux excused himself +on a variety of pleas, not one of which would be satisfactory +with a brave man. La Roquette declared that his magical powers +were always valueless when any restraint was set upon his person; +in other words, he could better perform his incantations +when the danger threatened everybody but himself. He certainly +would not think of risking them within La Caroline, while +Laudonniere was in power. Besides “he had no arts of imitation. +He had no abilities as an actor.” Stephen Le Genevois +smiled as he listened to their pleas and excuses.</p> + +<p>“My friends!” he exclaimed. “Did you think that I would +suffer a good scheme to be spoiled by such as you? I but waited +that you should speak. This adventure is mine, and I claim it. +I will return to La Caroline. I will play the spy, and take the +danger. Mark ye, now, comrade!”—addressing the Indian,—“prepare +me for the business. Clothe me in copper, and make +me what you please. I have no beauty that you need fear to +spoil.”</p> + +<p>Thus saying, he threw off, with an air of scornful recklessness, +the costume which he wore. Wild was the toilet, and wilder still +the guise of our buoyant Frenchman. In an open space within +the thicket, beneath a great moss-covered oak, which wore the +beard of three centuries upon his breast, the chief conspirator +yielded himself to the hands of the Indian. A keen knife shore +from his head the thick black hair with which it was covered. A +thin ridge alone was suffered to remain upon the coronal region, significant +of the war-lock of that tribe of Apalachia, to which +Oolenoe belonged. The small golden droplets which hung from +the Frenchman’s ears, were made to give way to a more massive +ornament of shells, cunningly strung upon a hoop of copper wire.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">- 179 -</a></span> +His body, stripped to the buff, was then stained with the brown +juices of a native plant, which, with other dye-stuffs, the Indian +produced from his wallet. His brow was then dyed with deeper +hues of red—his cheeks tinged with spots of the darkest crimson, +while a heavy circlet of black, about his eyes, gave to his countenance +the aspect of a demon rather than that of a man. This +done, the savage displayed a small pocket mirror before the eyes +of the metamorphosed outlaw. With an oath of no measured +emphasis, the Frenchman bounded to his feet, his eyes flashing +with a strange delight.</p> + +<p>“It will do!” he shouted. “It likes me well! Were I now +in France, there would be no wonder beside myself. I should +stir the envy of the men—I should win the hearts of the women. +I should be the loveliest monster. Ho! Ho! Would that my +voice would suit my visage!”</p> + +<p>A cotton tunic with which the Indian had provided himself, +was wrapped round the loins of our new-made savage, his feet +were cased with moccasins, and his legs with leggins made of +deerskin—a bow and quiver at his shoulder—a knife in his girdle—a +string of peäg or shells about his neck;—and his toilet was +complete. That very night, accompanied by his Indian comrade, +Stephen Le Genevois entered the walls of La Caroline, bearing +messages from Oolenoe and Alphonse D’Erlach—the latter +of which, we need scarcely say, were wholly fraudulent. The +credulous Laudonniere, delighted with assurances of success on +the part of his lieutenant, was not particularly heedful of the nature +of the evidence thus afforded him, and laid his head on an +easy pillow, around which danger hovered in almost visible forms, +while he, unconsciously, dreamed only of golden conquests, and +discoveries which were equally to result in fame and fortune.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">- 180 -</a></span> +His guardian angel was withdrawn. His mortified vanity had +driven from his side the only person whose vigilance might have +saved him. His own unregulated will had yielded him, bound, +hand and foot, into the power of a relentless enemy.</p> + +<h3><a name="XIV_CH3" id="XIV_CH3">CHAPTER III.—THE MIDNIGHT ARREST.</a></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sweet</span> were the slumbers of Monsieur Laudonniere, commandant +of the fortress of La Caroline. Anxious was the wakening of +Stephen Le Genevois, the conspirator, who, in garbing himself +after the fashion of the Indian, had not succeeded in clothing his +mind in the stolid and stoic nature of his savage companion. The +conspirators watched together in one of the inner chambers of the +fortress. They had not restricted themselves to watching merely. +Already had Le Genevois made his purpose known to one of his +ancient comrades. The name of this person was La Croix. He +was one of the trusted followers of Laudonniere, whose superior +cunning alone had saved him from suspicion, even that of D’Erlach, +at the detection of the former conspiracy. La Croix, in the +absence of the latter, was prepared for more decisive measures. +He was one of those whose insane craving for gold had surrendered +him, against all good policy, to the purposes of the conspirators. +He was now in charge of the watch. As captain of the night, he +led the way to the gates, which, at midnight, he cautiously threw +open to the two companions of Le Genevois. Fourneaux and +Roquette had been waiting for this moment. They were admitted +promptly and in silence. Darkness was around them. The +fortress slept,—none more soundly than its commander. In<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">- 181 -</a></span> +silence the outlaws led by La Croix, all armed to the teeth, made +their way to his chamber. The sentinel who watched before it, +joined himself to their number. They entered without obstruction +and without noise; and, ere the eyes of the sleeper could unclose +to his danger, or his lips cry aloud for succor, his voice was +stifled in his throat by thick bandagings of silk, and his limbs +fastened with cords which, at every movement of his writhing +frame, cut into the springing flesh. He was a prisoner in the +very fortress, where, but that day, he exulted in the consciousness +of complete command. A light, held above his eyes, revealed +to him the persons of his assailants;—the supposed Indians, +in the outlaws whom he had banished, and others, whom, for the +first time, he knew as enemies. When his eyes were suffered to +take in the aspects of the whole group, he was addressed, in his +own tongue, by the leading conspirator.</p> + +<p>“René Laudonniere,” said Stephen Le Genevois, in his bitter +tones, “you are in our power. What prevents that we put you +to death as you merit, and thus revenge our disgrace and banishment?”</p> + +<p>The wretched man, thus addressed, had no power to answer. +The big tears gathered in his eyes and rolled silently down his +cheeks. He felt the pang of utter feebleness upon him.</p> + +<p>“We will take the gag from your jaws, if you promise to make +no outcry. Nod your head in token that you promise.”</p> + +<p>The prisoner had no alternative but to submit. He nodded, +and the kerchief was taken from his jaws.</p> + +<p>“You know us, René Laudonniere?” demanded the conspirator.</p> + +<p>“Stephen Le Genevois, I know you!” was the answer.</p> + +<p>“’Tis well! You see to what you have reduced me. You +have held a trial upon me in my absence. You have sentenced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">- 182 -</a></span> +me and my companions to banishment. You have made us outlaws, +and we are here! You see around you none but those on +whom you have exercised your tyranny. What hope have you +at their hands and mine? Savage as you have made me in +aspect, what should prevent that I show myself equally savage in +performance. The knife is at your throat, and there is not one +of us who is not willing to execute justice upon you. Are you +prepared to do what we demand?”</p> + +<p>“What is it?”</p> + +<p>“Read this paper.”</p> + +<p>A light was held close to the eyes of the prisoner, and the paper +placed near enough for perusal. The instrument was a commission +of piracy—a sort of half-legal authority, common enough in +that day, to the marine of all European countries, under maxims +of morality such as made the deeds of Drake, and Hawkins, and +other British admirals, worthy of all honor, which, in our less +chivalric era, would consign them very generally to the gallows.</p> + +<p>As Laudonniere perused the document, he strove to raise himself, +as with a strong movement of aversion;—but the prompt +grasp of Genevois fastened him down to the pillow.</p> + +<p>“No movement, or this!”—showing the dagger. “Have you +read?”</p> + +<p>“I will not sign that paper!” said the prisoner, hoarsely.</p> + +<p>“Will you not?”</p> + +<p>“Never!”</p> + +<p>“You have heard the alternative!”</p> + +<p>Laudonniere was silent.</p> + +<p>“You do not speak! Beware, René Laudonniere. We have +no tender mercies! We are no children! We are ready for any +crime. We have already incurred the worst penalties, and have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">- 183 -</a></span> +nothing to fear. But you can serve us, living, quite as effectually +as if dead. We do not want your miserable fortress. We are +not for founding colonies. It is your ships that we will take, and +your commission. We will spare your life for these. Beware! +Let your answer square with your necessities.”</p> + +<p>“Genevois!” said the prisoner, “even this shall be pardoned—you +shall all be pardoned—if you will forego your present +purpose.”</p> + +<p>“Pshaw!” exclaimed the person addressed. “This to me! +I scorn your pardon as I do your person! Speak to what concerns +you, and what is left for you to do. Speak, and quickly, +too, for the dawn must not find us here.”</p> + +<p>“I will not sign!” said the prisoner, doggedly.</p> + +<p>“Then you die!” and the dagger was uplifted.</p> + +<p>“Strike—why do you stop?” exclaimed Fourneaux; “we can +slay him, and forge the paper.”</p> + +<p>His threatening looks and attitude, with the stern air which +overspread the visage of Genevois, and, indeed, of all around him +contributed to overcome the resolution of the wretched commander. +Besides, a moment’s reflection served to satisfy him, +that the conspirators, having gone too far to recede, would not +scruple at the further crime which they threatened.</p> + +<p>“Will my life be spared if I sign? Have I <em>your</em> oath, +Stephen Le Genevois? I trust none other.”</p> + +<p>“By G—d and the Blessed Saviour! as I hope to be saved, +René Laudonniere, you shall have your life and freedom!”</p> + +<p>“Undo my hands and give me the paper.”</p> + +<p>“The right hand only,” said Fourneaux, with his accustomed +timidity.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">- 184 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“Pshaw, unbind him!” exclaimed Genevois; “unbind him, +wholly. There, René Laudonniere, you are free!”</p> + +<p>“I cannot forgive you, Genevois; you have disgraced me forever,” +said the miserable man, as he dashed his signature upon +the paper.</p> + +<p>“You will survive it, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">mon ami</i>,” replied the other, with something +like contempt upon his features. “You are not the man to +fret yourself into fever, because of your hurts of honor. And +now must you go with us to the ships. We will muffle your jaws +once more.”</p> + +<p>“You will not carry me with you,” demanded the commander, +with something like trepidation in his accents.</p> + +<p>“No! You were but an incumbrance. We will only take +you to the ships, and keep you safe until we are ready to cast off. +To your feet, men, and get your weapons ready. Softly, softly—we +need rouse no other sleepers. Onward,—the night goes!—away!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">- 185 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XV" id="XV">XV.</a><br /> +THE MUTINEERS AT SEA.<br /> +<span class="smfont">HISTORICAL SUMMARY.</span></h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">For</span> fifteen days was Laudonniere kept a close prisoner by the +conspirators on board of one of his own vessels, attended by one +of their own number, and denied all intercourse with his friends +and people. One of the objects of this rigid <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">duresse</i>, was the +coercion of the garrison. With its captain in their power, even +were his followers better prepared, with the proper spirit and energy, +to give them annoyance, they were thus able to put them at +defiance; since any show of hostility on the part of the garrison +might be visited upon the head of their prisoner. By this means +they got possession of the armory, the magazines, the granaries; +and, when ready to put to sea, and not before, did they release the +unhappy commandant from his degrading durance.</p> + +<p>It was at dawn on the morning of the 8th of December, that +the two barks which the conspirators had prepared for sea, might +have been seen dropping down the waters of May River, their +white sails gleaming through the distant foliage. At the same +moment, with head bowed upon his bosom, the unhappy Laudonniere, +for the first time fully conscious of his weakness and his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">- 186 -</a></span> +misfortune,—deeply sensible now to all his shame as he reflected +upon the roving commission which had been extorted from him by +the mutineers,—turned his footsteps from the banks of the river, +and made his way slowly towards the fortress;—confident no +longer in his strength—suspicious of the faith of all around him—and +half tempted to sink his shame forever, with his dishonored +person, in the waters of the river which had witnessed his disgrace. +But he gathered courage to live when he thought of the +revenge which fortune might yet proffer to his embrace.</p> + +<p>We must now follow the progress of our maritime adventurers. +They had, as we have seen, succeeded in fitting out two barks; +one on which was confided to Bertrand Conferrant, one of Laudonniere’s +sergeants; the other to a soldier named D’Orange. +La Croix was named the ensign to the former; Trenchant, the +pilot of Laudonniere, was compelled, against his will, to assume +this station on board the vessel of D’Orange. The original plan +of the rovers was to pursue a common route, and mutually to support +each other: but the plans of those who have given themselves +up to excess, are always marked by caprices, and the two +parties quarrelled before they had left the mouth of the river. +They had arranged to descend together upon one of the Spanish +islands of the Antilles, and on Christmas night, while the inhabitants +were assembled at the midnight mass, at their church, to +set upon and murder the inmates and sack the building and the +town. Their dissentions affected this purpose; and when they +emerged from the river May, they parted company;—one of the +vessels keeping along the coast, in order the more easily to +double the cape and make for Cuba;—the other boldly standing +out to sea and making for the Lucayos. Both vessels proceeded +with criminal celerity to the performance of those acts of piracy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">- 187 -</a></span> +which had seduced them from their duties. The bark which took +her way along the coast, was that of D’Orange. Near a place +called Archaha, he took a brigantine laden with <i>cassavi</i>, the Indian +breadstuff, and a small quantity of wine. Two men were +slain, two taken in a sharp encounter with the people of Archaha. +Transferring themselves and stores to the brigantine which they +had captured, on account of its superiority, the pirates made sail +for the cape of Santa Maria; and from thence, after repairing a +leak in their vessel, to Baracou, a village of the island of Jamaica. +Here they found an empty caravel which they preferred to their +brigantine; and after a frolic among the people of Baracou, +which lasted five days, they made a second transfer of their persons +and material to the caravel. Dividing their force between +their own and this vessel, which was of fifty or sixty tons burthen, +they made for the Cape of Tiburon, where they met with a <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">patach</i>, +to which chase was immediately given. A sharp encounter +followed. The <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">patach</i> was well manned and provided, for her +size. She had particular reasons for giving battle and for fighting +bravely. Her cargo was very precious. It consisted of +a large supply of gold and silver plate and bullion, merchandise, +wines, provisions, and much besides to tempt the rovers, and +quite as much to move the crew to a vigorous defence. But, +over all, it had a-board the Governor of Jamaica himself, with +two of his sons. This nobleman was equally fearless and skilful. +He directed the resistance of his people, and gave them efficient +example. But the force of our rovers was quite too great to be +successfully resisted by one so small as that of the Governor, and +he directed his people to yield the combat, as soon as he saw its +hopelessness.</p> + +<p>Greatly, indeed, were our free companions delighted with their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">- 188 -</a></span> +successes. The treasure they had acquired was large, but they +were not the persons to be content with it. They were apprised +of another caravel laden with greater wealth and a more valuable +merchandise, and they followed eagerly after this prey. But she +escaped them, getting in safety into the port of Jamaica. The +governor was a subtle politician. He soon discovered the character +of the men with whom he had to deal, and he wrought successfully<!--was succesfully--> +upon their cupidity. He proposed to ransom himself at an +enormous price; and, with this object, they stood towards the +mouth of the harbor in which the caravel had taken shelter. +Blinded by their avarice, our rovers were persuaded to suffer the +governor to despatch his two boys to their mother, his wife, in a +boat which his captors were to furnish. The boys were to procure +his ransom, and supplies were to be sent to the vessel also. +But the secret counsel of the Governor to his sons, contemplated +no such ransom as the free companions desired. They knew not +that, in one of the contiguous havens, there lay two or more vessels, +superior in burthen to their own, and manned and equipped +for war. The Governor, with but a look and a word, beheld his +sons depart. The lads knew the meaning of that look, and that +single word; they felt all the ignominy of their father’s position, +and they knew their duty. A noble and courageous dame was +the mother of those boys. With tears and tremors did she clasp +her children to her breast; with horror did she hear of her lord’s +captivity; but she yielded to no feminine weaknesses which could +retard her in the performance of her duty. Her movements were +prompt and resolute. The Governor concealed his anxieties, and +spoke fairly to his captors. Quite secure in their strength and +position, eager with expectations of further gain, rioting in the +rich wines they had already won, they entertained no apprehensions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">- 189 -</a></span> +of defeat or disappointment. They lay at the mouth of the +haven, which stretched away for two leagues into the mainland. +Here, suddenly, about the break of day, they saw emerging through +a heavy fog, a couple of vessels of greater size than their own. +Apprehending no danger, the pirates were taken by surprise. +The enemy was upon them before they could prepare for action, +and they had scarcely an opportunity to attempt their flight. A +volley of Spanish shot soon rang against their sides, and as the +trumpets of D’Orange, from his brigantine, blew to announce their +danger to those in charge of the captured vessels, he cut his +cables and stood off for sea, closely pressed by his swift-footed +enemies. Then it was that, watching his moment, the Governor +of Jamaica seized upon the enemy nearest him and plunged him +into the sea. His example was followed by his people, and the +Spaniards coming up with the captured <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">patach</i> at the fortunate +moment, the Frenchmen, with whom it was left in charge, threw +down their arms, and yielded themselves at discretion to their +enemies. Both vessels were recovered, while the brigantine of +D’Orange, well navigated by Trenchant, succeeded in showing a +clean pair of heels to her pursuers. The chase continued for +several leagues without success; and the brigantine, passing Cape +des Aigrettes, and the Cape of St. Anthony, swept on to the +Havanna. This was the desired destination of D’Orange; but his +people were not wholly with him. Several of them, like Trenchant, +the pilot, had been forced to accompany the expedition. +These were anxious to escape from a connection which was not +only against their desires, but was likely, by the crimes of their +superiors, to result in the destruction of the innocent. Accordingly, +under the guidance of Trenchant, a conspiracy was conceived +against the conspirators. The wind serving, while D’Orange<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">- 190 -</a></span> +slept, Trenchant passed the channel of the Bahamas, and made +over for the settlement on May River. The route taken was unsuspected, +until the morning of the 25th of March, when they +found themselves upon the coast of Florida. By this time, it +was too late to prevent the determination of those who had resolved +upon their return to La Caroline. The latter had grown +strong by consultation together, and the true men urged the less +guilty of the conspirators with promises of pardon at the hands +of Laudonniere. This hope gradually extended to some of the +most guilty; but the discussion which led to this conclusion, was +productive of a scene which strikingly illustrates the profligacy +of the human heart, particularly when it once throws off the restraints +of social authority. The unhappy criminals, in nominal +command of the roving brigantine were prepared to dance upon +the brink of the precipice,—to sport with the dangers immediately +before them, and convert into a farce the very tragedy +whose denouêment they had every reason to dread. Well charged +with wine, and quaffing full beakers to fortune, they suddenly +conceived the idea of a mock court of justice, for the trial of +their own offences. The idea was scarcely suggested than it was +fastened upon by the wanton imaginations of this besotted crew. +The court was convened, on the deck of the vessel, as it would have +been at La Caroline. One of the parties personated the character +of the judge: another counterfeited the costume and manner of +Laudonniere, and appeared as the accuser. Counsel was heard on +both sides. There were officers to wait upon and obey the decrees +of the court. The cases were elaborately argued. Heavy +accusations were made; ingenious pleas put in; and in the very +excess of their recklessness, their ingenuity became triumphant. +They showed themselves excellent actors, if not excellent men;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">- 191 -</a></span> +and caught from their own art, a momentary respite from the oppressive +doubts which hung upon their destinies. It was somewhat +ominous, however, that their judge—himself one of the most +guilty—should say to them, when summing up for judgment—“Make +your case as clear as you please—exert your ingenuity as +you may, in finding excuses, yet, take my word for it, that, when +you reach La Caroline, if Laudonniere causes you not to swing +for it, then I will never take him for an honest man again.”</p> + +<p>This may have been intended as a mere jocularity. But fate +frequently shapes our own words, as she does those of the oracle, +in that double sense, which confounds the judgment while it ensures +the doom. The counterfeit judge spoke prophetically. It was +only when the offenders were fairly in the hands of Laudonniere, +beyond escape or remedy, that they were taught to apprehend +that they had too greatly exaggerated their sense +of his mercy. He detached immediately from the rest +four of the leading criminals, who were put in fetters. That +was the judgment that prefigured their doom. They were +sentenced to be hanged. They strove to question this judgment. +The pleasant jest which they had enjoyed on ship-board was quite +too recent, to suffer them to forego the hope that this summary +decision upon their fate would turn out a jest also. But when +they could doubt no longer, three of them took to their prayers +with an appearance of much real contrition. The fourth,—a +sturdy villain,—still had his faith in human agency. He appealed +for protection to his friends and comrades.</p> + +<p>“What,” said he, “brethren and companions, will you suffer us +to die so shamefully?”</p> + +<p>“These are none of your companions,” said Laudonniere;—“they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">- 192 -</a></span> +are no authors of seditions—no rebels unto the king’s service. +Ye appeal to them in vain.”</p> + +<p>A corps of thirty soldiers with their matchlocks ready, and +under the command of Alphonse D’Erlach, who had returned +from his Indian expedition, and who now stood ready and prompt +to execute the orders of the chief, were, perhaps, more potent in +silencing the appeal of the mutineer, and quieting the active sympathies +of those to whom he prayed, than all the words of Laudonniere. +But, at the entreaty of his people, the form of punishment +was changed, and the criminals, instead of perishing by +the rope, met their death from the matchlock. Among the victims +of this necessary justice, were three of the original conspirators, +and the ringleader, Stephen le Genevois. Thus ends the +history of one of our roving vessels. The other, commanded by +Bertrand Conferrent, which we parted with, on her progress towards +the Lucayos, was never heard of after, and probably perished +in the deeps, with all her besotted crew. Let us now leave +the ocean, and follow, for a season, the progress of Alphonse +D’Erlach upon the land, and into the territories of Paracoussi +Hostaqua.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">- 193 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XVI" id="XVI">XVI.</a><br /> +THE ADVENTURE OF D’ERLACH.</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was in sullen and half resentful mood that Alphonse D’Erlach<!--was D'Arlach--> +parted from his superior at the gates of <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">La Caroline</i>. Not +that he felt any chagrin because of an outraged self-esteem, on +account of his rejected counsels. His mortification and annoyance +arose from his vexation at leaving a man in the hands of his +enemies, whom he could not persuade of his danger, and who +was, by this very proceeding, depriving himself of the only +means with which he may have safely combated their hostility. +It was probably with a justifiable sense of his own efficiency, that +D’Erlach felt how necessary was his presence in the garrison at +this juncture. He was quite familiar with the vanity of Laudonniere, +his several weaknesses of character, and the facility with +which he might be deluded by the selfish and the artful. But he +had counselled him in vain; and it was with a feeling somewhat +allied to scorn, that he was taught to see that his superior, having +hitherto regarded him with something more than friendship—as a +favorite indeed—had now, in consequence of the most important +services, begun to look upon him somewhat in the light of a +rival. We have witnessed the last interview between them. We +are already in possession of the events which followed the absence<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">- 194 -</a></span> +of the lieutenant; events which positively would not have taken +place, had not the scheme proved successful for procuring his absence +from the fortress. Laudonniere’s conscience smote him +with a sense of his ingratitude, as the flowing plumes of D’Erlach +disappeared amidst the distant umbrage; but he had no misgivings +of that danger which the prescient thought of his lieutenant +had described as already threatening. He had sufficient time allowed +him to meditate equally upon his own blindness and the +foresight of the youth, while his mutineers, for fifteen days kept +him a close prisoner on board his own brigantine!</p> + +<p>During this period, his young lieutenant, with his twenty +Frenchmen, was making his way from forest to forest, under the +somewhat capricious guidance of the subtle savage, Oolenoe. +D’Erlach was more than once dissatisfied with this progress. He +found himself frequently doubling, as it were, upon his own +ground; not steadily ascending the country in the supposed direction +of the Apatahhian Mountains, but rather inclining to the +southwest, and scarcely seeming to leave those lower <i>steppes</i> +which belonged wholly to the province of the sea. Without absolutely +suspecting<!--was suspeeting--> his dusky guide, D’Erlach was eminently +watchful of him, and frequently pressed his inquiries in regard to +the route they were pursuing,—when—noting the course of the +sun, he found himself still turning away from those distant mountain +summits which were said to await them in the north, with all +their world of treasure. The plea of Oolenoe, while acknowledging +a temporary departure from the proper path, alleged the difficulties +of the country, the spread of extensive morasses, or the +presence of nations of hostile Indians, which cut off all direct +communication with the province which they sought.</p> + +<p>To all this D’Erlach had nothing to oppose. The pretences<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">- 195 -</a></span> +seemed sufficiently specious, and he continued to advance deep +and deeper into the internal intricacies of the unbroken wild, +making a progress, day by day, into regions which the European +had never penetrated before. On this progress, each soldier had +been provided with a certain allowance of food of a portable +nature, which was calculated to last many days. The adoption +of the Indian customs, in several respects, had made it easy +to provide. The maize and beans of the country constituted the +chief supply. The former, and sometimes both, crushed or +ground, separately or together, and browned slightly before the +fire, furnished a wholesome and literally palatable provision for +such a journey. They were also to receive supplies from the +contributions of Indian tribes through whose settlements they +were to pass, and to traffic with other nations whom as yet they +did not know. With this latter object the party was provided +with a small stock of European trifles—knives, reaphooks, small +mirrors, and things of this description.</p> + +<p>Thus provided, they pressed forward for several days, on a +journey which brought them no nearer to the province which they +sought. Still the country through which they travelled was +unbroken by a mountain. Gentle eminences saluted their eyes, +and they sometimes toiled over hills which, even their exhaustion, +which rendered irksome the ascent, did not venture to +compare with those mighty ranges, scaling the clouds, of which +the swelling narratives of the savage chiefs, and their own adventurers, +had given such extravagant ideas. In this march they +probably reached the Savannah, and crossed its waters to the +rivers of Carolina. The scenery improved in loveliness, and to +those who are accessible to the influences of mere external +beauty, the progress at every step was productive of its own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">- 196 -</a></span> +charm. Gentle valleys spread away before them in the embrace +of guardian ranges of hill, and clear streams gushed out through +banks that seemed to gladden in perpetual green. Enormous +trees spread over them a grateful cover from the sun, and luscious +berries of the wood, and unknown fruits, green and purple, +were to be found lying in their path, which was everywhere traversed +by the trailing vines which produced them. Birds of +unknown plumage, and of wild and startling song, darted out +from the brake to cheer them as they passed; and as they reached +the steeps of sudden hills, they could catch glimpses of herds of +sleek deer, that sped away with arrowy fleetness from the green +valleys where they browsed, to the cover of umbrageous thickets +where they lodged in safety.</p> + +<p>The mind of the soldier, however, particularly the adventurer +whom one passionate thirst alone impels, is scarcely ever sensible +to the charms and attractions of the visible nature. Where they +appeal simply to his sense of the beautiful, they are but wasted +treasures, like gems that pave the great bed of ocean, and have +no value to the finny tribes that glide below—each seeking the +selfish object which marks his nature. The passion for the beautiful, +with but few exceptions, is a passion that belongs to training +and education; and even these seldom suffice, in the presence of +more morbid desires, to wean the attention to the things of taste, +unless these are recognized as accessories of the object of a more +intense appetite. Even Alphonse D’Erlach, the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">éleve</i> of a superior +class—one who had been benefitted by society and the +schools, appreciated but imperfectly the loveliness of the landscape, +and the fresh luxuriance of a vegetable life in a region that +seemed so immediately from the hands of its Creator. His thoughts +were of another nature. His anxieties were elsewhere. His eye<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">- 197 -</a></span> +was fixed upon his Indian guide, of whom his doubts had now +become suspicions. Nightly had Oolenoe disappeared from the +encampment. It was in vain that our lieutenant set spies upon +his movements. He would disappear without giving the alarm, +and re-appear, when least expected, before the dawning. D’Erlach’s +vigilance was increased. He did not suffer his men to +straggle; marching with care by day, his watches were equally +divided by night, and his own eyes were kept open by intense +anxiety, through hours when most were sleeping. Occasionally, +glimpses of Indians were caught on distant hills, or on the edge +of suddenly glancing waters. But any attempt to approach sent +them into their canoes, or over the hill side—increasing the suspicions +of D’Erlach, and awakening the apprehensions of his men. +A something of insolence in the tone and manner of Oolenoe led +our young lieutenant to suppose that the moment of trial was at +hand; and he already began to meditate the seizure of his guide, +as a security for the conduct of the Indians, when an incident +occurred which the foresight of our lieutenant, great as it was, +had never led him to anticipate.</p> + +<p>It was at the close of a lovely evening in September, when the +little detachment of Frenchmen were rounding a ravine. Oolenoe +was advanced with D’Erlach some few paces before the rest. +Both of them were silent; but they pressed forward stoutly, +through a simple forest trail, over which the Frenchmen followed +in Indian file. Suddenly, their march was arrested by a cry from +the foot of the ravine, in the rear of the party, and along the +path which they had recently traversed. The cry was human. +It was that of a voice very familiar to the ears of the party. It +was evidently meant to compel attention and arrest their progress. +At the instant, D’Erlach wheeled about and made for the rear.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">- 198 -</a></span> +A similar movement changed in like manner the faces of his followers; +and, in a moment after, a strange, but human form darted +out of the forest and made towards them.</p> + +<p>The appearance of the stranger was wild beyond description. +He had evidently once been white; but his face, hands, breast, +and legs, for these were all uncovered, had been blackened by +smoke, bronzed by the sun, and so affected by the weather, that +it was with the greatest difficulty that his true complexion was +discernible. But sure instincts and certain features soon enabled +our Huguenots to see that he was a brother Frenchman. Of his +original garments, nothing but tatters remained; but these tatters +sufficed to declare his nation. His beard and hair, both black, +long, and massive, were matted together, and hung upon neck +and shoulders in flakes and bunches, rather than in shreds or +tresses. His head was without covering, and the only weapon +which he carried was a <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">couteau de chasse</i>, which, as it was of +peculiar dimensions, silver-hilted, and altogether of curious shape, +was probably the only means by which the Frenchmen identified +the stranger.</p> + +<p>The keen, quick eye of Alphonse D’Erlach seemed first, of +the whites, to have discovered him. It is probable, from what +took place at the moment, that Oolenoe had made him out in +the same moment. The stranger was no other than Le Genré—the +banished man who had headed the first conspiracy against +Laudonniere. As he approached, rushing wildly forward, with +his <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">couteau de chasse</i> grasped firmly in uplifted hand, D’Erlach +raised his sword, prepared to cut him down as he drew nigh; +when the words of his voice, shouted at the utmost of his strength, +caused them to cast their eyes in another direction.</p> + +<p>“Seize upon Oolenoe. Suffer him not to escape you.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">- 199 -</a></span></p> + +<p>At that moment, the keen, quick glance of the lieutenant beheld +the rapid bounds of the savage, as he made for the cover of +the neighboring thicket. His orders were instantly given. A +dozen bodies instantly sprang forward in pursuit—a dozen matchlocks +were lifted in deadly aim, but the lithe savage doubling +like a hare, bounding forward, now squat, and seeming to +fly along the surface of the ground like a lapwing, stealthy in +every movement as a cat, as swift and agile,—succeeded in gaining +the woods, though the carbines rang with their volley, and, +throwing down their weapons, a score of the light-limbed Frenchmen +started in the chase. A wild warwhoop followed the discharge +of the pieces, declaring equally the defiance and disdain of the +savage. The pursuit was idle, as a few seconds enabled him to +find shelter in a morass, which the inexperienced Europeans knew +not how to penetrate. Alphonse D’Erlach recalled his men from +pursuit, fearing lest they might fall into an ambush, in which, +wasting their ammunition against invisible enemies, they would +only incur the risk of total destruction. He prepared to confront +the stranger, whose first appearance had been productive of such +a startling occurrence. Le Genré, meanwhile, had paused in his +progress. He no longer rushed forward like a maniac; but satisfied +with having given the impulse to the pursuit of Oolenoe, and +apparently conscious of how much was startling in his appearance, +he now stood beside a pine which overhung the path, one hand +resting against the mighty shaft, as if from fatigue, while from +the other his <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">couteau de chasse</i> now drooped, its sharp extremity +pointing to the ground.</p> + +<p>His appearance thus indicated a pacific disposition; but remembering +his ancient treacheries only, and suspicious of his relations +with Oolenoe, D’Erlach approached him with caution, as if to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">- 200 -</a></span> +encounter with an enemy. As he drew nigh, followed by his +band, Le Genré addressed them with mournful accents.</p> + +<p>“Is there no faith for me hereafter, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">mes amis</i>? Am I forever +cut off from the communion with my comrades? Shall there be +no fellowship between us, D’Erlach? Shall we not forget the +past—shall I not be forgiven for my crime, even when I repent it +in bitterness and bloody tears. Behold, my brother—I proffer +you the last assurance.”</p> + +<p>These words were accompanied by a sign, that of the mystic +brotherhood—the ancient masons—which none but a few of the +party beheld or comprehended. The weapon of Alphonse D’Erlach +was dropped instantly, and his hand extended. He, too, +belonged to the ancient order, and the security which was guaranteed +by the exhibition of its token, on the part of the offender, +served, when all other pleas would have failed, to secure him +sympathy and protection.</p> + +<p>“I have sinned, Alphonse—I know it—beyond forgiveness—sinned +like a madman; but I have borne the penalty. Seldom +has human sinner suffered from mental penalty, as I from mine. +Behold me! look I longer human? I have taken up my covert +with the wild beasts of the desert, and they fly from my presence +as from a savage more fearful than any they know. In my +own desperation I have had no fears. I have herded with beast +and reptile, and longed for their hostility. I have lived through +all, though I craved not to live, and the food which would have +choked or poisoned the man not an outcast from communion with +his fellows, has kept me strong, with a cruel vitality that has +increased by suffering. The crude berries of the wood, the indigestible +roots of the earth, I have devoured with a hideous craving; +and, in the griefs and privations of my body, my mind has<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">- 201 -</a></span> +been purged of its impurities. I have seen my sin in its true +colors—my folly, my vicious passions, the wretch that I was—the +miserable outlaw and destitute that I am! That I repent of the +crimes that I have done and sought to do, is the good fruit of this +bitter on which I have rather preyed than fed. I wrote to +Laudonniere of my sorrow and repentance, but he refused to hear +me. Bourdet I sought, that he might take me once more to +France; but he too dreaded communion with me; and when I +rushed into his boat, he only bore me to the opposite shore of the +river, and set me down to the exploration of new forests, and the +endurance of new tortures. I blame them not, that they would +not believe me—that they refused faith in one who had violated all +faith before—that, equally due to his God and to his sovereign. +Oh! brother, do not <em>you</em> drive me from you also!”</p> + +<p>And the miserable outlaw clasped his hands passionately together +in entreaty, with a face wild with woe and despair, and would +have fallen prostrate in humiliation before his comrades, if the +arm of Alphonse D’Erlach had not sustained him.</p> + +<p>“But what of this savage, Oolenoe!” demanded the lieutenant, +when the first burst of grief had subsided from the lips of Le +Genré.</p> + +<p>“Ah! you know that I have been the prisoner to this savage, +and to the very comrades of my sin. For this I have pursued +you hither. While you march onward to snares such as the +savages of Potanou have provided for you by means of this +Oolenoe, treachery is busy and successful at La Caroline.”</p> + +<p>“Successful?”</p> + +<p>“Ay! successful! But hear me. When I fled to the forest, +I took shelter first with the people of Satouriova. I was found +out and followed by Fourneaux, Stephen Le Genevois, and La<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">- 202 -</a></span> +Roquette. To them, at times, came La Croix, whom Laudonniere +still trusted, and whom even you did not suspect. They +came to me with new plans. They were to contrive pretexts for +sending you off to a distance, with the best men of the garrison. +Oolenoe was a ready agent at once of Potanou, Satouriova, and +the conspirators. In your absence, they were to get possession of +the garrison and secure the person of Laudonniere.”</p> + +<p>“You mean not to say, Le Genré, that they have succeeded +in this?”</p> + +<p>“Ay, do I—the garrison is in their hands—the shipping; and +Laudonniere is himself a close prisoner on board the unfinished +brigantine.”</p> + +<p>“God of heaven! and I am here!”</p> + +<p>“When the conspirators found that I no longer agreed to +second them in their machinations, and when I threatened to +expose them to Laudonniere, they employed Oolenoe to secure +my person. Five of his people beset me at the same moment, +and held me fast in one of their wigwams until their scheme had +been carried into execution. With Laudonniere in their hands, +I was abandoned by my keepers, and suffered to go forth. From +them I learned the history of all that had taken place in the +colony. I saw the danger, and felt that the only hope for Laudonniere +lay in you. Fortunately, I had only to follow those who +had held me captive, in order to find the route that you had taken. +The people of Oolenoe were soon upon his tracks. I compassed +theirs. It is one profit in the outlawed life which I have been +doomed to endure, that it has taught me the arts of the savage—taught +me the instincts of the beast,—his stealth, his endurance, +his far-sight, and his eager and appreciating scent. Hark! dost<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">- 203 -</a></span> +hear! Put thy men in order. The subtle savage is about to gird +thee in.”</p> + +<p>Scarcely had he spoken, when the forest was alive with cries of +warfare. Wild whoops rang through the great avenues of wood, +and sudden glimpses of the red-men, followed by flights of arrows, +warned the Frenchmen still more emphatically to prepare against +the danger. But the arrows, though discharged with skill and +muscle, were sent from far;—the dread of the European fire-arms +prompting a decent caution, which, in a great degree, lessened +the superiority which the savages possessed in numbers. +The woods were now filled with enemies. Tribe after tribe had +collected, along their route, as the Frenchmen had advanced, +and every forward step had served only to increase the great impediments +in the way of their return. It was due wholly to the +excellence of the watch nightly kept by D’Erlach, that they had +not been butchered while they slept. It was in consequence of +his admirable caution, and provision against attack while they +marched, that they had not fallen into frequent ambush, as they +moved by noonday. Nightly had the subtle chief, Oolenoe, stolen +away to his comrades, arraying his numbers, and counselling their +pursuit and progress. His schemes detected, the mask was +thrown aside as no longer of use, and open warfare was the cry +through the forests. The necessity was before our Frenchmen of +fighting their way back. The effort of the red-men was to cut +them off in detail, by frequent surprises, by incessant assaults and +annoyances, and by straitening them in the search after water and +provisions.</p> + +<p>It would be a weary task to pursue, day by day, and hour by +hour, the thousand details, by which each party endeavored to +attain its object. The events of such a conflict must necessarily<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">- 204 -</a></span> +be monotonous. Enough to say, that the whole genius of +Alphonse D’Erlach was brought forth during the constant emergencies +of his march and proved equal to them all. His first object +was to pursue a new route on his return. This greatly shortened +the distance, and increased the chances of food, since it was +only from the route along which he came that Oolenoe had contrived +the removal of all the provisions. The progress was thus +varied on their return. It was enlivened by incessant attacks of +the savages. Their arrows were continually showered upon our +Frenchmen from every thicket that could afford an ambush; but, +habited as they were with the <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">escaupil</i>, or stuffed cotton doublets, +which the Spaniards had invented for protection in their warfare +with the Indians, the damage from this source was comparatively +small. Some few of the Frenchmen were galled by slight wounds, +one or two were seriously hurt, and one of them suffered the loss +of an eye. In all these conflicts, Le Genré fought with the +greatest bravery—with a valor, indeed, that seemed to set at +scorn every thought of danger or disaster. He was always the +first to rush forward to the assault, and always the last to leave +the pursuit, when the trumpets sounded the recal. He proved an +admirable second to Alphonse D’Erlach, and materially contributed +to the success of the various plans adopted by the latter +for the safety of his people.</p> + +<p>It was the ninth day from that on which they left La Caroline, +when Le Genré<!--was Genre--> made his appearance, and Oolenoe fled to the +forests. Six days had they been engaged in their backward +journey. In this route, diverging greatly from that which they +had pursued before, and following the course indicated by the sun +with a remarkable judgment, which tended still more to raise the +reputation of Alphonse D’Erlach in the eyes of his followers, they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">- 205 -</a></span> +suddenly struck into a path with which Le Genré himself was +familiar. It proved to be one of those which he had pursued on +a previous occasion, when, in the possession of the confidence of +his chief, he had been permitted to lead forth a party for exploration. +Our Frenchmen now knew where they were, and thirty-six +hours of steady travelling would, they felt assured, bring them +within sight of the fortress of La Caroline. But, as if the inveterate +chieftain, Oolenoe, had made a like discovery at the same +moment, his assaults became more desperate, and were urged with +a singular increase of skill and fury. Now it was that the barbarian +tribes of Florida seemed to gather into a host—such a +host as encountered the famous Ponce de Leon and other Spanish +chieftains when they sought to overrun the land. They no longer +sped their arrows from a distance, which, in giving themselves +security from the fire-arms of the Frenchmen, rendered their own +shafts in great degree innocuous. But it was observed that, +when they had succeeded in drawing the fire of the Frenchmen by +two successive assaults, they usually grew bolder at a third, and +came forward with an audacity which seemed to put at defiance +equally the weapons and the spirit of their enemies. The inequality +of numbers between the respective parties, made this +subtle policy of Oolenoe particularly dangerous to the weaker. +Alphonse D’Erlach felt his danger, and the openly-expressed apprehensions +of Le Genré declared it. The subject was one of great +anxiety. The whole day had been spent in conflicts,—conflicts +which were interrupted, it is true, by frequent intervals of rest, +but which continued to increase in their violence as evening +approached. Several of the Frenchmen were now wounded, two +of them dangerously, and all of them were greatly wearied. Le +Genré urged D’Erlach to a night movement, in which they might<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">- 206 -</a></span> +leave their enemies behind them, and perhaps cause them to give +up the pursuit, particularly as they would then be almost within +striking distance of La Caroline; but the coolness and judgment +of D’Erlach had not deserted him, or been impaired by his +increase of difficulties.</p> + +<p>“And how,” said he, “am I to know whether we shall find +friends or foes in possession of La Caroline? This is not the +least of my dangers. I must preserve my force against that doubt; +but keep them fresh, certainly, and if possible without diminution, +so that I may rescue Laudonniere or sustain myself. Besides, to +attempt the night march I must leave these poor fellows, Mercœur +and Dumain, to be scalped by the savages, or force them forward +only that they may drop by the way. No! we must take rest +ourselves, and give them all the rest we can. We must encamp +as soon as possible, and the shelter of yon little bay, to which we +are approaching, seems to offer an excellent cover. We will make +for that.”</p> + +<p>He did as he said. His camp was formed on the edge of one +of those basins which, in the southern country is usually termed a +bay—so called in consequence of the dense forests of the shrub +laurel that covers the region with the most glistening green, and +fills the languid atmosphere with a most rich but oppressive +perfume. Here he disposed his little command, so that the approaches +were few and such as could be easily guarded. Here he +was secure from those wild flights of arrows which, in a spot less +thickly wooded, might have been made to annoy a company, discharged +even in the darkness of the night. But Alphonse +D’Erlach had another reason for selecting this as his present place +of shelter. As soon as he had taken care of his wounded men, he +examined the munitions of all. He had been sparing his powder,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">- 207 -</a></span> +and he was now rejoiced to find that the quantity was quite +sufficient, according to the exigencies of the warfare of that day, +to suffice for two or more days longer. This enabled him to devise +a project by which to ensnare the savages to their ruin. Hitherto +he had classed his men in three divisions. The first of these encountered +the first onslaught of the enemy, and the second were +prepared for its renewal, while the third was a reserve for a +continuance of the struggle, giving time to the two first divisions +to reload. But it had been seen, during the day, that the savages +had made a corresponding division of their force;—that successive +attacks, followed up with great rapidity, drew the fires of his +several squads, and so well aware did the assailants now appear to +be of this practice, that, after the third fire, they boldly rushed +almost within striking distance of the Frenchmen, hurling their +stone hatchets with wonderful dexterity and precision. To provide +for this contingency—to convert it to profitable results—was the +study of D’Erlach. He felt that, but for some stratagem, it was +not improbable that the whole party would lose their scalps before +the closing of another day. He had observed that the bay in +which he harbored his men contained, interspersed with its laurels, +a perfect wilderness of <i>canes</i>, the fluted reeds of the swamp and +morass, common to the country, some of which grew to be nearly +twenty feet in height. These were still green in September, their +feathery tops waving to and fro in every breeze, while, under the +pressure of the sudden gust, their shafts, in seeming solid +phalanx, laid themselves almost to the earth, to recover, like an +artful and plumed warrior, when the danger had overblown. +Without declaring his plans, D’Erlach had a number of these +canes cut down in secresy, and divided into sections of four or five +feet. The extreme barrel of each of these sections was filled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">- 208 -</a></span> +tightly with gunpowder, and a fuse introduced at the orifice which +received the powder. Strips from the shirts of his people were +employed to bind the portion of the reed thus filled, and two of +these shafts were lashed tightly to each matchlock, the charged +portion protruding near the muzzle. He needed no words to +explain his policy to his people. They understood the object in +beholding the process, and admired the ingenuity which promised +them hereafter the most signal advantages.</p> + +<p>Rigid was the watch maintained that night in the camp of our +Frenchmen. Fortunately, they had obtained that day a fresh +supply of food while passing through a miserable hamlet, from +which the occupants had fled at their approach. Their supper was +eaten in silence and anxiety. The watches throughout the night +were two, Le Genré taking the first, while D’Erlach, from twelve +till daylight, maintained the last. There were no alarms. The +Indians had retired, as was conjectured, to place themselves in +some favorite place of ambush against the coming of the Frenchmen +the next day. One of the two men who had been most severely +wounded among the Frenchmen, died that night in great +agony. The arrow of the savage had penetrated to his lungs. +He had imprudently thrown off his coat of escaupil, in consequence +of the great heat of the noonday, and a skirmish took place before +he could reclothe himself, in which he received his hurt. D’Erlach +had the body laid in the deepest portion of the bay, its only +covering being a forest of canes, which were cut down and thrown +over the corpse.</p> + +<p>With the first rosy blush of the dawn, the little troop was in +motion. At setting off D’Erlach gave ample directions for the +anticipated conflict. His command was divided into three companies. +From the first of these, three men were commissioned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">- 209 -</a></span> +to deliver the fire of their pieces on the appearance of the Indians. +The rest were to discharge one of the two loaded sections +of cane attached to the matchlocks. The second and third +were to do likewise. The effect of this arrangement would be to +leave ten out of nineteen pieces undischarged, and ready for fatal +use on the more daring approach of the savages. Their preparations, +and the proposed <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">ruse</i> were soon put to proof. It was +about nine o’clock in the morning, when the company was about +to enter a defile which led to an extensive tract of pines. At the +entrance, on each hand, stretched a morass that seemed interminable. +The opening to the pine forest seemed a narrow gorge, the +jaws of which were densely occupied with a tangled thicket that +seemed to baffle approach. D’Erlach saw the dangers which +awaited him in such a defile. His three bands were made to +march separately as they approached it, and very slowly. A +moderate interval lay between them, which would enable them, +while an enemy could only attack them singly, in turn to support +each other. The judgment of our young lieutenant did not +deceive him. On each side of this gorge, Oolenoe had posted +his warriors. They occupied the shelter of the thicket on both +hands. Their eagerness and impatience, increased by the slow +progress of the Frenchmen, whom they regarded as only marching +to the slaughter, lost them some of the advantages of this +position. They showed themselves too soon. With a horrid +howl the young warriors discharged their arrows from the covert, +and then boldly dashed out among the pines. The Frenchmen +were nerved for the struggle. Forewarned, they had been forearmed. +There was no surprise. Coolly, the three select men delivered +the fire of their pieces, and each with fatal effect. In the +same moment the charged barrels of the cane were ignited and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">- 210 -</a></span> +torn asunder by an explosion which was sufficiently gun-like to +deceive the unpractised ear of the Indian. The savages answered +this fire by a cloud of arrows, and began to advance. It was +now that the remaining section of the division, which had retained +their fire, delivered it with great precision and an effect +similar to the former; those who had emptied their pieces on the +previous occasion, contenting themselves with discharging a cane. +By this time, the two other divisions, under D’Erlach, had pushed +through the gorge, and were spreading themselves right and left, +among the pines, in a situation to practice the same game with +their assailants, which had been played so well by the foremost +party. We must not follow the caprices of the battle. It is +enough to say that, deceived by the apparent discharge of all the +pieces of the Frenchmen, the Indians, headed by Oolenoe himself, +dashed desperately upon their enemies, and were received +by the fatal fire from more than a dozen guns, which sent their +foremost men headlong to the ground, the subtle chief, Oolenoe +himself, among them. At this sight, the savages set up a howl +of dismay, and fled in all directions; while Oolenoe, thrice staggering +to his feet, at length sunk back upon the ground, writhing +in an agony which did not, however, prevent him, on the approach +of D’Erlach, from making a desperate effort to smite him with +his stone hatchet. His whole form collapsed with the effort, +and wrenching the rude but heavy implement from the dying +savage, the lieutenant drove it into his brain and ended his +agonies with a single stroke.</p> + +<p>With this adventure, the difficulties of the party ceased. That +night they reached the fortress, in season to confirm the authority +of Laudonniere; and, as we have seen, to assist in the execution +of the mutineers by whom he had been temporarily overthrown.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">- 211 -</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XVI2" id="XVI2">XVI.</a><br /> +HISTORICAL SUMMARY.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sustained</span> and reassured by the return of his lieutenant, Laudonniere, +released from his bonds, proceeded to re-organize his +garrison. He promoted those who had proved faithful when all +threatened to be false, and deprived the doubtful, or the dangerous, +of all their previous trusts. To improve and strengthen his +forts, to build vessels, which were to supply the places of those +which the mutineers had taken, and others of smaller burthen for +the express navigation of the river, were his immediate cares, in +all of which his progress was considerable. During this period +he lived on relations of tolerable amity with his Indian neighbors. +Their little crops had, by this time, been harvested, and they +were not unwilling to exchange their surplus productions for the +objects of European manufacture which they coveted. The supplies +brought by the red-men were “fish, deere, turki-cocks, +leopards, little beares, and other things, according to the place of +their habitation,” for which they were recompensed with “certaine +hatchets, knives, beades of glasse, combs, and looking-glasses.” +The “leopards and little beares” were probably wild +cats and raccoons, or opossums, all of which furnished excellent +feeding to our hungry Frenchmen in September. The wild-cat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">- 212 -</a></span> +is usually a fat beast, differing very considerably from the more +savage tribes to whom we liken him, the wolf and the panther; +while the opossum is probably the fattest of all animals at seasons +when the forest mast is abundant. Of the quality of the meat +we will say nothing. To those with whom the appetite has been +made properly subservient to the taste, and who suffer from no +necessities, his flavor is scarcely such as legitimates his admission +into the kitchen. But the case is far otherwise with those inferior +tribes with whom the appetites are coarse and eager. The negro +is seldom so well satisfied as when he feeds on ’possum. “’Possum,” +is the common remark among this people, “’possum heap +better than pig!” To those who know how high is the estimate +which the negro sets upon the pig family—an estimate which is +the occasion of an epidemic under which a fat pig, straying into +the woods in June and July, is sure to perish—the compliment is +inappreciable.</p> + +<p>Thus, feeding well, with his health and self-esteem gradually +recovering, Laudonniere began to resume his explorations, and to +cast his eyes about him with his old desire for precious discoveries. +It was about this time that he was visited by a couple of savages +from the dominions of King Maracou. This potentate dwelt +some forty leagues to the south of La Caroline. The Indians, +among other matters, related to Laudonniere that, in the service +of another native monarch named Onathaqua, there was a man +whom they called “Barbu, or the bearded man,” who was not of +the people of the country. Another foreigner, whose name they +knew not, was said to inhabit the house of King Mathiaca, a +forest chieftain, whose tribes occupied a contiguous region. From +the descriptions thus given him, Laudonniere readily conceived +that these strange men were Christians. He accordingly opened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">- 213 -</a></span> +a communication with the tribes by which the intermediate +country was occupied, and under the stimulus of a liberal +recompense, promised them in European goods, the two strangers +were brought in safety to La Caroline. The conjecture of +Laudonniere proved rightly founded. They were white men and +Christians—Spaniards who had suffered shipwreck some fifteen +years before, upon the flats called “The Martyrs,” and +over and against that region of the country, which at this +period was called Calos—from a great native prince of that +name.<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> This savage repaired to the wreck, and carried off into +captivity its crew and passengers. Many of these were women, +who became the wives of their conquerors. The king of Calos, +whom a Spaniard described as the “goodliest and the tallest +Indian of the country, a mighty man, a warrior, and having many +subjects under his obedience,” not only saved the Europeans +from their wreck, but, by diligent and indefatigable perseverance, +rescued most of the treasure that was in the vessel; the wealth +which had been gleaned with unsparing cruelties from the bowels +of the earth in Peru and Mexico. The treasures thus obtained +by King Calos, were represented to be of almost limitless value. +“He had great store of golde and silver, so farre forth that, in a +certaine village, he had a pit full thereof, which was at the least +as high as a man, and as large as a tunne.” According to our +Spaniards, it might be easy, “with an hundred shot,” to obtain all +this spoil; to say nothing of the scattered treasures which might +be gleaned from the common people of the country. That the extent +of their resources might not be under-valued, the captive Christians<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">- 214 -</a></span> +farther informed him, that the young women of the country, +when engaged in their primitive dances, assembled to their +festivities in a glorious costume, such as would be an irresistible +charm in any European assembly. They were not only lovely +in themselves, with their dark beauties partially unfolded to the +gaze, and the tawny hues enlivened by the warm lustre of the +sun, shining in crimson flushes through the prevailing hue of the +complexion, but they wore, suspended from their girdles, plates +of gold, large as a saucer, the number and weight of which +would have totally impeded the action as well as agility of any +but a people so exquisitely and vigorously proportioned. The +men wore similar decorations, though not perhaps in such great +profusion. This gold, according to their account, was derived +chiefly from vessels cast away—the coasts of the territory of +King Calos being particularly treacherous, and their secret, lurking +shoals frequently rising up suddenly to rob the king of Spain +of his hardly-won ingots. The residue of his wealth in the precious +metals, King Calos derived from the kings and chiefs of the +interior. Perhaps more of it was obtained in this way than our +Spaniards knew. There can be no doubt but that the mines of +the great Apalachian ranges were explored, however imperfectly, +by the red-men of the country, following, in all probability, some +superior races, who first taught them where to look, and of whom +we have now but the most imperfect vestiges.</p> + +<p>Among the articles of traffic, which the people of Calos sold to +the interior tribes, was a domestic root, constituting a favorite +bread-stuff which was particularly grateful to the palates of their +people. This is described as forming a fine flour, than which it +it is impossible to find better, and as supplying the wants of an +immense tract of country. It was undoubtedly the breadstuff<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">- 215 -</a></span> +known as <i>coonti</i> in modern periods. This, and a species of date, +taken from a sort of palm tree—the persimmon probably—were +commodities in which they dealt to great extent. Of the root +from which they made their favorite breadstuff, it is written, that +the proprietors were very slow to part with, unless well paid for +it. The people of King Calos are probably to be traced through +a thousand fluctuations of place, character and fortune, to the +Seminoles of recent periods—a like people, living in the same +region, and rejoicing in the same fruits and freedom.</p> + +<p>Of this King Calos, the narrative of our Spaniards goes farther, +passing finally into the province of the miraculous. He is described +as a prince held in special reverence by his subjects;—not simply +for his valor as a soldier, or his wisdom as a ruler, but his +wondrous powers as a magician. He seems to have combined the +civil and the religious powers of the nation—to have been priest +and prophet as well as Governor. The government of his country, +like that of simple nations generally, was theocratic and patriarchal. +His people were taught to believe that it was through +his spells and incantations, that the earth brought forth her +fruits. He resorted to various arts to perpetuate this faith, and +various cruelties to subdue and punish that spirit of inquiry which +might test too closely the propriety of his spiritual claims. +Twice a year he retired from the sight of all his subjects, two or +three of his friends alone excepted, and was supposed, at this season, +to be busy with his mighty sorceries. Woe to the unlucky +wretch who, whether purposely or by accident, intruded upon his +mysteries. The dwelling to which he had resort was tabooed on +every hand; and death, with the most fearful penalties, stood +warningly at all the avenues by which it was approached. Each +year a prisoner was sacrificed to the savage god he served; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">- 216 -</a></span> +this prisoner, so long as Barbu had been a captive, had been a +Spaniard always—the supply being sufficient, from the frequency +of wrecks upon the coast, by which an adequate number of captives +was always to be had. The dominions of Calos are described as +lying along a river, beyond the cape of Florida, forty or fifty leagues +towards the southwest; while those of Onathaqua were nearer to +La Caroline, on the northern side of the cape, “in a place which +we call in the chart, Cannaverel, which is in 28 degrees<!--was degreees-->.”</p> + +<p>When the two Spaniards were brought before Laudonniere they +were entirely naked. Their hair hung below their loins, as did +that of the savages; and so completely had they become accustomed +to the habits of the red-men, that the resumption of the +costume of civilization was not only strange but irksome. But +Laudonniere was not disposed to permit their acquired habits to +supersede those of their origin. He caused the hair of his newly-found +Christians to be shorn, as heedless of the loss of strength +which might follow as ever was Dalilah while docking the long +locks of her giant lover. It was with great reluctance that the +wild men submitted to this shearing. When the hair was finally +taken off they insisted upon preserving it, and rolling it in linen +put it away carefully, to be shown in Europe as a proof of their +wild and cruel experience. In removing the shock from one of +them, a little treasure of gold was found hidden in its masses, to +the value of five-and-twenty crowns, by which the Spaniard +conclusively proved that one portion of his Spanish education had +never deserted him. What a commentary upon the wisdom of +civilization, that, in such a state, with such bonds, after such +losses, of freedom, position, and the society of all the well-beloved +and equal, his heart should still yearn for the keeping of a treasure +which must, at every moment, have only served to mock<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">- 217 -</a></span> +the possessor with the dearer treasures of home, country, friends, +religion, of which his fortunes had made utter forfeit. But let us +pass to the narrative of Barbu, himself—one of the recovered +Spaniards—which we owe, in some degree to history, but mostly +to tradition.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">- 218 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XVII" id="XVII">XVII.</a><br /> +THE NARRATIVE OF LE BARBU:<br /> +<span class="smfont">THE BEARDED MAN OF CALOS.</span></h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Now</span> when Barbu, the bearded man, who had been dwelling +among the people of Calos, had been shorn of the long and matted +hair and beard, which had made him much more fearful to the +eye than any among the savages themselves,—and when our right +worthy captain had commanded that we should bathe and cleanse +him, and had given him shirts of fine linen and clothes from his own +wardrobe, so that he should once more appear like a Christian man +among his kindred,—albeit he seemed to be greatly disquieted, and +exceedingly awkward therein,—then did he conduct him into the +<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">corps de garde</i>, where our people were all bidden to assemble. +There, being seated all, Barbu, the Spaniard, being entreated thereto +by our right worthy captain, proceeded to unfold the full relation of +the grievous strait and peril by which he had fallen into the power +of King Calos, and of what happened to him thereafter. And it +was curious to see how that he, a Spaniard born, and not ill-educated +in one of the goodly towns of old Spain, in all gentle +learning, should, in the space of fifteen years sojourn among the +savages, have so greatly suffered the loss of his native tongue. +Slow was he of speech, and greatly minded to piece out with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">- 219 -</a></span> +Indian language the many words in which the memory of his own +had failed him. Well was it for our understanding of what he +delivered, that so many of us had been dwelling among the red-men +at other times,—to speak nothing of Monsieur D’Erlach, +Monsieur Ottigny, both lieutenants in the garrison, and Monsieur +La Roche Ferriere, who, with another, by special commandment +of our captain, had dwelt for a matter of several months among +the people of King Olata Utina. By means of the help brought +by these, we were enabled to find the meaning of those words in +which Barbu failed in his Spanish. So it was that we followed +the fortunes of the bearded man, according to the narrative as here +set down.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Then, at the repeated entreaty of Monsieur Laudonniere, +Barbu arose and spoke:</p> + +<p>“First, Señor Captain, I have to declare how much I thank +you for the protection you have given me, the kindness which has +clad me once more in Christian garments, and the cost and travail +with which you have recovered me from my bonds among the +heathen. Albeit, that I feel strangely in these new habits, and +that my native tongue comes back to me slowly when I would +speak from a full and overflowing heart, yet will I strive to make +you sensible of all the facts in my sad history, and of the great +gratitude which I feel for those by whose benevolence I may fondly +hope that my troubles are about to end. I know not now the day +or season when we left the port of Nombre de Dios, in an excellent +ship, well filled with treasures of the mine, and a goodly company, +on our return to the land of our fathers beyond the sea. My own +share in the wealth of this vessel was considerable, and I had +other treasures in the person of a dear brother, and a sister who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">- 220 -</a></span> +accompanied us. Our sister was married to one who was with us +also, and the united wealth of the three, such was our fond expectations, +would enable us to retire to our native town of Burgos, +and commend us to the favor of our people. But it was written +that we should not realize these blessed expectations, and that I +alone, of the four, should be again permitted to dwell among a +Christian people. Yet I give not up the hope that I shall yet +see my brother, who was carried away among the Indians of the +far west, when we were scattered among the tribes, in the +grand division of our captives. But this part of my story comes +properly hereafter.</p> + +<p>“We put to sea from the port of Nombre de Dios with +very favoring winds; but these lasted us not long, ere they +came out from all quarters of the heavens, and we ran before the +storm under a rag of sail, without knowing in what course +we sped. Thus, for three days, we were driven before the baffling +winds; and when the storm lulled, the clouds still hung about us, +and our pilot wot nothing of that part of the sea in which we +went. Two days more followed, and still we were saddened +by the clouds that kept evermore coming down from heaven, +and brooding upon the deep like great fogs that gather in +the morn among the mountains. Thus we sped, weary and desponding +as we were, without any certainty as to the course we +kept, or the region of space or country round about us. Meanwhile, +the seams of our vessel began to yawn, and great was the +labor which followed, to all hands, to keep her clear of water. +This we did not wholly; and it was in vain that our carpenter +sought for, in order to stop, the leak. Thus, weary and sad, we +continued still sweeping forward slowly, looking anxiously, with +many prayers, for the sun by day and the moon and stars by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">- 221 -</a></span> +night. But the Blessed Virgin was implored in vain. We had +offended. There was treasure on board the vessel, but it was +stained with blood. You have not heard in your histories of the +bloody Juan de Mores y Silva, who tortured the unhappy +Mexicans by fire, even in the caverns where they resided, seeking +the gold, which they gained not sufficiently soon, or in sufficient +quantity, to satisfy his cruel lust for wealth. He was one of our +companions on this voyage, bound homewards with an immense +subsidy in ingots—huge chests of gold and silver—with which he +aimed to swell into grandeur with new titles, when he arrived in +Spain. But the just Providence willed it otherwise. He was, +doubtless, the Jonah in our vessel, who fought against the prayers +for mercy and protection which the true believers addressed to +the Holy Virgin in our behalf.”</p> + +<p>Here our captain, Laudonniere, interrupted Barbu, and <span class="nowrap">said—</span></p> + +<p>“Verily, Señor Spaniard, had thy prayer been addressed to +God himself, the Father, through the intervention and the mediation +of the Blessed Saviour, his Son, whose blood was shed for sinners, +it might have better profited thy case. Thy prayers to the +Virgin were an unseemly elevation of a mortal woman over the +divinity of the Godhead. But I will not vex thee with disputation. +Thou art a Christian, though it is after a fashion which, to +me seems scarcely more becoming than that of these poor savages +of Calos, who yield faith, as thou tellest me, to the spells and +enchantments of their bloody sovereign. But, proceed with thy +story, which I shall be slow to break in upon again until thou art +well ended.”</p> + +<p>With the permission thus vouchsafed him, Barbu, the bearded +man, thus resumed his discourse:</p> + +<p>“We plead for the interposition of the Virgin, Monsieur le<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">- 222 -</a></span> +Capitaine, not as we deem her the source of power and of mercy, +but as we hold it irreverent to rush even with our prayers to the +feet of the awful Father himself; and rejoice to believe that she +who was specially chosen, as one who should bear the burden of +the Saviour-child, was of a spirit properly sanctified and pure for +such purposes of interposition. But, as thou sayest, we will leave +this matter. If we offend in our rites and offices, it is because +we err in judgment, and not that our hearts wish to afflict the +feelings or the thoughts of those who see with other eyes +the truth. Besides, my long and outlandish abode among the +red-men, might well excuse me many errors.”</p> + +<p>“And so, indeed, it might, Señor Spaniard,” said Laudonniere +graciously; then, as the latter remained silent, Barbu continued:</p> + +<p>“Doubtless, Señor, as I said before, the bloody Juan de Mores +y Silva, was the Jonah of our vessel, on whose account the +Blessed Providence turned a deaf ear to our prayers and entreaties. +It was not decreed that he should escape to rejoice in his +ill-gotten treasure; and his fortunes were so mixed up with ours, +that the overthrow of one was necessarily at the grievous loss and +peril of us all. How many days we lay tossing on the tumultuous +waves, or swept to and fro, beaten and sore distressed by the violent +and changeful winds, I do not now remember, but it was in +very sickness and hopelessness of heart, that we lay down at night +as one lies down and submits to a power with which he feels himself +wholly powerless to contend. Thus did we cast ourselves +down—as the dreary shades of night came over us, with a deeper +and drearier cloud than ever,—not seeking sleep, but seized upon by +it, as it were, to save us from the suffering, akin to madness, which +must haply follow upon our fearful waking thoughts. While we slept, +our vessel struck upon the low flats of the Martyrs—those shoals<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">- 223 -</a></span> +which have laid bare the ribs of so many goodly and gold-laden +ships of my countrymen, sucking down their brave hearts and all +their treasures in the deep. We were lifted high by the surges, +and rested, beyond recovery, upon the shoals, from which the remorseless +seas refused again to lift us off. Our vessel lay upon +one side, and the greedy waves rushed into her hold. We were +stunned rather than awakened by the shock. We strove not for +safety or repair. How many perished in the moment when the +ship fell over I know not, but one of these was the husband of my +sister. He was drowned in the first rush of the billows into the +ship, though, as it was night, we knew it not. My sister had +thrown herself beside my brother, and was sleeping upon his arm. +She was the first to learn her misfortune, awaking, as she averred, +to hear the faint cries of her lord for succor, though she knew not +whence the sounds arose. When our eyes opened upon the scene, +strange to say, the clouds had disappeared. The dark waves +of the tempest had sped away to other regions. A gentle +breeze from the land had arisen, full of sweet fragrance and a +healing freshness, and, bright over head, in the blessed heavens, +blossomed fresh the eternal host of the stars. Oh! the life and +soothing in that smile of God. But we were not strong for the +blessing, nor sufficiently grateful that life was still vouchsafed us. +The day dawned upon us to increase our wretchedness. It left +us without hope. Our food was ruined by the waves that filled +the vessel, and though the land was spread before us in a lengthened +stripe, bearing forests which were surely full of fragrance, +we beheld not the means by which we should gain its pleasant +shores with safety. Our boats had perished in the surf; one of +them stove to pieces, and the other swept away. In our despondency +and our sleep we had yielded our courage and our providence,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">- 224 -</a></span> +and we lay now in the sight of heaven, amidst the equal +realm of sea and sky, with the land spreading lovelily before us, +yet could we do nothing for ourselves. We lay without food or +drink all day, seeing nothing but the bare skies, the sea, and the +shore, which only mocked our eyes. My sister sorrowed and +sickened in my arms. She cried for water as one cries in the +delirious agonies of fever. She would drink of the water of the +deep, but this we denied her; and the day sunk again, and with it +her hope and strength. With the increase of the winds that +night, she grew delirious; and, when we knew not—and this was +strange, for I cannot believe that I closed mine eyes that night—she +disappeared. Once, it seemed that I heard her voice, in a +wild scream, calling me by name, and I started forward to feel +that she was gone. She left my arms while I lay insensible. It +was not sleep. It was stupor. My consciousness was drowned +in my great grief, and in the exhaustion of all my strength for +lack of food.</p> + +<p>“My brother and myself alone survived of all our family. +With the knowledge that our sister was really gone—swallowed +up, doubtless, in the remorseless deep, into which she had darted +in her delirium—we came to a full consciousness. Then, when +it was only misery to know, we were permitted to know all, and +to feel the whole terrible truth pressing upon us, that we were +alone in that dreary world of sea. Not alone of our company; +only of our people. Many there were who still kept in life, +watchful but hopeless. We could see their dusky forms by the +faint light of the stars, crouching along the slanting plane of the +vessel, upon which, by cord, and sail, and spar, we still contrived +to maintain foothold; and, anon, our company would lessen. +The solemn silence of all things, except the dash of the waves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">- 225 -</a></span> +against us, rolling up with murmurs, and breaking away in wrath, +was interrupted only by a sullen plunge, ever and anon, into the +engulphing deep, as the hope went out utterly in the heart of the +victim, and he yielded to death, rather than prolong the wretched +endurance of a life so full of misery.</p> + +<p>“Thus the night passed; not without other signs to cheer as +well as startle us. Through the darkness we could see lights in +the direction of the shore, as if borne by human hands. With +the dawn of day, our eyes were turned eagerly in that direction. +Nor did we look in vain. The shore swarmed with human forms. +A hundred canoes were already darting along the margin of the +great deep, and evident were the preparations of the people of +this wild region, to visit our stranded vessel. In a little time +they came. Their canoes were some of them large enough to +carry forty warriors, though made from a single tree. They +came to us in order of battle; a hundred boats, holding each +from ten to fifty warriors. These carried spear and shield, huge +lances, and well-curved bows, drawn with powerful sinews of the +deer. Their arrows were long shafts of the feathery reed, such +as flourish in all these forests. The feather from the eagle’s wing +gave it buoyancy, and the end of the shaft was barbed with a +keen flint, wrought by art to an edge such as our best workmen +give to steel. Many were the chief men among these warriors, +who approached us in full panoply of barbaric pomp. Turbans +of white and crimson-stained cotton, such as the Turk is shown +to wear, though folded in a still nobler fashion, were wrapped +about their heads, over which shook bunches of plumes taken +from the paroquet, the crane, and the eagle. Robes of cotton, +white, or crimson, or scarlet, colored with native dies of the +forest, clothed their loins, and fell flowing from their shoulders;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">- 226 -</a></span> +and, ever and anon, as they came, they shook a thousand gourds +which they had made to rattle with little pebbles, which, with their +huge drum, wrought of the mammoth gourd, and covered with +raw deer skin, made a clamor most astounding to our hapless +ears. Thus they hailed our vessel, making it appear as if they +intended to have fought us; but when they beheld how famishing +we lay before them, with scarcely strength and courage enough to +plead for mercy—speaking only through our dry and scalded eyes, +and by clasping our hard and weary hands together—then it +seemed as if they at once understood and felt for us; and they +drew nigh with their canoes, and lowered their weapons, and +darting with lithe sinews upon the sides of our leaning vessel, +they held gourds of water to our lips, which cheered us while we +swallowed, as with the sense of a fresh existence.</p> + +<p>“Thus were we rescued from the yawning deep. The savages +took us, with a rough kindness, from the wreck. They carried +us in their canoes to the shore; and several were the survivors, +as well women as men. They gave us food and +nourishment, and when we were refreshed and strengthened, they +separated us from our comrades, sharing us among our captors, +each according to his rank, his power, or his favor with his sovereign. +Seventeen of our poor Christians were thus scattered +among the tribes and over the territories of the king of Calos. +Some were kept in his household; but my hapless brother was +not among them. He was given to a chief of the far tribes of +the West, who made instant preparation to depart with him. +When they would have borne us apart, with a swift bound and a +common instinct, we buried ourselves in a mutual embrace. The +chiefs looked on with a laugh that made us shudder; while he to +whom my brother was given, with a savage growl, thrust his hands<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">- 227 -</a></span> +into the flowing locks of my brother, and hurled him away to the +grasp of those who stood in waiting for the captive. He struggled +once more to embrace me, and long after I could hear his cry—‘Brother, +brother, shall we see each other never more!’ They +heeded not his cries or struggles, or mine. They threw him to +the ground with violence, bound him hand and foot, with gyves of +the forest, and placing him in one of their great canoes, they sped +away with him along the shores, as they treaded to the mighty +West, where roll the great waters of the Mechachebe.</p> + +<p>“Thus was I separated from my only surviving kinsman; and +neither of us could tell the fate which was in waiting for the +other. Verily, then did I look to find the worst. I no longer +had a hope. It is my shame, as a Christian, that, in that desolate +moment, I ceased to have a fear. I not only expected death, +but I longed for it. I could have kissed the friendly hand that +had driven the heavy stone hatchet of the savage into my brain. +But, the Blessed Mother of God be praised, I thought not, in my +despair, to do violence to my own self. That sin was spared me +among my many sins, in that hour of despondency and woe; and +all my crime consisted in the criminal indifference which made +me too little heedful to preserve life. But this indifference lasted +not long. I was the captive of the king of Calos himself. Nine +others were kept by him including me, and among these was the +cruel tyrant upon whose head lay the blood of so many of the +wretched people of Mexico, Don Juan de Mores y Silva. He +was the tyrant no longer. All his strength and courage had departed +in his afflictions; and in the hour of our despair and terror, +he was feebler than the meanest among us; feebler of soul than +the girl whose heart beats with the dread that she cannot name, +fearfully, as that of the little bird which you cover with your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">- 228 -</a></span> +hand. We loathed him the worse for his miserable fear; and it +made us all more resolute in courage to see one so cast down with +his terrors, whom we had seen of late so insolent in his triumphs.</p> + +<p>“When the lots were determined, the king of Calos drew nigh to +examine us more heedfully. He had not before regarded us with +any consideration. Verily, he was a noble savage to the eye. +His person was tall, like one of the sons of Anak, and his carriage +was that of a great warrior, born a prince, to whom it was +natural equally to conquer and to rule. Rich were the garments +of flowing cotton which he wore loosely, like a robe, mostly white, +but with broad stains of crimson about the skirts and shoulders.</p> + +<p>“A great baldrick hung suspended at his back, which bore a +quiver, made of the skin of the rattle-snake, filled with arrows, +each shaft better than a cloth-yard’s length. The macana which +he carried in his grasp, was a mighty club of hard wood, close in +grain, and weighty as stone, which, save at the grasp or handle, +was studded with sharp blades of flint, which resembled it to the +mighty blade of the sword-fish. With this weapon mine eyes +have seen him smite down two powerful enemies at a single +stroke. Great was his forehead and high, and his cheek bones +stood forth like knots upon his face, as if the cheeks were +guarded by a shield. Black was his piercing eye, which grew +red and fiery when he was angered; and, at such seasons, it was +easier for him to smite than to speak. Unlike his people, he +wore the natural growth of his hair, long and flowing straight +adown his back, glossy with its original blackness, and with the +oil of the bear, of which, like all his people, the lord of Calos +made plentiful use. This king might be full forty years of age. +Yet looked he neither young nor old—neither so young that you +might not hold him the gravest and best counsellor of wisdom in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">- 229 -</a></span> +the land, nor so old, but that he might better and more ingeniously +lead in battle than any of his warriors. Certes, he was the most +ready first to march when the invasion of the distant tribes had +been resolved on; and, of a truth, never was statesman in the +great courts of Europe—not the counsellors of the great Carlos +himself—so cool in speculation, so just in judgment, so heedful to +consider all the advantages and all the risks of an enterprise, +before the first step was set down in the adoption of a policy. For +seven years had I sufficient means, in the immediate service of his +household, to watch the courses of his thoughts and character, and +to know the virtues and the strength thereof. I saw him devise +among his chiefs, and inform them with his own devices. I have +seen him lead in battle, when all the plans were his own, and it +was his equal teaching and valiancy by which the field was won. +Verily, I say that this lord of Calos were a prince to mate with +the best in Europe; and, but that we have in European warfare +such engines of mischief as come not within the use or knowledge +of his race, it were difficult to circumvent him in stratagem, or +overcome his braves in battle. With an hundred shot—no less—and +employing at the same time all the red-men as allies, who +are hostile to this king of Calos—and they are many—and I +doubt not Monsieur Laudonniere, but that you could penetrate +his dominions and make the conquest thereof. But of him could +you make no conquest. He is a warrior of the proudest stomach, +who would rather perish than lose the victory; and who, most +surely, would never survive the overthrow of his dominion.</p> + +<p>“Me, did this great king examine with more curious eyes +than he bestowed upon the other captives. I know not for what +reason, unless because of the superior size and strength which I +possess, and the extreme length and thickness of my beard and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">- 230 -</a></span> +hair, of which, as a Christian man, I have always made too much +account. All of us did he assign to labor; to the gathering of +wood, and work in the maize fields, with the women. By-and-by, +there came a preference for me beyond the others. I was +brought into the king’s household, and barbed his arrows, and +wrought upon his great macanas, and strove, among the Indians, +in hewing out his canoes from the cypress, first burning out the +greater core with fire. But when harvest time came, a great +festivity was held among the savages. Bitter roots were gathered +in the woods, and great vessels of the beverage which was made +thereof, was placed within the council or round-house of the nation. +Thither did the chiefs resort and drink; and ever as they drank +they danced, though the liquor wrought upon them like <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">aguardiente</i> +with the European, and moved them even as the most violent +of emetic medicines. Still danced they, and still they danced for +the space of three whole days.—But the lord of Calos seemed not +to mingle at this strange festival. He purposed rites still more +strange—rites, which even now, I think upon with horror only. +He had a dwelling to himself in the deep woods, whither he retired +the night before the day when the great feast of the nation +was to begin. Here he waited all the night, watching with reverence +and patience the burning of a strange fire which had been +wrought of many curious and fragrant herbs and roots. Three of +the ancient people, the priests or Iawas, as they style themselves, +retired with him to build this fire, which, when it began to burn, +placing in store a sufficient supply of aromatic fuel that he +might feed it still, they left him, with strange exorcising, to himself. +And there he kept watch throughout the night. But +early with the next morning he came forth, and he sprinkled the +ashes of the fire upon the maize field, and he cried thrice, with a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">- 231 -</a></span> +loud voice, of Yo-he-wah, which, I believe to mean the sacred +name as known among the red-men. With each cry, as our poor +Spaniards, myself among them, were gathering the green ears +from the maize stalks, the priests who followed the king of Calos, +seized bodily upon three of our brethren, taking us by surprise, +and putting us all in a quaking fear. These three were all +brought before the lord of Calos, who, not looking upon them +as they lay bound at his feet, threw yet another vessel of sacred +ashes into the air, and as these three Spaniards lay separate, with +their faces looking up, I beheld the ashes sink immediately upon +the breast of him whom I have already named to you—the Jonas +by whom our vessel was doomed to wreck—the cruel Don Juan +de Mores y Silva. Now, though the king surely looked not as he +threw the ashes into the air, yet did it descend upon the breast of +this said Spaniard, as certainly as if the eye and arm of this lord +had been upon this particular person at the moment when he +threw. Verily, though I know not well how it should be—being +counselled by Holy Church against such belief—yet, verily, had +this lord of Calos certain powers which did seem to justify the +saying among his people, that he was a master of magic and of +arts superior to those of common men.</p> + +<p>“Now, when the Iawas, or priests, beheld where the ashes +fell, they seized incontinently upon the Spaniard aforesaid. They +bore him away from us, wondering and fearing all the while. +But those who remained loosed the other two who had been +bound, and they were set free with the rest, to pursue their +labors in the corn-field. But we were not let to know the awful +fate which befel the Spaniard who was taken. Verily, he saw his +danger in the moment when the ashes lighted on his breast. His +face was whiter than the blossom of the dogwood when it first<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">- 232 -</a></span> +opens to the spring. His eye glared, and his lip quivered like a +leaf in the gusts of March, though nothing he spake at anything +they did to him. But when they bore him away from our eyes, +then a terrible fear and agony caused him to cry aloud—‘Oh! +my countrymen, will you not save me from the bloody savage!’ I +cannot soon forget that cry, which was clearly that of a person +who beholds his doom. But of what avail? We had not the +people, nor the strength, nor the weapons! A thousand savages +danced wildly around the council-house, and the fields were full of +these who came to drink and dance. Besides, we thought not of +any danger but our own. We knew not how soon the fate was +to befal us; for had it not seized upon Don Juan without a +warning or a sign.</p> + +<p>“They bore him to the secret tabernacle in the woods, where +the lord of Calos watched alone. We saw not then, but afterwards +we knew, what had been his fate. There they laid him +upon a great mound of earth, with the sacred fire burning at his +head in a large vessel of baked clay, formed with a nice art by +the savages, and painted with the mystic figure of a bloody hand. +The garments which he wore were taken off, and his limbs were +fastened separately to great stakes driven in places about the +mound. Thus were his hands and legs, his body and his very +neck made fast, so that whatever might be the deed done upon +him, he could oppose it not even in the smallest measure. But it +was permitted him to cry aloud—and those of us who stole into +the woods seeking to hear,—with a terrible curiosity which our +very apprehensions fed,—we heard,—we heard,—and even as the +awful scream of our late companion came piercing through the +woods upon our ears,—we fled afar from the sound, which was +that of a mortal agony and anguish. And, verily, the torture to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">- 233 -</a></span> +which he was doomed was that which might well compel the poor +outraged heart of humanity to cry aloud. With a keen knife, +and the hand of one who had practised long at the cruel rite, the +lord of Calos laid bare the breast of the victim, he not able to +struggle even,—only to shriek,—he laid it bare as one peels the +ripe fruit, and exposes the precious heart thereof! Even this did +the lord of Calos. He stripped the skin from the breast of his +victim, then, with sharp strokes, he smote away the flesh, until +the quaking ribs lay bare to his point. With a sharp stone chisel +he smote the breast-bone asunder, lifted the ribs, and tore away +the smoking heart, which he cast, reeking red, into the burning +fire of odorous woods and herbs, which then flamed up and +brightened in the dark chamber, as if fed with some ichorous +fuel. In that terrible agony, when the soul and the human life +were thus rudely torn apart from the mutual embrace, it was told +me by the lord of Calos, himself, that the victim burst one of the +wythes that bound him, and freed his right hand, which he waved +violently thrice, even while his murderer was plucking his heart +away from its quivering fastenings! Oh! the horror, though for +a moment only, of that awful consciousness! Verily, my friends, +if the lord of Calos did possess a power of magic such as his people +affirm, verily, I say, he paid a terrible price to the eternal +hater of human souls, when he gat from him his perditious +privilege!</p> + +<p>“But the sufferings of that wretched victim, who then and thus +perished, were they greater than those which followed our footsteps,—we, +the survivors,—haunting us by night and day, with +the mortal terrors of a fear that such must be our doom also? +Every rustle of an approaching footstep among the maize-stalks +where we toiled, breaking the stems and gathering the ripened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">- 234 -</a></span> +ears, seemed to our woe-stricken souls, as the step of one who +came as an executioner; while we labored in the gloomy thicket, +gathering fuel for the winter fires, the same fear was hanging over +us with a threat of the impending doom. We lived and slept in +a continual dread of death, which made the hair whiten on every +brow, even of the youngest, before that terrible winter was gone +over.</p> + +<p>“To us it was assigned to put away the body of our murdered +comrade. But this was only after the three days of the feast was +elapsed, and when the duty was tenfold distressing. Still, though +all our senses revolted at the task, a fearful curiosity compelled a +close examination of the victim. Then it was that we saw how +the execution had been done, though we knew not then, nor until +some time after, that the cell which enshrined and kept the heart +had been torn open, and the sacred possession wrenched away with +violent hands, even while the wretched victim had eyes to see, as +well as sensibilities to feel, the sacrilegious and bloody theft. We +bore the body far into the woods, wrapping it with leaves so as to +hide it from our eyes, while we carried it in the bottom of an old +canoe which we found for this purpose. Our burial was conducted +after the fashion of the red-men. We laid the corse of our comrade +upon a bed of leaves on the naked earth, and laid heavy fragments +of pine and other combustible wood about him. With this +we made a great pile, which we set on fire, and let to burn until +everything was consumed. We then, with sad, sorrowing, and +trembling hearts, returned, each one of us, in a mournful silence +that wist not what to say, to our separate tasks, and the places +which had been assigned us.</p> + +<p>“Now, many months had passed in this manner, and still I +was employed about the king’s household. This lord of Calos<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">- 235 -</a></span> +distinguished me, as I have said, beyond my comrades. I had +a great vigor of limb which is not common among this people, +except in so much as it moves them to great agility. They are +rather light, swift and expert, than powerful in war; and trust +rather to great cunning than superior strength, in the meeting +with their enemies. The king of Calos greatly admired to see me +lift heavy logs of timber, such as would have borne down any +among his people if laid upon his shoulders. But he himself had +a strength superior to his people, and he wondered even more +when, striving to lift the logs which I laid down, he found it beyond +his mastery. Then, he put his bow into my hand, and +giving me a cloth-yard shaft of reed, well tipped with a flinty +barb, and dressed with an eagle’s feather, he bade me draw it to +the head, and send it as I would. Upon which, doing so, he +greatly wondered to see how rapid and distant was the flight, for +well he knew that the ability to shoot the arrow far comes rather +from sleight than from strength, and is an art that only grows +from practice. But this, perhaps, had not fully given me to the +confidence of the king, had it not been for a service which I rendered +on one occasion to his favorite son, a boy of but twelve +years of age, whom I plucked from beneath the feet of a great +stag, which the hunters had wounded in the forest. The red-men +greatly delight to see their sons take part in the chase, even while +their gristle is yet soft and their limbs feeble; for by this early +practice they desired to make them strong and skilful. The son +of the lord of Calos was a youth, tall and strong beyond his +years; and because of the fondness of his father, exceedingly +audacious in all manner of sports and strifes. Thus it was that, +having seen a great stag wounded by the shaft of his sire, he had +run in upon him with his slender spear. The staff of the spear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">- 236 -</a></span> +broke, even as the barb penetrated the breast of the beast, and +the boy fell forward at the mercy of his mighty antlers. Then +was it that, seeing the lad’s danger,—for I was at hand, bearing +the victuals for the hunters—I threw down the basket, and rushing +in, took the stag by his horns, in season for the lad to recover +himself. The lord of Calos drew nigh and saw, but he offered no +help, leaving it to his son to draw the keen knife which he carried, +over the throat of the struggling beast. And, excepting what the +boy said to me of thanks, nothing did I hear of the thing which I +had done. But, three weeks after, the king made his preparations, +for a war party against the mountain Indians. Then he spoke to +me, saying, in his own language,—which, by this time, I could +understand,—Barbu,—this was the name which had been given +me because of my beard—Barbu, it is not fit that one with such +limbs and skill as thou hast, should labor still in the occupation of +the women. Get thee a spear, such as will suit thy grasp, and +there are bows and arrows for thy choice,—make thee satisfied +with sufficient provision, and get thee ready to go against mine +enemies. Thou shalt have to tear the flesh of a strong man!</p> + +<p>“Verily, my friends, though it shames me to confess, that I, a +Christian man, could lift weapon in behalf of one against another +savage of the wilderness; yet such had been my sorrow, and so +wretched did I feel at the base tasks to which I had been given,—so +very unlike the valiant duties which had distinguished mine +ancient service in the armies of Castile,—that I even rejoiced at +the chance of putting on the armor of war,—and the meaner +weapon of the red-men satisfied me then, who of old had carried, +with great favor, the matchlock and the sword. But the weapon +of the savage, as perchance thou knowest, is not greatly inferior, +according to their usage, and in their country, to the superior implements<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">- 237 -</a></span> +with which the Christian warrior takes the field. If the +arquebuse is more fatal than the barbed arrow of the Indian, it is +yet less frequently ready for the danger. While you shall have +put your pieces in readiness for a second fire, the savage will +deliver thirty javelins, each of which, if within bullet reach, +shall inflict such an injury, short of death, as may disarm the +wounded person. Their reeds are always ready at hand. To +them every bay and river bank affords an armory, and the loss +of their weapons, which were fatal to Frenchman or Spaniard, +causes them but little mischief, since a single night will repair all +their losses. Neither much time nor much cost is it to them to +supply their munitions, of which they can always carry a more +abundant provision than can we. The great superiority of the +European, in his encounter with the red-man, is in his wisdom, +the fruit of many ages of civilization, and not in the weapons +which he wields in conflict. Let him exchange weapons with the +savage, and he will still obtain the victory.</p> + +<p>“It was because of this showing of superiority, together with +the service which I had thus rendered to his son, that made the +lord of Calos take me with him, armed as a warrior, on his expedition +against the mountain Indians of Apalachy. I hastened +to provide myself with weapons, as I was commanded, and I made +for myself a great mace, such as that which the strongest warriors +carried, which was a billet of hard wood, not more than four feet +in length, with a handle easy to the grasp, while at each side ran +down a great row of flinty teeth, each broad and sharpened like +to a spear-head. It is a fatal weapon, with a well-delivered blow. +In like manner did I imitate the practice of the red-men in dressing +the head and breast for war. I put on the paints, red and +black, which I beheld them use; but, instead of the unmeaning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">- 238 -</a></span> +and rude figures which they scored upon the breast, I drew there +the figure of a large cross, by which, though none but myself +might know, I made anew my assurance to Holy Mother, of a +faith unperishing, in Him who bore its burthen; and implored His +protection against the perils which might lurk along the path. In +the same manner, with a bloody cross, did I inscribe my forehead +and each cheek, while I dipped my hands above the wrist in the +black dyes which they also used as paints, and which they took +from the walnut and other woods of the forest. Greatly did my +Christian comrades wonder to behold me, painted after this +fashion, with a bunch of turkey feathers tied about my head like +the savage, and the strange weapons of the red-men in my +grasp. These rejoiced exceedingly as they beheld me, and +laughed and chatted among themselves, saying—‘Yah-hee-wee! +Yah-hee-wee!’ with other words, by which they testified their +satisfaction. But our Spaniards were in the same degree sorry, +as it seemed to them that, in spite of the holy emblem upon my +breast, I had delivered myself up to the enemy, and had put on, +with the habit, all the superstitions of the Heathen. They had +sorrow upon other grounds, since I was about to leave them, and, +from the favor I had found with the lord of Calos, I had grown to +be one to whom they began to look as to a mediator and protector.</p> + +<p>“We set out thus for the country of the enemy, the lord of +Calos leading the way upon the march, as is the custom with the +Indians, while the foe is yet at a distance from the spot. But, as +we drew nigh to the hills of the Apalachian, the young men were +scattered on every hand, as so many light troops. They covered +all the paths, they harbored in all places where they could maintain +watch and find security, and nightly they sent in runners to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">- 239 -</a></span> +the camp, reporting their discoveries. I entreated of the lord of +Calos to be sent with these young men; but, whether he feared +that I would seek an opportunity to fly and escape to the enemy, +I know not. He refused, saying that it required scouts of experience,—men +who knew the ways of the country, and that I +could be of no use in such adventures. He was pleased to add +that he wished me near him, as one of his own warriors—that is, +the warriors of his family or tribe—that I might do battle at his +side, and in his sight!</p> + +<p>“We were not long in finding the enemy, who had received +tidings of our approach. Several battles were fought, in which +I did myself credit in the eyes of our warriors. The lord of Calos +was greatly pleased. He took me with him into counsel, and it +was fortunate that the advice which I gave, as to the conduct of +the war, was adopted, and was greatly successful. Many were +the warriors of the mountain whom we slew. Many scalps were +taken, and more than a hundred captive boys and damsels. +These, if young, are always spared, and taken into the conquering +tribe. The former are newly marked with the totem of the people +who take them, while the latter become the wives of the +chiefs, who greatly value them. I confess to you, my brethren, +that I was guilty of the sin of taking one of these same women +into my cabin, who was to me as a wife, though no holy priest, +with appointed ceremonials of the church, gave his sanction to our +communion. She was a lovely and a loving creature, scarcely +sixteen, but very fair, almost like a Spaniard, and of hair so long +that she hath thrice wrapt it around her own neck and mine.”</p> + +<p>“Why didst thou not tell me of that woman?” said Laudonniere, +interrupting the narrator. “Had we known, she should +have been procured with thee. But, even now, it is not too late.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">- 240 -</a></span> +We will bid the chief, Onathaqua, send her after thee, so that +thou may’st wed her according to the rites of the church.”</p> + +<p>“Alas!” replied Barbu, “thou compellest me, Señor Laudonniere, +to unravel sin after sin before thee. I have greatly +erred and wandered from the paths of virtue, and from the laws +of Holy Church, in my grievous sojourn among the savages. +That woman filled no longer the place which she had at first in +my affections. With increase of power and security, I grew +wanton. I grew weary of her, and sold her to one of the chiefs +for a damsel of his own house, which mine eyes coveted.”</p> + +<p>The Spaniard hung his head as he made this confession, while +Laudonniere with severe aspect rated him for his lecheries. +When the captain had ceased his rebuke, Le Barbu continued his +story thus:</p> + +<p>“We gained many battles in this war with the mountain Indians, +who are neither so fierce, nor so subtle as those who dwell along +the regions of the sea. Verily, the people of the lord of Calos +are great dissemblers, treacherous beyond the serpent, valiant of +their persons, and fight with excellent address. Great was the +favor which I found with them because of my conduct in the war; +and, in each succeeding war, for a space of six years, I became, +in like manner, distinguished, until I became a most favorite +chief with the lord of Calos, and a bosom friend and companion +of his son—he whom I had rescued from the stag, and who had +now grown up to manhood. Greatly did this lad favor his father. +He was of a light olive complexion, scarcely more dark than the +people of Spanish race, but superior in stature, well-limbed, and +of admirable dexterity. With him I hunted from the fall of the +leaf in autumn, to the budding of the leaf again in spring; and, +when the summer time came, we sped away in our canoes, up the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">- 241 -</a></span> +vast rivers of the country, through great lakes, many of which +lie embadey in forests of mangrove and palm, where the forest +swims upon the water. If it were possible for a Christian man—for +one who has heard the sound of a great bell in the cities of +the old world, and who has communed with the various good and +wondrous things of civilization—to be content with a loss of these, +and their utter exclusion from sight for ever, then might I have +passed pleasantly the years of my captivity among the people of +Calos. I had become a chief and was greatly honored. I had +power and I was much feared. I had wealth—such wealth as +the savage estimates—and I was loved; and the lord of Calos and +his noble son, put in me a faith which never betrayed a doubt or +a denial. But I had not power to shield my brother Christians, +save in one case. Each year witnessed the sacrifice of a comrade. +They were the victims to the Iawas. The priesthood +was a power under which the kings themselves were made to +tremble. With them was it to determine upon peace or war, +life or death, bonds or freedom; and the strength of the king lay +greatly in his alliance with the priesthood. But for this, the rule +among the savage nations would be wholly with the people. +Season after season, when came the harvest, one of our luckless +Spaniards was taken away from the rest and doomed to the +sacrifice. In this way the savages propitiate the unknown God, +to whom they looked for victory over their enemies. Do not suppose +that I beheld this cruelty without toiling against it. But I +spoke in vain. I made angry the Iawas, until the lord of Calos +himself addressed me, after this fashion—‘Son of the stranger, +art thou not well thyself? Why wouldst thou be sick, being +well? Art thou not thyself safe? Why, being so, put thy +head under the macana? It is not wise in thee to <em>see</em> the things<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">- 242 -</a></span> +over which the power is denied thee. Go then, with Mico +Wa-ha-la,’—such was the name of his son—‘go then with him +into the great lake of the forest, and come not back for a season. +Depart thou thus, always, when the maize is ready for the harvest.’</p> + +<p>“I obeyed him; but not until I found that I was endangering +my own safety to attempt further expostulation; and then it was +that my companions perished, all save the one who now sits before +thee with myself, and whom I saved because of a service +which I rendered to the Iawa, and whom I persuaded to take my +white brother into his wigwam. He went, even before myself, +but through my means, into the service of Onathaqua.”</p> + +<p>Here Captain Laudonniere interrupted the speaker.</p> + +<p>“For what reason,” said he, “being such a favorite with the +king of Calos and his son, didst thou at last leave his service +for that of the King Onathaqua?”</p> + +<p>“Alas, Señor Laudonniere, thy question shames me again, +since it requires of me to lay bare another of the vices of my +evil heart, and to confess how the bad passions thereof could +lead me into follies which proved fatal to my better fortune. I +had gained great honor among the savages by my prudence and +my skill in war, my strength in battle, and the excellence of my +counsel in the country of the enemy. I had gained the good will +and protection of the great king of Calos, and the affection of +his son, the noble young Mico Wa-ha-la! But these contented +me nothing, though they brought plenty and security to my +wigwam, and such delights as might satisfy the man, a dweller in +the wilderness. I have said that I was greatly trusted by the +king, the prince, and the head men of the country. These then, +after I had been eight years in their service, confided to my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">- 243 -</a></span> +charge a great and sacred commission. The time had come +when it became proper that this Mico Wa-ha-la should take to +himself a wife. Now, tidings had reached Calos of a creature, +lovely as a daughter of the sun, who was the youngest child of +the King Onathaqua. A treaty was agreed upon between the +two kings for the marriage of their children; and I was dispatched, +with a select body of warriors, to bring the maiden +home to her new sovereign. It was not the custom for a chief +desiring a wife, that he should seek her in person. Accordingly<!--was Acccordingly--> +I was dispatched, and I reached the territories of Onathaqua in +safety. Here I beheld the maiden in pursuit of whom I came, +and my froward heart instantly conceived the wildest affection for +her beauty. Beautiful she was as any of our Castilian maidens, +and as delicate and modestly proper in her bearing, as one may +see in the gentlest damsel of a Christian country. Deeply was I +smitten with this new flame, and greatly did I strive to please +the maiden who had fired me with these fresh fancies. I spake +with her in the Indian language, with charms of thought which +had been taken from the Castilian, such as were vastly superior +to those which belonged to Indian courtship. I sang to her many +a glorious ballad of the sweet romance of my country, discoursing +of the tender loves between the Castilian cavaliers and the +dark-eyed and dark-tressed maidens of Grenada. Verily, the +beauty of the delicate daughter of Onathaqua, the precious +Istakalina—by which the people of Onathaqua understand the +white lily of the lake before it opens—was no unbecoming representative +of that choice dark beauty which made the charm of +the Moorish damsel of my land, ere Boabdil gave up his sceptre +into the hands of the holy Ferdinand. For Istakalina, I rendered +the language of the Castilian romance into the dialect of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">- 244 -</a></span> +her people; and with a sad fondness in her eyes, that drooped +ever while looking upwards at the passionate gaze of mine, did +she listen to the story of feelings and affections to which her own +young and innocent nature did now tenderly incline. Thus was +it that she was delivered into my keeping by her sire, that I +should conduct her to the young Mico Wa-ha-la, my friend. +And thus, with fond discourse of song and story, which grew +more fond with every passing hour—with me to speak and she to +listen—did we commence our journey homeward to the dominions +of the lord of Calos. Alas! for me, and alas! for the hapless +maiden, that, in the fondness of my passion, I forgot my trust; +forgot preciously to guard and protect the precious treasure in +my keeping; and, in the increase of my blind love, forgot all the +lessons of war and wisdom, and all the necessary providence +which these equally demand. Thus was it that I was dispossessed +of my charge, at the very moment when it was most dear +to my delight. Didst thou ask me for the hope which grew with +this blind passion, verily, señor, I should have to say to thee that +I had none. I thought not of the morrow; I dared not think of +the time when Istakalina should fill the cabin of Wa-ha-la. I +knew nothing but that she was with me, with her dark eyes ever +glistening beneath their darker lids, as she met the burning +speech of mine; that we thridded the sinuous paths of silent and +shady forests, with none to reproach our speech or glances; our +attendants, some of them going on before, and some following; +and that, when she ascended the litter, which was borne by four +stout savages, or sat in the canoe as we sped across lake or +river—for both of these modes of travel did we at times pursue—I +was still the nearest to her side, drunk with her sweet beauty, +and the sad tenderness which dwelt in all her looks and actions.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">- 245 -</a></span> +Nor was it less my madness that I fondly set to the account of +her fondness for me, the very sadness with which she answered +my looks, and the sweet sigh which rose so often to her softly +parted lips. Verily, was never man and Christian so false and +foolish as was I, in those bitter blessed moments. Thus was I +blinded to all caution—thus was I heedless of all danger—thus +was I caught in the snare, to the loss of all that was precious as +well to my captor as myself.”</p> + +<p>“How was this? How happened it?” demanded Laudonniere +as Le Barbu paused, and covered his face with his hands in +silence, as if overcome with a great misery.</p> + +<p>“Thou shalt hear, Señor. I will keep nothing from thee of +this sad confession; for, verily, have I long since repented of +the sin and folly which brought after them so much evil. Thou +shalt know that, distant from the territories of the lord of Calos, +a journey of some three days, and nearly that far distant also +from the dwelling of Onathaqua, there lieth a great lake of fresh +water, in the midst of which is an island named Sarropee. This +island and the country which surrounds the lake, is kept by a +very powerful nation, a fierce people, not so numerous as strong, +because they have places of retreat and refuge, whither no enemy +dare pursue them. On the firm land, and in open conflict, the +lord of Calos had long before conquered this strange people; +but in their secure harborage and vast water thickets, they +mocked at the power of all the surrounding kings. These, +accordingly, kept with them a general peace, which was seldom +broken, except under circumstances such as those which I shall +now unfold. The people of this lake and island are rich in the +precious root called the <i>Coonti</i>, of which they have an abundance, +of a quality far superior to that of all the neighboring country.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">- 246 -</a></span> +Their dates, which give forth a delicious honey, are in great +abundance also, and of these their traffic is large with all other +nations. But that they are a most valiant people, and occupy a +territory so troublesome to penetrate, they had been destroyed by +other nations, all of whom are greedy for the rich productions +which their watery realm bestows. Now, it was, that, in our +journey homewards, we drew nigh to the great lake of the people +of the isle of Sarropee. Here it was that my discretion failed me +in my passion. Here it was that my footstep faltered, and the +vision of mine eyes was completely shut. I knew that our people +were at peace with the people of Sarropee, and I thought not of +them. But had I not been counselled to vigilance in bringing +home the daughter of Onathaqua, even as if the woods were +thick with enemies? But I had forgotten this caution. I sent +forth no spies; I sought for no wisdom from my young warriors; +and, like an ignorant child that knows not of the deep gulf +beneath, I stepped confidently into the little canoe which was to +take Istakalina and myself across an arm of the lake which set +inwards, while our warriors fetched a long compass around it. +Alas! señor, I was beguiled to this folly by the fond desire that I +might have the lovely maiden wholly to myself in the little canoe, +for already did I begin to grieve with the thought that in a few +days, the journey would be at an end, and I should then yield her +unto the embraces of another. And thus we entered the canoe. +I made for her a couch, in the bottom of the little boat, of leaves +gathered from the scented myrtle. With the paddle in my +hand, I began to urge the vessel, but very slowly, lest that we +should too soon reach the shore, and find the warriors waiting for +us. Sweetly did I strive to discourse in her listening ears; and +with what dear delight did I behold her as she answered me only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">- 247 -</a></span> +with her tears. But these were as the cherished drops of hope +about mine heart, which gave it a life which it never knew before. +While thus we sped, dreaming nothing of any danger, over the +placid waters, with the dark green mangrove about us, and a soft +breeze playing on the surface of the great lake, suddenly, from +out the palm bushes, darted a cloud of boats, filled with painted +warriors, that bore down upon us with shows of fury and a +mighty shout of war. I answered them with a shout, not unlike +their own, for already had I imbibed something of the Indian +nature. I shouted the war-whoop of the lord of Calos, and +tried to make myself heard by the distant warriors that formed +my escort. And they did hear my clamors; for already had they +rounded the bayou or arm of the lake which I had sought to +cross, and were pressing down towards us upon the opposite banks. +Then did I bestir the paddle in my grasp, making rapid progress +for the shore, while the canoes of the Sarropee strove to dart +between us and the place for which I bent. But what could my +single paddle avail against their better equipment? Theirs +were canoes of war, carrying each more than a score of powerful +warriors armed for action, and prepared to peril their lives in +the prosecution of their object. I, too, was armed as an Indian +warrior, and with their approach, I betook me to my weapon. I +had learned to throw the short lance, or the javelin of the +savage, with a dexterity like his own; and, ere they could approach +me, I had fatally struck with these darts two of their +most valiant warriors. They strove not to return the arrows +lest they should hurt the maiden, Istakalina, who had raised herself +at the first danger, and now strove with the paddle which I +had thrown down. As one of the canoes which threatened us +drew nigh, I seized the great macana which I carried, and prepared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">- 248 -</a></span> +myself to use it upon the most forward warriors; but when +I expected that they would assail me with war-club and spear, +the cunning savages thrust their great prow against our little +boat, amidships, and even while my macana lighted on the head +of one of the assailants, smiting him fatally, I fell over into the +lake with the upsetting of our vessel. In a moment had they +grasped Istakalina from the lake, and taken her to themselves in +their own canoe, and as I raised my head from the water, beholding +this mishap, a heavy stroke upon my shoulder, which +narrowly missed my head, warned me of my danger. Then, +seeing that I could no longer save the captive maiden, I dived +deeply under, making my way like an otter, beneath the water, +for the shore. A flight of arrows followed my rising to take the +air, but they were hurriedly delivered, with little aim, and only +one of them grazed my cheek. The mark is still here as thou +seest. Again I dived beneath the water, still swimming shoreward, +and when I next rose into the light and air, I was among +the people of the lord of Calos. They were now assembled along +the banks of the lake, as near as they could go to the enemy, +some of them, indeed, having waded waist deep in their wild fury +and desperate defiance. But of what avail were their weapons +or their rage? The maiden, Istakalina, the princess and the +betrothed of Wa-ha-la, was gone. The people of the Sarropee +had borne her off, heeding me little even as they had taken her. +She was already far off, moving towards the centre of the lake, +and faint were the cries which now came from her, though it +delighted my poor vain heart, in that desperate hour, to perceive +that, in her last cries, it was my unhappy name that she uttered. +They bore her away to the secret island where they dwelt, in +secure fastnesses; and long and fruitless, though full of desperation,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">- 249 -</a></span> +was the war that followed for her recovery. But, though I +myself fought in this war, as I never have fought before, yet did +I not dare to do battle under the eye, or among the warriors of +the lord of Calos. I fled from his sight and from the reproaches +of my friend, the Mico Wa-ha-la, for, in my soul, I felt how +deep had been my guilt, and my conscience did not dare the +encounter with their eyes. I took refuge with Onathaqua, the +father of Istakalina; and when he knew of the valor with which +I strove against the captivity of the maiden, he forgave me +that I lost her through my own imprudence. Of the blind and +selfish passion which prompted that imprudence, he did not +dream, and he so forgave me. Under his lead, I took up arms +against the tribes of Sarropee, and for two years did the war +continue, with great slaughter and distress among the several +nations. But, in all our battles, I kept ever on the northern side of +the great lake, and never allowed myself to join with the warriors +of Calos. They but too well conceived my guilt. The keen +eyes of mine escort distinguished my passion, and saw that it was +not ungracious in the sight of Istakalina. Too truly did they +report us to the lord of Calos, and to my friend, the young Mico +Wa-ha-la. Bitter was the reproach which he made me in a last +gift which he sent me, while I dwelt with Onathaqua. It consisted +of a single arrow, from which depended a snake skin, with +the warning rattles still hanging thereto. ‘Say to the bearded +man,’ said the Mico, ‘when you give him this, that it comes from +Wa-ha-la. Tell him that his friend sends him this, in token that +he knows how much he hath been wronged. Say to the bearded +man, that Wa-ha-la had but one flower of the forest, and that +his friend hath gathered it. Let his friend beware the arrow of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">- 250 -</a></span> +the warrior, and the deadly fang of the war-rattle, for the path +between us is everywhere sown with the darts of death.’</p> + +<p>“Thus he spake, and I was silent. I was guilty. I could +not excuse myself, and did not entreat. I felt the truth of +his complaint and the justice of his anger. I felt how great had +been my folly and my crime. Istakalina was lost to us both. +Thus then, a fugitive, and an outlaw from Calos, dreading every +moment the vengeance of Wa-ha-la and his warriors, I dwelt +for seven years with Onathaqua, who hath ever treated me as a +son. I have fought among his warriors, and shared the fortunes +of his people, of which nothing more need be said. Tidings at +length came to me, of a people in the country bearded like +myself. Then came your messengers to Onathaqua, and you +behold me here. I looked not for Frenchmen but for Spaniards. +I thank and praise the Blessed Mother of God, that I have found +friends if not countrymen, and that I see, once more, the faces +of a Christian people.”</p> + +<p>Thus ended the narrative of Le Barbu, or the Bearded Man +of Calos.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">- 251 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XVIII" id="XVIII">XVIII.</a><br /> +HISTORICAL SUMMARY.</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">We</span> have already mentioned that, with the restoration of +Laudonniere to power, and the complete subjection of his +mutineers, he resumed by degrees his projects of exploration and +discovery. Among other places to which he sent his barks, was +the territory of King Audusta, occupying that region in which +Fort Charles had been erected by Ribault, in the first attempt to +colonize in the country. To Audusta, himself, were sent two suits +of apparel, with knives, hatchets and other trifles; “the better,” +as Laudonniere says, “to insinuate myselfe into his friendship.” +To render this hope more plausible, “I sent in the barke, with +Captaine Vasseur, a souldier called Aimon, which was one of those +which returned home in the first voyage, hoping that King +Audusta might remember him.” This Aimon was instructed to +inquire after another soldier named Rouffi, who, it appears, had +preferred remaining in the country, when it had been abandoned +by the colonists under Nicolas Barré.</p> + +<p>Audusta received his visitors with great favor,—sent back to +Laudonniere a large supply of “mil, with a certaine quantity of +beanes, two stagges, some skinnes painted after their manner, and +certaine pearles of small value, because they were burnt.” The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">- 252 -</a></span> +old chief invited the Frenchmen once more to remove and plant +in his territories. He proffered to give him a great country, and +would always supply him with a sufficient quantity of grain. +Audusta had known the Frenchmen almost entirely by benefits +and good fellowship. The period of this visit to Audusta, which +was probably in the month of December, is distinguished in the +chronicle of Laudonniere, by expressions of delightful surprise at +the number of stock doves (wild pigeons) which came about the +garrison—“in so greate number, that, for the space of seven +weekes together,” they “killed with harquebush shot at least two +hundred every day.” This was good feeding. On the return of +Capt. Vasseur from his visit to Audusta, he was sent with a present +“unto the widow of Kinge Hiocaia, whose dwelling was +distant from our fort about twelve leagues northward. She +courteously received our men, sent me backe my barkes, full of +mil and acornes, with certaine baskets full of the leaves of +cassine, wherewith they make their drinke. And the place where +this widow dwelleth, is the most plentifull of mil that is in all the +coast, and the most pleasante. It is thought that the queene is +the most beautiful<!--was beautifull--> of all the Indians, and of whom they make the +most account: yea, and her subjects honour her so much that +almost continually they beare her on their shoulders, and will not +suffer her to go on foot.”</p> + +<p>The visit of Laudonniere, through his lieutenant, was returned, +in a few days, by the beautiful widow, through her Hiatiqui, +“which is as much as to say, her Interpreter.”</p> + +<p>Laudonniere continued his explorations, still seeking provisions, +and with the view to keeping his people from that idleness which +hitherto had caused such injurious discontents in his garrison. +His barks were sent up May River, to discover its sources, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">- 253 -</a></span> +make the acquaintance of the tribes by which its borders were occupied. +Thirty leagues beyond the place called Mathiaqua, +“they discovered the entrance of a lake, upon the one side +whereof no land can be seene, according to the report of the +Indians, which had oftentimes climbed on the highest trees in the +country to see land, and notwithstanding could not discerne any.”</p> + +<p>These few sentences may assist in enabling the present occupants +of the St. John’s to establish the location along that +river, at the period of which we write. The ignorance of the +Indians in regard to the country opposite, along the lake, +indicates equally the presence of numerous tribes, and the absence +of much adventure or enterprise among them—results that would +seem equally to flow from the productive fertility of the soil, and +the abundance of the game in the country. With this account of +it as a <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">terra incognita</i>, the explorers ceased to advance. In returning, +they paid a visit to the island of Edelano—one of those +names of the Indians, which harbors in the ear with a musical +sweetness which commends it to continued utterance. We should +do well to employ it now in connection with some island spot of +rare beauty in the same region.</p> + +<p>This island of Edelano is “situated in the midst of the river; +as fair a place as any that may be seene thorow the world; for, +in the space of some three leagues that it may containe, in length +and breadth, a man may see an exceedingly rich countrey and +marvellously peopled. At the coming out of the village of +Edelano, to goe unto the river side, a man must passe thorow an +alley about three hundred paces long and fifty paces broad; on +both sides whereof great trees are planted, the boughes whereof +are tied [blended?] together like an arch, and meet together so +artificially [as if done by art] that a man would thinke it were an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">- 254 -</a></span> +arbour made of purpose, as faire, I say, as any in all Christendom, +although it be altogether naturall.”</p> + +<p>Leaving the island of Edelano, thus equally famous for its +beauties of nature and name, our voyagers proceeded “to +Eneguape, then to Chilily, from thence to Patica, and lastly they +came unto Coya.” This place seems to have been, at this period, +one of the habitations of the powerful king Olata Utina. In the +name Olata, we find an affix such as is common to the Seminoles +and Creeks of the present day. <i>Holata</i>, as we now write the +word, is evidently the Olata of Laudonniere. It was probably a +title rather than a name.<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> Olata Utina received his visitors with +great favor, as he had always done before; and six of them were +persuaded to remain with him, in order the better to see the +country, while their companions returned to La Caroline. Some +of these remained with the Indian monarch more than two months. +One of them, named Groutald, a gentleman who had taken great +pains in this exploration, reported to Laudonniere that he had +never seen a fairer country. “Among other things, he reported +to me that he had seene a place, named Hostaqua, and that the +king thereof was so mighty, that he was able to bring three or four +thousand savages into the field.” Of this king we have heard +before. It was the counsel of Monsieur Groutald to Laudonniere +that he should unite in a league with this king, and by this means +reduce the whole country into subjection. “Besides, that this +king knew the passages unto the mountaine of Apalatci, which +the Frenchmen desired so greatly to attaine unto, and where the +enemy of Hostaqua made his abode, which was easie to be subdued, +if so be wee would enter into league together.” Hostaqua<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">- 255 -</a></span> +sent to Laudonniere “a plate of a minerall that came out of this +mountaine,—out of the foote whereof”—such was the glowing +account given by the Indian monarch—“there runneth a streame +of golde or copper.” The process by which the red-men obtain +the pure treasures of this golden stream was an exceedingly +primitive one, and reminds us of the simple process of gathering +golden sands in California. “They dig up the sand with an +hollow and drie cane of reed, until the cane be full; afterward +they shake it, and find that there are many small graines of +copper and silver among this sand; which giveth them to understand +that some rich mine must needs be in the mountaine.” +Laudonniere is greatly impressed by this intelligence, “and +because the mountaine was not past five or six days journey from +our fort, lying towards the north-west, I determined, as soone as +our supply should come out of France, to remove our habitation +unto some river more towards the north, that I might be nearer +thereunto.”</p> + +<p>An incident, which occurred about this time, still further increased +the appetites of Laudonniere. He had suffered, and +indeed sent, certain favorite soldiers to go into several parts of +the country, among the savage tribes with whom he kept terms of +amnesty and favor, in order that they should acquire as well a +knowledge of the Indian language as of the country. One of +these was named Peter Gambier. This man had rambled +somewhat farther than his comrades. He had shared in all the +more adventurous expeditions of the Indians, and had succeeded +in gathering a considerable quantity of gold and silver, all of +which was understood to have been directly or indirectly from the +Indians, who dwelt at the foot of the Apalachian Mountains. +These were tribes of the Cherokee nation, with whom the Indian<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">- 256 -</a></span> +nations along the sea-board were perpetually at war. Full of +news, and burdened with his treasure, Peter Gambier prepared to +return to La Caroline. He had made his way in safety until he +reached the beautiful island with the beautiful name, Edelano, +lying in the midst of but high up May River. On the same +stream which was occupied by his countrymen, in force, the +thoughtless soldier conceived himself to be quite safe. He was +hospitably entertained by the chief or king of Edelano, and a +canoe was accorded him, with two companions, with whom to +descend the river to the fort. But the improvident Frenchman, +allowed his precious treasures to glitter in the eyes of his host. +He had not merely gold and silver, but he had been stocked with +such European merchandises as were supposed most likely to +tempt the savages to barter. A portion of this stock remained +in his possession. The natural beauties of the island which they +occupied had not softened the hearts of the savages with any just +sense of humanity. They were as sensible to the <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">auri sacra +fames</i> as were the Europeans, and just as little scrupulous, we +shame to say it, in gratifying their appetites as their pale-faced +visitors. The possessions of the Frenchmen were sufficient to +render the Mico of Edelano indifferent to all considerations of +hospitality, and the two Indians whom he lent to Gambier were +commissioned to take his life. Thus, accompanied by his assassins, +he entered the canoe, and they were in progress down the +river, when, as the Frenchman stooped over some fish which he +was seething in the boat, the red-men seized the opportunity to +brain him with their stone hatchets, and possess themselves of +his treasures. When the tidings came to Laudonniere, he was +not in a situation to revenge the crime; but the large acquisitions +of gold and silver procured by his soldier, as reported to him,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">- 257 -</a></span> +confirmed him in his anxiety to penetrate these tantalizing +realms, in which the rivers ran with such glittering abundance +from rocks whose caverns promised to outvie all that Arabian +story had ever fabled of the magical treasures of Aladdin.</p> + +<p>Scarcely had this event taken place, when the war was renewed +between Olata Utina and Potanou. The former applied for +assistance to Laudonniere, who, adopting the policy of the +“Spaniards, when they were imployed in their conquests, who +did alwayes enter into alliance with some one king to ruine +another,” readily sent him thirty arquebusiers, under Lieutenant +Ottigny. These, with three hundred Indians, led by Utina, +penetrated the territories of Potanou, and had a severe fight, +which lasted for three hours, with the people of that potentate. +“Without doubt, Utina had been defeated, unlesse our harquebusiers +had borne the burthen and brunt of all the battell, and +slaine a great number of the soldiers of Potanou, upon which occasion +they were put to flight.” The lieutenant of the French +would have followed up the victory, but Utina, the Paracoussi, +had gathered laurels quite enough for a single day, and was +anxious to return home to show his scalps and enjoy his triumphs +among his people. His tribes and villages were assembled at his +return, and, for several days, nothing but feasts, songs and +dances, employed the nation. Ottigny returned to the fort, after +two days spent in this manner with Utina, and his return was +followed by visits from numerous other chiefs, nearer neighbors +than Utina, and enemies of that savage, who came to expostulate +with Laudonniere against his lending succor to a prince who was +equally faithless and selfish. They, on the other hand, entreated +him to unite with them in the destruction of one who was a common +enemy. This application had been made to him before;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">- 258 -</a></span> +but his policy had been rather to maintain terms of alliance, +offensive and defensive, with a powerful chieftain, at some little +distance, than to depend wholly upon others more near at hand. +This policy was again drawn from that of the Spaniard. He was +soon to be taught how little was the reliance which he could place +in any of the forest tribes. He was about to suffer from those +deficiencies and evils which were due to his anxious explorations +of the country, when his people had been much better employed +in the wholesome labors of the field, in the very eye of the +garrison.</p> + +<p>It was the custom of the Indian tribes, after the gathering and +storing away of their harvests, to commence hunting with the first +fall of the leaves, probably about the middle of September. The +chase, during this period, was seldom such as to carry them far +from the fields which they had watched during the summer. +Near at hand, for a season at least, the game was in sufficient +quantity to supply their wants. But, as the season advanced, +and towards the months of January, February and March, they +gradually passed into the deeper thickets, and disappeared from +their temporary habitations. During this period, they build up +new abodes, which are equally frail, in the regions to which they +go, and which are contiguous to the hunting-grounds which they +are about to penetrate. To these retreats the whole tribe retires; +and hither they carry all the commodities which are valuable in +their eyes. Their summer dwellings are thus as completely +stripped as if the region were abandoned forever.</p> + +<p>This removal, for which their previous experience should +sufficiently have prepared our Frenchmen, was yet destined to +have for them some very pernicious results. We have seen that +certain subsidies of corn and beans had been procured from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">- 259 -</a></span> +various tribes and nations; enough, according to Laudonniere, to +serve them until the arrival of expected succors from France. +But, calculating on these succors, and confident of their arrival +during the month of April, our Frenchmen had become profligate +of their stores. April found them straitened for provisions, and +not an Indian could be seen. April passed slowly and brought no +succor. With the month of May the Indians had returned to their +former abodes; but, by this time, their remaining stock of grain +had mostly found its way into the ground, in the setting of another +crop. From the savages, accordingly, nothing but scanty +supplies of fish could be procured, without which, says Laudonniere, +“assuredly wee had perished from famine.” Of the +incompetence of this captain, and the wretched order which +prevailed among his garrison, his incapacity and other incompetence, +this statement affords sufficient proof. They neither tilled +the earth for its grain, nor sounded the river for its finny tribes; +though these realms were quite as much under their dominion as +that of the savages; but they relied solely upon this capricious +and inferior race, in the exploration of land and sea, for maintaining +them against starvation.</p> + +<p>May succeeded to April, and still in vain did our Frenchmen +look forth upon the sea, for the ships of their distant countrymen. +June came, and their wants increased. They fell finally into +famine, of which Laudonniere himself affords us a sufficiently impressive +picture.</p> + +<p>“We were constrayned to eate rootes, which the most part of +our men punned in the mortars which I had brought with me to +beate gunnepowder in, and the graine which came to us from +other places. Some tooke the wood of <i>esquine</i>, (?) beate it, and +made meale thereof, which they boiled with water, and eate it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">- 260 -</a></span> +Others went with their harquebusies to seeke to kill some foule. +Yea, this miserie was so great, that that one was founde that had +gathered up all the fish-bones that he could finde, which he dried +and beate into powder to make bread thereof. The effects of +this hidious famine appeared incontinently among us, for our bones +eftsoones beganne to cleave so neare unto the skinne, that the +most part of the souldiers had their skinnes pierced thorow with +them in many partes of their bodies, in such sort that my greatest +feare was, least the Indians would rise up against us, considering +that it would have beene very harde for us to have defended ourselves +in such extreme decay of all our forces, besides the scarsitie +of all vittualls, which fayled us all at once. For the very river +had not such plentie of fish as it was wont, and it seemed that +the very land and water did fight against us.” In this condition +were they till the beginning of June. “During which time,” +says the chronicler, further—“the poore souldiers and handicraftsmen +became as feeble as might be, and being not able to +worke, did nothing but goe, one after another, as centinels, unto +the clift of an hill, situate very neare unto the fort, to see if they +might discover any French ship.”</p> + +<p>But their watchings still ended with disappointment. Thus +was the hope with which the heart sickens, deferred too long. +No ships greeted their famishing eyes, and they at length appealed +to their commander, in a body, to take measures for returning +to France, and abandoning the colony,—“considering that if wee +let passe the season to embarke ourselves, wee were never like to +see our country;” and alleging, plausibly enough, that new +troubles had probably broken out in France, which was the +reason that they had failed to receive the promised succors. +Laudonniere lent an easy ear to their demands. He, himself, was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">- 261 -</a></span> +probably quite as sick of the duties, to which he was evidently +unequal, as were his followers. It was, perhaps, prudent to submit +to those for whom he could no longer provide. The bark +“Breton” was fitted up, and given in charge to Captain Vasseur; +and, as this vessel could carry but a small portion of the colony, +it was determined to build a “faire ship,” which the shipwrights +affirmed could be made ready by the 8th of August. “Immediately +I disposed of the time to worke upon it. I gave charge to +Monsieur de Ottigny, my lieutenant, to cause timber necessary +for the finishing of bothe the vessels to be brought, and to Monsieur +D’Erlach, my standard-bearer, to goe with a barke a league +off from the forte, to cut down trees fit to make plankes.” +Sixteen men, under the charge of a sergeant, were set “to labour +in making coals; and to Master Hance, keeper of the artillery,” +was assigned the task of procuring rosin to bray the vessels. +“There remained now but the principal, [object,] which was to +recover vittualls, to sustain us while the worke endured.” +Laudonniere, himself, undertook to seek for this supply. He +embarked with thirty men in the largest of his vessels, with the +purpose of running along the coast for forty or fifty leagues. But +his search was taken in vain. He procured no supplies. He +returned to the fort only to defraud the expectations of his people, +who now grew desperate with hunger and discontent. They +assembled together, riotously, and, with one voice, insisted that +the only process by which to extort supplies from the savages was +to seize upon the person of their kings.</p> + +<p>To this, at first, Laudonniere would not consent. The enterprise +was a rash one. The consequences might be evil, in regard +to any future attempts at settlement. He proposed one more trial +among them, and sent despatches communicating his desire to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">- 262 -</a></span> +traffic for food with the surrounding tribes. The Indians were +not averse to listen. But they knew the distress under which +the Frenchmen suffered, and were prepared to turn it to account. +They came into the garrison with small supplies of grain and fish, +enough to provoke appetite rather than to satisfy it. For these +they demanded such enormous prices, as, if conceded, would have +soon exhausted all the merchandise of the garrison. With one +hand they extended their produce, while the other was stretched +for the equivalent required. Knowing the desperation of the +Frenchmen, they took care, while thus tantalizing their hopes and +hunger, to keep out of reach of shot of arquebuse. In this way, +they took the very shirts from the backs of the starving soldiers. +When Laudonniere remonstrated against their prices, their +answer was a bitter mockery.</p> + +<p>“Very good,” said the savages, “if thou make such great +account of thy merchandise, let it stay thy hunger. Do thou eat +of it and we will eat of our fish.” This reply would be cheered +with their open-throated laughter. The old ally of the French, +the Paracoussi Utina, mocked them in like manner. His subjects +followed his example; and, in the end, goaded to madness, Laudonniere +resolved on adopting the course which his people had +counselled; that, by which, taking one of their kings prisoner, +food could be extorted for his ransom. The ingratitude of Utina, +for past services, a recent attempt which he had made to employ +the French soldiers in his own conquests, while professing to lead +them only where they should find provisions, and the supposed +extent of his resources, pointed him out to all parties as the +proper person upon whom to try the experiment, on a small scale, +which Cortez and Pizzarro had used, on a large one, in the conquest +of Peru and Mexico.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">- 263 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XIX" id="XIX">XIX.</a></h2> + +<div class="chapintro"> +<p>Of the captivity of the Great Paracoussi—Olata Ouvae Utina, and the war which followed +between his people and the French.</p> +</div> + +<h3>CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<p>It being determined by Laudonniere, in the necessities of his +people, to seize upon the person of the great Paracoussi, Olata +Ouvae Utina, in order, by the ransom which he should extort, to +relieve the famine which prevailed among the garrison, he proceeded +to make his preparations for the event. Two of his +barks were put in order for this purpose, and a select body of +fifty men was chosen from his ranks to accompany him on the +expedition. But this select body, though the very best men of +the garrison, exhibited but few external proofs of their adequacy +for the enterprise. So lean of flesh, so shrunk of sinew, so +hollow-eyed were they, that their picture recals to us the description +given by Shakspeare of the famished and skeleton regiments +of Henry of Monmouth at the famous field of Agincourt—‘A +poor and starved band,’ the very ‘shales and husks of men,’ +with scarcely blood enough in all their veins, to stain the +Indian hatchet, which they travel to provoke. But famine +endows the sinews with a vigor of its own. Hunger enforced to +the last extremities of nature, clothes the spirit of the man in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">- 264 -</a></span> +passions of the wolf and tiger. Lean and feeble as are our +Frenchmen, they are desperate. They are in the mood to brave +the forest chief in his fastnesses, and to seize upon his own heart, +in the lack of other food. The very desperation of their case +secures them against any misgivings.</p> + +<p>The dominions of Holata Utina were distant from La Caroline, +between forty and fifty leagues up the river. His chief town, +where he dwelt, lay some six more leagues inland, a space over +which our Frenchmen had to march. Leaving a sufficient<!--was sufficent--> guard +in their vessels, Laudonniere and his company landed and proceeded +in this quarter. He marched with caution, for he knew +his enemy. His advance was conducted by Alphonse D’Erlach, +his standard-bearer—one, whose experience and skill had been +too frequently tried to leave it doubtful that his conduct would be +a safe one. He had traversed the space before, and he knew the +route thoroughly. The progress was urged with as much secrecy +as caution. The cover of the woods was carefully maintained, +the object of the party being a surprise. They well knew that +Utina had but little expectation of seeing them, at this juncture, +in his own abodes. None, so well as himself, knew how feeble was +their condition, how little competent to any courageous enterprise. +They succeeded in appearing at the village of the chief +without provoking alarm. He himself was at home, sitting in +state in the royal wigwam, with but few warriors about him. +The fashion of the Indian, with less royal magnificence, in other +words, with less art and civilization—is not greatly unlike that of +the Turk. Olata Utina sat crossed legs upon a <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">dais</i> prepared of +dressed skins of the deer, the bear and panther. The spotted +hides hung over the raised portions of the seat which he kept, +upon which also might be seen coverlets of cotton ingeniously<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">- 265 -</a></span> +manufactured, and richly stained with the bright crimson, scarlet, +and yellow, of native dye-woods. This art of dyeing, the savages +had brought to a comparatively high state of perfection. His +house itself stood upon an artificial eminence of earth, raised in +the very centre of his village, and overlooking it on every hand. +It was an airy structure, with numerous openings, and the breeze +played sweetly and capriciously among the coverlets which hung +as curtains before the several places of egress and entrance. +Utina himself was a savage of noble size and appearance. He +carried himself with the ease and dignity of one born to the +purple. His form, though an old man, was still unbending and +tall. His countenance was one of great spirit and nobleness. +With forehead equally large and high, with a dark eye that +flashed with all the fires of youth, with lips that opened only to +discourse in tones of a sweet but majestic eloquence, and with a +shrewd sagacity, that made him, among a cunning people, a +recognised master of all the arts of the serpent, he was necessarily +a person to impress with respect and admiration those even +who came with hostility.</p> + +<p>It is probable that Utina knew nothing of the approach of the +Frenchmen, until it was too late to escape them. But, before +they entered the opened space assigned to the settlement, he was +advised of their coming. Then it was that he threw aside his domestic +habit and assumed his state. Then it was that he resumed +his dignity and ascended the <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">dais</i> of stained cotton and flowing +deer-skin. His turban of purple and yellow cotton was bound +skilfully about his brow, his bow and quiver lay beside him, while +at his feet was extended his huge macana, or war-club, which it +scarcely seemed possible that his aged hands should now grasp +with vigor sufficient for its formidable use. His hands, when the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">- 266 -</a></span> +Frenchmen entered the dwelling, held nothing more formidable +than the earthen pipe, and the long tubulated reed which he busied +himself in inserting within the bowl. Two of his attendant warriors +retired at the same moment. These, Laudonniere did not +think proper to arrest, though counselled to do so by D’Erlach. +He knew not that they had been despatched by the wily Paracoussi +for the purpose of gathering his powers for resistance.</p> + +<p>Laudonniere appeared in the royal wigwam with but ten companions. +Forty others had been dispersed by D’Erlach at proper +points around the village. Of their proximity the king knew nothing. +His eye took in, at a single glance, the persons of his +visitors; and a slight smile, that looked derisive, was seen to overspread +his visage. It was with something like good humor in his tones +that he gave them welcome. A page at the same time brought forth +a basket of wicker-work, which contained a large collection of pipes +of all sorts and sizes. Another basket afforded a sufficient quantity +of dried leaves of the tobacco and vanilla. The Paracoussi +nodded to his guests as the boy presented both baskets, and Laudonniere, +with two others of his company, helped themselves to +pipes and weed. Thus far nothing had been said but “<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Ami</i>,” and +“<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Bonjour</i>.” The welcome of the Indians was simple always, and +a word sufficed among them as amply as the most studied and +verbose compliment. The French had learned to imitate them in +this respect, to be sparing of words, and to restrain the expression +of their emotions, particularly when these indicated want or suffering.</p> + +<p>But the necessities of our Frenchmen were too great and pressing, +at the present time, to be silenced wholly by convention; and +when, as if in mockery, a small trencher of parched corn was set<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">- 267 -</a></span> +before them, with a vessel of water, the impatience of Laudonniere +broke into utterance.</p> + +<p>“Paracoussi Utina,” said he, “you have long known the want +which has preyed upon our people.”</p> + +<p>“My brother is hungry,” replied Utina, with a smile more +full of scorn than sweetness—“let my brother eat. Let his +young men eat. There is never famine among the people of +Utina.”</p> + +<p>“And if there be no want among the people of Utina, wherefore +is it that he suffers the French to want? Why has he forgotten +his allies? Did not my young men fight the battles of +Utina against the warriors of the mighty Potanou? Did not +many captives grace the triumph of Utina? Has the Paracoussi +forgotten these services? Why does he turn away from his +friends, and show himself cold to their necessities?”</p> + +<p>“Why will my pale brother be talking?” said the other, with +a most lordly air of indifference. “The people of Utina have +fought against the warriors of Potanou for more than a hundred +winters. My French brother is but a child in the land of the +red-people. What does he know of the triumphs of my warriors? +He saw them do battle once with the tribes of Potanou, and he +makes account because he then fought on behalf of my people. +My people have fought with the people of Potanou more than a +hundred battles. Our triumphs have been witnessed by every +bird that flies, every beast that runs, every fish that swims, between +the villages of Potanou and the strong house of the Frenchman +where he starves below. What more will our pale brother +say, being thus a child among the red-men?”</p> + +<p>“Why parley with the savage?” said Alphonse D’Erlach, +“if you mean to take him? I care not for his insolence which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">- 268 -</a></span> +chafes me nothing; but we lose time. You have suffered some +of his warriors to depart. They are gone, doubtless, to gather +the host together. We shall need all the time to carry our +captive safely to the boats.”</p> + +<p>These words were spoken aloud, directly in the rear of Utina, +D’Erlach having taken a place behind him in the conference. The +Paracoussi was startled by the language. Some of it was beyond +his comprehension. But he could not misunderstand the tone +and manner of the speaker. D’Erlach was standing above him, +with his hand stretched over him, and ready to grasp his victim +the moment the word should be spoken. His slight form and +youthful features, contrasted with the cold, inflexible expression +of his eyes and face, very forcibly impressed the imagination of +the Indian monarch, as, turning at the interruption, he looked up +at the person of the speaker. But, beyond the first single start +which followed the interruption, Utina gave no sign of surprise +or apprehension.</p> + +<p>“Awhile, awhile, Alphonse—be not too hasty, my son;” was +the reply of Laudonniere. He continued, addressing himself to +the Paracoussi:</p> + +<p>“My red brother thinks he understands the French. He is +mistaken. He will grow wiser before he grows much older. But +it will be time then that I should teach him. It matters now +only, that I should say to the Paracoussi Utina, <em>we want, and +you have plenty</em>. We have fought your battles. We are your +friends. We will trade with you for mil and beanes. Give us +of these, according to our need, and you shall have of the merchandize +of the French in just proportion. Let it be so, brother, +that peace may still flourish between our people.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">- 269 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“There is mil and beanes before my white brother. Let him +take and divide among his people.”</p> + +<p>“But this will not suffice for a single meal. Does the Paracoussi +laugh to scorn the sufferings of my people?”</p> + +<p>“The Paracoussi laughs because the granaries of the red-men +are full. There is no famine among <em>his</em> people. Hath the Great +Spirit written that the red-man shall gather food in the proper +season that the white man may sleep like the drowsy buffalo in +the green pasture? Let my white brother drive from his ear the +lying bird that sings to him: ‘Sleep—take thy slumber under +the pleasant shade tree, while the people of Utina get thee +food!’”</p> + +<p>“Would the Paracoussi make the Frenchmen his enemies? Is +their anger nothing? Is their power not a thing to be feared?”</p> + +<p>“And what is the Paracoussi Olata Ovae Utina? Hath he not +many thousand warriors? The crane that rises in the east in the +morning, though he flies all day, compasses not the land at sunset, +which belongs to my dominions. East and west my people +whoop like the crane, and hear no birds that answer but their +own. Let my pale brother hush, for he speaks a foolish thing +of his warriors. Did I dream, or did any runners tell me that +the bones of the Frenchmen break through the skin, lacking food, +and their sinews are so shrunken that they can never more strive +in battle? Who shall fear them? I had pity on my brother +when I heard these things. I sent him food, and bade my people +say—‘take this food which thou needest; the great Paracoussi +asks for nothing in recompense, but thy guns, thy swords, and +thy lances; weapons which they tell me thou hast strength to use +no longer.’”</p> + +<p>“Did they tell thee so, Utina? But thou shalt see. Once<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">- 270 -</a></span> +more, my brother, I implore thee to give us of thy abundance, +and we will cheerfully impart to thee from our store of knives, +reap-hooks, hatchets, mirrors, and lovely beads, such as will +delight thy women. Here, behold,—this is some of the treasure +which I have brought thee for the purposes of barter.”</p> + +<p>The lordly chieftain deigned not a single glance to the European +wares, which, at a word from Laudonniere, one of the +French soldiers laid at his feet. The French captain, as if loth +to proceed to extremities, continued to entreat; while every new +appeal was only answered, on the part of the savage prince, with +a new speech of scorn, and new gestures of contempt. At length, +Laudonniere’s patience was exhausted, and he gave the signal +which had been agreed upon with his lieutenant. In the next +moment, the quick grasp of Alphonse D’Erlach was laid upon +the Paracoussi’s shoulders. He attempted to rise, and to grasp, +at the same time, the macana which lay at his feet. But D’Erlach +kept him down with his hands, while his foot was struck +down upon the macana. In that moment, the war-conch was +sounded at the entrance by several Indians who had been in waiting. +It was caught up and echoed by the bugles of D’Erlach; +the blast of which had scarcely been heard throughout the village, +before it had been replied to, four several times, from as many +different points where the French force had been stationed, ten +soldiers in each. One desperate personal struggle which the +Paracoussi made, proved fruitless to extricate him from the grasp +of his captor; and he then sat quietly, without a word, coldly +looking his enemies in the face.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">- 271 -</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XIX_CH2" id="XIX_CH2">CHAPTER II.</a></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> captive Paracoussi lost none of his dignity in his captivity. +He scorned entreaty. He betrayed no symptom of fear. +That he felt the disgrace which had been put upon him, was evident +in the close compression of his lips; but he was sustained by +the secret conviction that his warriors were gathering, and that +they would rescue him from his captors by the overwhelming +force of their numbers. At first his stoicism was shared by his +family and attendants; but when Laudonniere declared his purpose +to remove his prisoner to the boats, then the clamors of +women, not less eloquent in the wigwam of the savage, than in +the household of the pale faces, became equally wild and general. +The Paracoussi had but one wife, foregoing, in this respect, +some of his princely privileges, to which the customs of the red-men +afforded a sufficient sanction. But there were many females +in the royal dwelling, all of whom echoed the tumultuous cries of<!--was of of--> +its mistress. This devoted woman, with her attendants, +accompanied the captive to the boats, where, following the precautions +adopted by D’Erlach, the Frenchmen arrived in safety. +The warriors of the red-men had not yet time to gather and +array themselves. Laudonniere gave the women and immediate +companions of the Paracoussi to understand that his purpose was +not to do his captive any injury. The French were hungry and +must have food. When a sufficient supply was brought them, +Olata Utina should be set free.</p> + +<p>But these assurances they did not believe. They themselves, +seldom set free their captives. Ordinarily, they slew all their +male prisoners taken by surprise or in war, reserving the young +females only. They naturally supposed, that what was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">- 272 -</a></span> +custom with them, founded upon sufficient reasons, at once of +fear and superstition, must be the custom with the white men +also. Accordingly, the queen of Utina, was not to be comforted. +She followed him to the river banks, clinging to him to the last, +and stood there ringing her hands and filling the air with her +shrieks, while the people of Laudonniere lifted him into the bark, +and pushed out to the middle of the river. It was well for them +that this precaution was taken. The warriors of the Paracoussi +were already gathering in great numbers. More than five hundred +of them showed themselves on the banks of the river, entreating +of Laudonniere to draw nigh that they might behold +their prince. They brought tidings that, taking advantage of his +captivity, the inveterate Potanou had suddenly invaded his chief +village, had sacked and fired it, destroying all the persons whom +he encountered. But Laudonniere was properly suspicious, and +soon discovered, that, while five hundred archers showed themselves +to him as suppliants, the shores were lined with thrice five +hundred in snug ambush, lying close for the signal of attack. +Failing to beguile the Frenchmen to the land, a few of them, in +small canoes, ventured out to the bark in which their king was +a prisoner, bringing him food—meal and peas, and their favorite +beverage, the cassina tea. Small supplies were brought to the +Frenchmen also; but without softening their hearts. Laudonniere +had put his price upon the head of his captive, and would +’bate nothing of his ransom.</p> + +<p>But it so happened, that the Indians were quite as suspicious +and inflexible as the Frenchmen. They believed that Laudonniere +only aimed to draw from them their stores, and then +destroy their sovereign. A singular circumstance, illustrative of +the terrible relations in which all savage tribes must stand toward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">- 273 -</a></span> +each other, even when they dwell together in near neighborhood, +occurred at this time, and increased the doubts and fears of +the people of Utina. As soon as it was rumored about that this +mighty potentate, whom they all so much dreaded, was a prisoner +to the white man, the chiefs of the hostile tribes gathered to the +place of his captivity, as the inhabitant of the city goes to behold +in the menagerie the great lion of Sahara, the lord of the desert, +of whom, when free in his wild ranges, it shook their hearts only +to hear the roar. With head erect, though with chains about his +limbs,—with heart haughty, though with hope humbled to the +dust—the proud Paracoussi sate unmoved while they gathered, +gazing upon him with a greedy malice that declared a long history +of scorn and tyranny on the one hand, and hate and painful submission +on the other. They walked around the lordly savage, +scarcely believing their eyes, and still with a secret fear, lest, in +some unlucky moment, he should break loose from his captivity, +and resume his weapon for the purposes of vengeance. Eagerly +and earnestly did they plead with Laudonniere either to put him +to death, or to deliver him to their tender mercies. Among +those who came to see and triumph over his ancient enemy, and, +if possible, to get him into his power, was the Paracoussi Satouriova, +one of Laudonniere’s first acquaintances, whose power, +perhaps, along the territories of May River, was only next to that +of Utina. He, as well as the rest of the chiefs, brought bribes +of maize and beans, withheld before, in order to persuade Laudonniere +to yield to their desires. In this way he procured supplies, +much beyond those which were furnished by the people of +the prisoner, though still greatly disproportioned to his wants. +The people of Utina, meanwhile, persuaded that their monarch +could not escape the sacrifice, and aware of the several and strong<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">- 274 -</a></span> +influences brought to bear upon his captors, proceeded to do that +which was likely to defeat all the hopes and calculations of the +French. Their chiefs assembled in the Council House, assuming +that Utina was dead already, and elected another for their sovereign, +from among his sons. The measure was a hasty one, ill +considered, and promised to lead to consequences the most injurious +to the nation. The new prince immediately took possession +of the royal wigwam, and began the full assertion of his authority. +Parties were instantly formed among the tribes, from among the +many who were dissatisfied with this assumption, and, but for the +great efforts of the nobles of the country, the chiefs, the affair +would have found its finish in a bloody social war; since, already +had one of the near kinsmen of Olata Utina set up a rival claim +to the dominion of his people.</p> + +<p>But, it was sufficient that the election of the son of their captive, +to the throne of his father, rendered unavailing the bold +experiment of the Frenchmen, and threatened to defeat all the +hopes which they had founded on the securing his person. The +savages had adopted the most simple of all processes, and the +most satisfactory, by which to baffle the invaders. Olata Utina +was an old man, destined, in the ordinary course of nature, to give +way in a short time to the very successor they had chosen. Why +should they make any sacrifices to procure the freedom of one +whom they did not need. Their reverence for royalty in exile +was hardly much greater than it is found to-day in civilized +Europe; and they resigned themselves to the absence of Olata +Utina with a philosophy duly proportioned to the quantities of +corn and peas which they should save by the happy thought +which had already found a successor to his sway. In due degree +with their resignation to the chapter of accidents, however, was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">- 275 -</a></span> +the mortification of our Frenchmen, who thus found themselves +cut off from all the hopes which they had built upon their bold +proceeding. They had made open enemies of a powerful race, +without reaping those fruits of their offence, which might have +reconciled them to its penalties. Still they suffered in camp as +well as in garrison, from want of food, and were allowed to entertain +no expectations from the anxieties of the savages in regard to +the fate of the captive monarch. His importance naturally +declined in the elevation of his successor. Whether governed by +policy or indifference, his people betrayed but little sympathy in +his condition; and though keeping him still in close custody, +treating him with kindness the while, Laudonniere was compelled +to seek elsewhere for provisions. Apprised by certain Indians +that, in the higher lands above, but along the river, there were +some fields of maize newly ripening, he took a detachment of +his men in boats and proceeded thither. Coming to a village +called Enecaque, he was hospitably entertained by the sister of +Utina, by whom it was governed. She gave him good cheer, a +supper of mil, beans, and fish, with gourds of savory tea, made +of cassina. Here it was found that the maize was indeed ripe: +but the hungry Frenchmen suffered by the discovery and their +own rapacity. They fastened upon it in its fresh state, without +waiting for the slow process of cooking, to disarm it of its hurtful +juices, and they became sick accordingly. Yet how could men +be reproached for excess, who had scarcely eaten for four days, +and for whom a portion of the food that silenced hunger during +this time, consisted of a dish of young puppies newly whelped.</p> + +<p>While on this expedition, it occurred to Laudonniere to +revenge upon the lord of Edelano, the cruel murder of his soldier, +Peter Gambier, whose story has been given in previous pages.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">- 276 -</a></span> +He was now drawing nigh to that beautiful island; and after +leaving Enecaque, he turned his prows in search of its sweet +retreats. But, with all his caution, the bird had flown. The +lord of Edelano had been advised of what he had to fear, and, at +the approach of the Frenchmen he disappeared, crossing the +stream between, to the opposite forests, and leaving his village at +the mercy of the enemy. Baffled of their revenge upon the +offender, the Frenchmen vented their fury upon his empty +dwellings. The torch was applied to the village, which was soon +consumed. Returning to Enecaque, Laudonniere swept its fields +of all their grain, with which he hastened back to his starving +people at La Caroline. These, famishing still, “seeing me +afar off coming, ranne to that side of the river where they thought +I would come on land; for hunger so pinched them to the heart, +that they could not stay until the victuals were brought them to +the fort. And that they well showed as soon as I was come, and +had distributed that little maize among them which I had given +to each man, before I came out of the barke; for they eate it +before they had taken it out of the huske.”</p> + +<p>The necessity of the garrison continued as great as ever. The +wretched fields of the red-men afforded very scanty supplies. +Other villages were sought and ransacked, those of Athoré, +swayed by King Emola, and those of a Queen named Nia Cubacani. +In ravaging the fields of the former, two of the Frenchmen +were slain. But the provisions got from Queen Nia Cubacani, +were all free gifts. The pale faces seem to have been favorites +with the female sovereigns wherever they went. In the adventures +of the Huguenots, as in those of the Spaniards under Hernan de +Soto and other chiefs, the smiles of the Apalachian women +seemed to have been bestowed as freely as were the darts and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">- 277 -</a></span> +arrows of their lords and masters. In this way was the path of +enterprise stripped of many of its thorns, and he whose arm was +ever lifted against the savage man, seldom found the heart of the +savage woman shut against his approach. This is a curious history, +but it seems to mark usually the fortunes of the superior, +invading the abodes of the inferior people. The women of a +race are always most capable of appreciating the social morals of +a superior.</p> + +<p>The Paracoussi Olata Utina, now made an effort to obtain his +liberty. The hopes of the Frenchmen, in respect to his ransom, +had failed. His people had shown a stubbornness, which, to do +the Indian monarch justice, had not been greater than his own. +He saw the poverty and distress which prevailed among his +captors, in spite of all their attempts at concealment. He saw +that the lean and hungry famine was still preying upon their +hearts. He said to <span class="nowrap">Laudonniere—</span></p> + +<p>“Of what avail is it to you or to me, that you hold me here a +captive? Take me to my people. The maize is probably +ripened in my fields. One of these shall be set aside for your +use wholly, with all its store of corn and beans, if you will set me +free in my own country.”</p> + +<p>Laudonniere consulted with his chief men. They concurred +in granting the petition of the Paracoussi. The two barks were +accordingly fitted out, and, with a select detachment, Laudonniere +proceeded with his captive to a place called Patica, some +eight or nine leagues distant from the village of Utina. The red-men +fled at their approach, seeking cover in the forests, though +their king, himself, cried to them to await his coming. To +pursue them was impossible. To trust the king out of their possession, +without any equivalent, was impolitic. Another plan was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">- 278 -</a></span> +pursued. One of the sons of the Paracoussi, a mere boy, had +been taken with his father. It was now determined to dismiss +this boy to the village, accompanied by one of the Frenchmen, +who had been thither before, and who knew the character and +condition of the country. His instructions were to restore the +boy to his mother and his kindred, and to say that his father +should be delivered also, if an adequate supply of provisions was +brought to the vessel. The ancient chronicle, briefly, but very +touchingly, describes the welcome which was given to the enfranchised +child. All were delighted to behold him, the humblest +making as much of him as if he had been the nearest kindred, +and each man thinking himself never so happy as when permitted +to touch him with his hand. The wife of Utina, with her father, +came to the barks of the Frenchmen, bringing bread for the +present wants of the company; but the policy of the Indians did +not suffer the pleadings of the woman to prevail. The parties +could not agree about the terms of ransom; the red-men, meanwhile, +practised all their arts to delay the departure of the vessels. +It was discovered that they were busy with their forest strategy, +seeking rather to entrap the captain of the French, than to bargain +for the recovery of their own chieftain. Laudonniere was +compelled finally to return with his prisoner to La Caroline, as +hungry as ever, and with no hopes of the future.</p> + +<p>Here, a new danger awaited the captive. Furious at their +disappointment, the starving Frenchmen, as soon as the failure of +the enterprise was known, armed themselves, and with sword and +matchlock assailed the little cavalcade which had the chief in +custody, as they were about to disembark. With gaunt visages +and staring eyes, that betrayed terribly the cruel famine under +which they were perishing, and cries of such terrible wrath, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">- 279 -</a></span> +left but little doubt of the direst purpose, they darted upon their +prey. But Laudonniere manfully interposed himself, surrounded +by his best men, between their rage and his victim. Captain La +Vasseur and Ensign D’Erlach, each seized upon a mutineer whom +they held ready to slay at a stroke given; and other good men +and true, coming to the rescue, the famishing mutineers were +shamed and frightened into forbearance. But bitterly did they +complain of the lack of wisdom in their captain, who had released +the son, the precious hope of the nation, retaining the sire, for +whom, having a new king, the savages cared nothing. Their +murmurs drove Laudonniere forth once more. Taking the Paracoussi +with him, after a brief delay, he proceeded to explore +other villages along the river. The red-men planted two crops +during the growing season. Their maize ripened gradually, and +fields that yielded nothing during one month, were in full grain in +that ensuing. For fifteen days the French commandant continued +his explorations with small success; when the Paracoussi, +whom nothing had daunted, of his proper and haughty firmness, +during all his captivity, once more appealed to his captors:</p> + +<p>“That my people did not supply you with maize and beanes +when you sought them last, was because they were not ripe. I +spake to you then as a foolish young man, anxious to set foot once +more among my people. I should have known that the grain +could not be ready then for gathering. But the season is now. +It is ripened everywhere, and, in the present abundance of my +people, they will gladly yield to your demands, and give full ransom +for their king. Take me thither then, once more, and my +people will not stick to give you ample victual.”</p> + +<p>The necessities of the French were too great to make them hesitate +at a renewal of the attempt, where all others had proved so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">- 280 -</a></span> +profitless; particularly when the old king, with some solemnity, +placing his hand upon the wrist of the French captain, said to +<span class="nowrap">him—</span></p> + +<p>“Brother, doubt me not—doubt not my people. If they answer +thee not to thy expectations as well as mine, bring me back +to thy people, and let them do with me even as they please?”</p> + +<p>Again was the Paracoussi brought into the presence of his subjects. +They assembled to meet him on the banks of a little river, +which emptied into the main stream, and to which Laudonniere +had penetrated in his vessels. They appeared with considerable +supplies of bread, fish and beans, which they shared among the +Frenchmen. They put on the appearance of great good feeling +and friendship, and entered into the negotiations for the release of +their king, with equal frankness and eagerness. But in all this +they exhibited only the consummate hypocrisy of their race;—a +hypocrisy not to be wondered at or complained of, as it is the +only natural defence which a barbarous people can ever possibly +oppose to the superior power of civilization. Their effort was +simply still so to beguile the Frenchmen, as to ensnare their +leader,—get <em>him</em> within their power, and then compel an exchange +with his people of chief for chief. For this purpose they prolonged +the negotiations. Small supplies of food, enough to provoke +expectation, without satisfying demand, were brought daily +to their visitors. But, in the meantime, their warriors began to +accumulate along the shores, covered in the neighboring thickets, +or crouching in patient watch along the reedy tracts that fringed +the river. The vigilant eye of Alphonse D’Erlach soon detected +the ambush; and at length, finding Laudonniere preparing +to leave them, still keeping their king a captive, the savages<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">- 281 -</a></span> +resumed their negotiations with more activity, and withdrew their +archers from the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>It must not be supposed that their love for their monarch was +small, because they showed themselves so slow in bringing the +humble ransom of corn and beans, which the French demanded. +To them, that ransom was by no means insignificant. It swept +their granaries. It took the food from their children. It drove +them into the woods in winter without supplies, leaving them to +the rigors of the season, the uncertainties of the chase, and with +no other dependence than the common mast of the forest. It deprived +them of the very seed from which future harvests were to +be gathered. The drain for the supply of the hungry mouths at +La Caroline, seemed to them perpetual, and Laudonniere aimed +now not only to meet the wants of the present, but to store ships +and fort against future necessities. It was of the last importance +to the people of Olata Utina, that they should recover their +king without subjecting their people to the horrors of such a +famine as was preying upon the vitals of the Frenchmen.</p> + +<p>They over-reached Laudonniere at last. They persuaded him +that the presence of the king, among his people, was necessary +to compel each man to bring in his subsidy;—that they must see +him, in his former abodes, freed entirely from bonds, before they +would recognize his authority;—that they feared, when they +should have brought their grain, that the French would still retain +their captive;—and, in short, insisted so much upon the +freedom of Utina, as the <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">sine quâ non</i>, that the doubts of Laudonniere +were overcome. It was agreed that two chiefs should +become hostages for Olata Utina, and, in guaranty of the fulfilment +of his pledges.</p> + +<p>We are not told of the exact amount of ransom required for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">- 282 -</a></span> +the surrender of their king. It was probably enormous, according +to the equal standards of Indian and Frenchmen, in this period +and region. Willingly came the two chiefs to take the place of +Olata Utina. They were admitted on board the bark, where he +was kept in chains. They were warriors, and as they approached +him, they broke their bows and arrows across, and threw them +before him: Then, as they beheld his bonds, they rushed to his +feet, lifted up and kissed his chains, and supported them, while +the Frenchmen unlocked them from the one captive to transfer +them to the hands and feet of those who came to take his place. +These looked not upon the bonds as they were riveted about their +limbs. They only watched the movements of their king with +eyes that declared a well-satisfied delight. He rose from his +place, and shook himself slowly, as a lion might be supposed to +do, rousing himself after sleep. Never was head so erect, or carriage +so like one who feels all his recovered greatness. He waved +his hand in signal to the shore, where hundreds of his people +were assembled to greet his deliverance.</p> + +<p>The signal was understood, a mantle of fringed and gorgeously-dyed +cotton was brought him by one of his sons. His macana, +or war-club, and a mighty bow from which he could deliver a +shaft more than five English feet in length, were also brought +him. Over his shoulder the mantle was thrown by one of his attendants. +The war-club was carried before him by a page. But, +before he left the vessel, he bent his bow, fixed one of the shafts +upon the deer sinews, which formed the cord, and drawing it to +its head, sent it high in air, until it disappeared for a few seconds +from the sight. This was a signal to his people. Their king, +like the arrow, was freed from its confinement. It had gone +like a bird of mighty wing, into the unchained atmosphere. A<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">- 283 -</a></span> +cloud of arrows from the shore followed that of their sovereign. +To this succeeded a great shout of thanks and deliverance—“He! +He! yo-he-wah! He—he—yo-he-wah.” The echo of +which continued to ring through the vaulted forests, long after +the Paracoussi had disappeared within their green recesses.</p> + +<h3><a name="XIX_CH3" id="XIX_CH3">CHAPTER III.</a></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Paracoussi, on parting with Laudonniere, renewed his +assurances of good will, and repeated the promises which had been +given to ensure his deliverance from captivity. The engagement +required that a certain number of days should be allowed him, in +which to gather supplies in sufficient quantity to discharge his +ransom. Laudonniere left his lieutenants, Ottigny and D’Erlach, +with the two hostages, in one of the barks, to receive the provisions +which Utina was to furnish, while he himself returned to +La Caroline. The lieutenants moored their vessel within a little +creek which emptied into the May, and adopted all necessary +precautions against savage artifice. The vigilance of Alphonse +D’Erlach, in particular, was sleepless. He knew, more certainly +than his superior, the necessities and dangers of the French, and +the subtlety of the Indians. By day and night they lurked in the +contiguous thickets, watchful of every opportunity for assault. +An arquebuse presented in wantonness against the ledge which +skirted the river, would frequently expel a group of shrieking +warriors, well armed and covered with the war paint; and, with +the dawn of morning, the first thing to salute the eyes of our Frenchmen +would be long strings of arrows, planted in the earth, their +barbs of flint turned upwards, from which long hairs shreds from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">- 284 -</a></span> +heads which had been shorn for war, were to be seen waving in the +wind. These were signs, too well understood by previous experience, +of a threatened and sleepless hostility.</p> + +<p>It was soon found that the Paracoussi either could not or would +not comply with his engagements. He sent a small supply of +grain to the lieutenant, but said that more could not be provided +except by a surrender of the hostages. The Frenchmen were +required to bring the captives to the village, when and where they +should be furnished with the full amount of the promised ransom. +Satisfied that all this was mere pretence, indicating purposes of +treachery, the Frenchmen were yet too much straitened by want +to forego any enterprise which promised them provisions. They, +accordingly, set forth for the place appointed, in two separate +bodies, marching so that they might support each other promptly, +under the several leads of D’Erlach and Ottigny. The former +held the advance. The village of Utina was six French leagues +from the river where they left their barque, and the route which +they were compelled to pursue was such as exposed them frequently +to the perils of ambuscade. But so vigilant was their watch, so +ready were they with matches lighted, and so close was the custody +in which they kept their hostages, that the Indians, whom +they beheld constantly flitting through the thickets, dared never +make any attempt upon them. They reached the village in +safety, and immediately proceeded to the dwelling-house of Olata +Utina, raised, as before described, upon an artificial eminence. +Here they found assembled all the chiefs of the nation; but the +Paracoussi was not among them. He kept aloof, and was not to +be seen at present by the Frenchmen. His chiefs received their +visitors with smiles and great professions; but, as their own proverb +recites, when the enemy smiles your scalp is in danger.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">- 285 -</a></span> +They pointed to great sacks of mil and beans which had already +been accumulated, and still they showed the Frenchmen where +hourly came other of their subjects adding still more to the pile.</p> + +<p>“But wherefore,” they demanded, “wherefore come our white +brethren, with the fire burning in their harquebuses? See they +not that it causes our women to be afraid, and our children to +tremble in their terror. Let our brethren put out this fire, which +makes them dread to come nigh with their peace-offerings, and +know us for a friend, under whose tongue there is no serpent.”</p> + +<p>To this D’Erlach replied—“Our red brothers do themselves +wrong. They do not fear the fire in our harquebuses. They know +not its danger. The Frenchmen have always forborne to show +them the power that might make them afraid. But this power is +employed only against our enemies. Let the chiefs of the people +of the Paracoussi Utina show themselves friends, and the thunder +which we carry shall only send its fearful bolts among the foes +of Utina, the people of Potanou, and the warriors of the great +mountain of Apalatchy.”</p> + +<p>“If we are thus friends of the Frenchmen, why do they keep +our beloved men in bondage? Are these the ornaments proper +to a warrior and a great chief among his people?”</p> + +<p>They pointed as they spoke to the fetters which embraced the +legs and arms of the hostages, who sat in one corner of the +council-house.</p> + +<p>“Our red brothers have but to speak, and these chains fall +from the limbs of their well beloved chiefs.”</p> + +<p>“Heh!—We speak!—Let them fall!”</p> + +<p>“Speak to your people that these piles be complete,” pointing +to the grain.</p> + +<p>“They have heard. See you not they come?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">- 286 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“But very slowly;—and hearken to us now, brothers of the +red-men, while we ask,—do the skies that pavilion the territories +of the Paracoussi Utina rain down such things as these.”</p> + +<p>Here D’Erlach showed them a bunch of the arrows which they +had found planted by the wayside as they came. The thin lips of +the savages parted into slight smiles as they beheld them.</p> + +<p>“These grow not by nature,” continued D’Erlach<!--was D'Arlach-->; “they fall +not from heaven in the heavy showers. They are sown by the +red-men along the path which the white man travels. What is +the fruit which is to grow from such seed as this?”</p> + +<p>The chiefs were silent. The youth proceeded:</p> + +<p>“Brothers, we are calm;—we are not angry, though we well +know what these arrows mean. We are patient, for we know our +own strength. The Paracoussi has promised us supplies of grain, +and hither we have come. Four days shall we remain in waiting +for it. Till that time, these well-beloved men shall remain in our +keeping. When we receive the supplies which have been promised +us, they shall be yours. We have spoken.”</p> + +<p>Thus ended the first conference. That night the French +lieutenants found their way to the presence of the Paracoussi. He +was kept concealed in a small wigwam, deeply embowered in the +woods, but in near and convenient neighborhood to the village. +He himself had sent for them, and one of his sons had shown the +way. They found the old monarch still maintaining the state of +a prince, but he was evidently humbled. His captivity had +lessened his authority; and his anxiety to comply with the engagements +made with the French had in some degree impaired his +influence over his people. They had resolved to destroy the +pale-faces, as insolent invaders of their territory, consumers of its +substance and enemies of its peace. It was this hostility and this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">- 287 -</a></span> +determination that had interposed all the obstacles in the way of +procuring the supplies promised.</p> + +<p>“They resist me, their Paracoussi,” said Utina bitterly, “and +have resolved on fighting with you! They will wage war against +you to the last. See you not the planted arrows that marked +your pathway to my village? These arrows are planted from +the territories of Utina, by every pathway, to the very gates of +La Caroline. They will meet your eyes wherever you shall return +to the fortress. They mean nothing less than war, and such +warfare as admits of no peace. Go you, therefore, go you with +all speed to your vessels, and make what haste you can to the +garrison. The woods swarm with my warriors, and they no +longer heed my voice. They will hunt you to your vessel. +They mean to throw trees athwart the creek so that her escape +may be cut off, while they do you to death with their arrows, +and I cannot be there to say to my people—‘stay your shafts, +these be our friends and allies.’ They no longer hearken to my +voice. I am a Paracoussi without subjects, a ruler without obedience,—a +shadow, where I only used to be the substance.”</p> + +<p>The despondency of the king was without hypocrisy. It +sensibly impressed our Frenchmen. They felt that he spoke the +truth. He was then, in fact, excluded from the house of council, +as incurring the suspicion of the red-men as fatally friendly +to the whites. While they still conversed, they were alarmed by +violent shrieks, as of one in mortal terror.</p> + +<p>“That scream issues from a French throat!” exclaimed +D’Erlach, as he rushed forth. He was followed by Lieutenant +Ottigny and another. The Paracoussi never left his seat. The +screams guided them into a neighboring thicket, into which they +hurried, arriving there not a moment too soon. A Frenchman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">- 288 -</a></span> +struggled in the grasp of five stalwart savages, who had him down +and were preparing to cut his throat. He had been beguiled +from the place which had been assigned him as a watch, and was +about to pay the penalty of his folly with his life. In an instant +the gallant Alphonse D’Erlach had sprung among them, his sword +passing clear through the back of the most prominent in the +group of assailants. His body, falling upon that of the captive, +prevented the blows which the rest were showering upon him. +They started in sudden terror at this interruption. Their own +and the clamors of the Frenchman had kept them from all knowledge +of the approaching rescue. In an instant they were gone. +They waited for no second stroke from a weapon whose first address +was so sharp and sudden. They left their captive, bruised +and groaning, but without serious injury to life or limb.</p> + +<p>The warnings and assurances of the Paracoussi were sufficiently +enforced by this instance of the hostility of the red-men. But +the necessity of securing all the supplies they might possibly procure +from the natives, either through their own artifices or because +of the apprehension for their chiefs, caused our Frenchmen to +linger at the village of Utina. They were determined to wait the +full period of four days which they had assigned themselves. In +this period they saw the Paracoussi more than once. At each +interview his admonitions were delivered with increased solemnity. +They found his chiefs less and less accommodating at every interview. +The piles of grain at the council-house increased slowly. +Occasionally an Indian might be seen to enter and cast the contents +of his little basket among the rest. The Frenchmen endeavored +to persuade the chiefs to furnish men to carry the grain +to their vessel, but this was flatly denied. Resolved, finally, to +depart, each soldier was required to load himself with a sack<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">- 289 -</a></span> +as well filled as it was consistent with his strength to bear. This +was slung across his shoulder, and, in this way, burdened with +food for other mouths as well as their own, and carrying their +matchlocks besides, the Frenchmen prepared to depart, on the +morning of the 27th July, 1565, from the village of Utina to the +bark which they had left. It was a memorable day for our adventurers. +In groups, scornfully smiling as they beheld the soldiers +staggering beneath their burdens, the chiefs assembled to +see them depart from the village. Alphonse D’Erlach beheld +the malignant triumph which sparkled in their eyes.</p> + +<p>“We shall not be suffered to reach the bark in quiet;” was his +remark to Ottigny. “Let me have the advance, Monsieur, if you +please; I have dealt with the dogs before.”</p> + +<p>To this Ottigny consented; and leading one of the divisions<!--was divisons--> of +the detachment, as at coming, D’Erlach prepared to take the +initiate in a progress, every part of which was destined to be +marked with strife. The immediate entrance to the village of +the Paracoussi, the only path, indeed, by which our Frenchmen +could emerge, lay, for nearly half a mile, through a noble avenue, +the sides of which were densely occupied by a most ample and +umbrageous forest. The trees were at once great and lofty, and +the space beneath was closed up with a luxuriant undergrowth +which spread away like a wall of green on either hand. D’Erlach +remembered this entrance.</p> + +<p>“Here,” said he to Ottigny, “Here, at the very opening of the +path, our trouble is likely to begin. Let your men be prepared +with matches lighted, and see that your fire is delivered only in +squads, so that, at no time, shall all of your pieces be entirely +empty.”</p> + +<p>Ottigny prepared to follow this counsel. His men were all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">- 290 -</a></span> +apprised of what they had to expect; and were told, at the first +sign of danger, to cast down their corn bags, and betake themselves +to their weapons wholly. The grain might be lost—probably +would be—but better this, than, in a vain endeavor to +preserve it, lose life and grain together. Thus prepared, +D’Erlach began the march. He was followed, at a short interval, +by Ottigny, with the rest of the detachment; a small force of +eight arquebusiers excepted, who, under charge of a sergeant, +were sent to the left of the thicket which bounded the avenue on +one hand, with instructions to scour the woods in that quarter, +yet without passing beyond reach of help from the main body.</p> + +<p>All fell out as had been anticipated. D’Erlach was encountered +as he emerged from the avenue, by a force of three +hundred Indians. They poured in a cloud of arrows, but fortunately +at such a distance as to do little mischief. With the first +assault the Frenchmen dispossessed themselves of their burdens, +and prepared themselves for fight. The savages came on more +boldly, throwing in fresh flights of arrows as they pushed forward, +and rending the forests with their cries. D’Erlach preserved all +his steadiness and coolness. He saw that the arrows were yet +comparatively ineffectual.</p> + +<p>“Do not answer them yet, my good fellows,” he cried, “but +stoop ye, every man, and break the arrows, as many as ye can, +that fall about ye.”</p> + +<p>He had seen that the savages, having delivered a few fires, were +wont to rush forward and gather up the spent shafts, which, thus +recovered, afforded them an inexhaustible armory, upon which it +is their custom to rely. When his assailants beheld how his men +were engaged, they rushed forward with loud shouts of fury, and +delivering another storm of darts, they made demonstrations of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">- 291 -</a></span> +desire for close conflict, with their stone hatchets and macanas. +At this show, D’Erlach spoke to his men in subdued accents.</p> + +<p>“Make ye still as if ye would stoop for the fallen arrows, ye +of the first rank; but blow ye your matches even as ye do so, +and falling upon your knees deliver then your fire; while the +second rank will cover you as ye do so, and while ye charge +anew your pieces.”</p> + +<p>The command was obeyed with coolness; and, as the Indians +darted forward, coming in close packed squadrons into the gorge +of the avenue, the soldiers delivered their fire with great precision. +Dreadful was the howl which followed it, for more than +thirteen of the savages had fallen, mortally hurt, and two of their +chief warriors had been made to bite the dust. Seizing the +bodies of their slain and wounded comrades, the survivors immediately +hurried into cover, and D’Erlach at once pushed forward +with his command. But he had not advanced more than four +hundred paces, when the assault was renewed, the air suddenly +being darkened with the flight of bearded shafts, while the forest +rang with the yells of savage fury. They were still too far +for serious mischief, and were besides covered with the woods; +so, giving the assailants little heed, except to observe that they +came not too nigh, or too suddenly upon him, D’Erlach continued +to push forward, doing as he had done before with the hostile +arrows whenever they lay in the pathway. But the courage of +the red-men increased as they warmed in the struggle, and they +grew bolder because of the very forbearance of the Frenchmen. +Besides, their forces had been increased by other bodies, each +approaching in turn to the assault, so as to keep their enemies +constantly busy. In parties of two or three hundred, they darted +from their several ambushes, and having discharged their arrows,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">- 292 -</a></span> +and met with repulse, retired rapidly to other favorite places of +concealment to renew the conflict as it continued to advance. +By this time, the whole body of the Frenchmen had become engaged +in the fight. The force under Ottigny, following the +example of that led by D’Erlach, had succeeded in pressing forward, +though not without loss, while making great havoc with the +red-men. These people fought, never men more bravely; and, +but for the happy thought, that of destroying their arrows as fast +as they fell, it is probable that the detachment had never reached +La Caroline. They hovered thus about the march of the Frenchmen +all the day, encouraging each other with shouts of vengeance +and delight, and sending shaft upon shaft, with an aim, which, +had they not been too greatly sensible of the danger of the arquebuse, +to come sufficiently nigh, would have been always fatal. +Yet well did the savage succeed, so long as they remained unintoxicated +by their rage, in dodging the aim of the weapon. As +Laudonniere writes—“All the while they had their eye and foot +so quicke and readie, that as soone as ever they saw the harquebuse +raised to the cheeke, so soon were they on the ground, and +eftsoone to answer with their bowes, and to flie their way, if by +chance they perceived that we were about to take them.”</p> + +<p>This conflict lasted from nine o’clock in the morning until night. +It only ceased when the darkness separated the combatants. +Even then, but for the deficiency of their arrows, they probably +would not have withdrawn from the field. It was late in the +night when the Frenchmen reached their boats, weary and exhausted, +their grain wrested from them, their hostages rescued, +and twenty-four of their number killed and wounded. The +Floridians had shown themselves warriors of equal spirit and +capacity. The determined exclusion of their Paracoussi from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">- 293 -</a></span> +counsels which it was feared that he would dishonor, their manly +resistance to the white invaders, their scornful ridicule of their +necessities, their proud defiance of their power, and the fierce +and unrelenting hostility with which they had chased their adversaries, +remind us irresistibly of the degradation of Montezuma +by his subjects, their prolonged warfare with the Spaniards, +their sleepless hostility, and that bloody struggle which first drove +them over the causeways of Tenochtitlan. The inferior state +and wealth of the Paracoussi, Olata Ouvae Utina, constitutes no +such sufficient element of difference, as to lessen the force of the +parallel between himself and people, and those of the Atzec +sovereign.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">- 294 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XX" id="XX">XX.</a><br /> +IRACANA,<br /> +<span class="smfont">OR THE EDEN OF THE FLORIDIAN.</span></h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> disasters which befel his detachment, brought Laudonniere +to his knees. He had now been humbled severely by the +dispensations of Providence—punished for that disregard of the +things most important to the colonization of a new country, which, +in his insane pursuit of the precious metals, had marred his administration. +His misfortunes reminded him of his religion.</p> + +<p>“Seeing, therefore, mine hope frustrate on that side, I made +my prayer unto God, and thanked him of his grace which he had +showed unto my poore souldiers which were escaped.”</p> + +<p>But his prayers did not detain him long. The necessities of +the colony continued as pressing as ever. “Afterward, I thought +upon new meanes to obtaine victuals, as well for our returne into +France, as to drive out the time untill our embarking.” Those +were meditations of considerable difficulty. The petty fields of +the natives, never contemplated with reference to more than a +temporary supply of food;—never planted with reference to providing +for a whole year, were really inadequate to the wants of +such a body of men, unless by grievously distressing their proprietors.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">- 295 -</a></span> +The people of Olata Utina had been moved to rage in all +probability, quite as much because of their grain crops, about to +be torn from them, as with any feeling of indignation in consequence +of the detention of their Paracoussi. In the sacks of corn +which the Frenchmen bore away upon their shoulders, they beheld +the sole provisions upon which, for several months, their +women and children had relied to feed; and their quick imaginations +were goaded to desperation, as they depicted the vivid horrors +of a summer consumed in vain search after crude roots and indigestible +berries, through the forests. No wonder the wild wretches +fought to avert such a danger; as little may we wonder that they +fought successfully. The Frenchmen, compelled to cast down +their sacks of grain, to use their weapons, the red-men soon repossessed +themselves of all their treasure. When Laudonniere +reviewed his harrassed soldiers on their return from this expedition, +“all the mill that he found among his company came but to +two men’s burdens.” To attempt to recover the provisions thus +wrested from them, or to revenge themselves for the indignity +and injury they had undergone, were equally out of the question. +The people of the Paracoussi could number their thousands; and, +buried in their deep fortresses of forest, they could defy pursuit. +Laudonniere was compelled to look elsewhere for the resources +which should keep his company from want.</p> + +<p>Two leagues distant from La Caroline, on the opposite side of +May River, stood the Indian village of Saravahi. Not far from +this might be seen the smokes of another village, named Emoloa. +The Frenchmen, wandering through the woods in search of game, +had alighted suddenly upon these primitive communities. Here +they had been received with gentleness and love. The natives +were lively and benevolent. They had never felt the wrath of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">- 296 -</a></span> +the white man, nor been made to suffer because of his improvidence +and necessities. His thunderbolts had never hurled among +their columns, and mown them down as with a fiery scythe from +heaven. The Frenchmen did not fail to remark that they were +provident tribes, with corn-fields much more ample than were +common among the Indians. These, they now concluded, must +be covered with golden grain, in the season of harvest, and +thither, accordingly, Laudonniere dispatched his boats. A judicious +officer conducted the detachment, and stores of European +merchandize were confided to him for the purposes of traffic. He +was not disappointed in his expectations. His soldiers were +received with open arms; and a “good store of mil,” speaking +comparatively, was readily procured from the abundance of the +Indians.</p> + +<p>But, in preparation for the return to France, other and larger +supplies were necessary. The boats were again made ready, and +confided to La Vasseur and D’Erlach. They proceeded to the +river to which the French had given their name of Somme, now +known as the Satilla, but which was then called among the +Indians, the Iracana, after their own beautiful queen. Of this +queen our Frenchmen had frequently been told. She had been +described to them as the fairest creature, in the shape of woman, +that the country had beheld: nor was the region over which +she swayed, regarded with less admiration. This was spoken of +as a sort of terrestrial paradise. Here, the vales were more +lovely; the waters more cool and pellucid than in any other of +the territories of earth. Here, the earth produced more abundantly +than elsewhere; the trees were more stately and magnificent, +the flowers more beautiful and gay, and the vines more +heavily laden with grapes of the most delicious flavor. Sweetest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">- 297 -</a></span> +islets rose along the shore over which the moon seemed to linger +with a greater fondness, and soft breezes played ever in the +capacious forests, always kindling to emotions of pleasure, the +soft beatings of the delighted heart. The influences of scene and +climate were felt for good amongst the people who were represented +at once as the most generous and gentle of all the Floridian +natives. They had no wild passions, and coveted no fierce +delights. Under the sway of a woman, at once young and beautiful, +the daughter of their most favorite monarch, their souls had +become attuned to sympathies which greatly tended to subdue +and to soothe the savage nature. Their lives were spent in sports +and dances. No rebukes or restraints of duty, no sordid cares or +purposes, impaired the dream of youth and rapture which prevailed +everywhere in the hearts of the people. Gay assemblages +were ever to be found among the villages in the forests; +singing their own delights and imploring the stranger to be +happy also. They had a thousand songs and sports of youth and +pleasure, which made life a perpetual round of ever freshening +felicity. Innocent as wild, no eye of the ascetic could rebuke +enjoyments which violated no cherished laws of experience and +thought, and their glad and sprightly dances, in the deep shadows +of the wood, to the lively clatter of Indian gourds and tambourines, +were quite as significant of harmless fancies as of thoughtless lives. +Happy was the lonely voyager, speeding along the coast, in his +frail canoe, when, suddenly darting out from the forests of Iracana, +a slight but lovely creature, with flowing tunic of white<!--was whit--> +cotton, stood upon the head land, waving her branch of palm or +myrtle, entreating his approach, and imploring him to delay his +journey, while he shared in the sweet festivities of love and youth, +for a season, upon the shore,—crying with a sweet <span class="nowrap">chant,—</span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">- 298 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“Love you me not, oh, lonely voyager—love you me not? +Lo! am I not lovely; I who serve the beautiful queen of Iracana? +will you not come to me, for a while!—come, hide the canoe +among the reeds, along the shore, and make merry with the damsels +of Iracana. I give to thee the palm and the myrtle, in +token of a welcome of peace and love. Come hither, oh! +lonely voyager, and be happy for a season!”</p> + +<p>And seldom were these persuasions unavailing. The lonely +voyager was commonly won, as was he who, sailing by Scylla and +Charybdis, refused to seal his ears with wax against the song of +the Syren. But our charmers, along the banks of the Satilla, +entreated to no evil, laid no snares for the unwary, meditating +their destruction. They sought only to share the pleasures +which they themselves enjoyed. The benevolence of that love +which holds its treasure as of little value, unless its delights may +be bestowed on others, was the distinguishing moral in the Indian +Eden of Iracana; and he who came with love, never departed +without a sorrow, such as made him linger as he went, and soon +return, when this were possible, to a region, which, among our +Floridians, realized that period of the Classic Fable, which has +always been designated, par excellence, as the “age of gold.”</p> + +<p>Our Frenchmen, under the conduct of La Vasseur and D’Erlach, +reached the frontiers of Iracana, at an auspicious period. +The season of harvest, among all primitive and simple nations, +is commonly a season of great rejoicing. Among a people like +those of Iracana, habitually accustomed to rejoice, it is one in +which delight becomes exultation, and when in the supreme felicity +of good fortune, the happy heart surpasses itself in the extraordinary +expression of its joy. Here were assembled to the +harvest, all the great lords of the surrounding country. Here<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">- 299 -</a></span> +was Athoree, the gigantic son of Satouriova, a very Anak, +among the Floridians. Here were Apalou, a famous chieftain,—Tacadocorou, +and many others, whom our Frenchmen had met +and known before;—some of whom indeed, they had known in +fierce conflict, and a strife which had never been healed by any +of the gentle offices of peace.</p> + +<p>But Iracana was the special territory of peace. It was not +permitted, among the Floridians, to approach this realm with +angry purpose. Here war and strife were tabooed things,—shut +out, denied and banished, and peace and love, and rapture, were +alone permitted exercise in abodes which were too grateful to all +parties, to be desecrated by hostile passions. When, therefore, +our Frenchmen, beholding those only with whom they had so +lately fought, were fain to betake themselves to their weapons, +the chiefs themselves, with whom they had done battle, came +forward to embrace them, with open arms.</p> + +<p>“Brothers, all—brothers here, in Iracana;” was the common +speech. “Be happy here, brothers, no fight, no scalp, nothing +but love in Iracana,—nothing but dance and be happy.”</p> + +<p>Even had not this assurance sufficed with our Frenchmen, the +charms of the lovely Queen herself, her grace and sweetness, not +unmixed with a dignity which declared her habitual rule, must +have stifled every feeling of distrust in their bosoms, and effectually +exorcised that of war. She came to meet the strangers with +a mingled ease and state, a sweetness and a majesty, which +were inexpressibly attractive. She took a hand of La Vasseur +and of D’Erlach, with each of her own. A bright, happy smile +lightened in her eye, and warmed her slightly dusky features +with a glow. Rich in hue, yet delicately thin, her lips parted +with a pleasure, as she spoke to them, which no art could simulate.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">- 300 -</a></span> +She bade them welcome, joined their hands with those of +the great warriors by whom she was attended, and led them away +among her damsels, of whom a numerous array were assembled, +all habited in the richest garments of their scanty wardrobes.</p> + +<p>The robes of the Queen herself were ample. The skirts of her +dress fell below her knees, a thing very uncommon with the +women of Florida. Over this, she wore a tunic of crimson, which +descended below her hips. A slight cincture embraced, without +confining, her waist. Long strings of sea-shell, of the smallest +size, but of colors and tints the most various and delicate, drooped +across her shoulders, and were strung, in loops and droplets, +to the skirts of her dress and her symar. Similar strings encircled +her head, from which the hair hung free behind, almost to +the ground, a raven-like stream, of the deepest and most glossy +sable. Her form was equally stately and graceful—her carriage +betrayed a freedom, which was at once native and the fruit of habitual +exercise. Nothing could have been more gracious than the +sweetness of her welcome; nothing more utterly unshadowed than +the sunshine which beamed in her countenance. She led her +guests among the crowd, and soon released La Vasseur to one of +the loveliest girls who came about her. Alphonse D’Erlach she +kept to herself. She was evidently struck with the singular +union of delicacy and youth with sagacity and character, which +declared itself in his features and deportment.</p> + +<p>Very soon were all the parties engaged in the mazes of the +Indian dance of Iracana,—a movement which, unlike the waltz +of the Spaniards, less stately perhaps, and less imposing—yet requires +all its flexibility and freedom, and possesses all its seductive +and voluptuous attractions. Half the night was consumed +with dancing; then gay parties could be seen gliding into canoes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">- 301 -</a></span> +and darting across the stream to other villages and places of +abode. Anon, might be perceived a silent couple gliding away +to sacred thickets; and with the sound of a mighty conch, which +strangely broke the silence of the forest, the Queen herself retired +with her attendants, having first assigned to certain of her +chiefs the task of providing for the Frenchmen. Of these she +had already shown herself sufficiently heedful and solicitous. Not +sparing of her regards to La Vasseur, she had particularly devoted +herself to D’Erlach, and, while they danced together, if the +truth could be spoken of her simple heart, great had been its +pleasure at those moments, when the spirit of the dance required +that she should yield herself to his grasp, and die away +languidly in his embrace.</p> + +<p>“Ah! handsome Frenchman,” she said to her companion,—“You +please me so much.”</p> + +<p>His companions were similarly entertained. Captain La Vasseur +was soon satisfied that he too was greatly pleasing to the +fair and lovely savage who had been assigned him; and not one +of the Frenchmen, but had his share of the delights and endearments +which made the business of life in Iracana. The soldiers +had each a fair creature, with whom he waltzed and wandered; +and fond discourse, everywhere in the great shadows of the wood, +between sympathizing spirits, opened a new idea of existence to +the poor Huguenots who, hitherto, had only known the land of +Florida, by its privations and its gold. The dusky damsels, alike +sweet and artless, brought back to our poor adventurers precious +recollections of youthful fancies along the banks of the Garonne +and the Loire, and it is not improbable, that, under the excitement +of new emotions, had Laudonniere proposed to transfer La +Caroline to the Satilla, or Somme, instead of May River, they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">- 302 -</a></span> +might have been ready to waive, for a season at least, their impatient +desire to return to France.</p> + +<p>Night was at length subdued to silence on the banks of the Satilla. +The sounds of revelry had ceased. All slept, and the +transition from night to day passed, sweetly and insensibly, almost +without the consciousness of the parties. But, with the +sunrise, the great conch sounded in the forest. The Eden of +the Floridian did not imply a life of mere repose. The people +were gathered to their harvesting, and the labors of the day, +under the auspices of a gracious rule, were made to seem a pleasure. +Hand in hand, the Queen Iracana, with her maidens, +and her guests, followed to the maize fields. Already had she +found D’Erlach, and her slender fingers, without any sense of +shame, had taken possession of his hand, which she pressed at +moments very tenderly. He had already informed her of the +wants and the sufferings of his garrison, and she smiled with a +new feeling of happiness, as she eagerly assured him that his +people should receive abundance. She bent with her own hands +the towering stalks; and, detaching the ears, flung to the ground +a few in all these places, on which it was meant that the heaps +should be accumulated. “Give these to our friends, the Frenchmen,” +she said, indicating with a sweep of the hand, a large tract +of the field, through which they went. D’Erlach felt this liberality. +He squeezed her fingers fondly in return,—saying words +of compliment which, possibly, in her ear, meant something more +than compliment.</p> + +<p>Then followed the morning feast; then walks in the woods; +then sports upon the river in their canoes; and snaring the fish +in weirs, in which the Indians were very expert. Evening +brought with it a renewal of the dance, which again continued late<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">- 303 -</a></span> +in the night. Again did Alphonse D’Erlach dance with Iracana; +but it was now seen that her eyes saddened with the overfulness +of her heart. Love is not so much a joy as a care. It is so vast +a treasure, that the heart, possessed of the fullest consciousness +of its value, is for ever dreading its loss. The happiness of the +Floridian Eden had been of a sort which never absorbed the +soul. It lacked the intensity of a fervent passion. It was the +life of childhood—a thing of sport and play, of dance and +dream—not that eager and avaricious passion which knows never +content, and is never sure, even when most happy, from the +anxieties and doubts which beset all mortal felicity. Already did +our Queen begin to calculate the hours between the present, and +that which should witness the departure of the pleasant Frenchmen.</p> + +<p>“You will go from me,” said she to D’Erlach, as they went +apart from the rest, wandering along the banks of the river and +looking out upon the sea. “You will go from me, and I shall +never see you any more.”</p> + +<p>“I will come again, noble Queen, believe me,” was the assurance.</p> + +<p>“Ah! come soon,” she said, “come soon, for you please me +very much, <i>Aphon</i>.”</p> + +<p>Such was the soft Indian corruption of his christened name. +No doubt, she too gave pleasure to ‘Aphon.’ How could it be +otherwise? How could he prove insensible to the tender and +fervid interest which she so innocently betrayed in him? He did +not. He was not insensible; and vague fancies were quickening +in his mind as respects the future. He was opposed to the plan +of returning to France. He was for carrying out the purposes of +Coligny, and fulfilling the destinies of the colony. He had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">- 304 -</a></span> +warned Laudonniere against the policy he pursued, had foreseen +all the evils resulting from his unwise counsels, and there was +that in his bosom which urged the glorious results to France, of +a vigorous and just administration of a settlement in the western +hemisphere, in which he was to participate, with his energy and +forethought, without having these perpetually baffled by the imbecility +and folly of an incapable superior. In such an event, +how sweetly did his fancy mingle with his own fortunes those of +the gentle and loving creature who stood beside him. He told +her not his thoughts—they were indeed, fancies, rather than +thoughts—but his arm gently encircled her waist, and while her +head drooped upon her bosom, he pressed her hand with a tender +earnestness, which spoke much more loudly than any language to +her heart.</p> + +<p>The hour of separation came at length. Three days had +elapsed in the delights of the Floridian Eden. Our Frenchmen +were compelled to tear themselves away. The objects for which +they came had been gratified. The bounty of the lovely Iracana +had filled with grain their boats. Her subjects had gladly borne +the burdens from the fields to the vessels, while the strangers +revelled with the noble and the lovely. But their revels were +now to end. The garrison at La Caroline, it was felt, waited +with hunger, as well as hope and anxiety for their return, and +they dared to delay no longer. The parting was more difficult +than they themselves had fancied. All had been well entertained, +and all made happy by their entertainment. If Alphonse +D’Erlach had been favored with the sweet attentions of a queen, +Captain La Vasseur had been rendered no less happy by the +smiles of the loveliest among her subjects. He had touched her +heart also, quite as sensibly as had the former that of Iracana.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">- 305 -</a></span> +Similarly fortunate had been their followers. Authority had +ceased to restrain in a region where there was no danger of insubordination, +and our Frenchmen, each in turn, from the sergeant +to the sentinel, had been honored by regards of beauty, such as +made him forgetful, for the time, of precious memories in France. +Nor had these favors, bestowed upon the Frenchmen, provoked +the jealousy of the numerous Indian chieftains who were present, +and who shared in these festivities. It joyed them the rather to +see how frankly the white men could unbend themselves to unwonted +pleasures, throwing aside that jealous state, that suspicious +vigilance, which, hitherto, had distinguished their bearing +in all their intercourse with the Indians.</p> + +<p>“Women of Iracana too sweet,” said the gigantic son of +Satouriova, Athore, to Captain La Vasseur, as the parties, each +with a light and laughing damsel in his grasp, whirled beside each +other in the mystic maze of the dance.</p> + +<p>“I much love these women of Iracana,” said Apalou, as fierce +a warrior in battle, as ever swore by the altars of the Indian +Moloch. “I glad you love them too, like me. Iracana woman +good for too much love! They make great warrior forget his +enemies.”</p> + +<p>“Ha!” said one addressing D’Erlach, “You have beautiful +women in your country, like Iracana, the Queen?”</p> + +<p>But, we need not pursue these details. The hour of separation +had arrived. Our Frenchmen had brought with them a +variety of commodities grateful to the Indian eye, with which +they designed to traffic; but the bounty of Iracana, which had +anticipated all their wants, had asked for nothing in return. The +treasures of the Frenchmen were accordingly distributed in gifts +among the noble men and women of the place. Some of these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">- 306 -</a></span> +Iracana condescended to take from the hands of Aphon. Her +tears fell upon his offering. She gave him in return two small +mats, woven of the finer straws of the country, with her own +hands—wrought, indeed, while D’Erlach sat beside her in the +shade of a great oak by the river bank—and “so artificially +wrought,” in the language of the chronicle, “as it was impossible +to make it better.” The poor Queen had few <span class="nowrap">words—</span></p> + +<p>“You will come to me, <i>Aphon</i>—you will? you will? I too +much want you! Come soon, <i>Aphon</i>. Iracana will dance never +no more till <i>Aphon</i> be come.”</p> + +<p>“<i>Aphon</i>” felt, at that moment, that he could come without +sorrow. He promised that he would. Perhaps he meant to keep +his promise; but we shall see. The word was given to be +aboard, and the trumpet rang, recalling the soldier who still +lingered in the forest shadows, with some dusky damsel for companion. +All were at length assembled, and with a last squeeze +of her hand, D’Erlach took leave of his sorrowful queen. She +turned away into the woods, but soon came forth again, unable to +deny herself another last look.</p> + +<p>But the Frenchmen were delayed. One of their men was missing. +Where was Louis Bourdon? There was no answer to his +name. The boats were searched, the banks of the river, the +neighboring woods, the fields, the Indian village, and all in vain. +The Frenchmen observed that the natives exhibited no eagerness +in the search. They saw that many faces were clothed with +smiles, when their efforts resulted fruitlessly. They could not +suppose that any harm had befallen the absent soldier. They +could not doubt the innocence of that hospitality, which had +shown itself so fond. They conjectured rightly when they supposed +that Louis Bourdon, a mere youth of twenty, had gone<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">- 307 -</a></span> +off with one of the damsels of Iracana, whose seductions he had +found it impossible to withstand. D’Erlach spoke to the Queen +upon the subject. She gave him no encouragement. She professed +to know nothing, and probably did not, and she would +promise nothing. She unhesitatingly declared her belief that he +was in the forest, with some one that “he so much loved:” but +she assured D’Erlach that to hunt them up would be an impossibility.</p> + +<p>“Why you not stay with me, Aphon, as your soldier stay +with the woman he so much love? It is good to stay. Iracana +will love you too much more than other woman. Ah! you love +not much the poor Iracana.”</p> + +<p>“Nay, Iracana, I love you greatly. I will come to you again. +I find it hard to tear myself away. But my people—”</p> + +<p>“Ah! you stay with Iracana, and much love Iracana, and you +have all these people. They will plant for you many fields of +corn; you shall no more want; and we will dance when the +evening comes, and we shall be so happy, Aphon and Iracana, to +live together; Aphon the great Paracoussi, and Iracana to be +Queen no more.”</p> + +<p>It was not easy to resist these pleadings. But time pressed. +Captain La Vasseur was growing impatient. The search after +Louis Bourdon was abandoned, and the soldiers were again ordered +on board. The anxieties of La Vasseur being now awakened, lest +others of his people should be spirited away. Of this the danger +was considerable. The Frenchman was a more flexible being +than either the Englishman or Spaniard. It was much easier for +him to assimilate with the simple Indian; and our Huguenot +soldiers, who had very much forgotten their religion in their +diseased thirst after gold, now, in the disappointment of the one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">- 308 -</a></span> +appetite were not indifferent to the consolations afforded by a life +of ease and sport, and the charms which addressed them in forms +so persuasive as those of the damsels of Iracana. La Vasseur +began to tremble for his command, as he beheld the reluctance +of his soldiers to depart. He gave the signal hurriedly to +Alphonso D’Erlach, and with another sweet single pressure of the +hand, he left the lovely Queen to her own melancholy musings. +She followed with her eyes the departing boats till they were +clean gone from sight, then buried herself in the deepest thickets +where she might weep in security.</p> + +<p>Other eyes than hers pursued the retiring barks of the Frenchmen, +with quite as much anxiety; and long after she had ceased +to see them. On a little headland jutting out upon the river +below, in the shade of innumerable vines and flowers, crouching +in suspense, was the renegade, Louis Bourdon. By his side sat +the dusky damsel who had beguiled him from his duties. While +his comrades danced, he was flying through the thickets. The +nation were, many of them, conscious of his flight; but they held +his offence to be venial, and they encouraged him to proceed. +They lent him help in crossing the river, at a point below; the +father of the woman with whom he fled providing the canoe with +which to transport him beyond the danger of pursuit. Little did +our Frenchmen, as the boats descended, dream who watched them +from the headland beneath which they passed. Many were the +doubts, frequent the changes, in the feelings of the capricious +renegade, as he saw his countrymen approaching him, and felt +that he might soon be separated from them and home forever, by +the ocean walls of the Atlantic. Whether it was that his Indian +beauty detected in his face the fluctuations of his thoughts, and +feared that, on the near approach of the boats, he would change<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">- 309 -</a></span> +his purpose and abandon her for his people, cannot be said; but +just then she wound herself about within his arms, and looked up +in his face, while her falling hair enmeshed his hands, and contributed, +perhaps, still more firmly to ensnare his affections. His +heart had been in his mouth; he could scarcely have kept from +crying out to his comrades as the boats drew nigh to the cliff; +but the dusky beauties beneath his gaze, the soft and delicate +form within his embrace, silenced all the rising sympathies of +brotherhood in more ravishing emotions. In a moment their boats +had gone by; in a little while they had disappeared from sight, +and the arms of the Indian woman, wrapped about her captive, +declared her delight and rapture in the triumph which she now +regarded as secure. Louis Bourdon little knew how much he had +escaped, in thus becoming a dweller in the Floridian Eden.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">- 310 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XXI" id="XXI">XXI.</a><br /> +HISTORICAL SUMMARY.</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> glowing accounts of the delights of the Floridian Eden +which were brought by our returning voyagers, were not sufficient +to persuade the garrison to forego their anxious desire to return +to France. The home-sickness under which they labored had +now reached such a height as to suffer no appeal or opposition. +Nothing but the stern decree of authority could have silenced +the discontents; and the authority lay neither in the will nor in +the numbers under the control of Laudonniere. To such a degree +of impatience had this passion for their European homes +arisen, that, when it was found that the building of the vessel for +their deportation would be delayed beyond the designated period, in +consequence of the death, in battle with the savages, of two of the +carpenters, the multitude rose in mutiny setting upon Jean de +Hais, the master-carpenter,—who had innocently declared the impossibility +of doing the work within the given time,—with such +ferocity, as to make it scarcely possible to save his life. With +this spirit prevailing among his garrison, Laudonniere was compelled +to abandon the idea, altogether, of building the ship; and +to address all his energies to the repair, for the desired purpose, +of the old brigantine, which had been brought back to La Caroline,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">- 311 -</a></span> +by the returning pirates. To work, with this object, all +parties were now set with the utmost expedition. The houses +which had been built without the fort were torn down, in order +that the timber should be converted into coal for the uses of the +forge; this being a labor much easier than that of using the axe +upon the trees of the forest. The palisade which conducted from +the fort to the river was torn down also by the soldiery, for the +same purpose, in spite of the objections of Laudonniere. It was +their policy to make their determination to depart inevitable, by +rendering the place no longer habitable. The fort, itself, it was +determined to destroy, when they were ready to sail, “lest some +new-come guest should have enjoyed and possessed it.” Our +Frenchmen were very jealous of the designs of the English queen. +They well knew that the haughty and courageous Elizabeth was +meditating a British settlement in the New World; and though, +after their own voluntary abandonment of the country, they had no +right to complain that another should occupy the waste places, yet +their jealousy was too greatly that of the dog in the manger, to +behold, with pleased eye, the possession by another of the things +which they themselves had been unable to enjoy. “In the meanwhile,” +says Laudonniere—seeking to excuse his own unwise +management and feeble policy—“In the meanwhile, there was +none of us to whome it was not an extreme griefe to leave a +country wherein wee had endured so greate travailes and necessities, +to discover that which wee must forsake through our owne +countrymen’s default. For if wee had beene succoured in time +and place, and according to the promise that was made unto us, +the war which was between us and Utina had not fallen out, neither +should wee have had occasion to offend the Indians, which, with +all paines in the world, I entertained in good amitie, as well with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">- 312 -</a></span> +merchandize and apparel, as with promise of greater matters; and +with whome I so behaved myself, that although sometimes I was +constrained to take victuals in some few villages, yet I lost not +the alliance of eight kings and lords, my neighbours, which continually +succoured and ayded me with whatever they were able to +afford. Yea, this was the principal scope of all my purposes, to +winne and entertaine them, knowing how greatly their amitie might +advance our enterprise, and principally while I discovered the +commodities of the country, and sought to strengthen myself +therein. I leave it to your cogitation to think how neare it went +to our hearts to leave a place abounding in riches (as we were +thoroughly enformed thereof) in coming whereunto, and doing +service unto our prince, we lefte our owne countrey, wives, children, +parents and friends, and passed the perils of the sea, and were +therein arrived as in a plentiful treasure of all our heart’s desire.”</p> + +<p>It was while distressing himself with these cogitations that Laudonniere, +on the 3d of August, 1565, took a walk, “as was his custom +of an afternoon,” to the top of a little eminence, in the +neighborhood of the fort, which afforded a distant prospect of the +sea. Here, looking forth with yearning to that watery waste +which he was preparing to traverse, he was suddenly excited, as +he beheld four sail of approaching vessels. At first, the tidings +made the soldiers of the garrison to leap for joy. The vessels +were naturally supposed to be those of their own countrymen; +and such was the gladness inspired by this supposition, that “one +would have thought them to be out of their wittes, to see them +laugh and leap.” But, something in the behavior of the strange +ships, after a while, rendered our Frenchmen a little doubtful of +their character. Instead of boldly approaching, they were seen to +cast anchor and to send out one of their boats. A prudent fear<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">- 313 -</a></span> +of the Spaniards made Laudonniere get his soldiers in readiness; +while Captain La Vasseur, with a select party, advanced to the +river side to meet the visitors. They proved to be Englishmen—a +fleet under the command of the celebrated John Hawkins; and +had on board one Martin Atinas, of Dieppe; a Frenchman, who +had been one of the colonists of Fort Charles,—one of those who, +returning to France, had been taken up at sea and carried into +England. He had guided the English admiral along the coast, +and his information had contributed to prompt the voyage of exploration +which Hawkins had in hand. But the object of the +British admiral was quite pacific, and his conduct exceedingly +generous and noble. His ostensible purpose in putting into May +River was to procure fresh water. Laudonniere permitted him to +do so. Hawkins, perceiving the distressed condition of the +Frenchmen, relieved them with liberal supplies of bread, wine and +provisions. Apprised of their desire to return to France, he, with +greater liberality and a wiser policy, offered to transport the whole +colony. But Laudonniere was still jealous of the Englishman, +and was apprehensive that, while he carried off the one colony, he +would instantly plant another in its place. He declined the +generous offer, but bargained with him for one of his vessels, for +which Laudonniere chiefly paid by the furniture of the fortress,—the +cannon, &c.,—viz.: “two bastards, two mynions, one +thousand of iron (balls), and one thousand (pounds) of powder.” +These items included only a portion of the purchase consideration, +in earnest of the treaty. Moved with pity at the wretched condition +of the Frenchmen, the generous Englishman offered supplies +for which he accepted Laudonniere’s bills. These the subsequent +misfortunes of the latter never permitted him to satisfy. +In this way our colonists procured “twenty barrels of meale, six<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">- 314 -</a></span> +pipes of beanes, one hogshead of salt, and a hundred (cwt.?) of +waxe to make candles. Moreover, forasmuch as hee saw my souldiers +goe barefoote, hee offered me besides fifty paires of shoes, +which I accepted.” “He did more than this,” says Laudonniere. +“He bestowed upon myselfe a great jarre of oyle, a jarre of +vinegar, a barell of olives, a great quantitie of rice, and a barell +of white biscuit. Besides, he gave divers presents to the principal +officers of my company according to their qualities: so that, I +may say, that we received as many courtesies of the Generall as +was possible to receive of any man living.”</p> + +<p>Here, we are fortunately in possession of the narrative of Hawkins +himself, and his report of the encounter with our Frenchmen. It +affords a good commentary upon the bad management of Laudonniere, +and the worthless character of his followers; the sturdy +Englishmen seeing, at a glance, where all the evils of the colony +lay. He describes their first settlement as gathered from their +own lips; their numbers, the period they had remained in the +country, their frequent want, and the modes resorted to for escaping +famine. His details comprise all the facts of our history, as +already given. Of their discontents and rebels, he speaks as of a +class, “who would not take the paines so much as to fishe in the +river before their doores, but would have all thinges put in their +mouthes. They did rebell against the Captaine, taking away first +his armour, and afterwards imprisoning him, &c.” The narrative +of Hawkins gives the subsequent history of the rebels, their +piracy, capture and fate. He mentions one particular, which we +do not gather from Laudonniere, showing the sagacity of the +Floridian warriors. Finding that the Frenchmen, in battle, were +protected by their coats of mail, or escaupil, and the bucklers in +familiar use at the time, they directed their arrows at the faces<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">- 315 -</a></span> +and the legs of their enemies, which were the parts in which they +were mostly wounded. At the close of this war, according to our +Englishmen, Laudonniere had not forty soldiers left unhurt. +After detailing the supplies accorded to the colonists from his +stores, he adds, “notwithstanding the great want that the Frenchmen +had, the ground doth yield victuals sufficient, if they would +have taken paines to get the same; <em>but they being souldiers, desired +to live by the sweat of other men’s browes</em>.” Here speaks +the jealous scorn of the sailor. “The ground yieldeth naturally +great store of grapes, for in the time the Frenchmen were there +they made twenty hogsheads of wine.” Our poor Huguenots +could seek gold and manufacture wine, but could not raise provisions. +They were of too haughty a stomach to toil for any but +the luxuries of life. “Also,” says Hawkins, “it (the earth) +yieldeth roots passing good, deere marvellous store, with divers +other beastes and fowle serviceable to man. These be things +wherewith a man may live, having corne or maize wherewith to +make bread, for maize maketh good savory bread, and cakes as +fine as flowre; also, it maketh good meale, beaten and sodden +with water, and nourishable, which the Frenchmen did use to drink +of in the morning, and it assuageth their thirst, so that they have +no need to drink all the day after. And this maize was the +greatest lack they had, because they had no labourers to sowe the +same; and therefore, to them that should inhabit the land, it +were requisite to have labourers to till and sowe the ground; for +they, having victuals of their owne, whereby they neither spoil nor +rob the inhabitants, may live not only quietly with them, <em>who +naturally are more desirous of peace than of warre</em>, but also shall +have abundance of victuals proffered them for nothing, &c.” +The testimony of Hawkins is as conclusive in behalf of the Floridians<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">- 316 -</a></span> +as it is unfavorable to our Frenchmen. He speaks in the +highest terms of the qualities and resources of the country, as +abounding in commodities unknown to men, and equal to those of +any region in the world. He tells us of the gold procured by the +Huguenot colonists, one mass of two pounds weight being taken +by them from the Indians, without equivalent. The latter he describes +as having some estimation of the precious metals; “for it +is wrought flat and graven, which they wear about their necks, +&c.” The Frenchmen eat snakes in the sight of our Englishmen, +to their “no little admiration;” and affirm the same to be +a delicate meat. Laudonniere tells Hawkins some curious snake +stories, which could not well be improved upon, even in the +“Hunter’s Camp,” on a “Lying Saturday.” “I heard a miracle +of one of these adders,”—snakes a yard and a half long,—“upon +the which a faulcon (hawk) seizing, the sayd adder did claspe her +taile about her; which, the French captaine seeing, came to the +rescue of the faulcon, and took her,—slaying the adder.” There +is no improbability in this story; but we shall be slow to give our +testimony in behalf of that which follows: “And the Captaine of +the Frenchmen saw also a serpent with three heads and foure +feet, of the bignesse of a great spaniel, which, for want of a harquebuse, +he durst not attempt to slay.” Laudonniere had evidently +some appreciation of the marvellous; but only <em>four</em> feet to +<em>three</em> heads was a monstrous disproportion. The account which +Hawkins gives of the abundance of fish in the neighborhood of +the garrison, is no exaggeration, and only adds to the surprise +that we feel at the wretched indolence and imbecility of the +colonists, who, with this resource “at their doores,” depended for +their supply upon the Floridians.</p> + +<p>Hawkins’s account of the coast and characteristics of Florida<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">- 317 -</a></span> +is copious and full of interest, but belongs not to this narrative. +He left the Huguenots, on the 28th July, 1565, making all preparations +to follow in his wake; and on the fifteenth of August +Laudonniere was prepared to depart also. The biscuit was made +for the voyage, the goods and chattels of the soldiers were taken +on board, and most of the water;—nothing delayed their sailing +but head-winds;—when the whole proceeding was arrested by the +sudden appearance of Ribault, with the long-promised supplies +from France. The approach of Ribault was exceedingly cautious; +so circumspect, indeed, that fears were entertained by the garrison +that his ships were those of the Spaniards. The guns of the +fortress were already trained to bear upon them when the strangers +discovered themselves. The reasons for their mysterious deportment, +as subsequently given, arose from certain false reports which +had reached France, of the conduct of Laudonniere. He had +been described, by letters from some of his malcontents in the +colony, as affecting a sort of regal state—as preparing to shake +off his dependence upon the mother-country—and setting up for +himself, as the sovereign lord of the Floridas. Poor Laudonniere! +living on vipers, crude berries and bitter roots, mocked by the +savages on one hand, fettered and flouted by his own runagates +and rebels on the other,—defied in his authority, and starving in +all his state, was in no mood to affect royalty upon the River +May. He was, no doubt, a vain and ostentatious person; but, +whatever may have been his absurdities and vanities, at first, they +had been sufficiently schooled by his necessities, we should think, +to cure him of any such idle affectations. He had been subdued +and humbled by defeat,—the failure of his plans, and the evident +contempt into which he had sunk among his people. Yet of all +this, the King of France and Monsieur de Coligny could have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">- 318 -</a></span> +known nothing; and when we recollect that the colony was made up +of Huguenots only, a people of whose fidelity the former might reasonably +doubt, the suspicions of the Catholic monarch may not be +supposed entirely unreasonable. At all events, Ribault was sent to +supersede the usurping commander, and bore imperative orders for +his recall. The armament confided to Ribault consisted of seven +vessels, and a military force corresponding with such a fleet. We are +also made aware that, on this occasion, the force which he commanded +was no longer made up of Huguenots exclusively, as in the previous +armament. A large sprinkling of Catholic soldiers accompanied +the expedition, and the temporary peace throughout the +realm enabled a great number of gentlemen and officers to employ +themselves in the search after adventure in the New World. +They accordingly swelled the forces of Ribault, and showed conclusively +that the colonial establishment in Florida had grown +into some importance at home. That Laudonniere should become +a prince there, was calculated to exaggerate the greatness of the +principality; and the jealousy of the French monarch, in all probability, +for the first time, awakened his sympathy for the settlement. +The same accounts which had borne the tidings of +Laudonniere’s ambition, may have exaggerated the resources and +discoveries of the country; and possibly some specimens of gold—the +mass of two pounds described by Hawkins—had dazzled +the eyes and excited the avarice of court and people. Enough +that Laudonniere was to be sent home for trial, and that Ribault +was to succeed him in the government.</p> + +<p>The approach of Ribault with his fleet was exceedingly slow. +Head-winds and storms baffled his progress, and as he reached the +coast of Florida he loitered along its bays and rivers, seeking to +obtain from the Indians all possible tidings of the colony, before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">- 319 -</a></span> +venturing upon an encounter with the supposed usurper of the +sovereignty of the country. When, at length, he drew nigh to +La Caroline, so suspiciously did he approach, that he drew upon +him the fire of Laudonniere’s men; and, but for the distance, and +the seasonable outcry which was made by his followers, announcing +who they were, a conflict might have ensued between the parties. +To the great relief of Ribault, Laudonniere received him with +submission. The former apprised him frankly of the reports in +France to his discredit, and delivered him the letters of Coligny +to the same effect. Laudonniere soon succeeded in convincing +his successor that he had been greatly slandered—that he was +entirely innocent of royalty, and almost of state, of any kind—that, +however unfortunate he may have been—however incompetent +to the duties he had undertaken, he was certainly not +guilty of the extreme follies, the presumption, or the cruelty, +which constituted the several points in the indictment urged +against him. Ribault strove to persuade him to remain in +the colony, and to leave his justification to himself. But this +Laudonniere declined to do, resolving to return to France;—a +resolution which, as we shall see hereafter, was only delayed too +long,—to the further increase of the misfortunes of our captain. +Meanwhile he fell sick of a fever, and the authority passed into +the hands of Jean Ribault, whose return was welcomed by crowds +of Indian chiefs, who came to the fortress to inquire after the +newly-arrived strangers. They soon recognised the chief by +whose hands the stone pillar had been reared, which stood conspicuous +at the entrance of the river. He was easily distinguished, +by many of them, by reason of the massy beard which he +wore. They embraced him with signs of a greater cordiality than +they were disposed to show to his immediate predecessor. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">- 320 -</a></span> +Kings Homoloa, Seravahi, Alimacani, Malica, and Casti, were +among the first to recall the ties of their former friendship, and to +brighten the ancient chain of union, by fresh pledges. They +brought to Ribault, among other gifts, large pieces of gold, which, +in their language, is called “sieroa pira,” literally “red metal,”—which, +upon being assayed by the refiner, proved to be “perfect +golde.” They renewed their offers to conduct him to the Mountains +of Apalachia, where this precious metal was to be had for the +gathering. Ribault was not more inaccessible to this attractive +showing than Laudonniere had been; but before he could project +the desired enterprise, in search of the mountains which held such +glorious possessions, new events were in progress, involving such +dangers as superseded the hopes of gain among the adventurers, +by necessities which made them doubtful of their safety. The +Spaniards, of whom they had long been apprehensive, were at +length discovered upon the coast.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">- 321 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XXII" id="XXII">XXII.</a><br /> +THE FATE OF LA CAROLINE.</h2> + +<h3>CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> fleet of Ribault consisted of seven vessels. The <em>three</em> +smallest of these had ascended the river to the fortress. The <em>four</em> +larger, which were men of war, remained in the open roadstead. +Here they were joined on the fourth of September by six Spanish +vessels of large size and armament. These came to anchor, and, +at their first coming, gave assurance of amity to the Frenchmen. +But Ribault had been warned, prior to his departure from France, +that the Spaniards were to be suspected. The crowns of France +and Spain, it is true, were at peace, but the Spaniards themselves +contemplated settlements in Florida, to which they laid claim, by +right of previous discovery, including, under this general title, +territories of the most indefinite extent. Philip the Second, that +cold, malignant and jealous despot, freed by the amnesty with +France from the cares of war in that quarter, now addressed his +strength and employed his leisure in extending equally his sway, +with that of the Catholic faith, among the red-men of America. +Prior to the settlements of Coligny, he had begun his preparations +for this object. The charge of the expedition was confided +to Don Pedro Melendez de Avilez, an officer particularly famous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">- 322 -</a></span> +among his countrymen for his deeds of heroism in the New World. +He himself, bore a considerable portion of the expense of the enterprise, +and this was a consideration sufficiently imposing in the +eyes of his sovereign, to secure for him the dignity of a Spanish +Adelantado, with the hereditary government of all the Floridas. +It was while engaged in the preparations for this expedition that +tidings were received by the Spaniards of the settlements which +had been begun by the Huguenots. The enterprise of Don Pedro +de Melendez now assumed an aspect of more dignity. It became +a crusade, and the eager impulse of ambition was stimulated by +all the usual arguments in favor of a holy war. To extirpate +heresy was an object equally grateful to both the legitimates of +France and Spain; and the heartless monarch of France, Charles +the Ninth, in the spirit which subsequently gave birth to the horrible +massacre of St. Bartholomew, it is reported—though the act +may have been that of the Queen Mother—cheerfully yielded up +his Protestant subjects in Florida, to the tender mercies of the +Spanish propagandist. There is little doubt that the French +monarch had signified to his Spanish brother, that he should resent +none of the wrongs done to the colonies of Coligny; he himself +being, at this very time, busied in the labor which was preparing +for the destruction of their patron and brethren at home. +Coligny well knew how little was the real sympathy entertained +by the monarch for this class of his subjects, and he felt that +there were sufficient reasons to fear, and to be watchful of, the +Spaniards. He had some better authority than mere suspicion for +his fear. Just as Ribault was about to take his departure from +France, the Lord Admiral wrote him as follows, in a hasty postscript:—“As +I was closing this letter, I received certain advices +that Don Pedro Melendez departeth from Spain to go to the coast<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">- 323 -</a></span> +of New France, (Florida,) see that you suffer him not to encroach +upon you, no more than you will suffer yourself to encroach on him.”</p> + +<p>The preparations of Melendez began to assume an aspect of +great and imposing magnificence. Clergy and laity crowded to +his service. Nearly twenty vessels, some of very considerable +force, were provided; and three thousand adventurers assembled +under his command. But Heaven did not seem at first to smile +upon the enterprise. His fleet was encountered by tempests as +had been the “Grand Armada,” and the number of his vessels +before he reached Porto Rico had been reduced nearly two thirds. +Some doubt now arose in the minds of the Spanish captains, whether +they were in sufficient force to encounter Ribault. The bigotry +and enthusiasm of Melendez rejected the doubt with indignation. +His fanaticism furnished an argument in behalf of his +policy, imposing enough to the superstitious mind, and which his +followers were sufficiently willing to accept. “The Almighty,” +said the Adelantado, “has reduced our armament, only that his +own arm might achieve the holy work.”</p> + +<p>The warning of danger contained in the letter of the Lord +Admiral to Ribault did not fall upon unheeding senses. Still, the +French captain was quite unprepared for the rapidity of the progress +made by the Spaniards. When, with six large vessels, they +suddenly appeared in the roadstead of May River, Ribault was at +La Caroline. His officers had been apprised of the propriety of +distrusting their neighbors, and accordingly showed themselves +suspicious as they drew nigh. It was well they did so. In the +absence of Ribault, with three of the ships at La Caroline, they were +inferior in force to the armament of Melendez, and were thus doubly +required to oppose vigilance to fraud and force. Fortunately, the +Spaniards did not reach the road till near evening, when they had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">- 324 -</a></span> +too little time for efficient operations. Hence the civility of their +deportment, and the pacific character of their assurances. They +lowered sail, cast anchor, and forbore all offensive demonstrations. +But one circumstance confirmed the apprehensions of the Frenchmen. +In the brief conversation which ensued between the parties, +after the arrival of the Spaniards, the latter inquired after the +chief captains and leaders of the French fleet, calling them by +their names and surnames, and betraying an intimate knowledge +of matters, which had been judiciously kept as secret as possible +in France. This showed, conclusively, that, before Melendez left +Spain, he was thoroughly informed by those who knew, in France, +of the condition, conduct, and strength of Ribault’s armament. +And why should he be informed of these particulars, unless there +were some designs for acting upon this information? The French +captains compared notes that night, in respect to these communications, +and concurred in the belief that they stood in danger of +assault. They prepared themselves accordingly, to cut and run, +with the first appearance of dawn, or danger. With the break of +day, the Spaniards began to draw nigh to our Frenchmen; +but the sails of these were already hoisted to the breeze. Their +cables were severed, at the first sign of hostility, and the chase +begun within the greatest animation. But, if the ships of the +Huguenots were deficient in force, they had the advantage of +their enemies in speed. They showed the Spaniards a clean pair +of heels, and suffered nothing from the distant cannonade with +which their pursuers sought to cripple their flight. The chase +was continued through the day. With the approach of evening, +the Spaniards tacked ship and stood for the River Seloy, or Selooe, +called by the French, the River of Dolphins; a distance, overland, +of but eight or ten leagues from La Caroline. Finding that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">- 325 -</a></span> +they had the advantage of their enemies in fleetness, the French +vessels came about also, and followed them at a respectful distance. +Having made all the discoveries which were possible, they returned +to May River, when Ribault came aboard. They reported to +him that the great ship of the Spaniards, called “The Trinity,” +still kept the sea; that three other ships had entered the River of +Dolphins; that three others remained at its mouth; and that the +Spaniards had evidently employed themselves in putting soldiers, +with arms, munition, and provisions, upon shore. These, and +further facts, reached him from other quarters. Emoloa, one of +the Indian kings in amity with the French, sent them word that +the Spaniards had gone on shore at Seloy in great numbers—that +they had dispossessed the natives of their houses at that village; +had put their “negro slaves, whom they had brought to labor,” in +possession of them; and were already busy in entrenching themselves +in the place, making it a regular encampment.</p> + +<p>Not doubting that they meant to assail and harrass the settlement +of La Caroline from this point, with the view to expelling +the colonists from the country, Ribault boldly conceived the idea +of taking the initiate in the war. He first called a council of his +chief captains. They assembled in the chamber of Laudonniere, +that person being sick. Here Ribault commenced by showing the +relative condition of their own and the enemy’s strength. His +conclusion, from his array of all the facts, was, that the true +policy required that he should embark with all his forces, and seek +the fleet of the Spaniards, particularly at a moment when it was +somewhat scattered; when one great ship only kept the seas; +when the rest were in no situation to support each other in the +event of sudden assault, and when the troops of the Adelantado, +partly on the shore, and partly in his vessels, were, very probably,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">- 326 -</a></span> +not in proper order to be used successfully. His argument was +not deficient in force or propriety. Certainly, with his own seven +ships, all brought together, and all his strength in compact order +and fit for service, he might reasonably hope to fall successfully +upon the divided forces and scattered squadrons of his enemy, and +sweep them equally from sea and land.</p> + +<p>But Laudonniere had his argument also, and it was not without +its significance. He opposed the scheme of Ribault entirely; representing +the defenceless condition of the fortress, and the danger +to the fleet at sea, and upon the coast, during a season proverbially +distinguished by storms and hurricanes. His counsel +was approved of by other captains; but Ribault, an old soldier +and sea captain, was too eager to engage the enemy to listen to +arguments that seemed to partake of the pusillanimous. It was +very evident that he did not regard Laudonniere as the best of +advisers in the work of war. He took his own head accordingly, +and commanded all soldiers that belonged to his command to go +on board their vessels. Not satisfied with this force, he lessened +the strength of the garrison by taking a detachment of its best +men, leaving few to keep the post but the invalids, who, like +Laudonniere, were suffering, or but just recovering, from the diseases +of the climate in midsummer. Laudonniere expostulated, +but in vain, against this appropriation of his garrison. On the +eighth of September, Ribault left the roadstead in pursuit of the +Spaniards, and Laudonniere never beheld him again. That very +day the skies were swallowed up in tempests. Such tempests +were never beheld before upon the coast. The storms prevailed +for several days, at the end of which time, apprehending the worst, +Laudonniere mustered his command, and proceeded to put the +fortress in the best possible condition of defence. To repair the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">- 327 -</a></span> +portions of the wall which had been thrown down, to restore the +palisades stretching from the fortress to the river, was a work of +equal necessity and difficulty; which, with all the diligence of +the Frenchmen, advanced slowly, in consequence of the violence +and long continuance of the stormy weather. The whole force +left in the garrison consisted of but eighty-six persons supposed +to be capable of bearing arms. Of their doubtful efficiency we +may boldly infer from these facts. Several of them were mere +boys, with sinews yet unhardened into manhood. Some were old +men, completely <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">hors de combat</i> from the general exhaustion of +their energies; many were still suffering from green wounds, got +in the war with Olata Utina, and others again were wholly unprovided +with weapons. Relying upon the assumption that he should +find his enemy at sea and in force, Ribault had stripped the garrison +of its real manhood. His vessels being better sailers than +those of the Spaniards, he took for granted that he should be +able to interpose, at any moment, for the safety of La Caroline, +should any demonstration be made against it. This was assuming +quite too much. It allowed nothing for the caprices of wind and +wave; for the sudden rising of gales and tempests; and accorded +too little to the cool prudence, and calculating generalship of +Pedro Melendez, one of the most shrewd, circumspect and successful +of the Spanish generals of the period: nor, waiving these +considerations, was the policy of Ribault to be defended, when +it is remembered that he had been specially counselled that the +Spaniards had made their lodgments in force upon the shores of +Florida, not many leagues, by land, from the endangered fortress. +His single virtue of courage blinded him to the danger from the +former. He calculated first to destroy the fleet of the enemy, +thus cutting off all resource and all escape, and then to descend<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">- 328 -</a></span> +upon the troops on land, before they could fortify their camp, +and overwhelm them with his superior and unembarrassed forces. +We shall see, hereafter, the issue of all these calculations. In all +probability his decision was influenced quite as much by his fanaticism +as his courage. He hated the Spaniards as Catholics, +quite as much as they hated him and his flock as heretics. This +rage blinded the judgment of the veteran soldier, upon whom fortune +was not disposed to smile.</p> + +<p>The condition of things at La Caroline, when Ribault took his +departure, deplorable enough as we have seen, was rendered still +worse by another deficiency, the fruit of this decision of the +commander. The supplies of food which were originally brought +out for the garrison, were mostly appropriated for the uses of the +fleet, allowing for its possibly prolonged absence upon the seas. +This absorbed the better portion of the store which was necessary +for the daily consumption at La Caroline. A survey of the quantity +in the granary of the fortress, made immediately after the +departure of the fleet, led to the necessity of stinting the daily +allowance of the garrison. Thus, then, with provisions short, +with Laudonniere sick, and otherwise incompetent,—with the +men equally few and feeble, improvident hitherto, and now spiritless,—the +labors of defence and preparation at La Caroline +went forward slowly; and its watch was maintained with very +doubtful vigilance. We have seen enough, in the previous difficulties +of the commandant with his people, to form a just judgment +of the small subordination which he usually maintained. +His government was by no means improved with the obvious +necessity before him, and the hourly increase of peril. Alarmed, +at first, by the condition in which he had been left, Laudonniere, +as has been stated, proceeded with the <em>show</em> of diligence, rather<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">- 329 -</a></span> +than its actual working, to repair the fortress, and put himself in +order for defence. But, with the appearance of bad weather, his +exertions relaxed; his people, accustomed to wait upon Providence +and the Indians,—praying little to the One and preying +much upon the others—very soon discontinued their unfamiliar +and disagreeable exertions. They could not suppose—averse +themselves to bad weather—that the Spaniards could possibly +expose themselves to chills and fevers during an equinoctial +tempest, under any idle impulses of enterprise and duty; and +their watch was maintained with very doubtful vigilance. On +the night of the nineteenth of September, Monsieur de La Vigne +was appointed to keep guard with his company. But Monsieur +de La Vigne had a tender heart, and felt for his soldiers in bad +weather. Seeing the rain continue and increase, “he pitied the +sentinels, so much moyled and wet; and thinking the Spaniards +would not have come in such a strange time, he let them depart, +and, to say the truth, hee went himself into his lodging.” But +the Spaniards appear to have been men of inferior tastes, and of +a delicacy less sympathising and scrupulous than Monsieur de +La Vigne. Bad weather appeared to agree with them, and we +shall see that they somewhat enjoyed the very showers, from the +annoyance of which our French sentinels were so pleasantly relieved. +We shall hear of these things hereafter. In the meanwhile, +let us look in upon the Adelantado of Florida, Pedro +Melendez, a strong, true man, in spite of a savage nature and a +maddening fanaticism,—let us see him and the progress of his +fortunes, where he plants the broad banner of Spain, with its castellated +towers, upon the lonely Indian waters of the Selooe, that +river which our Huguenots had previously dignified with the title +of “the Dolphin.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">- 330 -</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XXII_CH2" id="XXII_CH2">CHAPTER II.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">RIBAULT’S FORTUNES AT SELOOE.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was on the twenty-eighth of August, the day on which the +Spaniards celebrated the festival of St. Augustine, that the Adelantado +entered the mouth of the Selooe or Dolphin River. He +was attracted by the aspect of the place, and here resolved to +establish a settlement and fortress. He gave the name of the +Saint to the settlement. Having landed a portion of his forces, +he found himself welcomed by the savages, whom he treated with +kindness and who requited him with assurances of friendship. +From them he learned something of the French settlements, and +of their vessels at the mouth of the May River, and he resolved +to attempt the surprise of his enemies. We have seen the failure +of this attempt. Disappointed in his first desire, like the tiger +who returns to crouch again within the jungle from which he has +unsuccessfully sprung, Melendez made his way back to the waters +of the Selooe, where he proposed to plant his settlement, and +which his troops were already beginning to entrench. Here he +employed himself in taking formal possession in the name of the +King of Spain, and having celebrated the Divine mysteries in a +manner at once solemn and ostentatious, he swore his officers to +fidelity in the prosecution of the expedition, upon the Holy +Sacrament.</p> + +<p>It was while most busy with his preparations, that the fleet of +Ribault made its appearance at the mouth of the river. The +two heaviest of the Spanish vessels, being relieved of their armament +and troops, which had been transferred to the land, had +been despatched, on the approach of the threatened danger, with +all haste to Hispaniola. The two other vessels, at the bar or entrance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">- 331 -</a></span> +of the harbor, were unequal to the conflict with the superior +squadron of Ribault. Melendez was embarked in one of +them, and the three lighter vessels of the French, built especially +for penetrating shallow waters, were pressing forward to the certain +capture of their prey, for which there seemed no possibility +of escape. Melendez felt all his danger, but he had prepared +himself for a deadly struggle, and was especially confident in the +enthusiastic conviction that himself and his design were equally the +concern of Providence. It would seem that fortune was solicitous<!--was solicicitous--> +to justify the convictions of so much self-esteem. Ribault’s +extreme caution in sounding the bar to which his vessels were +approaching, lost him two precious hours; but for which his +conquest must have been certain. There was no hope, else, unless +in some such miraculous protection as that upon which the +Spanish general seemed to count. Had these two vessels been +taken and Melendez a prisoner, the descent upon the dismayed +troops on shore, not yet entrenched, and in no preparation for +the conflict with an equal or superior enemy, and the annihilation +of the settlement must have ensued. The consequence +of such an event might have changed the whole destinies of Florida, +might have established the Huguenot colonies firmly upon +the soil, and given to the French such a firm possession of the +land, as might have kept the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">fleur-de-lis</i> waving from its summits +to this very day. But the miracle was not wanting +which the Spanish Adelantado expected. In the very moment +when the hands of Ribault, were stretched to seize his prizes, the +sudden roar of the hurricane came booming along the deep. The +sea rose between the assailant and his prey,—the storm parted +them, and while the feebler vessels of Melendez, partially under +the security of the land, swept back towards the settlement<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">- 332 -</a></span> +which he had made on shore, the brigantines and bateaux of Ribault +were forced to rejoin their greater vessels, and they all +bore away to sea before the gale. Under the wild norther that +rushed down upon his squadron, Ribault with a groan of rage +and disappointment, abandoned the conquest which seemed already +in his grasp.</p> + +<p>Melendez promptly availed himself of the Providential event, +to insist among his people upon the efficiency of his prayers. +They had previously been desponding. They felt their isolation, +and exaggerated its danger. The departure of their ships +for Hispaniola, their frequent previous disasters, the dispersion +of nearly two thirds of the squadron with which they had left the +port of Cadiz, but three months before; the labors and privations +which already began to press upon them with a novel +force; all conspired to dispirit them, and made them despair of +a progress in which they were likely to suffer the buffetings only, +without any of the rewards of fortune;—and when they beheld +the approaching squadron of the French, in force so superior as +to leave no doubt of the capture of their only remaining vessels, +they yielded themselves up to a feeling of utter self-abandonment, +to which the stern, grave self-reliance of Melendez afforded no +encouragement. But when, with broad sweep of arm, he pointed +to the awful rising of the great billows of the sea, the wild +raging of cloud and storm in the heavens, the scudding flight +of the trembling ships of Ribault, their white wings gradually +disappearing in distance and darkness like feeble birds borne +recklessly forward in the wild fury of the tempest, he could, with +wonderful potency, appeal to his people to acknowledge the +wonders that the Lord had done for them that day.</p> + +<p>“Call you this the cause of our king only, in which we are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">- 333 -</a></span> +engaged my brethren? Oh! shallow vanity! And yet, you say +rightly. It is the cause of our king—the greatest of all kings—the +king of kings; and he will make it triumphant in all lands, +even though the base and the timid shall despair equally of themselves +and of Him! We shall never, my brethren, abandon this +cause to which we have sworn our souls, in life and death, without +incurring the eternal malediction of the Most High God, +forever blessed be his name! We are surrounded by enemies, my +friends; we are few and we are feeble; but what is our might, +when the tempest rises like a wall between us and our foes, and +in our greatest extremity, the hand of God stretches forth from +the cloud, and plucks us safely from the danger. Be of good +heart, then; put on a fearless courage; believe that the cause is +holy in which ye strive, and the God of Battles will most surely +range himself upon our side!”</p> + +<p>Loud cries of exultation from his people answered this address. +A thousand voices renewed their vows of fidelity, and pledged +themselves to follow blindly wherever he should lead. He commanded +that a solemn mass of the Holy Spirit should be said that +night, and that all the army should be present. He vouchsafed +no farther words. Nothing, he well knew, that he could say, +could possibly add to the miraculous event that had saved their +vessels, before their own eyes, in the very moment of destruction. +“Our prayers, our faith, my brethren; to these we owe +the saving mercies of the Blessed Jesus!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">- 334 -</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XXII_CH3" id="XXII_CH3">CHAPTER III.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">MELENDEZ AT SELOOE.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">But</span> the enthusiasm excited by the dispersion of Ribault’s vessels, +and the escape of their own, was of short-lived duration +among the Spaniards at Selooe. Human nature may obey a +grateful impulse, and, while it lasts, will be insensible to common +dangers and common necessities; but the enthusiasm which excites +and strengthens for a season, is one also which finally exhausts; +and when the enervation which succeeds to a high-strung +exultation, is followed by great physical trials, and the continued +pressure of untoward events, the creature nature is quite too apt +to triumph over that nobler spirit whose very intensity is fatal to +its length of life. The sign of providential favor which they had +beheld wrought visibly in their behalf, the inspiriting language of +their stern and solemn leader, the offices of religion, meant to +evoke the presence of the Deity, and to secure, by appropriate +rites, his farther protection, of which they had recently witnessed +so wonderful a manifestation; these wore away in their +effects upon our Spaniards, and in the toils and sufferings which +they were subsequently to endure.</p> + +<p>Perhaps nothing more greatly depresses the ordinary nature +than an abode in strange and savage regions during a prevalence +of cheerless, unfriendly weather. The soul recoils as it were +upon itself, under the ungenial pressure from without, and looking +entirely within, finds nothing but wants which it is impossible to +satisfy. Memory then studiously recals, as if for the purposes +of torture and annoyance, the aspects of the beloved ones +who are far from us in foreign lands. The joys which we have +had with old and loving associates, the sweets of dear homes, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">- 335 -</a></span> +the sounds of friendly voices, these are the treasures which she +conjures up at such periods, in mournful contrast with present +privations and all manner of denial. But if, in addition to these, +we are conscious of accumulating dangers; if the storm and +savage howl without; if hunger craves without being answered, +and thirst raves for the drop of moisture to cool its tongue, in +vain, we must not wonder if the ordinary nature sinks under its +sorrows and apprehension, and loses all the elastic courage which +would prompt endeavor and conduct to triumph. The master +mind alone, may find itself strong under these circumstances—the +man of inexorable will, great faith, and a far-sighted appreciation +of the future and its compensations. But it is the master +mind only which bears up thus greatly. The common herd is +made of very different materials, and in quite another mould.</p> + +<p>Don Pedro de Melendez was one of the few minds thus extraordinarily +endowed. His prudence, keeping due pace with his +religious fanaticism, approved him a peculiar character; a man +of rare energies, extraordinary foresight and indomitable will. +Resolute for the destruction of the heretics of La Caroline, he +was yet one of that class of persons—how few—who can forego +the premature attempt to gratify a raging appetite, in recognition +of those embarrassing circumstances, which if left unregarded, +would only operate for its defeat. He could wait the season, +with all patience, when desire might be crowned with fruition. +Yet was his thirst a raging one—a master passion—absorbing every +other in his soul. All that had taken place on land and sea, had +been certainly foreseen by him. Thus had he dispatched his +ships seasonably to Hispaniola, as well for their security, as to +afford him succor. If he doubted for the safety of those which +remained to him, on the approach of Ribault, he was relieved of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">- 336 -</a></span> +his doubts by his faith in the interposition of the Deity, and went +forth to the encounter, himself heading the forlorn hope, as it +were, without any misgivings of the result. He <em>knew</em> that the +Deity would, in some manner, make himself manifest in succor +for the true believer, even then engaged in the maintenance of +His cause. He had foreseen the threatening aspects of the heavens, +the wild tumults of the sea, the sullen and angry caprices +of the winds. He <em>felt</em> that storm and terror were in prospect, +and that they were meant as his defences against his enemy! +But this did not prevent him from adopting all proper human +precautions. He did not peril his prows beyond the shoals which +environed the entrance to his harborage. He did not trust them +beyond the natural bars at the mouth of the Selooe, leaving them +to the unrestrained fury of the demon winds that sweep the blue +waters of the gulf. Nor, assuming the bare possibility that the protection +of the Deity might be withheld from the true believer, as +much for the trial of his valor as his faith, in the moment of encounter +with the heretic, was the Adelantado neglectful of the means for +further struggle, should the assailants, successful with his shipping, +approach the shores of Selooe in the endeavor to destroy +his army. This he sought to protect by the best possible defences. +His troops were under arms in order for battle. Every +possible advantage of trench and picket was employed for giving +them additional securities. His people had already taken possession +of the Indian village, from whence the savages had been +expelled; and their dwellings were converted into temporary fortresses, +each garrisoned with its selected band. It is wonderful, +how the veteran chieftain toiled, in the endeavor to secure his position. +While he felt how little the Deity needed the strength of +man, in working out the purposes of destiny, he well knew how<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">- 337 -</a></span> +necessary it was that man should show himself worthy, by his +prudence and preparations, of the intervention and the care of +Deity.</p> + +<p>We have seen the issue of the unfortunate attempt of Ribault +upon his enemy; with the absence of immediate danger, the first +tumults of exultation on the part of the Spaniards, subsided into +a sullen and humiliating repose. As night came on, they momently +began to feel the increasing annoyances of their situation. +That they were in temporary security from the heretic French, +left them free to consider, and to feel, the insecurity and the +unfriendly solitude of their situation. The frail palm covered +huts of the Floridian savages, on the banks of their now raging +river, with the tempest roaring among the affrighted forest trees, +afforded but a sorry shelter to their numerous hosts. Darkness +and thick night closed in upon them in their dreary and comfortless +abodes, and their hearts sunk appalled beneath the terrific +bursts of thunder that seemed to rock the very earth upon +which they stood. They were not the tried veterans of Spain. +Many among them wore weapons for the first time, and all were +totally inexperienced in that foreign hemisphere, in which the +elements wore aspects of terror which had never before entered +their imaginations. Their officers were mostly able men and +good soldiers, but even these had enjoyed but small experience in +the new world. The levies of Melendez had been hurriedly +made, with the view to anticipate the progress of Ribault. They +were not such as that iron-hearted leader would have chosen for +the terrible warfare which he had in view. Chilled by the ungenial +atmosphere, confounded with torrents such as they had +never before beheld, and which seemed to threaten the return of +the deluge, they exaggerated the evils of their situation and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">- 338 -</a></span> +feared the worst. They were not ill-advised upon the subject of +their own strength and resources, and whatever they might hope +in respect to the probable ill-fortunes of Ribault and his fleet, they +knew him to be an experienced soldier, and that his armament +was superior, while his numbers were quite equal to their own. +They now knew that they were the objects of his search and hate, +as he had been of theirs, and they still looked with dread to his +reappearance, suddenly, and the coming of a conflict which should +add new terrors to the storm. They could not conceive the extent +of the securities which they enjoyed, and fancied that with +a far better acquaintance with the country than they possessed, +he would reappear among them at the moment when least expected, +and that they should perish beneath the fury of his fierce +assault.</p> + +<p>While thus they brooded over their situation, officers and men +cowering in the frail habitations of the Indians, through which +the rushing torrents descended without impediment, extinguishing +their fires, and leaving them with no light but that fitful one, +the fierce flashes from the clouds, which threatened them with +destruction while illuminating the pale faces of each weary +watcher;—Pedro Melendez, strengthened by higher if not a holier +support, disdained the miserable shelter of the hovels where they +crouched together. He trod the shore and forest pathways +without sign of fear or shows of disquiet or annoyance. He +smiled at the sufferings which he yet strove to alleviate. He +opened his stores for the relief of his people, yet partook of none +himself. He gave them food and wine of his own, even while he +smiled scornfully to see them eat and drink. His solicitude +equally provided against their dangers and their fears. He +placed the necessary guards against the one, and soothed or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">- 339 -</a></span> +mocked the other. He alone appeared unmoved amidst the +storm, and might be seen with unhelmed head, passing from +cot to cot, and from watch to watch, urging vigilance, providing +relief, and encouraging the desponding with a voice of cheer. +His eye took in without shrinking, all the aspects of the storm. +He gazed with uplifted spirit as the wild red flashes cleft the +great black clouds which enveloped the forests in a shroud. +“Ay!” he exclaimed, “verily, O Lord! thou hast taken this +work into thine own hands!” And thus he went to and fro, +without complaint, or suffering, or fatigue, till his lieutenants +with shame beheld the example of the veteran whom they had +not soul or strength to emulate. His deportment was no less a +marvel than a reproach to his people. They could not account +for that seemingly unseasonable delight which was apparent in his +face, in the exulting tones of his voice, and the eager impulse of +his action. That a glow-like inspiration should lighten up his +features, and give richness and power to his voice, while they +cowered from the storm and darkness in fear and trembling, +seemed to them indications rather of madness than of wisdom. +But in truth, it was inspiration. Melendez had been visited by +one of those sudden flashes of thought which open the pathway +to a great performance. A brave design filled his soul; a sudden +bright conception, to the proper utterance of which he hurried +with a due delight. He summoned his chief leaders to +consultation in the great council house of the tribe of Selooe, a +round fabric of mixed earth and logs, with a frail palm leaf +thatch, fragments of which, the fierce efforts of the tempest +momently tore away. The rain rushed through the rents of ruin, +the wind shrieked through the numerous breaches in the walls, +but Melendez stood in the midst, heedless of these annoyances,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">- 340 -</a></span> +or only heedful of them so far as to esteem them services and +blessings. He knew the people with whom he had to deal, their +fears, their weaknesses, and discontents, the base nature of many +of their desires, and the utter incapacity of all to realize the +intense enthusiasm which shone within his soul. He could scorn +them, but he had to use them. He despised their imbecility, but +felt how necessary it was too temporize with their moods, and +make them rather forgetful of their infirmities, than openly to +denounce and mock them. His eye was fastened upon certain +of his chiefs in especial, whose weaknesses were more likely to +endanger his objects than those of the rest, since these were associated +with a certain degree of pretension arising from their +occupance of place. But there is no one in more complete possession +of the subtleties of the politician, than the fanatic of intense +will. All his powers are concentrated upon the single object, +and he values this too highly to endanger it by any rashness. +He can make allowances for the weaker among the brethren, +so long as they have the power to yield service; he only cuts +them down ruthlessly, when, like the tree bringing forth no fruit, +the question naturally occurs to the politician, “Why cumbereth +it the ground?” Melendez was prepared to act the politician +amidst all his fanaticism. For this reason, though his resolution +was inexorably taken, he summoned his officers to a solemn deliberation—a +council of war—to determine upon what should be +done in the circumstances in which they stood.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">- 341 -</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XXII_CH4" id="XXII_CH4">CHAPTER IV.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">THE COUNCIL OF WAR AT SELOOE.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was midnight when the assemblage of the Spanish captains +took place in the great council house of the savages of Selooe. +Already, that night, had the place been consecrated by the performance +of a solemn mass in honor of the Holy Spirit. The +purposes of the present gathering were, in the opinion of Melendez, +not less honorable to the Deity. Rude logs strewn about the +building, even as they had been employed by the red-men, furnished +seats for the Spanish officers. They surrounded a great +fire of resinous pine, which now blazed brightly in the centre of +the apartment. In this respect the scene had rather the appearance +of savage rites than of Christian council. In silence, the +nobles of Castile, of Biscay and the Asturias took their places. +Their eyes were vacant, and their hearts were depressed. They +caught nothing of that exulting blaze which lightened up the features +of Melendez.</p> + +<p>“Oh! ye of little faith!” he exclaimed, rising in their midst, +“is it thus that ye give acknowledgment<!--was acknowlegment--> to God for the blessings +ye have received at his hands, and for that care of the Guardian +Shepherd, to which ye, thus far, owe your safety? Have ye +already lost the memory of that wondrous sign wrought this day +for your deliverance,—when your eyes beheld a wall of storm and +thunder pass between your captain and his little barques, and the +overwhelming squadron of the heretic Ribault? Was this manifestation +of his guardian providence made for us in vain? Said +it not, plainly as the voice of Heaven might say, that our mission +was not ended—that there was other work to be wrought by our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">- 342 -</a></span> +hands, and that he was with us, to help us in the great achievement +of his purposes. Lo! you now, the very storm, that rages +about us, and beneath the terrors of which ye tremble, is but a +further proof of his guardianship. Under cover of the rages of +the tempest, shall we press on to the complete achievement of our +work. We shall march to the conquest of La Caroline,—we shall +destroy these arch-heretics—these enemies of God, in the very +fortress of their strength—in the very place which they have set +apart, in the vain hope of security, as their home of refuge!”</p> + +<p>Audible murmurs here arrested the speaker.</p> + +<p>“What is it that ye fear, my children?” continued Melendez.</p> + +<p>Then some among them cried out—“What madness is it that +we hear? Shall we, thus enfeebled as we are, with our great ships +speeding to Hispaniola, here, left as we are on the wild shores of +the savage, not yet entrenched, shall we divide our strength, in +the hope to conquer La Caroline, leaving to the heretic Ribault +to fall upon our camp when we depart, to pursue us as we tread +the great forests of the Floridian, and to destroy us between the +power which he brings and that which awaits us at La Caroline?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! my brethren! would ye could see with my vision! Ribault +will not trouble our camp, neither will he pursue us in our +absence. He speeds before the terrors of the tempest. He flies +from the destruction which will scarcely suffer him to escape. A +voice cries to me that he already perishes beneath the engulphing +waters of the Mexican sea; or is cast upon the bleak and +treacherous shores and islands which guard the domain of the +Floridian. Even if he should escape these dangers, weeks must pass +before he can return to these waters of Selooe, the heathen empire +of which we have consecrated with the name and confided to the +holy keeping of the blessed St. Augustine! This tempest is no summer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">- 343 -</a></span> +gale, subsiding as rapidly as it begins. It will rage thus for +many days. In that time, encouraged by the Lord, we shall pass +the forest wastes that lie between us and La Caroline. With five +hundred men, and a host of these red warriors, we shall penetrate +in less than four days to the fortress of the heretics—and while +they dream that they sleep securely under the shadows of the +tempest, we shall rush upon their slumbers, and give them to +sleep eternally. My valiant comrades, this is the resolution +which I have taken; but I would hear your counsel. I would +not that ye should not cheerfully adopt the resolve which is assuredly +a dictate from Heaven itself. For, if we destroy not these +heretics, they will destroy us. If we cut off the people of La +Caroline ere Ribault shall return, his fortress is ours, the cannon +of which we shall turn upon him. It is a war <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">a l’outrance</i> between +us. They will give us no quarter: they shall have none. +This tempest gives us the assurance that we shall have no danger +from Ribault, if we seize the precious moments for our enterprise, +when he is vainly striving with the tempests of the deep, and +vainly striving against the winds that bear him away hourly still +farther from the scene of our achievements.”</p> + +<p>We need not pursue the deliberations of the Spanish council. It +is enough if we report the result. In the speeches of Melendez, +already made, we see the full force of his argument, which was sound +and sensible, and could only be opposed by the fears of those who +sought to avoid exposure, who dreaded the elements, the unknown +in their condition, and who shrunk from enterprises which promised +nothing but hard blows, and which tasked their hardihood +beyond all their past experience in war. There were arguments and +pleas put in by the over-cautious and the timid, to all of which +the Adelantado listened patiently, but to all of which he opposed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">- 344 -</a></span> +his arguments, based at once upon the obvious policy natural to +their circumstances, and to the equally obvious requisitions of the +Deity, as shown by an interposition in their favor, which they +were all prepared to acknowledge as fervently as Melendez. His +quiet but inflexible will prevailed; the council gradually became +of his mind. The unsatisfied were at least silenced, while those +whom he convinced were clamorous in their plaudits of a scheme +which they ascribed, as Melendez did himself, to the immediate +revelation of Heaven.</p> + +<p>“I thank you, noble gentlemen,” were the words of the Adelantado, +as they separated for the night. “That our opinions so +well correspond increases my confidence in our plan. Not that I +had doubts before. I had thy assurance, oh! Lord! that this +adventure had thy heavenly sanction. <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">In te Domine speravi</i>,—let +us never be confounded! And now, my comrades, let us separate. +With the dawn, though the storm rages still, as I hope and believe +it will, we must prepare for this enterprise. We shall choose +five hundred of our best soldiers, carry with us provisions for eight +days, and in that time our work will be done. Our force will be +divided into six companies, each with its flag and captain, and a +select body of pioneers, armed with axes, shall be sent before to +open a pathway through the forest. That we have no guide is a +misfortune; but God will provide so that we fail not. Fortunately +we know in what quarter lies La Caroline—the distance is +known also, and we shall not go wide, if we are only resolved to +seek and to destroy the heretics with firm and valiant hearts, +filled with a proper faith in heaven.”</p> + +<p>Even as he concluded, one at the entrance of the council-house +entreated entrance. It proved to be a priest, the Reverend<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">- 345 -</a></span> +Father Salvandi, who brought with him a strange man, overgrown +with beard, and partly in the costume of a mariner.</p> + +<p>“My son,” said the priest, “here is the very man you want. +This is one Francis Jean, a Frenchman,—once a heretic, but +now, conscious of his errors, and repentant in the hands of Holy +Church. He hath recanted of his sins, and hath come back willingly +to the folds of Christ. He hath fled from La Caroline, from +the cruelties of Laudonniere, the heretic, and will report what he +knows, touching the condition of the Lutheran fortress and the +people thereof.”</p> + +<p>“Said I not, my comrades, that God would provide!” cried +Melendez in exultation. “This is the very man whom we want. +What art thou?”—to the Frenchman.</p> + +<p>“I was a heretic, my lord,—I am now a Christian. I was +beaten by Laudonniere, and I fled from him, taking off one of his +barques. He hath sworn my life; I would take his. I know the +route to La Caroline. I will show the way to your soldiers.”</p> + +<p>“Ah! Laudonniere will hang you, if he gets you into his +power.”</p> + +<p>“For that reason, my lord, I would have you get him in +yours.”</p> + +<p>“You shall have your wish. The Lord hath indeed spoken! +Your name?”</p> + +<p>“Francis Jean!”</p> + +<p>“Be faithful—guide my people to this fortress of the heretics, +and you shall be rewarded. But, if treacherous, Francis Jean, +you shall hang to the first tree of the forest!”</p> + +<p>“Doubt me not, my lord. I will do you good service!”</p> + +<p>“Be it so! My comrades—the Lord hath provided. Señor +Martin de Ochoa, take this man into thy keeping. Do him no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">- 346 -</a></span> +hurt,—let him be well entreated, but let him not escape from thy +sight.”</p> + +<p>The Reverend Father Salvandi bestowed his benediction upon +the kneeling circle, and they separated for the night. And still +the storm roared without, and still the rains descended, but the +heart of Melendez rejoiced in the tempest, as it were an angel +sent by Heaven to his succor.</p> + +<h3><a name="XXII_CH5" id="XXII_CH5">CHAPTER V.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">THE DINNER-PARTY OF MELENDEZ.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">But</span> the consolations of Melendez were not those of his people, +nor did they arrive at his conclusions. It was soon bruited abroad +that he was to march through the tempest upon La Caroline, and +his soldiers spoke the open language of sedition. Their clamors +reached the ears of Melendez, but he was one of those wonderful +politicians who know what an error it is, at times, to be too quick +of sight and hearing. The discontents of the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">canaille</i> gave him +little concern; yet he watched them without seeming to do so; +and employed processes of his own for inducing their quiet, without +showing himself either apprehensive or angry. Some of his +officers were guilty of seditious speeches also—some of those +whom his will had silenced in council, rather than his arguments +convinced. He took his measures with these in a simple manner, +without allowing his preparations to be arrested for a moment. +One of these officers, named St. Vincent, positively declared his +purpose not to go upon an expedition where they would only +get their throats cut; and that if Melendez persisted in his mad<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">- 347 -</a></span> +design, he would embark with all those left at St. Augustine, and +take his route back to Hispaniola. This same person, with the +Señors Francis Recalde and Diego de Maya, openly and boldly +remonstrated with the Adelantado against the enterprise. He answered +them by inviting them, and all other of his officers who +had been of the council, to a great dinner which he prepared for +them that day. Here he gave them quite a splendid entertainment, +and in the midst of their hilarity he <span class="nowrap">said—</span></p> + +<p>“That it was with very great surprise he discovered that the +secret councils of the last night had been improperly revealed to +all the world—councils of war,” said he, “my comrades, are matters +the value of which depend wholly upon their secresy. It +would be my duty to find out and punish the authors of this +wretched infidelity; but I am too well persuaded of the mercies +of God to myself and to all of us, not to be indulgent to the faults +of our people. This offence, accordingly, is forgiven, no matter +who shall have been the offender. But, hereafter, I may say that +all future seditions among the soldiers shall be punished in the +officers. It is from the officers only that the soldiers are led into +insubordination. They shall answer for their men. Let it be +known, however, that all who lose heart, who tremble at this enterprise, +to which God himself has summoned us, are at liberty to +remain. I am satisfied, however, that the greater number are +prepared to depart with me the moment I give the signal, under +the proper example of their captains. Still, I am willing to hear +counsel from you touching this expedition. I am not mulish enough +to adhere to a resolution when better counsels are given against it. +Speak freely your minds, therefore, if you think otherwise than +myself; remembering this only, that our resolution, once taken, if +there shall be one so bold as to oppose words where he should do<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">- 348 -</a></span> +his duty, he shall be cashiered upon the spot. And now, my comrades, +this wine of Xeres is not amiss. Let us drink. We are of +one mind, I perceive, in council; let our unanimity extend to our +drink. I drink to the speedy overthrow of heresy, and the spread +of the true faith; both certain where the sword of valor is always +ready to obey the voice of God!”</p> + +<p>The toast was drank with enthusiasm. The discontents were +silenced. How should it be otherwise where the authority was so +generous, conveying its suggestions through the generous wines of +Xeres, and only hinting at the possibility of disgrace and punishment, +in the occurrence of events scarcely possible to those who +claimed to draw the sword of valor in the service of the Deity. +The Adelantado gave no farther heed to the factions of his army. +He probably adopted the best precautions. It is true that St. +Vincent still mouthed threats of disobedience, but the policy of +Melendez had no ears in his quarter; and the preparations went +on, without interruption, for the march against La Caroline!</p> + +<h3><a name="XXII_CH6" id="XXII_CH6">CHAPTER VI.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">THE STORMING OF LA CAROLINE.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> preparations for departure were complete. The Adelantado +himself marched at the head of his vanguard, the immediate command +of which was confided to Señor Martin de Ochoa, with a +troop of Biscayans and Asturians, armed with axes, for clearing +their pathway through the forest. With these went the traitor, +Francis Jean, who had abandoned his religion and La Caroline together. +He was watched closely, but proved faithful to his new<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">- 349 -</a></span> +masters. Dreary, indeed, was the progress of Melendez. The +storm prevailed all the time. The rain soaked their garments, +and it was with difficulty they could protect their ammunition and +provisions. The fourth day of the march they were within five +miles of La Caroline, but arrested by an immense tract of swamp, +in passing which the water was up to their middles. The whole +country was flooded, and the <i>freshet</i> momently increased, in consequence +of the continued rains. These had become more terrible +in volume than ever. The windows of heaven seemed again +opened for another deluge. The hearts of the Spaniards sunk, as +their toils and sufferings increased. More than a hundred slunk +away, fell off on the route, and made their way over the ground +which they had trodden, reporting the worst of disasters to their +comrades, defeat and destruction, by way of excusing their cowardice. +But the indomitable courage and unbending will of the +adelantado, his presence and voice of command in every quarter, +still prevailed to bring his remaining battalions forward. It was +in vain that his troops muttered curses upon his head. Fernan +Perez, an ensign of the company of St. Vincent, was bold enough +to say, that “he could not comprehend how so many brave gentlemen +should let themselves be led by a wretched Asturian +mountaineer—a fellow who knew no more about carrying on war +on land than a horse!”</p> + +<p>The ensign had a great deal more to say of the same sort, of +which Melendez was not ignorant, but of which he took no notice. +He was a sage dissimulator who answered discontent with policy, +and strengthened his people’s hearts by divine revelation. He +called another council of his officers. He told them of his prayers +to and consultations of Heaven, seeking to know the will of God +only in the performance of his work,—persuaded that each of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">- 350 -</a></span> +them had made like prayers all night; that they were accordingly +in the very mood of mind to resolve what was to be done in their +extremity. He made this to appear as bad as possible, describing +them as “harrassed with fatigue, shorn of strength, without bread, +munitions or any human resource.”</p> + +<p>Some one counselled their retreat to St. Augustine before the +Huguenots should discover them.</p> + +<p>“Very good advice,” quoth Melendez, “but suffer me still another +word. The prospect is undoubtedly a gloomy one, but look +you, there are the portals of La Caroline. Now, it may be just +as well to see how affairs stand with our enemies. According to +all appearances they are not in force. We may not have the power +to take the place, but it is well to see whether the place can be +taken. If we retreat now, we are not sure that we shall do so securely. +They will probably hunt us through the forest, at every +step of the way, encouraged by our show of weakness and timidity. +It is not improbable that we may surprise this fort. Men seldom +look either for friends or enemies in bad weather. I doubt if they +can sustain a bold assault; but if they do, and we fail, we have +the consolation at least of having done all that was possible for +men.”</p> + +<p>The assault was agreed upon; and in a transport of joy, the +Adelantado sunk upon his knees, in the mire where he stood, and +called upon his troops to do likewise, imploring the succor of the +God of battles.</p> + +<p>He gave his orders with rapid resolution and according to a +fixed design already entertained. Taking with him Francis Jean, +the renegade, he put himself at the head of one division of his +troops, and gave other bodies to the Captains Martin de Ochoa, +Francis Recalde, Andres Lopez Patino and others, and, covered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">- 351 -</a></span> +by the midnight darkness from observation—with all sounds of +drum and trumpet stilled—with the echoes of their advancing +squadrons hushed in the fall of torrents and the roar of sweeping +winds—the assailants made their way, slowly and painfully but +without staggering, toward the silent bastions of La Caroline.</p> + +<p>Under the guidance of the renegade Frenchman the Spanish +captains made a complete reconnoissance of the fortress. A portion +of it was still unrepaired, and this they penetrated without +difficulty. We have seen, in a previous chapter, with what +doubtful vigilance the lieutenants of Laudonniere performed their +duties. It will not be forgotten that, on the night of the 19th +September, the charge of the watch lay with Captain de la Vigne; +nor will it be forgotten with what pity that amiable captain regarded +the condition of his sentinels, exposed to such unchristian +weather. We left the fortress of La Caroline in most excellent +repose; the storm prevailing without, and the garrison asleep +within. It was while they slept that Don Pedro de Melendez was +praying to heaven that he might be permitted to assist them in +their slumbers, changing the temporary into an eternal sleep. +Thus passed the night of the 19th September over La Caroline. +The dawn of the 20th found the Spaniards, in several divisions, +about to penetrate the fortress. Two of their leaders, Martin de +Ochoa and the master of the camp had already done so. They +had examined the place at their leisure, passing through an unrepaired +breach of one of the walls. Returning, with the view to +making their report, they had mistaken one pathway for another, +and encountered a drowsy Frenchman, who, starting at their approach, +demanded “<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Qui vive?</i>” Ochoa promptly answered, +“France,” and the man approached them only to receive a stunning +blow upon the head. The Frenchman recovered himself instantly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">- 352 -</a></span> +drew his sword, and made at the assailant, but the master of the +camp seconded the blow of Ochoa, and the Frenchman was brought +to the ground. The sword of the Spaniard was planted at his +throat, and he was forbidden to speak under pain of death. He +had cried aloud, but had failed to give the alarm, and this pointed +suggestion silenced him from farther attempts. He was conducted +to Melendez, who, determined to see nothing but good auguries, +cried out, without caring to hear the report—“My friends, God +is with us! We are already in possession of the fort.” At these +words the assault was given. The captive Frenchman was slain, +as the most easy method of relieving his captors of their charge, +and the Spaniards darted pell-mell into the fort, the fierce Adelantado +still leading in the charge, with the cry—“Follow me, comrades, +God is for us!” Two Frenchmen, half-naked, rushed +across his path. One of them he slew, and Don Andres Patino +the other. They had no time allowed them to give the alarm; +but just at this moment a soldier of the garrison who was less +drowsy than the rest, or more apprehensive of his duty, had sauntered +forth from the shelter of his quarters and stood upon the +ramparts, looking forth in the direction of a little “sandie knappe,” +or hill, down which a column of the Spaniards were rushing in order +of battle. This vision brought him to the full possession of all +his faculties. He gave the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">cri de guerre</i>, the signal of battle, but +as he wheeled about to procure his weapons, he beheld other detachments +of the Spaniards making their way through the unrepaired +and undefended breaches in the wall. Still he cried aloud, +even as he fled, and Laudonniere started from his slumbers only +to hear the startling cry—“To arms! to arms! The enemy is +upon us!”</p> + +<p>The warning came too late. The amiable weakness which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">- 353 -</a></span> +withdrew the sentinels from the walls because of the weather, was +not now to be repaired by any energy or courage. The garrison +was aroused, but not permitted to rally or embody themselves. +Melendez with his troop had reached the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">corps de garde</i> quite as +soon as Laudonniere. The latter—lately supposed to have usurped +royal honors—was very soon convinced that the only object before +him was the safety of his own life. With the first alarm, he +caught up sword and buckler, and rushed valiantly enough into +the court. But he only appeared to be made painfully conscious +that everything was lost. His appeals to his soldiers only brought +his enemies about him, who butchered his men as they approached +their guns, and who now appeared in numbers on every side, in +full possession of the fortress. The magazines were already in +their hands, and a desperate effort of Laudonniere’s artillerists to +recover them, was followed only by their own destruction. The +most vigorous resistance, hand to hand, was made on the south-west +side of the fort. Here the Frenchmen opposed themselves +with cool and determined courage, to the entrance of the enemy. +Hither Laudonniere hurried, crying aloud to his men in the language +of encouragement, and doing his utmost, by the most headlong +valor, to repair the mischiefs of his feeble rule and most unhappy +remissness of authority. Verily, to those who saw how +well he carried himself in this the moment of his worst despair, +the past errors of the unhappy Laudonniere had been forgiven if +not forgotten. But the struggle, on the part of any valor, was +utterly in vain. The Spaniards had won a footing already too secure +for dispossession. Led on by Pedro Melendez, with ever and +anon his fanatic war-cry—“God is with us, my comrades,” ringing +in their ears, now thoroughly excited by the earnest of success +which they enjoyed, in overwhelming numbers and in the full faith<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">- 354 -</a></span> +that they fought the battles of Holy Church, the Spaniards were +irresistible. They mocked the tardy valor of our Huguenots, their +feeble force, and purposeless attempts. At length the party led +by Melendez confronted Laudonniere. The Spanish chieftain +knew not the person of his enemy. But the renegade Frenchman, +Francis Jean, discovered his ancient leader, and the desire +for revenge, which had led to his treachery, filled his heart with +exultation at the prospect of the gratification of his passion. He +cried to Melendez:</p> + +<p>“That is he! That is the captain of the heretics—that is +Laudonniere!”</p> + +<p>“Ah, traitor! Is it thou?” cried Laudonniere. “Let me +but live to slay thee, and I care nothing for the rest.”</p> + +<p>With these words he sprang upon the traitor guide, and would +have slain him at a stroke, but for the interposition of Melendez. +He thrust back the renegade, and confronted the captain of the +Huguenots. But Laudonniere shrank from the conflict, for Melendez +was followed by his troop; and, saving one man, a stout +soldier named Bartholomew, who fought manfully with a heavy +partizan, he stood utterly alone and unsupported. He gave +back, or rather was drawn back by Bartholomew; but now that +Melendez and his people had seen the particular prey whom they +had been seeking, they rushed with fiercer appetite than ever to +make him captive. The efforts of the Spaniards were then redoubled. +The fierce bigot Pedro Melendez himself—a stalwart +warrior, clad in heavy black armor of woven mail, with a great +white cross upon his breast—made the most desperate efforts to +bring Laudonniere to the last passage at arms; and for a time the +Frenchman, though quite too light and enfeebled by sickness for +the contest with such a champion, was eager to indulge him. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">- 355 -</a></span> +struggled with the friendly arm which perforce drew him away, and +great was his rage, though impotent, when the rush of a number +of his own fugitives passing between at this moment, hurried him +onward as by the downward rush of a torrent, to the safety of his +life if not to the increase of his honor. At that moment Laudonniere +had gladly redeemed by a glorious death, at the hands of the +fierce Asturian, the errors and the failures of his life. But this +was denied him, and, vainly struggling against the tide of fugitives, +he was swept with them in the direction of the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">corps de garde</i>. +Laudonniere yielded in this manner only foot by foot, striking at +the foe and at his own runagates alike, and receiving upon his shield, +with the dexterity of an accomplished cavalier, the assault of a +score of pikes which pressed beyond the heavy blade of Melendez. +When at length the retreating Frenchmen had reached the court +of the fortress, they scattered headlong, finding themselves confronted +by new and consolidated masses of the enemy, and each of +them sought incontinently his own method of escape. “<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Sauve +qui peut!</i>” was the cry, and the crowd by which Laudonniere had +hitherto been borne unwillingly along, now melted away on every +hand, leaving him again almost alone in the presence of the +Spaniard. And still the faithful fellow, Bartholomew, clung to his +superior, saving him from the rashness which would only have +flung away his own life without an object. He hurried along his +unhappy and now reckless captain, taking his way into the yard +of Laudonniere’s lodging. Thither they were closely pursued, and, +but for a tent that happened to be standing in the place, they +must have been taken. But, passing behind this tent, while the +Spaniards were busied in groping within it, or cutting away the +cords,</p> + +<p>“Hither, now, Monsieur René,” cried Bartholomew, grasping<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">- 356 -</a></span> +the commandant by the wrist and drawing him along; “follow +me now and we shall surely escape. They have left the breach +open by the west, near to the lodging of Monsieur D’Erlach, and +by that route shall we gain the thickets.”</p> + +<p>“Ah!” cried Laudonniere, long and grateful recollections of +a tried fidelity, to which he had not always done justice, extorting +from him a groan; “Ah! this had never happened had Jean Ribault +left me Alphonse!”</p> + +<p>And the tears gushed from his eyes, and he paused and thrust +the point of his sword into the earth with vexation and despair.</p> + +<p>“We have not a moment, Monsieur René,” cried the soldier +with impatience; “the tent is down; the Spaniards are foiled for +a moment only. They will be sure to seek you in the breach.”</p> + +<p>“There! there! indeed!” cried the commandant bitterly, +“there should they have found me at first; but now!—Lead on! +lead on! my good fellow. As thou wilt!”</p> + +<p>Soon our fugitives had cleared the breach, and were now without +the walls. The misty shroud which covered the face of nature, +and enveloped as with a sea the thickets to which they were making, +favored their escape. The unhappy Laudonniere found himself +temporarily safe in the forests; but if remote from present +danger, they were not so far from the fortress as to be insensible +to the work of death and horror which was in progress there, the +evidence of which came to their ears in the shrieks of women for +mercy, and the groans and cries of tortured men.</p> + +<p>“Slay! slay! Smite and spare not!” was the dreadful command +of Melendez. “The groans of the heretic make music in +the ears of Heaven!”</p> + +<p>Laudonniere shut his ears, and with his companion plunged +deeper into the forests. Here he found other fugitives like himself,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">- 357 -</a></span> +and others subsequently joined him; some were wounded even +unto death, others slightly; all were terror-stricken, shuddering +with horror, incapable from wo and agony. What had they beheld, +what endured, and what was the prospect before them but of +massacre? A hasty council was convened among the party, and +the advice of Laudonniere—he could command no longer—was, +that they should bury themselves among the reeds and within the +marshes which lay along the river, out of sight, until they could +make their small vessels, by which the mouth of the river was still +guarded, aware of their situation. But this council was agreeable +to a part only, of that bewildered company. Another portion +preferred to push for one of the Indian villages, at some little distance +in the forests, where, hitherto, they had found a friendly +reception. They persevered in this purpose, leaving Laudonniere +and a few others in the marshes. Hither, then, these hapless fugitives +sped, till they could go no farther; and until their commandant +himself, still unrecovered from the chill and fever which +had seized him at the first coming on of autumn, declared his inability +to go deeper into the thicket, though it promised him the +safety which he sought. He was already up to his neck in water, +and such was his weakness, that he was about to yield to his fate. +But for the faithful and unwearied support of one of his soldiers, +Jean du Chemin, who held him above the water when he would +have sunk, and who stuck by him all the rest of that day, and +through the long and dreary night which followed, he must have +perished. Meanwhile, two of his soldiers swam off in the direction +of the vessels. Fortunately for those swimmers, those in the +vessels had been already apprized of the taking of the fort by Jean +de Hais, the master carpenter, who had made his escape the first, +by dropping down the river in a shallop. The boats of the vessels<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">- 358 -</a></span> +were immediately pushed up the stream, and succeeded in picking +up the swimmers, and, finally, when Laudonniere and his faithful +companions were both about to sink, in extricating them from +their marshy place of refuge. Eighteen or twenty of the fugitives +(among whom was the celebrated painter, Jaques le Moyne de +Morgues, to whom we owe mostly the illustrations of Floridian +scenery, costume, and lineaments preserved in De Bry and other +collections) were rescued in this manner, and conveyed on board +the ships. These, with Laudonniere, subsequently made their +way, after many disasters, perils of the sea and land, a detention +in England, where they were again indebted to the humanity of +the English for succor and sympathy. An artful attempt was +made by Melendez to obtain possession of these vessels, but he +was baffled. They sailed from the river of May on the 25th September, +1565, thus abandoning forever the design of planting +themselves and their religion permanently in Florida. Let us now +look to the farther proceedings of the conquerors in possession of +their prize!</p> + +<h3><a name="XXII_CH7" id="XXII_CH7">CHAPTER VII.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">VÆ VICTIS.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">And</span> now, it falls to our lot to record the most cruel passage in +all this history; to relate the mournful and terrible fate which befel +the wretched Huguenots taken at the capture of La Caroline, and +the sanguinary deed by which the Spanish chief, through a gloomy +fanaticism, stained foully the honorable fame which his skill and +courage in arms might have ensured to his memory. All resistance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">- 359 -</a></span> +having ceased on the part of the Huguenots of La Caroline, +the standard of Castile was unrolled from its battlements, instead +of the white folds and the smiling lilies of France. The name of +the fortress was solemnly changed to San Matheo, the day on +which they found themselves in its possession being that which +was dedicated to the honor of that saint. The arms of France +and of Coligny, which surmounted the gateways of the place, were +erased and those of Spain were graven there instead, and the keeping +of the fortress was assigned to a garrison of three hundred +men, under the command of Gonzalo de Villaroël. These duties +occupied but little time, and did not interfere with other performances +of the Adelantado, which he thought not the less conspicuous +among the duties required at his hands. His prisoners +were brought before him. These were, perhaps, not so numerous, +though forming a fair proportion of the number left by Ribault in +the garrison. It is perhaps fortunate that no greater number had +been left, since, in all probability, the same want of watch and +caution by which the fortress had been lost, would have equally +been shown, with any numbers, under such an easy commandant +as Laudonniere, and in the particular circumstances which had +taken place. Of these prisoners many were women and children. +We have seen that Laudonniere succeeded in rescuing some +twenty persons. Several had fled to the forests and taken shelter +with the tribes of neighboring Indians. In some few instances, +the red-men protected them with fidelity. But in the greater +number of cases, terrified by the sudden appearance and the +strength of the Spaniards, they had yielded up the fugitives at the +fierce demand of the Adelantado. Others of the miserable Huguenots, +warned by the Indians that they could no longer harbor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">- 360 -</a></span> +were shot down by the pursuing Spaniards, as they fled in terror +through the forests. Twenty perished in this manner, offering no +resistance, and long after the struggle in La Caroline had +ended.</p> + +<p>The surviving prisoners were then brought before the conqueror. +They were manacled, and presented a spectacle which must +have moved the sympathies of any ordinary nature. But Pedro +de Melendez was not of an ordinary nature. The natural sympathies +had given way to a morbid passion amounting to insanity, +by which his judgment was confounded. The sight of weeping, +and trembling women and children; of captives naked, worn, exhausted, +enfeebled by years, by disease, by cruel wounds—all +pleading for his mercy—only seemed to strengthen<!--was strengthem--> him in the +most cruel resolution. “The groans of the heretic, are music +in the ears of heaven!” Upon this maxim he designed an appropriate +commentary.</p> + +<p>“Separate these women from the other prisoners.”</p> + +<p>It was done.</p> + +<p>“Now detach from these last, all children under fifteen +years.”</p> + +<p>His command was obeyed. The women and children thus set +apart were consigned to slavery. Of their farther fate the historian +knows nothing. The young and tender were probably persuaded +to the Roman Catholic altars, and thus finally achieved +their deliverance. The more stubborn, we may reasonably assume, +perished in their bonds, passing from one condition of +degradation to another. Of the rest the history is terribly definite. +Fixing his cold, dark eye upon the male captives upon +whose fate he had yet said nothing, he <span class="nowrap">demanded—</span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">- 361 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“Is there among ye any who profess the faith of the Holy +Catholic Church?”</p> + +<p>Two of the prisoners answered in the affirmative.</p> + +<p>“Take these Christians away, and let their bonds be removed. +The Holy Father, Salvandi, will examine them in the faith of +Mother Church. For the rest, are there any among ye, who, +seeing the error of your ways, will renounce the heresy of +Luther, and seek once more communion with the only true +church?”</p> + +<p>A drear silence followed. The captives looked mournfully at +each other, and at the Adelantado; but in his face there was no +encouragement, and nothing but despair was expressed in the +aspects of their fellows.</p> + +<p>“Be warned!” continued the Adelantado. “To those who +seek the blessings of the true church, she generously openeth her +arms. To those who turn away, indifferently or in scorn, she decrees +death temporal and death eternal. Hear ye!—and now +say.”</p> + +<p>The silence was unbroken.</p> + +<p>“Are ye obdurate? or do ye not comprehend that your +lives rest upon your speech? Either ye embrace the safety which +the church offers, by an instant renunciation of that of the foul +heretic Luther, or ye die by the halter!”</p> + +<p>One sturdy soldier advanced from the group—a bold, high-souled +fellow—his brows lifted proudly with the conscious impulse +which worked within his soul.</p> + +<p>“Pedro de Melendez, we are in your power. You are master +of our mortal bodies, but with the death before us that you +threaten, know that we are members of the reformed Church of +Christ, which ye name to be of Luther—that, holding it good to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">- 362 -</a></span> +live in this faith, we deem it one in which it will not be amiss to +die!”</p> + +<p>And the speaker looked round him, into the faces of his fellows, +and they lightened up with a glow of cheerfulness and pride, +though no word was spoken.</p> + +<p>“Speaks this man for the rest of ye?” demanded Melendez.</p> + +<p>For a moment there was silence. At length a matelit advanced—a +common sailor—a man before the mast.</p> + +<p>“Ay! ay! captain! what he says we say! and there’s no use +for more palaver. Let there be an end of it. We are of the +church of Messer Luther, and no other; if death’s the word, +we’re ready. We’re not the men, at the end of the reckoning, to +belie the whole voyage!”</p> + +<p>“Be it it even as ye say!” answered Melendez coldly, but +sternly, and without change of accent or show of passion: “Take +them forth, and let them be hung to yonder tree!”</p> + +<p>Then rose the shrieks of women and the cries of children; +women seeking to embrace their husbands and children clinging +to the knees of their doomed sires. But these produced no relentings. +The parties were separated by the strong hand, and the +unhappy men were hurried<!--was hurrried--> to the fatal tree. The priest stood +ready to receive their recantations. His exhortations were not +spared; but soldier and sailor had equally spoken for the resolute +martyrdom of the whole. The reverend father preached to them, +and promised them in vain. Amidst cries and curses, the victims +were run up to the wide-spreading branches of a mighty oak, dishonored +in its employment for such a purpose, and perished in +their fidelity to the faith which they professed. Their bodies +were left hanging in the sun and wind, destined equally as trophies +of the victor, and warnings to the heretic. A monument was instantly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">- 363 -</a></span> +raised beneath the tree, upon which was printed in large +<span class="nowrap">characters—</span></p> + +<div class="center serfont"> +<p>“These do not suffer thus as<br /> +Frenchmen, but as<br /> +Heretics and<br /> +Enemies<br /> + to God!”</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">- 364 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XXIII" id="XXIII">XXIII.</a><br /> +THE FORTUNES OF RIBAULT.</h2> + +<h3>CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Having</span> thus rendered himself master of La Caroline, effectually +displacing the Huguenots from the region which they had +acquired, and maintained so long through so many vicissitudes, +Melendez prepared to hurry back to his camp on the banks of the +Selooe. He but lingered to review the force of the garrison, and +with his own hands, fresh reeking with the blood of his slaughtered +victims, to lay the foundations of a church dedicated to the +God of Mercy, when he set forth with the small body of troops, +which he reserved to himself from the number that accompanied +his expedition, scarcely a hundred men, impatient for return, lest +Ribault, escaping from the storm, should visit upon his settlement +at St. Augustine the same wrath which had lighted upon La +Caroline. The heavy torrents from which he had already suffered +so much continued to descend as before, and the whole face of the +country was inundated; his people suffered inconceivably upon the +march, but the Adelantado was superior to the sense of suffering. +He felt himself too much the especial favorite of God, to suffer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">- 365 -</a></span> +himself to doubt that the toils and inconveniences of such a progress +as that before him, were anything but tests of his fidelity, +and the means by which the Deity designed to prepare him properly +for the holy service which was expected at his hands. He +reached his camp in safety. His arrival was the source of a great +triumph and an unexpected joy. Here he had been reported as +having perished, with all his army, at the hands of the French. +The deserters, who had abandoned him on the route, in certain +anticipation of this fate, had not scrupled to spread this report by +way of excusing their own inconstancy and fears. His people +accordingly passed instantly from the extremity of terror to that +of joy and triumph. They marched out, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">en masse</i>, at his approach, +to welcome him as the vanquisher of the heretics; the priests at +their head, bearing the cross of Christ, the conqueror, and chanting +<i lang="la" xml:lang="la">Te Deum</i>, in exultation at the twofold conquest which he had won, +at the expense equally of their own, and the enemies of the church.</p> + +<p>His triumphs were not without some serious qualifications. In +the midst of their joy, an incendiary, as he supposed, had reduced +to ashes the remaining vessels in the harbor. A portion of his +garrison, a little after, showed themselves in mutiny against their +officers, this spirit having been manifested before his departure +for La Caroline. He was apprised also of a mishap to one of his +greater ships, the San Pelayo, which had been sent to Hispaniola, +filled with captive Frenchmen taken at different periods, and who +were destined to suffer the question as heretics in the Inquisition of +the mother country. These had risen upon the crew, overpowered +them, captured the vessel, and carried her safely into Denmark.</p> + +<p>While meditating, and seeking to repair some of these mishaps, +Melendez received intelligence of Ribault and his fleet, which +caused him some inquietude. His own shipping being destroyed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">- 366 -</a></span> +his future safety depended wholly upon the condition of Ribault’s +armament, since, with their small vessels, his harborage might be +entered at any moment, and his sole means of defence lay with his +troops upon the land, where his entrenchments were not yet sufficiently +advanced to offer much, if any obstacle, to a vigorous +assailant. But farther advices, brought him by the savages, +relieved him measurably from any apprehensions from the shipping +of his enemy. In this respect the condition of the French +was no better than his own. The unfortunate Ribault, driven +before the hurricane, had been wrecked with all his squadron, +upon the bleak and unfriendly shores of Cape Cannaverel; his +troops were saved, with the exception of the crew and armament +of one vessel, containing a detachment under the Sieur de la +Grange, all of whom perished but the captain. Dividing his +troops into two or more bodies, Ribault advanced along the shore, +proceeding northerly, in the direction of La Caroline, and one of +his detachments had reached the inlet of Matanzas, when Melendez +was first advised of their approach. He was told by the +Indians that about four leagues distant, a large body of white men +were embarrassed in their progress by a bay, over which they had +no means to pass. Upon this intelligence, the Adelantado, taking +with him forty picked soldiers, proceeded with all despatch to the +designated place. His proceedings were marked by subtlety and +caution. With such a force, he could hope to do nothing in open +warfare against the numbers of Ribault, which, after all casualties, +were probably six or seven hundred men. But nobody knew +better than Melendez how to supply the deficiencies of the lion +with the arts of the fox. He concealed his troop in the woods +that bordered the inlet, and from the top of a tree surveyed the +scattered groups of Frenchmen, on the opposite shore. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">- 367 -</a></span> +were two hundred in number, and some of them had been engaged +in the construction of a raft with which to effect their passage. +But the roughness of the waters, and the strength of the current +forbade their reliance upon so frail a conveyance, and while they +were bewildered with doubt and difficulties, Melendez showed himself +alone upon the banks of the river. When he was seen from +the opposite shore, a bold Gascon of Saint Jean de Luz plunged +fearlessly into the stream, and succeeded in making the passage.</p> + +<p>“Who are these people?” demanded Melendez.</p> + +<p>“We are Frenchmen, all, who have suffered shipwreck.”</p> + +<p>“What Frenchmen?”</p> + +<p>“The people of M. Ribault, Captain-General of Florida, +under commission of the king of France.”</p> + +<p>“I know no right to Florida, on the part of France or Frenchmen. +I am here, the true master of the country, on behalf of +my sovereign, the Catholic king, Philip the Second. I am Pedro +Melendez, adelantado of all this Florida, and of the isles thereof. +Go back to your general with my answer, and say to him, that I +am here, followed by my army, as I had intelligence that he too +was here, invading the country in my charge.”</p> + +<p>The Gascon returned with the speech, and soon after was persuaded +again to swim the stream, with a request for a safe conduct +from the Spanish general, on behalf of four gentlemen of the +French, who desired to treat with him. It was requested that a +batteau which Melendez had brought along shore with his provisions, +and which was now safely moored beside the eastern banks, +might be sent to bring them over. To all this Melendez readily +consented. The arrangement suited him exactly. His troop was +still in reserve, covered rather than concealed within the forest, +and so disposed as to seem at a distance to consist of overwhelming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">- 368 -</a></span> +numbers. But six men were suffered to accompany the +Spanish commander. These, well armed, were quite equal to the +four to whom he accorded the interview. These soon made their +appearance. Their leader told the story of their melancholy +shipwreck, the privations they had borne, the wants under which +they suffered, and implored his assistance to regain a fortress +called La Caroline, which the king, his master, held at a distance +of some twenty leagues.</p> + +<p>Melendez <span class="nowrap">replied—</span></p> + +<p>“Señor, I have made myself the master of your fort. I have +laid strong hands upon the garrison. I have slain them all, sparing +none but the women, and such children as were under fifteen years.”</p> + +<p>The Frenchmen looked incredulous.</p> + +<p>“If you doubt,” he continued, “I can soon convince you. I +have brought hither with me the only two soldiers whom I have +admitted to mercy. I spared them, because they claimed to be +of the Catholic faith. You shall see them, and hear the truth +from their own lips. In all probability you know them, and will +recognise their persons. Rest you here, while I send you something +to eat. You shall see your compatriots, with some of the +spoils taken at La Caroline. These shall prove to you the truth +of what I say.”</p> + +<p>With these words he disappeared. Soon after, refreshments +were brought to our Frenchmen, and when they had eaten, the +two captives at La Caroline, who had been spared on account of +their faith, were allowed to commune with them, and to repeat all +the facts in the cruel history of La Caroline. Nothing of that +terrible tragedy was concealed. Melendez had a policy too refined +for concealment, when the revelation of his atrocities was to +be the means for their renewal. To strike the hearts of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">- 369 -</a></span> +Frenchmen with such terror, as to have them at his mercy, was a +profound secret of success in dealing with the wretched, suffering, +and already desponding outcasts in his presence.</p> + +<p>After an hour’s absence he returned.</p> + +<p>“Are you satisfied,” he asked? “of the truth of the things +which I have told you.”</p> + +<p>“We can doubt no longer;” was the reply; “but this does not +lessen our claim upon your humanity as men, and your consideration +as Frenchmen. Our people are at peace, there is amity and +alliance between our sovereigns. You cannot deny us assistance, +and the vessels necessary for our return to France.”</p> + +<p>“Surely not, if you are Catholics, and if I had the means of +helping you to ships. But you are not Catholics. The alliance +between our kings is an alliance of members of the true Church, +both sworn against heretics.”</p> + +<p>“We are members of the Reformed Church,” was the reply of +the officers; “but we are men; human; made equally in the +image of the Deity, and serve the same God, if not at the same +altars. Suffer us, at least, to remain with you for a season, till +we can find the means for returning to our own country.”</p> + +<p>“Señor, it cannot be. As for sheltering heretics, that is impossible. +I have sworn on the holy sacrament, to root out and to +extirpate heresy, wherever I encounter it—by sea or land—to +wage against the damnable heresy which you profess a war to the +utterance, as vindictive as possible, to the death and to the torture; +and in this resolution I conceive myself to be serving +equally the king of France as the king, my sovereign. I am +here in Florida for the express purpose of establishing the Holy +Roman Catholic Faith! I will assist no heretic to remain in the +country.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">- 370 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“Assist us to leave it, señor: that is in truth what we demand.”</p> + +<p>“Demand nothing of me. Yield yourselves to my mercy—at +discretion—deliver up your arms and ensigns, and I will do with +you as God shall inspire me. Consent to this—these are my only +terms—or do what pleases you. But you must hope nothing at +my hands—neither truce nor friendship.”</p> + +<p>With this cruel ultimatum, he quitted them, giving them opportunity +to return and report to their comrades. In two hours they +reappeared, and made him an offer from the two hundred men +gathered on the opposite banks, of twenty thousand ducats, only +to be assured of their lives. The answer was as prompt as it was +characteristic.</p> + +<p>“Though but a poor soldier, señor, I am not capable of governing +myself, in the performance of my duties, by any regard to +selfish interests. If I am moved to do an act of grace, it will be +done from pure generosity. But do not let these words deceive +you. I tell you as a gentleman, and an officer holding a high commission +from the king of Spain, that, though the heavens and the +earth may mingle before my eyes, the resolution which I once +make, I never change!”</p> + +<p>It will scarcely be thought possible that any body of men, +having arms in their hands, and still in possession of physical +powers sufficient for their use, would, under such circumstances, +listen to such a demand. But the forces of Ribault had been +terribly demoralized by disaster and disappointment. Privation +had humbled their souls, and the utter exhaustion of their spirits +made them give credence to vain hopes of mercy at the hands of +their enemy, which at another period they could never have entertained. +The report of their envoy found them ready to make<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">- 371 -</a></span> +any concessions. It required but half an hour to determine their +submission. The returning batteau brought over with four officers +all their ensigns, sixty-six arquebuses, twenty pistols, a large +number of swords and bucklers, casques and cuirasses, their whole +complement of munitions, and a surrender of the entire body at +discretion. Melendez gladly seized upon these spoils. He embarked +twenty of his soldiers in his batteau, with orders to bring +over the Frenchmen, in small divisions, and to offer them no insult; +but, as they severally arrived on the eastern side of the bay, they +were conducted out of sight, and under the guns of his arquebusiers. +They were then given to eat, and when the repast was +ended, they were asked if any among them were Catholics. There +were but eight of the whole number who replied in the affirmative. +These were set apart, to be conducted to St. Augustine. The rest +frankly avowed themselves to be good Christians of the Reformed +Church. These were immediately seized, their arms tied +behind their backs, and in little squads of six, were conducted to +a spot in the background, where Melendez had traced, with his +cane, a line upon the sand. Here they were butchered to a man, +each succeeding body sharing the same fate, without knowing, till +too late, that of their comrades. There was no pause, no mercy, +no relentings in behalf of any. All perished, to the number of +two hundred; and Pedro Melendez returned to his camp at St. +Augustine, again to be welcomed with <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">Te Deum</i>, and the acclamation +for good Christian service, from a Christian people.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">- 372 -</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XXIII_2" id="XXIII_2">CHAPTER II.</a></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> congratulations of his people were yet resounding in his +ears, when the savages brought him further intelligence of Frenchmen +gathered upon the borders of that bay which had arrested the +progress of the previous detachment. They were represented to +be more numerous than the first, and Melendez did not doubt that +they constituted the bulk of Ribault’s force under the immediate +command of that leader. He proceeded to encounter him as he +had done the other party, but on this occasion he increased his +own detachment to one hundred and fifty men. These he ranged +in good order during the night, along the banks of the river, +which the Huguenots had begun their preparations to pass. They +had been at work upon the radeau or raft which had been begun +by the preceding party, but their progress had been unsatisfactory, +and the prospect of the passage, in such a vessel, over such +an arm of the sea, was quite as discouraging as to their predecessors. +With the dawn, and when they discovered the force of Melendez +on the opposite shore, the drums sounded the alarm, the royal +standard of France was advanced, and the troops were ranged in +order of battle. Poor Ribault still observed the externals of the +veteran, if only to conceal the real infirmities which impaired the +moral of his command.</p> + +<p>Seeing this display of determination, Melendez, with proper +policy, commanded his people to proceed to breakfast without any +show of excitement or emotion. He himself promenaded the banks +of the river, accompanied only by his admiral and two other +officers, as indifferently as if there had been no person on the +opposite side. With this, the clamors of the French tambours<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">- 373 -</a></span> +ceased—the fifes were allowed to take breath—and in place of the +warlike standard of their country, the commander of the Huguenots +displayed a white flag as sign of peace, and his trumpets +sounded for a parley. A response from the Spanish side of the +river, in similar spirit, caused one of the Frenchmen to advance +within speaking distance, upon the raft, who requested that somebody +might be sent them, as their radeau could not contend +against the current. A pirogue was finally sent by the Spaniard, +which brought over the sergeant-major of Ribault. This man +related briefly the necessities and desires of his commander. +He was totally ignorant of all that had taken place. He had been +wrecked, and had lost all his vessels; that he had with him three +hundred and fifty soldiers; that he was desirous of reaching his +fortress, twenty leagues distant; and prayed the assistance of the +Spaniards, to enable him to do so. At the close, he desired to +know with whom he was conferring.</p> + +<p>Melendez answered as directly as he had done in the previous +instance, when dealing with the first detachment. He did not +scruple to add to the narrative of the capture of La Caroline, and +the cruel murder of its garrison, the farther history of the party +whom he had encountered in the same place with themselves.</p> + +<p>“I have punished all these with death;” he continued; and, +still further to assure the officer of Ribault of the truth of what +he said, he took him to the spot where lay in a heap the exposed, +the bleached and decaying bodies of his slaughtered companions. +The Frenchman looked steadily at the miserable spectacle, and +so far commanded his nerves as to betray no emotion. He continued +his commission without faltering; and obtained from Melendez +a surety in behalf of Ribault, with four or six of his men, +to cross the river for the purpose of conference, with the privilege<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">- 374 -</a></span> +of returning to his forces at his leisure. But the adelantado +positively refused to let the Frenchmen have his shallop or bateau. +The pirogue, alone, was at their service. With this, the French +general could pass the strait without risk; and he was compelled +to content himself with this. The policy of Melendez was +not willing to place any larger vessel in his power.</p> + +<p>Ribault crossed to the conference, accompanied by eight of his +officers. They were well received by the adelantado, and a collation +spread for them. He showed them afterwards the bodies of +their slain companions. He gave them the full history of the +taking of La Caroline, and the treatment of the garrison, and +brought forward the two Frenchmen, claiming to be Catholics, +whose lives had been spared when the rest were massacred. +There was something absolutely satanic in the conduct of the +Spaniard, by which Ribault was confounded. He was not willing +to believe the facts that he could not question.</p> + +<p>“Monsieur,” said he to Laudonniere<!--should really be Melendez-->, +“I will not believe that +you design us evil. Our kings are friends and brothers, and in +the name of this alliance between them, I conjure you to furnish +us with a vessel for returning to our country. We have suffered +enough in this: we will leave it in your hands entirely. Help us +to the means necessary for our departure.”</p> + +<p>To this Melendez replied in the very same language which he +had used to the preceding detachment:</p> + +<p>“Our kings are Catholics both; they hold terms with one +another, but not with heretics. I will make no terms with you. +I will hold no bonds with heretics anywhere. You have heard +what I have done with your comrades. You hear what has been +the fate of La Caroline. You behold the corses of those who but +a few days ago followed your banner; and now I say to you that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">- 375 -</a></span> +you must yield to my discretion, leaving it to me to do with you +as God shall determine me!”</p> + +<p>Aghast and confounded, Ribault declared his purpose to return +and consult with his people. In a case so extreme, particularly +as he had with him many gentlemen of family, he could not +undertake to decide without their participation. Melendez +approved this determination, and the general of the French +re-crossed the river.</p> + +<p>For three hours was the consultation carried on in the camp of +our Huguenots. Ribault fully revealed the terrible history of +what had passed, of what he had heard and seen in the camp of the +Spaniards. The cold and cruel decision of Melendez in their case, +as in that of the previous troops, was unfolded without reserve. +There were no concealments, and, for a time, a dull, deep and +dreary silence overspread the assembly. But all had not been +crushed by misfortune into imbecility. There were some noble and +fierce spirits whose hearts rose in all their strength of resolution, +as they listened to the horrible narrative and the insolent exaction.</p> + +<p>“Better perish a thousand deaths, in the actual conflict with a +thousand enemies, than thus submit to perish in cold blood from +the stroke of the cowardly assassin!”</p> + +<p>Such was the manly resolution of many. Others, again, like +Ribault, were disposed to hope against all experience. The fact +that Melendez had treated them so civilly, that he had placed +food and drink before them, and that his manners were respectful +and his tones were mild, were assumed by them to be conclusive +they were not to suffer as their predecessors had done.</p> + +<p>“They were beguiled with the same arguments,” said young +Alphonse D’Erlach; “arguments which appealed to their hunger,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">- 376 -</a></span> +their thirst, their exhaustion, and their spiritless hearts—arguments +against truth, and common sense and their own eyes. He +who listens to such arguments will merit to fall by the hands of +the assassin.”</p> + +<p>We need not pursue the debate which continued for three +hours. At the end of this time, Ribault returned to the landing.</p> + +<p>“A portion of my people,” he said, “but not the greater number, +are prepared to surrender themselves to you at discretion.”</p> + +<p>“They are their own masters,” replied Melendez; “they must +do as they please; to me it is quite indifferent what decision they +make.”</p> + +<p>Ribault continued:</p> + +<p>“Those who are thus prepared to yield themselves have instructed +me to offer you twenty thousand ducats for their ransom; +but the others will give even a greater sum, for they include +among them many persons of great wealth and family;—nay, they +desire further, if you will suffer it, to remain still in the country.”</p> + +<p>“I shall certainly need some succors,” replied Melendez, “in +order to execute properly the commands of the king, my master, +which are to conquer the country and to people it, establishing +here the Holy Evangel;—and I should grieve to forego any assistance.”</p> + +<p>This evasive answer was construed by Ribault according to his +desires. He requested permission to return and deliberate with +his people, in order to communicate this last response. He readily +obtained what he asked, and the night was consumed among the +Huguenots in consultation. It brought no unanimity to their +counsels.</p> + +<p>“I will sooner trust the incarnate devil himself, than this Melendez,” +was the resolution of Alphonse D’Erlach to his elder<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">- 377 -</a></span> +brother. “Go not, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">mon frére</i>, yield not: the savage Floridian has +no heart so utterly stony as that of this Spaniard. I will peril +anything with the savage, ere I trust to his doubtful mercy.”</p> + +<p>And such was the resolve of many others, but it was not that of +Ribault.</p> + +<p>“What!” exclaimed one of his friendly counsellors—“he has +shown you our slain comrades, butchered under the very arrangement +which he accords to us, and yet you trust to him?”</p> + +<p>The infatuated leader, broken in spirit, and utterly exhausted +in the struggle with fate, replied:</p> + +<p>“That he has freely shown me what he has done, is no proof +that he designs any such deeds hereafter. His fury is satiated. +It is impossible that he will commit a like crime of this nature. +It is his pride that would have us wholly in his power.”</p> + +<p>“He hath fed on blood until he craves it,” cried Alphonse +D’Erlach. “You go to your death, Monsieur Ribault. The tiger +invites you to a banquet where the guest brings the repast.”</p> + +<p>He was unheard, at least by the Huguenot general.</p> + +<p>“We will leave this man, my friends,” cried Alphonse D’Erlach, +the strong will and great heart naturally rising to command +in the moment of extremity. “We will leave this man. <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">Quem +Deus vult perdere prius dementat.</i> He goes to the sacrifice!”</p> + +<p>And when Ribault prepared in the morning to lead his people +across the bay, he found but an hundred and fifty of all the force +that he commanded during the previous day. Two hundred had +disappeared in the night under the guidance of D’Erlach.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">- 378 -</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XXIII_3" id="XXIII_3">CHAPTER III.</a></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> fates had the blinded Ribault in their keeping. He was +ferried across the stream for the last time, by the grim ferryman +vouchsafed him; and the trophies which he first laid at the feet +of the adelantado consisted of his own armor, a dagger, a casque +of gold, curiously and beautifully wrought; his buckler, his pistolet, +and a secret commission which he had received at the hands +of Admiral Coligny himself. The standards of France and of +the Admiral were then lowered at the feet of the Spaniard, then +the banners of companies, and finally the sword of the Huguenot +general. Never was submission more complete and shameful. +The spirit of the veteran was utterly broken and gone. But this +degradation was not thus to end. Melendez gave orders that he +and the companions he had brought with him, eight in number, +should be tied with their hands behind their backs. The indignity +brought the blush with tenfold warmth into the cheeks of the +old warrior. He foresaw the inevitable doom before him, but he +felt the shame only.</p> + +<p>“Have I lived for this? Is it thus, Monsieur Melendez, that +you treat a warrior and a Christian?”</p> + +<p>“God forbid that I should treat a Christian after this fashion. +But <em>are</em> you a Christian, señor?”</p> + +<p>“Of the Reformed Church, I am!” was the reply.</p> + +<p>“I do not hold yours, señor, to be a church of Christ, but of +Satan. Bind him, my comrades, and take him hence.”</p> + +<p>A significant wave of the fatal staff, which had prescribed the +line upon the spot of earth selected as the chosen place of sacrifice—the +scene of a new <i lang="pt" xml:lang="pt">auto-da-fé</i>, as fearful as the preceding—finished<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">- 379 -</a></span> +his instructions, and as the guards led the veteran away, +he commenced, in the well-known spirit of the time, to sing aloud +the psalm “<i lang="la" xml:lang="la">Domine, memento mei</i>, &c.,” in that fearful moment +well conceiving that there was left him now but one source of consolation, +and none of present hope. He addressed no words of +expostulation to his murderer; but as they led him away, he +calmly remarked—“From the earth we came, to the earth we +must return; soon or late, it is all the same; such must have +been the fate. It is not what we would, but what we must.”</p> + +<p>He renewed his psalm, the sounds of which grated offensively +on the bigot ears of Melendez, falling from such lips, and he impatiently +made the signal to his men to expedite the affair. The +Huguenot general was led off singing. One of the accounts before +us—for there is a Spanish and a French version of the history, +differing in several minute, but really unimportant particulars—describes +the last scene of Ribault’s career, in a brief but +striking manner. The eight which constituted this party had +each his assassin assigned him. Among the companions of Ribault +at the moment of execution, was Lieutenant Ottigny, of +whom we have heard more than once before in the history of La +Caroline. They were led into the woods, out of sight and hearing +of the French on the opposite side of the bay, all of whom +were to be brought over, ten by ten, to the same place of sacrifice. +The soldier to whom Ribault had been confided, when they had +reached the spot strewn thickly with the corses of his murdered +people, said to <span class="nowrap">him—</span></p> + +<p>“Señor, you are the general of the French?”</p> + +<p>“I am!”</p> + +<p>“You have always been accustomed to exact obedience, without +question, from all the people under your command?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">- 380 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“Without doubt!” replied Ribault, somewhat wondering at +the question.</p> + +<p>“Deem it not strange, then, señor,” continued the soldier, “that +I execute faithfully the orders I have received from my commandant!”</p> + +<p>And, speaking these words, he drove his poignard into the heart +of the victim, who fell upon his face, in death, without uttering a +groan. Ottigny and the others perished in like manner, and with +no farther preliminaries. Why pursue the details with the rest? +In this manner<!--was mannner--> each unconscious band of the Huguenots, thus +surrendering to the clemency of Melendez, was simply ferried +across the river to execution. And still the boat returned for and +with its little compliment of ten—it was only a proper precaution +that denied that more should be brought—and the succeeding +voyagers dreamed not, even as they sped, their comrades were +sinking one by one under the hands of their butchers. More than +a hundred perished on this occasion, but four of the number +avowing themselves to be of the Roman Catholic Church, and being +spared accordingly.</p> + +<h3><a name="XXIII_4" id="XXIII_4">CHAPTER IV.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">OF THOSE WHO REFUSED TO FOLLOW THE FORTUNES OF +RIBAULT.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">We</span> have seen that two hundred of the followers of Ribault +had refused to submit to the arrangement, by which that unhappy +commander had sacrificed himself and all those who accompanied +him into the camp of Melendez. These two hundred had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">- 381 -</a></span> +counselled to the more manly course which they had taken, by +the youthful but sagacious lieutenant, Alphonse D’Erlach. This +young man well understood their enemy. His counsel, if followed +by Ribault, would probably have resulted in conquest rather than +misfortune.</p> + +<p>“We are strong,”—said D’Erlach to his companions—“strong +enough to maintain ourselves in any position, which we may take +and hold with steadfastness. We have three hundred and fifty +soldiers, all with arms in their hands, and it requires only that we +shall use our arms and maintain our independence. Why treat +at all with the Spaniards? They may assist us across this +strait, but why cross it at all? To gain La Caroline? That, +according to his own showing, is already in his hands. Indeed, of +this, you tell us, there can be no question. What then? Of +what avail to seek the post which he has garrisoned, and which, +properly fortified, is beyond our utmost strength. It is evident +that, fortifying La Caroline and his new post on the banks of the +Salooe, he has no available force with which he dares assail us. +In the meantime, let us leave this position. Let us retire further +to the south, regain the coast upon which our vessels were wrecked, +rebuild them, or one at least, in which, if your desire is to return +to France, we can re-embark; or, as I would counsel, retire to a +remoter settlement, where we may fortify ourselves, and establish +the colony anew, for which we first came to Florida. Why abandon +the country, when we are in sufficient strength to keep it? +Why forego the enterprises which offer us gold and silver in abundance, +a genial climate, a fertile soil, a boundless domain, in which +our fortunes and our faith may be made equally secure. As for +the savages of Florida, I know them and I fear them not. They +are terrible only to the timid and the improvident. With due<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">- 382 -</a></span> +precautions, a proper courage, and arms in our hands, we shall +mock at their wandering bands, whose attacks are inconstant, and +upon whom the caprice of the seasons is forever working such evil +as will prevent them always from bringing large numbers together, +or keeping them long in one organization. But, hold the savages +to be as terrible as you may, they are surely less to be feared, are +less faithless and less hostile, than these sanguinary Spaniards. Do +not, at all events, deliver yourselves, bound hand and foot, in +petty numbers, to be butchered in detail, by this monstrous cut-throat!”</p> + +<p>His counsels prevailed with the greater number. They left the +camp of Ribault at midnight, and commenced their silent march +along the coast, making for the bleak shores which had seen their +vessels stranded. Here they arrived after much toil and privation, +and, cheered by the manly courage of D’Erlach, they proceeded +at once to build themselves a vessel which should suffice +for their escape from the country, or enable them to penetrate +without difficulty to regions not yet under the control of the +Spaniards. For the work before them they possessed the proper +facilities. The fragments of their shattered navy were within +their reach. The expedition had been properly provided with +carpenters and laborers; and in that day every mariner was something +of a mechanic. They advanced rapidly with their work, but +at the end of three weeks the clouds gathered once more about +their heads. Once more the haughty banners of the Spaniard +were beheld, the vindictive enemy being resolved to give them no +respite, to allow of no refuge upon the soil, to afford them no +prospect of escape from the country.</p> + +<p>Advised by the Indians that the surviving Frenchmen were at +work at Cannaverel<!--was Carnaverel-->, building themselves both fortresses and vessels,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">- 383 -</a></span> +Melendez sent an express to the Governor of San Matheo, +late La Caroline, with orders to send him instantly one hundred +and fifty of his men. These arrived at St. Augustine on the 23d +of October, under the conduct of Don Andres Lopez Patiño, and +of Don Jean Velez de Medrano. To these troops Melendez +added a like number from his own garrison, and on the 26th of +the month, they commenced their march to the south, on foot. +His provisions and munitions were sent in two shallops along the +shore, and each night they came to anchor opposite his camp. +On the first day of November, they came in sight of the French. +These, immediately abandoned their work, and seizing their arms +retired to a small sandy elevation which they had previously +selected as a place of refuge against attack, and which they had +strengthened by some slight defences. Here they prepared for +a desperate and deadly struggle. The force of their assailants +was one-third stronger than their own. They had the advantage, +also, of supplies and munitions, in which the Frenchmen were +deficient; but a sense of desperation increased their courage, and +they showed no disposition to entreat or parley. But Melendez +had no desire to compel them to a struggle in which even +success would probably be fatal ultimately to himself. His main +strength was with him, but should he suffer greatly in the assault, +as it was very evident he must, the French being in a good position, +and showing the most determined front, his army would be +too greatly weakened, perhaps, even for their safe return to St. +Augustine, through a country filled with hostile Indians, whom, +as yet, he had neither conquered nor conciliated. Having +reconnoitred the position taken by the Frenchmen, he generously +made them overtures of safety. He proposed not only to spare<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">- 384 -</a></span> +their lives, but promised to receive as many of them as thought +proper, into his own ranks as soldiers.</p> + +<p>This offer led to a long and almost angry conference among the +French. Their councils were divided. Many of their leaders +were men wholly ignorant of the country, and disheartened by +the cruel vicissitudes and dangers through which they had passed. +Many of them were persons of wealth and family, who were +anxious once more to find themselves in a position which +demanded no farther struggle, and which might facilitate their +return to the haunts of civilization. Others, again, were Catholics, +whose sympathies were not active in behalf of the Huguenots +with whom they now found themselves in doubtful connection. +Others were jealous of the sudden spring to authority, which, in +those moments of peril when all others trembled, had been made +by the young adventurer, Alphonse D’Erlach. It was in vain +that he counselled them against giving faith to the Spaniards.</p> + +<p>“What is your security, my friends? His word? His pledge +of mercy to you, when he showed none to your brethren? Look +at the hand which he stretches out to you; it is yet dripping +with the blood of your people, butchered, in cold blood, at La +Caroline, and the Bay of Matanzas. Trust him not, if you +would prosper—if ye would not perish likewise. Believe none +of his assurances, even though he should swear upon the Holy +Evangel.”</p> + +<p>“But what are we to do, Monsieur D’Erlach? We have +small provisions here. He hath environed us with his troops.”</p> + +<p>“We may break through his troops. We have arms in our +hands, and if we have but the heart to use them, like men, we +may not only save ourselves, but avenge our butchered +comrades.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">- 385 -</a></span></p> + +<p>His entreaties and arguments were unavailing. It was sufficient +for our broken-spirited exiles that Melendez had volunteered +to them those guaranties of safety which he had denied to their +brethren. They prepared to yield.</p> + +<p>“Go not thou with these people, my brother,” said Alphonse +D’Erlach, to that elder brother whom we have seen, with himself, +a trusted lieutenant of Laudonniere. He flung himself +tenderly upon the bosom of the other, as he prayed, and the +moisture gathered in his eyes. The elder was touched, but his +inclinations led him with the rest.</p> + +<p>“He hath sworn to us, Alphonse, that life shall be spared us, +and that we shall be free to enter his service or return to +France.”</p> + +<p>“Would you place life at his mercy?”</p> + +<p>“It is so now!”</p> + +<p>“No! never! while the hand may grasp the weapon. If we +would defy him as men, we should rather have his life at ours. +Oh! would that we were men. Enter his service! Dost thou +think of this? Wouldst thou receive commands from the lips of +him who hath murdered thy old commander!”</p> + +<p>“No! surely, I shall never serve Melendez. I seek this only +as the mean whereby to return to France.”</p> + +<p>“And wherefore return to France? What hath France in reserve +for us but the shot, the torture, and the scourge. Here, +brother, here, with the wild Floridian, let us make our home. +Let us rather put on the untamed habits of the savage, his garments +torn from bear and panther; let us anoint our bodies with +oil; let us stain our cheeks with ocre; and taking bond with the +Apalachian and Floridian, let us haunt the footsteps of the +Spaniard with death and eternal hatred, till we leave not one of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">- 386 -</a></span> +them living for the pollution of the soil. This is my purpose, +brother, though I go forth into the wilderness alone!”</p> + +<p>“Thou shalt not go alone, Alphonse. We will live and die +together.”</p> + +<p>The brothers embraced. The bond was knit between them, +whatever might be the event; and when, at morning, the main +body of the Frenchmen surrendered themselves to the Spanish +adelantado, the Erlachs were not among them. They, with +twenty others, all Huguenots, who detested equally the power +and feared the savage fanaticism of Melendez, had disappeared +silently in the night, leaving as a message for the Spanish chief, +that they preferred infinitely to be devoured by the savages, than +to receive his mercy. Melendez looked anxiously to the dark +forests in which they had shrouded themselves from his pursuit. +He would gladly have penetrated their depths of shadow +and their secret glooms, in search of victims, whom he certainly +never would have spared if caught; but the object was too small +for the peril which it involved; and having destroyed the fort and +shipping which they had been building, content with having +broken up the power of the French in the country, he returned +with his captives to St. Augustine. He kept his faith with +them. Many of them joined themselves to his troops, and accompanied +his expeditions, and others who were Huguenots found new +favor with him by undergoing conversion to his faith. With this +chapter fairly ends the history of the Huguenot colonies of +Coligny in Florida; but other histories followed which will require +other chapters.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">- 387 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XXIV" id="XXIV">XXIV.</a><br /> +ALPHONSE D’ERLACH.</h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> dawn of the morning after the separation of D’Erlach with +his few companions from the great body of the French, found the +former emerging from a dense thicket which they had traversed +through the night. They were still but a few miles from +their late encampment. A bright and generous sun, almost +the first that had shone for several weeks in unclouded heavens, +seemed to smile upon their desperate enterprise. The cries of +wild fowl awaking in the forests, with occasionally the merry +chaunt of some native warbler, arousing to the day, spake also in +the language of encouragement. On the borders of a little lake, +they found some wild ducks feeding, which they approached without +alarming them, and the fire of a couple of arquebuses gave +them sufficient food for the day. A small supply of maize, prepared +after the Indian fashion, was borne by each of the party, +but this was carefully preserved for use in a moment of necessity. +Assuming the possibility of their being pursued, the youthful +leader urged their progress until noon, when they halted for repose, +in a dense thicket, which promised to give them shelter. +Here, having himself undertaken the watch, Alphonse D’Erlach<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">- 388 -</a></span> +counselled his people to seek for a renewal of their strength in +slumber. They followed his counsel without scruple, though not +without a struggle on the part of his brother, and others among +them, to share his watch. This he would not permit, alleging his +inability to sleep, but promising, when he felt thus disposed, to +devolve his present duty upon others. Long and sweet was the +slumbers which they enjoyed, and unbroken by any alarm. +When they awakened, the sun had sloped greatly in the western +heavens, and but two or three marching hours remained of the +day. These they employed with earnestness and vigor. The +night found them on the edge of a great basin, or lake, thickly +fenced in with great trees, and a dense and bewildering thicket. +As the day closed, immense flocks of wild fowl, geese, ducks, and +cranes, alighted within the waters of the lake, and again did the +arquebusiers, with a few shot, provide ample food for the ensuing +day. Here they built themselves a fire, around which the +whole party crouched, a couple only of their number being +posted as sentinels on the hill side, from which alone was it reasonable +to suppose that an enemy would appear. Again did they +sleep without disturbance, arising with the dawn, again to resume +their progress. But before they commenced their journey, a +solemn council was held as to the course which they should +pursue. On this subject the mind of their youthful leader had +already adopted a leading idea. His experience in the country, +as well as that of his brother, during frequent progresses, had +enabled them to form a very correct notion of the topography of +the region. Besides, several of their followers, were of the first +colonies of Ribault, and had accompanied Laudonniere, Ottigny, +and both the Erlachs on various expeditions among the Indians.</p> + +<p>“We are now upon the great promontory of the Floridian,” said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">- 389 -</a></span> +Alphonse, “a region full of dense thickets and impenetrable +swamps. These we should labor to avoid, as well as any approach +in the direction of the Spaniards. By pursuing a course inclining +to the north-west for a while, we shall be enabled to do so, and +this done, gradually steering for the north-east, we shall be +enabled to reach the great mountains of the Apalachia. This is a +region where, as we know, the red-men are more mild and gentle, +more laborious, with larger fields of grain, and more hospitably +given than those which inhabit the coasts. It may be that having +sufficiently ascended the country, it will be our policy to leave the +mountains on our left, following at their feet, until we shall have +passed the territories in the immediate possession of the Spaniard. +Then it will be easy to speed downwards to the eastern coasts, +where the people always received us with welcome and affection. +We may thus renew our intercourse<!--was intercouse--> with the tribes that skirt the +bay of St. Helena—the tribes of Audusta, Ouade, Maccou and +others of which ye wot. But, whether we take this direction or +not, our present course should be as I have described it. When +we have reached the country where the land greatly rises, it will +be with us to choose our farther progress. There is gold, as we +know, in abundance in these mountains of the Apalachian; and it +may be our good hap even to attain to the great city of the mountains +of which Potanou and others have spoken, and to which +certain travellers have given the name of the Grand Copal, of the +existence of which I nothing doubt. This, they report as but +fifteen or twenty days’ march from St. Helena, north-westward. +It will, follow, if this description be true, that we are quite as +near to this place, as to St. Helena. Here is adventure and a +marvellous discovery open to us, my comrades and we shall, perhaps, +in future days, bless the cruelty of the Spaniards which hath<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">- 390 -</a></span> +thus driven us on the road to fortune. At least, we should have +reason to rejoice that we are here, when our comrades lie stark +and bleeding on the shores of Cannaverel. We are few, but we are +true; we have health and vigor; we have arms in our hands, and +are quite equal to any of the small bands of Indians that infest +the country. We shall seek to avoid encounters with them, but +shall not fear them if we meet; and all that I have seen of the +red-man inclines me to the faith, that they who deal with him +justly will mostly find justice, nay, even reverence in return. +What remains, but that we steadily pursue our progress, heedful +where we set our feet, keeping our minds in patience, never +hurrying forward blindly, and never being too eager in the attainment +of our object. Our best strength will lie in our patience. +This will save us when our strength shall fail.”</p> + +<p>This counsel found no opposition. There was much discussion +of details, and the leading suggestion of his mind being adopted, +Erlach readily yielded much of the minutiæ to others. We shall +not follow the daily progress of our adventurers. Enough that for +twenty-seven days they travelled without suffering disaster. +There were small ailments of the party—some grew faint and +feeble, others became slightly lamed; and occasionally all hearts +drooped; but on such occasions the troop went into camp, chose +out some secure thicket, built themselves a goodly fire, and while +the invalids lay around it, the more vigorous hunted and brought +in game. Wild turkeys were in abundance. Sometimes they +roosted at night upon the very trees under which our Frenchmen +slept. On such occasions the hunters rose at dawn, and with +well-aimed arquebuses shot down two or more; the very fatness +of the birds being such, as made them split open as they struck +the earth. Anon, a wandering deer crossed their path, and fell a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">- 391 -</a></span> +victim to their shot. In this way they gradually advanced into +the hilly country. Very seldom had they met with any of the +red-men, and never in any numbers. These treated them with +great forbearance, were civil, shared with them their slender +stock of provisions, and received a return in trinkets, knives, or +rings of copper, and little bells, a small store of which had been +providentally brought by persons of the party. Sometimes, these +Indians travelled with them, camped with them at night, and behaved +themselves like good Christians. From these, too, they +gathered vague intelligence of the great city which lay among the +mountains. This was described to them, in language often heard +before, as containing a wealth of gold, and other treasures in the +shape of precious gems, which, assuming the truth of the description +given by the red-men, our Frenchmen assumed to be nothing +less than diamonds, rubies and crystals. But they were told that +this country was in possession of a very powerful people, fierce +and warlike, who were very jealous of the appearance of strangers. +The city of Grand Copal was described as very populous and rich, +a walled town, which it would be difficult to penetrate.</p> + +<p>These descriptions contributed greatly to warm the imaginations +of our Frenchmen, but as the several informants differed in regard +to the direction in which this great city lay, it so happened that +parties began to be formed in respect to the route which should +be pursued. Opinion was nearly equally divided among them. +Alphonse D’Erlach was for pursuing a more easterly course than +was desired by some ten or more of the party. He was influenced +by information previously derived from the Indians, when he went +into the territories of Olata Utina, and beyond. But the more +recent testimony was in favor of the west, and this he was disposed +to disregard. For a time, the discussion led to nothing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">- 392 -</a></span> +decisive. His authority was still deferred to and the course continued +upon which he had begun. But as the winter began to +press more severely upon the company, and as their usual supplies +of game began to diminish from the moment that they left +the lakes, and great swampy river margin of the flat country, from +that moment, as if justified by suffering, the Frenchmen lessened +in their deference to a leader who was at once so youthful and so +imperative. Alphonse D’Erlach beheld these symptoms with +apprehension and misgiving. He well knew how frail was the +tenure by which he held his authority, from the moment that +self-esteem began to be active in the formation of opinion. He +felt that a power for coercion was wanting to his authority, and +resorted to all those politic arts by which wise men maintain a +sway without asserting it. He would say to them:</p> + +<p>“My comrades, there are but twenty-two of us in a world of +savages. Hitherto, for more than thirty days, we have traversed +the wildernesses in safety. This is solely due to the fact that we +have suffered no differences to prevail among us. If you feel that +I have counselled and led you in safety, you may also admit that +I have led you rightly; for safety has been our first object. We +are as fresh and vigorous now, as when we left the dreary plains of +Cannaverel. Not one has perished. We have not suffered from +want of food, though frequently delayed in obtaining it. Methinks, +that you have no reason to complain of me. But if there +be dissatisfaction with my authority, choose another leader. Him +will I obey with good will; but do not suffer yourselves to disagree, +lest ye separate, and all parties perish.”</p> + +<p>This rebuke was felt and had its effect for a season; but when, +after a week of farther and seemingly unprofitable wandering—when +they had attained no special point—when they rather continued<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">- 393 -</a></span> +to skirt the mountains, pressing to the northward, than to +ascend them—the spirit of discontent was re-awakened. The circumstance +which rather gratified Alphonse D’Erlach, for the +present, that they had met so few of the natives, none in large +numbers, and had succeeded mostly in avoiding their villages, was +the circumstance that led to dissatisfaction among his followers. +They were eager to have their hopes fortified by daily or nightly +reports from those who might be supposed to know; they desired, +above all, to gather constant tidings of the great city of the mountains—to +receive intimations of its proximity; and this, they began +to assert, was impossible, so long as they should forbear to penetrate +the mountains themselves. Against this desire their young +leader strove for many reasons. It is not improbable that he +himself doubted the existence of the marvellous city of Grand +Copal. At all events, he well knew that to penetrate the mountains, +during winter, which already promised to be one of intense +rigor, would subject his party to great suffering, and, should food +fail them even partially in the unfriendly solitudes, would terminate +in the destruction of the whole. By following the mountains, +along the east for a certain distance, he knew he should finally +arrive at the heads of the streams descending to the sea in the +neighborhood of the first settlements made by the Huguenots; +that he should there find friendly and familiar nations, and perhaps +secure a home for his people, and found a new community in +the happy territories of Iracana, the Eden of the Indians, of the +beautiful and loving Queen, whereof, he began to have the tenderest +recollections. He also knew that, only by pursuing his way +along the mountains, aiming at this object, could he be secure +from the Spaniards in the possession of La Caroline, as well as +St. Augustine, who, he did not doubt, were already preparing for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">- 394 -</a></span> +exploration of the golden territories of which they had heard, as +well as the French.</p> + +<p>But his arguments failed to influence the impatient people under +his control. Sharp words and a warm controversy, one night, +took place over the camp-fires, and led to a division of the party +in nearly equal numbers. It was in vain that Alphonse D’Erlach +and his brother employed all their arguments, and used every appeal, +in order to persuade his people to cling together as the only +means of safety. One Le Caille, a sergeant, who was greatly +endowed, in his own regards, as a leader among men, and who +had enjoyed some experience in Indian adventure under Laudonniere, +set himself in direct opposition to the two brothers. +“We are leaving the route, entirely, to the great city. We are +speeding from it rather than towards. It lies back of us already, +according to all the accounts given us, and as we march now, we +seek nothing. There is our path, pointing to the great blue summits<!--was summist--> +in the north-west, and thither should we turn, if we seek for +the Grand Copal.”</p> + +<p>He found believers and followers. So warm had grown the +controversy, that the two parties separated that very night, and +camped apart, each having its own fires. The greater number, +no less than thirteen, went with Le Caille, leaving but nine to +D’Erlach, including himself and brother. The young leader +brooder over the disaster, for such he regarded it, in silence. He +found that it was in vain that he should argue, solely on the +strength of his own conjectures, against any course which they +should take, when his own course, though maintaining them in +health and safety, had failed to bring them to any of the ends +which they most desired. They were now wearied of wandering—they +craved a haven where they might rest for a season;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">- 395 -</a></span> +and were quite willing to listen to any one who could speak with +boldness and seeming certainty of any such place. Thus it was +that they followed Le Caille.</p> + +<p>“Let us at least separate in peace and good-fellowship, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">mes +camarades</i>,” said Alphonse D’Erlach, passing over, with the dawn, +to that side of the thicket where the others had made their camp. +They embraced and parted, taking separate courses, like a stream +that having long journeyed through a wild empire, divides at last, +only to lose themselves both more rapidly in the embracing sea.</p> + +<p>For more than two hours had they gone upon their different +routes, the one party moving straight for the mountains, the other +still pursuing the route along their bases, in the direction of the +east, when Alphonse D’Erlach said to his brother:</p> + +<p>“It grieves me that these men should perish: they will perish +of cold and hunger, and by violence among the savages. This +man Le Caille will fight bravely, but he is a sorry dolt to have the +conduct of brave men. Besides, we shall all perish if we do not +keep together. Perhaps it is better that we should err in our +progress—go wide from the proper track—than that we should +break in twain. Let us retrace our steps—let us follow them, and +unite with them for a season, at least, until their eyes open upon +the truth.”</p> + +<p>He spoke to willing listeners. His followers obeyed him through +habit; they acknowledged the authority of a greater will and a +stronger genius; but they had not been satisfied. They, too, hungered +secretly for the great city and the place of rest, and were +impatient of the wearisome progress, day by day, without any ultimate +object in their eyes. Cheerfully, and with renewal of their +strength, did they turn at the direction of their leader, and push +forward to re-unite with their comrades. They had a wearisome<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">- 396 -</a></span> +distance of four hours to overcome, but they had hopes to regain +their brethren by night, as they knew that they would rest two +hours at noon for the noonday meal, which, it was resolved, should +not, on this occasion, delay their progress, and by moving with +greater speed than usual, it was calculated that the lost ground +might be recovered.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the party of Le Caille had crossed a little river +which they had to wade. The depth was not great, reaching only +to their waists, but it was very cold and it chilled them through. +They halted accordingly on the opposite side, and built themselves +a fire. Here the rest taken and the delay were unusually long, +and contributed somewhat to the efforts made by D’Erlach’s party +to overtake them. When, after a pause of two hours, the troop +of Le Caille was prepared again to move, it was considerably past +the time of noon. As they gathered up their traps, one of their +party who had gone aside from the rest, was suddenly confounded +to behold a red-man start up from the bushes where he had been +crouching, in long and curious watch over their proceedings. +The Frenchman, who was named Rotrou, was quite delighted at +the apparition, since they eagerly sought to gather from the Indians +the directions for their future progress, and none had been +seen for many days. Rotrou called to the Indian in words of +good-nature and encouragement, but the latter, slapping his naked +sides with an air of defiance, started off towards the mountains. +Rotrou again shouted; the savage turned for a moment and +paused, then waving his hand with a significant gesture, he responded +with the war-whoop, and once more bounded away in +flight. The rash and wanton Frenchman immediately lifted his +arquebuse, and fired upon the fugitive. He was seen to stagger +and fall upon his knee, but immediately recovering himself, he set<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">- 397 -</a></span> +off almost at as full speed as ever, making for a little thicket that +spread itself out upon the right. The party of Le Caille by this +time came up. They penetrated the covert where the red-man +had been seen to shelter himself, and for a while they tracked him +by his blood. But at length they came to a spot where he had +evidently crouched and bound up his hurts. They found a little +puddle of blood upon the spot, and some fragments of tow, moss, +and cotton cloth, some of which had been used for the purpose. +Here all traces of the wounded man failed them; and they resumed +their route, greatly regretting that he should have escaped, but +greatly encouraged, as they fancied that they were approaching +some of the settlements of the natives.</p> + +<p>It was probably an hour after this event when D’Erlach and +his party reached the same neighborhood, and found the proof of +the rest and repast which that of Le Caille had taken on the banks +of the little river. This sight urged them to new efforts, and +though chilled also very greatly by the passage of the stream, they +did not pause in their pursuit, but pressed forward without delay, +having the fresh tracks of their brethren before their eyes, for the +guidance of their footsteps. It was well they did so. In little +more than an hour after this, while still urging the forced march +which they had begun, they were suddenly arrested by a wild +and fearful cry in the forests beyond, the character of which they +but too well knew, from frequent and fierce experience. It was +the yell of the savage, the terrible war-whoop of the Apalachian, +that sounded suddenly from the ambush, as the rattle of the snake +is heard from the copse in which he makes his retreat. Then +followed the discharge of several arquebuses, four or five in number, +all at once, and soon after one or two dropping shots.</p> + +<p>“Onward!” cried Alphonse D’Erlach; “we have not a moment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">- 398 -</a></span> +to lose. Our comrades are in danger! On! Fools! they +have delivered nearly or quite all their pieces; and if the savage +be not fled in terror, they are at the mercy of his arrows. Onward, +my brave Gascons! Let us save our brethren.”</p> + +<p>The young captain led the advance, but though pushing forward +with all industry, he did not forego the proper precautions. +His men were already taught to scatter themselves, Indian fashion, +through the forests, and at little intervals to pursue a parallel +course to each other, so as to lessen the chances of surprise, and +to offer as small a mark as possible to the shafts of the enemy. +The shouts and clamor increased. They could distinguish the +cries of the savages from those of the Frenchmen. Of the latter, +they fancied they could tell particular voices of individuals. They +could hear the flight of arrows, and sometimes the dull, heavy +sounds of blows as from a macana or a clubbed arquebuse; and +a few moments sufficed to show them the savages darting from +tree to tree, and here and there a Frenchman apparently bewildered +with the number and agile movements of his foes, but still +resolute to seek his victim. At this moment Alphonse D’Erlach +stumbled upon a wounded man. He looked down. It was the +Sergeant, Le Caille himself. He was stuck full of arrows; more +than a dozen having penetrated his body, and one was yet quivering +in his cheek just below his eye. Still he lived, but his eyes +were glazing. They took in the form of D’Erlach. The lips +parted.</p> + +<p>“Le Grand Copal, Monsieur—eh!” was all he said, when the +death-rattle followed. He gasped, turned over with a single convulsion, +and his concern ceased wholly for that golden city, in the +search for which he had forgotten every other. D’Erlach gave +but a moment’s heed to the dying man, then pushed forward for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">- 399 -</a></span> +the rescue of those who might be living. They were surrounded +by more than fifty savages, and among these were scattered groups +of women and even children. In fact, Le Caille, in his pursuit of +the Indian wounded by Rotrou, had happened upon a village of +the Apalachians.</p> + +<p>It was fortunate for D’Erlach that the savages were quite too +busy with the first, to be conscious of the second party. They +had been brought on quietly, and, scattered as they had been in +the approach, they were enabled to deliver their fire from an extensive +range of front. It appalled the Indians, even as a thunder +burst from heaven. They had gathered around the few Frenchmen +surviving of Le Caille’s party, and were prepared to finish +their work with hand-javelins and stone hatchets. The Frenchmen +were not suffered to reload their pieces, and were reduced to +the necessity of using them as clubs. They were about to be +overwhelmed when the timely fire of the nine pieces of D’Erlach’s +party, the shout and the rush which followed it, struck death and +consternation into the souls of their assailants, and drove them +from their prey. With howls of fright and fury the red-men fled +to deeper thickets, till they should ascertain the nature and number +of their new enemies, and provide themselves with fresh weapons. +But D’Erlach was not disposed to afford them respite. His pieces +were reloaded; those of the Frenchmen of Le Caille—all indeed +who were able—joined themselves to his party, and the Indians +were pressed through the thicket and upon their village. To this +they fled as to a place of refuge. Our Frenchmen stormed it, +fired it over the heads of the inmates, and terrible was the slaughter +which followed. The object of D’Erlach was obtained. He +had struck such a panic into the souls of the savages, that he was +permitted to draw off his people without molestation; but the inspection<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">- 400 -</a></span> +of the fatal field into which the rashness of Le Caille had +led his party, left D’Erlach with few objects of consolation. Seven +of them were slain outright, or mortally wounded; three others +were slightly wounded, and but three remained unhurt. The +survivors were brought off in safety, greatly rejoicing in a rescue +so totally undeserved. The party that night encamped in a close +wood, in a spot so chosen as to be easily guarded. Two of the +persons mortally wounded in the conflict died that night; the +third, next day at noon. They were not abandoned till their +cares and sufferings were at an end, and their comrades buried +them, piling huge stones about their corses. Repose was greatly +wanting to the party; but they were conscious that the Indians +were about them. D’Erlach knew too well the customs of the +Apalachian race to doubt that the runners had already sped, east +and west, bearing <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">le baton rouge</i>—the painted club of red, which +summons the tribe to which it is carried to send its young vultures +to the gathering about the prey.</p> + +<p>He sped away accordingly, re-crossing the little river where +the party of Le Caille had encountered the Indian spy, and pressing +forward upon the route which he had been before pursuing. +Day and night he travelled with little intermission, in the endeavor +to put as great a space as possible between his band and +their enemies. But the toil had become too severe for his people. +They began to falter, and were finally compelled to halt for a rest +of two or more days, in a snug and pleasant valley, such as they +could easily defend. Here they suffered several disasters. One +of his men, drying some gunpowder before the fire, it exploded, +and he was so dreadfully burnt that he survived but a day, and +expired in great agony. Another, who went out after game, never +returned. He probably fell a victim to his own imprudence, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">- 401 -</a></span> +sunk under the arrows of some prowling savage. The camp was +broken up in haste and apprehension, and the march resumed. +Their force was now reduced to thirteen men, and these were destined +to still further reduction. The cold had become excessive. +The feet of the Frenchmen grew sore from constant exercise; and +at length, despairing of the long progress still before them before +they could reach the sea, Alphonse D’Erlach yielded to the growing +desire of his people to ascend the mountains and seek a +nearer spot of refuge, or at least of temporary repose. He began +to give ear more earnestly to the story of the great city of the +mountains; or, he seemed to do so. At all events,—such was +the suggestion—‘we can shelter ourselves for the winter in some +close valley of the hills; here we can build log dwellings, and +supply ourselves with game as hunters.’ The Frenchmen had acquired +sufficient experience of Indian habits to resort to their +modes of meeting the exigencies of the season. They knew what +were the roots which might be bruised, macerated, and made into +bread; and they had been fed on acorns more than once by the +Floridian savages. They began the painful ascent, accordingly, +which carried them up the heights of Apalachia, that mighty chain +of towers which divide the continent from north to south. They +had probably reached the region which now forms the upper +country of Georgia and South Carolina.</p> + +<p>It was in the toilsome ascent of these precipitous heights that +they encountered one of those dangers which D’Erlach had striven +so earnestly to elude. This was a meeting with the Indians, in +any force. A body of more than forty of them were met descending +one of the gorges up which the Frenchmen were painfully +making their way. The meeting was the signal for the strife. +The war-whoop was given almost in the moment when the parties<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">- 402 -</a></span> +discovered each other. The Indians had the superiority as well +in position as in numbers; being on an elevation considerably +above that of the Frenchmen. They were a large, fine-limbed +race of savages, clad in skins, and armed with bows and stone-hatchets. +They had probably never beheld the white man before, +and knew nothing of his fearful weapons. They were astounded +by the explosion of the arquebuse, and when their chief tumbled +from the cliff on which he stood, stricken by an invisible bolt, they +fled in terror, leaving the field to the Frenchmen. But, three of +the latter were slain in the conflict, and three others wounded. +The path was free for their progress, but they went forward with +diminished numbers, and sinking hearts. The survivors were now +but ten, and these were hurt and suffering from sore, if not fatal, +injuries. The cold increased. The savages seemed to have +housed themselves from the fury of the winds, that rushed +and howled along the bleak terraces to which the Frenchmen had +arisen. They buried themselves in a valley that offered them +partial protection, built their fires, raised a miserable hovel of poles +and bushes for their covering, and sent out their hunters. Two +parties, one of two, the other of three men, went forth in pursuit +of a bear whose tracks they had detected; leaving five to keep the +camp, three of whom were wounded men. Of these two parties, +one returned at night, bringing home a turkey. They had failed +to discover the hiding-place of the bear. The other did not reappear +all night. Trumpets were sounded and guns fired from +the camp to guide their footsteps, but without success; and with +the dawn Alphonse D’Erlach set forth with his brother and another, +one Philip le Borne, to seek the fugitives. Their tracks +were found and followed for a weary distance; lost and again +found. Pursued over ridge and valley, in a zigzag and ill-directed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">- 403 -</a></span> +progress, showing that the lost party had been distracted by their +apprehensions. This pursuit led the hunters greatly from the +camp; but D’Erlach had made his observations carefully at every +step, and knew well that he could regain the spot. He had provided +himself well with such food as they possessed, and his little +party was well armed. He refused to discontinue the search, +particularly as they still recovered the tracks of the missing men. +For two days they searched without ceasing, camping by night, +and crouching in the shelter of some friendly rock that kept off +the wind, and building themselves fires which guarded their slumbers +from the assaults of wolf and panther; the howls of the one, +and the screams of the other, sounding ever and anon within their +ears, from the bald rocks which overhung the camp. On the +morning of the third day the fugitives were found, close together, +and stiffened in death. They had evidently perished from the +cold.</p> + +<p>Very sadly did the D’Erlachs return with their one companion +to the camp where they had left their comrades. But their gloom +and grief were not to suffer diminution. What was their horror to +find the spot wholly deserted. The ashes were cold where they +had made their fires: the probability was that the place had been +fully a day and night abandoned. No traces of the Frenchmen +were left—not a clue afforded to their brethren of what had taken +place. Alphonse D’Erlach, however, discovered the track of an +Indian moccasin in the ashes, but he carefully obliterated it before +it was beheld by his companions. It was apparent to him that his +people had suffered themselves to be surprised; but whether they +had been butchered or led into captivity was beyond his conjecture. +His hope that they still lived was based upon the absence +of all proofs of struggle or of sacrifice.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">- 404 -</a></span></p> + +<p>To linger in that spot was impossible; but whither should they +direct their steps.</p> + +<p>“We are but three, now, my comrades,” said the younger +D’Erlach,—“we must on no account separate. We must sleep +and hunt together, and suffer no persuasions to part us. Let us +descend from this inhospitable mountain, and, crossing the stretch +of valley which spreads below, attempt the heights opposite. We +may there find more certain food, and better protection from these +bleak winds.”</p> + +<p>“Better that we had perished with our comrades, under the +knife of Melendez,” was the gloomy speech of the elder D’Erlach.</p> + +<p>“It is always soon enough to die,” replied the younger. “For +shame, my brother!—it is but death, at the worst, which awaits +us. Let us on!”</p> + +<p>And he led the way down the rugged heights, the others following +passively and in moody silence.</p> + +<p>They crossed the valley, through which a river went foaming +and flashing over huge rocks and boulders, great fractured masses +from the overhanging cliffs, that seemed the ruins of an ancient +world. The stream was shallow though wild; and crossing from +rock to rock they made their way over without much trouble or +any accident. The ascent of the steep heights beyond was not +so easy. Three days were consumed in making a circuit, and +finding a tolerable way for clambering up the mountain. Cold +and weary, hungry and sick at heart, the elder D’Erlach and +Philip le Borne, were ready to lie down and yield the struggle. +Despair had set its paralyzing grasp upon their hearts; but the +considerate care, the cheerful courage, the invigorating suggestion, +of the younger D’Erlach, still sufficed to strengthen them for renewed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">- 405 -</a></span> +effort, when they were about to yield to fate. He adopted +the legend of the great city. These rocks were a fitting portal to +such a world of empire and treasure. He dwelt with emotion upon +its supposed wonders, and found reasons of great significance for +assuming it to be near at hand. And they toiled after him up the +terrible heights, momently expecting to hear him cry aloud from +the summit for which they toiled—“Eureka! Here is the Grand +Copal!” In this progress the younger D’Erlach was always the +leader; Philip le Borne struggled after him, though at a long distance, +and, more feeble than either, the elder D’Erlach brought up +the rear. Alphonse had nearly reached the bald height to which +he was climbing, when a fearful cry assailed him from behind. He +looked about instantly, only in time to see the form of le Borne +disappear from the cliff, plunging headlong into the chasm a thousand +feet below. The victim was too terrified to cry. Life was +probably extinguished long before his limbs were crushed out of +all humanity amongst the jagged masses of the fractured rocks +which received them. The cry was from the elder D’Erlach. He +saw the dreadful spectacle at full; beheld his companion shoot +suddenly down beside him, with outstretched arms, as if imploring +the succor for which he had no voice to cry. He saw, and, overcome +with horror, sank down in a convulsion upon the narrow +ledge which barely sufficed to sustain his person. Alphonse +D’Erlach darted down to his succor, and clung to him till he had +revived.</p> + +<p>“Where is Philip?” demanded the elder brother.</p> + +<p>“We are all that remain, my brother,” was the reply.</p> + +<p>The other covered his eyes with his hands, as if to shut out +thought; and it was some time before he could be persuaded to +re-attempt the ascent. Alphonse clung to his side as he did so;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">- 406 -</a></span> +never suffered him to be beyond reach of his arm, and, after +several hours of the greatest toil, succeeded in placing him safely +upon the broad summit of the mountain. And what a prospect +had they obtained—what a world of wonder, of beauty and sublimity—fertile +realms of forest; boundless valleys of verdure; +illimitable seas of mountain range, their billowy tops rolling onward +and onward, till the eye lost them in the misty vapors of the sea +of sky beyond.</p> + +<p>But the eyes of our adventurers were not sensible to the sublimity +and beauty of the scene. They beheld nothing but its +wildness, its stillness, its coldness, its loneliness, its dread and +dreary solitude.</p> + +<p>“We are but two, my brother, two of all,” said the elder D’Erlach. +“Let us die together, my brother.”</p> + +<p>“If fate so pleases,” was the reply—“well! But let us hope +that we may live together yet.”</p> + +<p>“I am done with hope. I am too weary for hope. My heart +is frozen. I see nothing but death, and in death I see something +very sweet in the slumber which it promises. Why should we +live? It is but a prolongation of the struggle. Let us die. Oh! +Alphonse, your life is not less precious to me than mine own. I +would freely give mine, at any moment, to render yours more safe; +yet, if you agree, my hand shall strike the dagger into your heart, +if yours will do for mine the same friendly office.”</p> + +<p>“No more, my brother! Let us not speak or think after this +fashion. Our frail and feeble bodies are forever grudgeful of the +authority which our souls exercise upon them. If they are weary, +they would escape from weariness, at sacrifices of which they +know not the extent; would they sleep, they are not unwilling +that the sleep should be death, so that they may have respite from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">- 407 -</a></span> +toil. My brother, I will not suffer my body so to sway my soul if +I can help it. I will still live, and still toil, and still struggle +onward, and when I perish it shall be with my foot advanced, my +hand raised, and my eye guiding, in the progress onward—forever +onward. It will be time enough to think of death when death +grapples us and there is no help. But, till that moment, I mock +and defy the tempter, who would persuade me to rest before my +limbs are weary and my strength is gone.”</p> + +<p>“But, Alphonse, my limbs are weary, and my strength is +gone.”</p> + +<p>“Let your heart be strong; keep your soul from weariness, and +your limbs will receive strength. Sleep, brother, under the shelter +of this great rock, while I kindle fire at your feet, and prepare +something for you to eat.”</p> + +<p>And while the elder brother slept, the other watched and +warmed him, and some shreds of meat dried in the sun, and a +slender supply of meal corns, parched by the fire, with a vessel +of water, was prepared and ready for him at awakening.</p> + +<p>But he awakened in no better hope than when he had laid +down. He ate and was not strengthened. The hope had gone +out from his heart, the fire from his eye, his soul lacked the +cheerful vigor necessary to exertion, and his physical strength +was nearly exhausted.</p> + +<p>“Would that I had not awakened!” was his mournful exclamation, +as his eyes opened once more to the dreary prospect +from the bald eminence of that desolate mountain-tower. “Would +that I might close mine eyes and sleep, my brother, sleep ever, +or awake to consciousness only in a better world.”</p> + +<p>“This world is ours, my brother,” responded the younger, impetuously; +“and, if we are men, if we had no misgivings—if we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">- 408 -</a></span> +could feel only as we might—that the weariness of this day would +find a wing to-morrow; we should conquer it, and be worthy of +better worlds hereafter. But he who gives himself up to weariness, +will neither find nor deserve a wing. Thou hast eaten—thou +hast drunken,—thou shouldst be refreshed. I have neither eaten +nor drunken, since we set off at dawn this morning for our progress +across the valley.”</p> + +<p>“Reproach me not, Alphonse,” replied the other; “thou hast +a strength and a courage both denied to me.”</p> + +<p>“Believe it not; be resolute in thy courage, and thy strength +will follow. It is the heart, verily, that is the first to fail.”</p> + +<p>“Mine is dead within me!”</p> + +<p>“Yet another effort, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">mon frére</i>,—yet one more effort! The +valley below us looks soft and inviting. There shall we find +shelter from the bleak winds that sweep these bald summits.”</p> + +<p>“It is cold! and my limbs stiffen beneath me,” answered the +other, as he rose slowly to resume a march which was more painful +to his thoughts than any which he had of death. But for his +deference to the superior will of the younger brother, he had +surely never risen from the spot. But he rose, and wearily followed +after the bold Alphonse, who was already picking his way +down the steep sides of the mountain.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>We need not follow the brothers through the painful details of +a progress which had few varieties to break its monotony, and +nothing to relieve its gloom. Two days have made a wonderful +difference in the appearance of both. Wild, stern and wretched +enough before in aspect, there was now a grim, gaunt, wolf-like +expression in the features of Alphonse D’Erlach, which showed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">- 409 -</a></span> +that privation and labor were working fearfully upon the mind as +well as the body. He was emaciated—his eyes sunken and glossy, +staring intensely yet without expression—his hair matted upon +his brows, and his movements rather convulsive than energetic. +His soul was as strong as ever—his will as inflexible; but the +tension of the mind had been too great, and nature was beginning +to fail in the support of this rigor. He now strove but little in +the work of soothing and cheering his less courageous brother. +He had no longer a voice of encouragement, and he evidently began +to think that the death for which the other had so much +yearned would perhaps be no unwelcome visitor. Still, as if the +maxims which we have heard him utter were a portion of his real +nature, his cry was forever “On,” and still his hand was outstretched +towards blue summits that seemed to hide another world +in the gulfs beyond them.</p> + +<p>“I can go no farther, Alphonse. I will go no farther. The +struggle is worse than any death. I feel that I must sleep. I +feel that sleep would be sweeter than anything you can promise.”</p> + +<p>“If you sleep, you die.”</p> + +<p>“I shall rejoice!”</p> + +<p>“You must not, brother. I will help you. I will carry you.”</p> + +<p>He made the effort as he spoke—for a moment raised up the +failing form of his brother—staggered forward, and sank himself +beneath the burden.</p> + +<p>“Ha! ha!” he laughed hoarsely; “that we should fail with +the Golden Copal in sight! But if we rest, we shall recover. Let +us rest. Let us kindle here a fire, my brother, for my limbs feel +cold also.”</p> + +<p>“It is death, Alphonse.”</p> + +<p>“Death! Pshaw! We cannot fail now; now that we are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">- 410 -</a></span> +nearly at the summit. I tell you, brother, we are almost at the +portals of that wondrous city. Once I doubted there were such +city, but I have seen glimpses of towers, and methought but now +I beheld the window in a turret from which a fair woman was +looking forth. See now! Look you to the right—there where +you see the mountain sink as it were, then suddenly rise again, the +slopes leading gently up to a tower and a wall. The evening +sunlight rests upon it. You see it is of a dusky white, and the +window shows clearly through the stone, and some one moves +within it. Dost thou see, my brother?”</p> + +<p>“I see nothing but the sky and ocean. It is the waters that +roll about us.”</p> + +<p>“It is the winds that you hear, as they sweep down from yonder +mountains. But where I point your eyes is certainly a tower, a +great castle—no doubt one that commands the ascent to the +mountains.”</p> + +<p>“Brother, this is so sweet!”</p> + +<p>“What?”</p> + +<p>“Ah! what a blessed fortune! Escaped from the bloody +Spaniard, afar from the inhospitable land of the Floridian, to see +once more these sweet waters and the well-known places.”</p> + +<p>“What waters? What places?”</p> + +<p>“Do you know them not—our own Seine and the cottage, Alphonse? +Ha! ha! there they are! I knew they would come +forth. Old Ulrich leads them; and Bertha is there, and brings +little Etienne by the hand. And, ah! ha! ha! Joy, mother, +we are come again!”</p> + +<p>“He dreams! he dreams! If thus he dies, with such a dream, +there can be no pain in it. Let him dream! let him dream!”</p> + +<p>And Alphonse D’Erlach hastened to kindle the flames, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">- 411 -</a></span> +tore from his own body the garment to warm his dying brother; +and he clasped his hands convulsively as he listened to the faint +and broken words that fell from his lips, subsiding at last into,</p> + +<p>“Mother, we are come!”</p> + +<p>And then he lay speechless. The younger brother turned +away, and looked yearningly to the mountains.</p> + +<p>“If I can only reach yon castle, he should be saved. It is not +so far! but this valley to cross—but that low range of rocks to +overcome. It shall be done. I will but cover him warmly with +leaves and throw fresh brands upon the fire, and before night I +shall return with help.”</p> + +<p>And he did as he said. He threw fresh brands upon the fire; +he wrapped the senseless form of his brother in leaves and moss; +and, stooping down, grasped his hand and printed a long, last kiss +upon his lips. The eyes of the dying man opened, but they were +fixed and glassy. But Alphonse saw not the look. His own +eyes were upon the castellated mountain. He sped away, feebly +but eagerly, and as he descended into the valley, he looked back +ever and anon; and as he looked, his voice, almost in whispers, +would repeat the words—“Keep in heart, brother. I will bring +you help;” and thus he sped from the scene.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>The day waned rapidly, but still the young Alphonse sped upon +his mission. He crossed the plain; he urged his progress up the +ridgy masses that formed the foreground to the great cliffs from +which the castled towers still appeared to loom forth upon his +sight. He cast a momentary glance upon the sun, wan, sinking +with a misty halo among the tops of the great sea-like mountains<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">- 412 -</a></span> +that rolled their blue and billowy summits in the east, circumscribing +his vision, and he <span class="nowrap">murmured—</span></p> + +<p>“I shall be in time. Do not despair, my brother. I will soon +be with you and bring you succor.”</p> + +<p>And thus he ascended the stony ridges, height upon height gradually +ascending, till he came to a sudden gorge—a chasm rent by +earthquake and convulsion from the bosom of the great mountain +for which he sped. He looked down upon the gorge, and as he +descended, he turned his eye to the lone plateau upon which his +brother had been laid to dream, and cried:</p> + +<p>“I go from your eyes, my brother, but I go to bring you help.”</p> + +<p>And he passed with tottering steps, and a feebleness still increasing, +but which his sovereign will was loth to acknowledge, +down into the chasm, and was suddenly lost from sight.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Scarcely had he thus passed into the great shadow of the gorge, +when the howl of wolves awakened the echoes of the valley over +which he had gone. And soon they appeared, five in number, +trotting over the ground which he had traversed, and, with their +noses momently set to earth, sending up an occasional cry which +announced the satisfaction of their scent. Now they ascend the +stony ridges. For a moment they halt and gather upon the verge +of the great chasm; then they scramble down into its hollows, and +howling as they go and jostling in the narrow gorges, they too +pass from sight into the obscurity of the mountain shadows.</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>Another spectacle follows in their place. Sudden, along the +rocky ledges of the high precipices which overhang the gorge,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">- 413 -</a></span> +darts forth a graceful and commanding form. It is a woman that +appears, young and majestic, lofty in carriage, yet winning in aspect. +She belongs to the red races of the Apalachian, but she is +fairest among her people. The skin of a panther forms her +mantle, and her garments are of cotton, richly stained. She carries +a bow in her hand, and a quiver at her back. Her brows are +encircled by a tiara of crimson cotton, from which arise the long +white plumes of the heron. She claps her hands, and cries aloud +to others still in the shadows of the mountain. They dart out to +join her, a group of graceful-looking women and of lofty and vigorous +men. She points to the gorge beyond, and fits an arrow +to her bow. The warriors do likewise, and her shaft speeds upon +its mission of death, shot down amidst the shadows of the gorge. +A cry of pain from the wolf,—another and another, as the several +shafts of the warriors speed in the same direction. Then one of +the warriors hurls a blazing torch into the abyss, and the wounded +wolves speed back through the gorges, and the hunters dart after +them with shafts, and blazing torches, and keen pursuit. Meanwhile, +the Apalachian princess descends the precipice with footsteps +wondrous sure and fast. Her damsels follow her with cries +of eagerness, and soon they disappear—all save the hunters, who +pursue the wolves with well-aimed darts, till they fall howling one +by one, and perish in their tracks. Then the warriors scalp their +prey and turn back, pass through the gorge, and follow in the +footsteps of their princess. The sun sinks, the night closes upon +the valley, and all is silent.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">- 414 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="XXV" id="XXV">XXV.</a><br /> +DOMINIQUE DE GOURGUES.</h2> + +<h3>I<!--was 1-->.—<span class="smfont">EARLY HISTORY OF GOURGUES.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> tidings of the fearful massacre of the Huguenots in +Florida, as well in Spanish, as in French accounts, at length +reached France. Deep was the feeling of horror and indignation +which they everywhere excited among the people. Catholics, not +less than Protestants, felt how terrible was the cruelty thus inflicted +upon humanity, how insolent the scorn thus put upon the +flag of the country. Wild and bitter was the cry of anguish sent +up by the thousand bereaved widows and orphans of the murdered +men. But this cry, this feeling, this sense of suffering and shame, +awakened no sympathies in the court of France. The king, +Charles IX., heard the “supplication” of the wives and children +of the sufferers, without according any answer to their prayer. +The blood of nearly nine hundred victims cried equally to earth +and heaven for vengeance, and cried in vain to the earthly sovereign. +He had no ear for the sorrows and the wrongs of heresy; +and the plaint of humanity was stifled in the supposed interests of +religion. Charles was most regally indifferent to a crime which +relieved him of so many troublesome subjects; and was at that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">- 415 -</a></span> +very time, meditating the most summary processes for still farther +diminishing their numbers. He was yet to provide an appropriate +finish to such a history of massacre in the bloody tragedy of +St. Bartholomew. The wrong done to the honor of his flag and +nation, by a rival power, was not felt. We have already hinted +the strong conjecture, urged by historians, that the Spanish expedition, +under Melendez, was planned with the full privity and concurrence +of the king of France. His conduct, at this period, +would seem fully to justify the suspicion. His existing relations +with his brother of Spain were not of a sort to be periled now +by the exhibition of his sympathies with a cause, and on behalf of +a sect, which both monarchs had reason to hate and fear, and were +preparing to extirpate.</p> + +<p>But, if the Court of France demanded no redress for the +massacre of its people, and that of Spain offered none, either redress +or apology, there was yet a deep and intense passion dwelling +in the heart of the one nation, and yearning for revenge upon +that of the other. There was still a chivalrous feeling in France +which showed itself superior to the exactions of sect or party, and +which brooded with terrible intensity over the bloody fortunes of +the French in Florida. This moody meditation at length found +its fitting exponent. The sentiment that stirs earnestly in the +popular heart will always, sooner or later, obtain a fitting voice; +and where it burns justifiably for vengeance, it will not long be +wanting in a weapon. The avenger arose in due season to satisfy +the demands of justice!</p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<p>The Chevalier, Dominique de Gourgues, was a Gascon gentleman, +born at Mont de Marsan, in the County of Cominges. His<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416">- 416 -</a></span> +family was one of considerable distinction. It had always been +devotedly attached to the Catholic religion, nor had he ever for a +moment faltered in the same faith. His career had been a remarkable +one, signalized by great valor, and the most extreme +vicissitudes of fortune. He had served in the armies of France +during the long and capricious struggles in Italy, which had been +the chief arena for conflict in the reigns of Charles the Eighth, of +Louis XII., of Francis the First, and down to the present period. +Here he had associated, under the command of Brissac and others, +with that valiant brother Gascon, Blaize de Montluc, who, in his +commentaries, would probably have told us much about the +prowess of Gourgues, if he had not been so greatly occupied with +the narrative of his own.<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> But the forbearance of Montluc has +not deprived us of all the testimony which belongs to the fame<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417">- 417 -</a></span> +of the chevalier. Of all the subaltern officers of his time, no one +achieved a more brilliant reputation. Among the Gascons, confessedly +distinguished above all others by their reckless daring, +and headlong eagerness after glory in battle, the courage of +Gourgues was such as raised him to the rank of a hero of romance. +His youthful eyes had opened upon the latest fields of that race of +heroes of whom Bayard was the superior and perhaps the last. He +was one of the Sampsons of that wondrous band, whose wars, according +to Trivulcio—one not the least remarkable among them,—were +those of the giants;—the Swiss, in the fullest vigor of their +martial fame, and at the height of their insolence;—the Spaniards, +with Hernan de Cordova, the great captain, at their head, and +crowning the career of Charles V. with a power and a lustre +which his own merits did not deserve;—the Italians, under the +sway of, and deriving their spirit from, the fierce martial pontiff, +Julius II., and the French, boasting of a cavalry, headed by +Bayard, La Palisse and others, worthy of such associates, and such +as the armies of Europe had never beheld before. Montluc, who +had been trained in part in the same house with Bayard, and +Boiteres, who, as a page of the knight <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">sans peur et sans reproche</i>, +makes a famous figure in the chronicles of <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">le loyal serviteur</i>, being +among the leaders whom the Chevalier de Gourgues followed into +battle. He partook of their spirit, and proved himself worthy to +sustain the declining honors of chivalry. But his fortunes were +as adverse as his merits were distinguished. With thirty men, +near Sienna, in Tuscany, he sustained, for a long time, the shock +of a large division of the Spanish army. He saw, at length, every +man of his command fall around him, and was made a prisoner. +The captive of the Spaniard, in that day, when the emperor of +the country and his favorite generals showed themselves utterly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418">- 418 -</a></span> +and equally insensible to good faith and generosity, was to be a +slave. They conducted war with little regard to the rules that +prevailed among civilized nations. The valor that Gourgues<!--was Gorgues--> displayed, +instead of commending him to their admiration and favor, +only provoked their fury; and they punished, with shameful bonds, +those brave actions which the noble heart prefers to applause and +honor. Gourgues was transferred in chains to the gallies. In this +degrading condition, chained to the oar, he was captured by the +links off the coast of Sicily; the Turks then being in alliance, to +the shame of Christendom, with the French monarch, and against +the Spaniards. He was conducted by his new captors to Rhodes +and thence to Constantinople. Sent once more to sea, under his +new master, he was retaken by a Maltese galley, and thus recovered +his liberty. But his latter adventures had given him a +taste for the sea. His progresses brought him to the coast of +Africa, to Brazil, and, according to Lescarbot, though the point is +doubted, to the Pacific Ocean. The details of this career are not +given to us, but the results seem to have been equally creditable +to the fame, and of benefit to the fortunes of our chevalier. He +returned to Mont de Marsan, with the reputation of being one of +the most able and hardy of all the navigators of his time. He +had scarcely established himself fairly in his ancient home, where +he had invested all the fruits of his toils and enterprise, when the +tidings came of the capture of La Caroline, and the massacre of +the French in Florida by Melendez. He felt for the honor of +France, for the grief of the widows and orphans thus cruelly +bereaved, and was keenly reminded of that brutal nature of the +Spaniard, under which he had himself suffered so long, and in a +condition so humiliating to a noble spirit. He had his own wrongs +and those of his country to avenge. He brooded over the necessity<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419">- 419 -</a></span> +before him, with a passion that acquired new strength +from contemplation, and finally resolved never to give himself rest +till he had exacted full atonement, in the blood of the usurpers in +Florida, for the crime of which they had been guilty to his people +and himself.</p> + +<h3><a name="XXV_II" id="XXV_II">II.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">BLAIZE DE MONTLUC.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">This</span> sublime purpose—sublime by reason of the intense individuality +which it betrayed—the proud, strong and defiant will, +which took no counsel from the natural fears of the subject, and +was totally unrebuked by the placid indifference of the sovereign to +his own duties—was not, however, to be indulged openly; but was +compelled, by force of circumstances; the better to effect its +object—to subdue itself to the eye, to cloak its real purposes, to +suffer not the nearest or best friend to conceive the intense design +which was working in the soul of the hero. We have seen that +the Marechal, Blaize de Montluc, a very celebrated warrior, a +very brave fellow, an accomplished leader and a good man, +though a monstrous braggart—the very embodiment of Gascon +self-esteem, had long been a personal friend of the Chevalier de +Gourgues. Montluc was the king’s lieutenant in Guyenne, and +to him De Gourgues proceeded to obtain his commission for sailing +upon the high seas. Montluc, like himself, was a Catholic; but, +unlike de Gourgues, was a bitter hater of the Huguenots. Our +chevalier had been too long a prisoner with Spaniard and Turk—too +long a cruiser upon lonely oceans, confined to a little world +which knew and cared nothing for sects and parties, to feel very +acutely as a politician in matters of religion. Such a life as that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420">- 420 -</a></span> +which he had so long led, was well calculated to conduce to toleration. +“Vengeance is mine:” saith the Lord; and he was very +willing to believe that in his own good time, the Lord will do himself +justice upon the offender. He was no hater of Calvin or the +Protestants—was quite willing that they should pray and preach +after the desires of their own hearts; and did by no means sympathise +with his friend, Montluc, in regard to the heretics whom +he denounced. But he said nothing of this to the Marechal. He +knew that nothing could be said safely, in relation to this vexing +struggle, which tore the bowels of the nation with perpetual +strifes. He had been taught policy by painful experience; and, +though boiling with intense excitement, could conceal the secret +flame with an exterior of snow, such as shrouds the top of the +burning Orizaba. He found the old knight in the enjoyment of a +degree of repose, which was no ways desirable to one of his character. +The man of whom the epitaph records—written by <span class="nowrap">himself:—</span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="p420">“Cy dessous reposent les os<br /></span> +<span class="p420">De Montluc, qui n’eut onc repos.”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>was not the person to feel grateful in the possession of an office +which gave no exercise to his restless and martial propensities.</p> + +<p>“We are shelved, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">mon ami</i>,” he said with a grim smile to +De Gourgues, as they sat together in the warm chamber of the +speaker:—“We are shelved. We are under petticoat government. +Lords and rulers are now made by the pretty women of +the Court, and an old soldier like myself, who has saved the +monarchy, as you know, a dozen times, has nothing now to do but +to hang up his armor, and watch it while it falls to pieces with +the rust. But I have made myself a name which is famous +throughout Europe, and for the opportunity to do this, I must<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421">- 421 -</a></span> +needs be grateful to my king. I have the lieutenancy of Guyenne, +but how long I am to have it is the question. There are +others who hunger after the shoes I wear; but whether they will +fit so well upon the feet of Monsieur, the Marquis de Villars, +must be for other eyes to determine. All I know, is, that I am +laid up forever. Strength fails, and favor fails, and I chafe at +my own lack of strength. I shall never be happy so long as my +knees refuse to bend as I would mount horse, yet bend even too +freely when I would speed on foot. But what is this expedition +for which you desire the royal seal? Certainly, we Gascons are +the most restless of all God’s creatures. Here now are you but +just arrived at home, and beginning to make merry with your +friends, and here you are, all at once, impatient to be upon the +seas again. Well, you have won a great fame upon the ocean, +and naturally desire to win still more. I’ faith, I feel a great +desire to keep you company. I would be at work to the last, +still doing, still conquering, and dying in the greatest of my victories. +What says the Italian—<i lang="it" xml:lang="it">‘Un bel mourir, tutta la vita +onora!’</i> Did this adventure of yours, Monsieur, but promise a +great battle, verily, I should like to share it with you.”</p> + +<p>“Ah! Monsieur, my friend, your passion is no longer mine, +though I am too much of the Gascon still, to fail, at the sound of +the trumpet, to prick mine ears. But this adventure tells for +fortune rather than fame. I find no fame a specific against +famine. I would seek now after those worldly<!--was wordly--> goods which neither +of us looked to find in the wars with the Spaniard. And for +which reason, failing to find, we are in danger now of being put +aside by ladies’ minions, and the feathered creatures of the Court. +There is great gain now to be won by a visit to the Coast of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422">- 422 -</a></span> +Benin, in Africa, whence we carry the negro cannibal, that he +may be made a Christian by proper labor under Christian rule.”</p> + +<p>And De Gourgues proceeded to unfold the history of the traffic +in slaves, as it was carried on by all nations at that period; its +marvellous profit and no less marvellous benefits to the untutored +and miserable heathen. The Marechal listened with great edification.</p> + +<p>“Ah! Monsieur, were I now what you knew me when we +fought in Tuscany, now nearly thirty years ago! But it is too +late. I must ever remain what I am, a poor Gascon, as my sovereign +hath ever known me; too heedful of his fortune ever to give +proper tendance to my own!”</p> + +<h3><a name="XXV_III" id="XXV_III">III.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">GOURGUES AT SEA.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Chevalier de Gourgues received his commission, and his +preparations for the expedition were at once begun. He converted +his goods and chattels into money—his lands and moveables. +He sold everything that he possessed. Nor did he rest +here. He borrowed of friends and neighbors. His credit was +good—his reputation great—himself beloved. It was easy to +inspire confidence in the ostensible objects of his expedition. +The world then conceived very differently of the morals of such +an enterprise, than it does at present. The moneys thus realized +were employed in arming two <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">roberges</i>, or brigantines,—ships of +light burthen, resembling the Spanish caravels; and one <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">patache</i>, +or tender, a vessel modelled after the frigate of the Levant, and +designed for penetrating shallow harbors. One hundred and fifty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423">- 423 -</a></span> +soldiers, and eighty sailors, formed his complement of men, of +whom one hundred were armed with the cross-bow. There were +many gentlemen, volunteers, in the expedition; and De Gourgues +had taken the precaution to secure the services of one who had +been a trumpeter under Laudonniere, and had made his escape +with that commander. Provisions for a year were laid in; and +every preparation having been made, and every precaution taken, +as well with the view to secrecy, as to the prosecution of the +object, the squadron sailed for Bordeaux, on the second day of +August, 1567, just two years after the flight of Laudonniere from +Florida. But the fates, at first, did not seem to smile upon the +enterprise. Baffled by contrary winds, our chevalier was at +length driven for shelter into the Charente, where he lay till the +twenty-second, when he put to sea, only to encounter new disappointments. +His ships were separated by a severe tempest, and +some time elapsed before they were re-united. He had provided +against this event by ordering his rendezvous at the mouth of the +<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Rio del Oro</i>, upon the coast of Africa. From this point he +ranged the coast down to Cape Blanco, where, instigated by the +Portuguese, he was assailed by three African chiefs, with their +naked savages, whom he beat off in two actions. He then proceeded +and continued in safety upon his route, until he reached +Cape Verd, when he turned his prows suddenly in the direction +of America. The first land which he made in this progress was +Dominica, one of the smaller Antilles; thence he drew on to +Porto Rico, and next to Mona; the cacique of which place supplied +him liberally with fresh provisions. Stretching away for +the continent, he encountered a tempest, which constrained him +to seek shelter in the port of San Nicholas, on the west side of +Hispaniola, where he repaired his vessels, greatly shattered by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424">- 424 -</a></span> +the storm, but where he vainly endeavored to lay in new supplies +of bread; his biscuit having been mostly damaged by the same +cause;—the Spaniards, with great inhospitality, refusing him all +supplies of food. Scarcely had he left San Nicholas, when he +was encountered by a hurricane, which drove him upon the +coast, exposing him to the most imminent peril, and from the +danger of which he escaped with great difficulty; he gained, after +many hardships, the west side of the Island of Cuba, and found +temporary respite at Cape San Antonio, where he went on shore +for a season.</p> + +<h3><a name="XXV_IV" id="XXV_IV">IV.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">GOURGUES DECLARES HIS PURPOSE TO HIS FOLLOWERS, IN A +SPEECH.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">His</span> worst dangers of the sea were over. He was now within +two hundred leagues of Florida, his prows looking, with unobstructed +vision, directly towards the enemies he sought. And +now, for the first time, he deemed it proper to unfold to his people +the true object of the expedition. He assembled together all +his followers:</p> + +<p>“Friends and comrades,” he said, “I have hitherto deceived +you as to my objects. They were of a sort to require, in the distracted +condition of our country, the utmost secrecy. It so happens +that France, torn by rival religious factions, is not properly +sensible of what is due to her honor and her people. I have +chosen you, as persons whom I mostly know, as persons who know +me, and have confidence in my courage, my honor, and my judgment. +I have chosen you to achieve a great work for the honor +of the French name, and for the safety of the French people.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425">- 425 -</a></span> +Though we quarrel and fight among ourselves at home, yet should +it be a common cause, without distinction of party, to protect our +people against the foreign enemy, and to avenge the cruelties they +have been made to suffer. It is for a purpose of this nature, that +I have brought you hither. I have heard many of you speak +with tears and rage of the great crime of which the Spaniards, +under Melendez, have been guilty, in butchering our unhappy +countrymen in Florida; nine hundred widows and orphans have +cried in vain for vengeance upon the cruel murderers. You know +all this terrible history—you are Frenchmen and brethren of these +unfortunate victims. You know the crime of our enemies, the +Spaniards; always our enemies, and never more so than when they +profess peace to us, and speak with smiles. What should be our +crime, if we suffer them to escape just punishment for their +butchery; if, with the means of vengeance in our hands, and our +enemies before us, we longer delay the hour of retribution? We +must avenge the murder of our countrymen; we must make the +Spaniards of Florida atone, in blood, for the shame and affront +which they have put upon the lilies of France! If you feel as I +do, the day of vengeance and just judgment is at hand. That I +am resolute in this object—that it fills my whole soul with but +one feeling—my whole mind with but one thought—you may +know, when you see that I have sold all my worldly<!--was wordly--> goods, all the +possessions that I have on earth, in order to obtain the means for +the destruction of these Spaniards of Florida. I take for granted +that you feel with me, that you are as jealous of the honor of +your country as myself, and that you are prepared for any sacrifice—life +itself—in this cause, at once so glorious, and so necessary +to the fame and safety of our people. If our Frenchmen +are to be butchered without a cause, and find no avenger, there is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_426" id="Page_426">- 426 -</a></span> +an end of the French name, and honor, and well-being; they will +find no refuge on the face of the earth. Speak, then, my comrades. +Let me hear that you feel and think and will resolve with +me. I ask you to do nothing, and to peril nothing, beyond myself. +I have already staked all my worldly fortunes on this one +object. I now offer to march at your head, to give you the first +example of self-sacrifice. Is there one of you who will refuse to +follow?”</p> + +<p>A speech so utterly unexpected, at first took his followers by +surprise; but the appeal was too grateful to their real sympathies, +their commander too much beloved, and the infusion of genuine +Gascons too large among the adventurers, to make them hesitate +in their decision. They felt the justice of the appeal; were +warmed to indignation by the sense of injury and discredit cast +upon the honor and the arms of France; and, soon recovering +from their astonishment, they eagerly pledged themselves to follow +wherever he should lead. With cries of enthusiasm they declared +themselves ready for the work of vengeance; and, taking +them in the humor which he had inspired, De Gourgues suffered +not a moment’s unnecessary delay to interfere with his progress. +Crowding all sail upon his vessels, he rapidly crossed the straits of +Bahama, and stretched, with easy course, along the low shores of +the Floridian.</p> + +<h3><a name="XXV_V" id="XXV_V">V.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">GOURGUES WELCOMED BY THE FLORIDIANS.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was not very long before his vessels drew in sight of one of +the Forts of the Spaniards, situated at the entrance of May River. +So little did they apprehend the approach of any French armament,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_427" id="Page_427">- 427 -</a></span> +that they saluted that of De Gourgues, as if they had been ships of +their own nation, mistaking them as such. Our chevalier encouraged +their mistake. He answered their salute, gun for gun; +but he passed onward without any intercourse, and the night following +entered the river, called by the Indians Tacatacourou, but +to which the French had given the name of the Seine, some fifteen +leagues distant.</p> + +<p>Here, confounding the strangers with the Spaniards, a formidable +host of Indians were prepared to give them battle. The +red-men had by this time fully experienced the tender mercies of +their brutal and bigoted neighbors; and had learned to contrast +them unfavorably with what they remembered of the Frenchmen +under Ribault and Laudonniere. With all the faults of the latter, +they knew him really as a gentle and moderate commander; by +no means blood-thirsty, and doing nothing in mere lust of power, +wantonly, and with a spirit of malicious provocation only. There +were also other influences at work among them, by which to impress +them favorably towards the French, and make them bitterly +hostile to the usurpers by whom they had been destroyed. It +needed, therefore, only that Gourgues should make himself +known to the natives, to discover their hostility. He employed for +this purpose his trumpeter, who had served under Laudonniere, +and was well known to the king, Satouriova, whose province lay +along the waters of the Tacatacourou, and with whose tribe it was +the good fortune of our Frenchmen to encounter. Satouriova, +knew the trumpeter at once, and received him graciously. He +soon revealed the existing relations between the red-men and the +Spaniards, and was delighted when assured that the Frenchmen +had come to renew and brighten the ancient chain of friendship +which had bound the red-men in amity with the people of La<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_428" id="Page_428">- 428 -</a></span> +Caroline. The interview was full of compliment and good feeling +on both sides. The next day was designated for a grand conference +between Satouriova and Gourgues. The interview opened +with a wild and picturesque display, which, on the part of the Indians, +loses nothing of its dignity because of its rudeness. The +stem and simple manners of the red-men, their deliberation, their +forbearance, the calm which overspreads their assemblies, the +stately solemnity with which the orator rises to address them, their +patient attention; these are ordinary characteristics, which make +the spectator forgetful of their poverty, their rude condition, the +inferiority of their weapons, and the ridiculous simplicity of their +ornaments. Satouriova anticipated the objects of Gourgues. Before +the latter could detail his designs, the savage declared his +deadly hatred of the Spaniards. He was already assembling his +people for their destruction. They should have no foothold on his +territories!</p> + +<p>All this was spoken with great vivacity; and he proceeded to +give a long history of the wrongs done to his people by the +usurpers. He recurred, then, to the terrible destruction of the +Frenchmen at La Caroline, and at the Bay of Matanzas; and voluntarily +pledged himself, with all his powers, to aid Gourgues in +the contemplated work of vengeance.</p> + +<p>The response of our chevalier was easy. He accepted the +pledges of Satouriova with delight. He had not come, he said, +with any present design to assail the Spaniards, but rather +with the view to renew the ancient alliance of the Frenchmen with +the Floridians; and, should he find them in the proper temper to +rise against the usurpers, then, to bring with him an armament +sufficiently powerful to rid the country of the intruders. But, as +he found Satouriova in such excellent spirit, and filled with so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_429" id="Page_429">- 429 -</a></span> +brave a resolution, he was determined, even with the small force +at his command, to second the chief in his desires to rid himself +of his bad neighbors.</p> + +<p>“Do you but join your forces to mine,—bring all your strength—put +forth all your resolution—show your best valor, and be +faithful to your pledges, and I promise you that we will destroy +the Spaniards, and root them out of your country!”</p> + +<p>The Cassique was charmed with this discourse, and a league, +offensive and defensive, was readily agreed upon between the +parties. Satouriova, at the close of the conference, brought forward +and presented to Gourgues a French boy, named Pierre de +Bré, who had sought refuge with him when La Caroline was +taken, and whom he had preserved with care, as his own son, in +spite of all the efforts of the Spaniards to get him into their power. +The boy was a grateful gift to Gourgues; useful as an interpreter, +but particularly grateful as one of the first fruits of his mission. +That night Satouriova despatched a score or more of emissaries, +in as many different directions, to the tribes of the interior. +These, each, bore in his hands the war-macana, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">le Baton +Rouge</i>, the painted red-club, which announces to the young warriors +the will of their superior. The runner speeds with this sign +of blood to the distant village, strikes the war-post in its centre, +waves his potent sign to the people, declares the place of gathering, +and darts away to spread still more the tidings. When he +faints, the emblem is seized by another, who continues on the route. +In this way, the whole nation is aroused, as by the sudden flaming +of a thousand mountain beacons. A single night will suffice to +alarm and assemble the people of an immense territory. The Indian +runner, day by day, will out-travel any horse. The result of +this expedition was visible next day, to Gourgues and his people.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_430" id="Page_430">- 430 -</a></span> +The chiefs of a score of scattered tribes, with all their best warriors, +were assembled with Satouriova, to welcome the Frenchmen +to the land.</p> + +<h3><a name="XXV_VI" id="XXV_VI">VI.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">OLOTOCARA.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Satouriova</span>, surrounded by his kinsmen, his allies, and subordinate +chiefs, appeared in all his state on the banks of the river, +almost with the rising of the sun. There were, in immediate attendance, +the Paracoussies or Cassiques. Tacatacourou—whose +tribe, living along its banks for the time, gave the name to the +river—Helmacana, Athoree, Harpaha, Helmacapé, Helicopilé, +Mollova, and a great many others. We preserve these names +with the hope that they may help to conduct the future antiquary +to the places of their habitation. Being all assembled, all in their +dignities, each with his little band of warriors, numbering from +ten to two hundred men, they despatched a special message to the +vessels of Gourgues, inviting him to appear among them. By a +precautionary arrangement the escort of our chevalier appeared +without their weapons, those of the red-men being likewise removed +from their persons, and concealed in the neighboring woods. +Gourgues yielded himself without scruple to the arrangements of his +tawny host. He was conducted by a deferential escort to the mossy +wood where the chiefs had assembled, and placed at the right hand +of Satouriova. The weeds and brambles had been carefully pulled +away from the spot—the place had been made very clean, and the +seat provided for Gourgues was raised, like that of Satouriova, and +nicely strewn, in the same manner, with a mossy covering. With +his trumpeter and Pierre de Bré, the captain of the French<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_431" id="Page_431">- 431 -</a></span> +found no embarrassment in pursuing the conference. It was +protracted for some time, as is usually the case with Indian treaties, +and involved many considerations highly important to the enterprise; +the number of the Spaniards, the condition of their +fortresses, their vigilance, and all points essential to be known, +before venturing to assail them. Much time was consumed in +mutual courtesies. Gifts were exchanged between the parties; De +Gourgues receiving from Satouriova, among other things, a chain of +silver, which the red chief graciously and with regal air cast about +the neck of the chevalier.</p> + +<p>It was while the conference thus proceeded, that a cry without +was heard from among the great body of the tribes assembled. +Shouts full of enthusiasm announced the approach of a favorite; +and soon the Frenchmen distinguished the words, “Holata Cara!” +“Holata Cara!”<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> which we may translate, “Beloved Chief or +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_432" id="Page_432">- 432 -</a></span> +Captain,” and which preceded the sudden entrance of a warrior, +the appearance of whom caused an instantaneous emotion of surprise +in the minds of the Frenchmen.</p> + +<p>The stranger was fair enough to be a Frenchman himself. His +complexion was wonderfully in contrast with that of the other +chiefs, and there was a something in his bearing and carriage, and +the expression of his countenance, which irresistibly impressed +De Gourgues with the conviction that he was gazing upon one of +his own countrymen. The features of the stranger were smooth +as well as fair, and in this, indeed, he rather resembled the +race of red than of white men. But he was evidently very young, +yet of a grave, saturnine cast of face, such as would denote equally +middle age and much experience, and yet was evidently the result +of temperament. His hair, the portion that was seen, was short, +as if kept carefully clipped; but he wore around his brows several +thick folds of crimson cotton, in fashion not greatly unlike that of +the Turk. There were many of the chiefs who wore a similar +head-dress, though whence the manufacture came, our Frenchmen +had no way to determine. A cotton shirt, with a falling cape and +fringe reaching below to his knees, belted about the waist with a +strip of crimson, like that which bound his head, formed the +chief items of his costume. Like the warriors generally, he wore +well-tanned buckskin leggings, terminating in moccasins of the +same material. He carried a lance in his grasp, while a light +macana was suspended from his shoulders.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_433" id="Page_433">- 433 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“Holata Cara!” said Satouriova, as if introducing the stranger +to the Frenchmen, the moment that he appeared, and the young +chief was motioned to a seat. In a whisper to the trumpeter, +Gourgues asked if he knew anything about this warrior; but the +trumpeter looked bewildered.</p> + +<p>“Such a chief was not known to us,” said he, “in the time of +Laudonniere.”</p> + +<p>“He looks for all the world like a Frenchman,” murmured +Gourgues.</p> + +<p>“He reminds me,” continued the trumpeter, “of a face that I +have seen and know, Monsieur; but, I cannot say. If that turban +were off now, and the paint. This is the first time I have +ever heard the name. But the boy, Pierre, may know him.”</p> + +<p>Gourgues whispered the boy:</p> + +<p>“Who is this chief? Have you ever seen him before? Do +you know him?”</p> + +<p>“No, Monsieur; I have never seen him. I have heard of him. +He is the adopted son of the Great Chief, adopted from another +tribe, I hear. But he is as white as I am, almost, and looks a +little like a Frenchman. I can’t say, Monsieur, but I could swear +I knew the face. I have seen one very much like it, I think, +among our own people.”</p> + +<p>“Who?”</p> + +<p>“I can’t say, Monsieur, I can’t; and the more I look, the more +I am uncertain.”</p> + +<p>Something more was said in an equally unsatisfactory manner, +and, in the meantime, the stranger took his seat in the assembly +without seeming concern. He betrayed no curiosity when his eye +rested upon the Frenchmen. When it was agreed that two persons +should be sent, one of the French and one of the red chiefs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_434" id="Page_434">- 434 -</a></span> +to make a <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">reconnaissance</i> of the Spanish fortress, he rose quietly, +looked towards Satouriova, and, striking his breast slightly, with +his right hand, simply repeated his own <span class="nowrap">name,—</span></p> + +<p>“Holata Cara!”</p> + +<p>“It is well,” said the chief, with an approving smile; and Holata +Cara, on the part of the Indians, and Monsieur d’Estampes, +a gentleman of Comminges, on the part of the Frenchmen, were +sent to explore the country under the control of the Spanish +usurpers. Holata Cara immediately disappeared from the assembly. +A few moments after he was buried in the deepest of the neighboring +thickets, while a beautiful young savage—a female—who +might have been a princess, and wore, like one, a fillet about her +brow, and carried herself loftily as became a queen, stood beside +him, with her hand resting upon his shoulder, and her eye looking +tenderly up into his; while she said, in her own language:</p> + +<p>“I will follow you, but not to be seen; and our people shall +be nigh to watch, lest there be danger from the Spaniard.”</p> + +<p>The chief smiled, as if, in the solicitous speech to which he listened, +he detected some sweet deceit; but he said nothing but +words of parting, and these were kind and affectionate. It was +not long before Holata Cara joined Monsieur d’Estampes, the boy +Pierre de Bré being sent along with them, on the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">reconnaissance</i> +which the allies had agreed was to be made. In the meantime, +the better to assure Gourgues of the safety of D’Estampes, Satouriova +gave his son and the best beloved of all his wives, into the +custody of the French as hostages, and they were immediately +conveyed to the safe-keeping of the ships.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_435" id="Page_435">- 435 -</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XXV_VII" id="XXV_VII">VII.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">FIRST FRUITS OF THE ADVENTURE.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> reconnaissance was completed. The report of Holata +Cara and D’Estampes<!--was D'Etampes--> showed that the Spanish fortress of San +Matheo, formerly La Caroline, was in good order, and with a +strong garrison. Two other forts which the Spaniards had raised +in the neighborhood, commanding both sides of the river, and +nearer to its mouth, were also surveyed, and were found to be +well manned and in proper condition for defence. In these three +forts, the garrison was found to consist of four hundred soldiers, +unequally distributed, but with a force in each sufficient +for the post. Thus advised, the allies proceeded severally to +array their troops for the business of assault. But, before marching, +a solemn festival was appointed on the banks of the Salina +Cani—by the French called the Somme—which was the place +appointed for the rendezvous. Here the red-men drank copious +draughts of their cassine, or apalachine, a bitter but favorite +beverage, the reported nature of which is that it takes away all +hunger and thirst for the space of twenty-four hours, from those +that employ it. Though long used to all sorts of trial and endurance, +Gourgues found it not so easy to undergo this draught. Still, +he made such a show of drinking, as to satisfy his confederates; +and this done, the allied chiefs, lifting hands and eyes, made +solemn oath of their fidelity in the sight of heaven. The march +was then begun, the red-men leading the way, and moving, in +desultory manner, through the woods, Holata Cara at their head; +while, pursuing another route, but under good guidance, and keeping +his force compactly together, our chevalier conducted his +Frenchmen to the same point of destination. This was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_436" id="Page_436">- 436 -</a></span> +river Caraba, or Salinacani, named by Ribault the Somme, +which was at length reached, but not without great difficulty, the +streams being overflowed by frequent and severe rains, and the +marshy and low tracts all under water. Food was wanting also +to our Frenchmen, the bark appointed to follow them with provisions, +under Monsieur Bourdelois not having arrived.</p> + +<p>They were now but two leagues distant from the two smaller +forts which the Spaniards had established and fortified, in addition +to that of La Caroline, on the banks of the May, or, as they +had newly christened it, the San Matheo. While bewildered +with doubts as to the manner of reaching these forts—the waters +everywhere between being swollen almost beyond the possibility +of passage—the red-men were consulted, and the chief, Helicopilé, +was chosen to guide our Frenchmen by a more easy and less +obvious route. Making a circuit through the woods, the whole +party at length reached a point where they could behold one of +the forts; but a deep creek lay between, the water of which rose +above their waists. Gourgues, however, now that his object was +in sight, was not to be discouraged by inferior obstacles; and, +giving instructions to his people to fasten their powder flasks to +their morions and to carry their swords and their calivers in their +hands above their heads, he effected the passage at a point which +enabled them to cover themselves from sight of the Spaniards +by a thick tract of forest which lay between the fort and the river. +It was sore fording for our Frenchmen; for the bed of the creek +was paved with great oysters, the shells of which inflicted sharp +wounds upon their legs and feet; and many of them lost their +shoes in the passage. As soon as they had crossed, they prepared +themselves for the assault. Up to this moment, so well +had the red-men guarded all the passages, and so rapid had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_437" id="Page_437">- 437 -</a></span> +their march, with that of Gourgues and his party, that the +Spaniards had no notion that there were any Frenchmen in the +country. Still, they were on the alert; and so active did they +show themselves, in and about the fort, that our chevalier feared +that his approach had been discovered.</p> + +<p>But no time was to be lost. Giving twenty arquebusiers to +his Lieutenant Casenove, and half that number of mariners, +armed with pots and balls of wild fire, designed to burn the gate +of the fort, he took a like force under his own command, with the +view to making simultaneous assaults in opposite quarters. The +two parties were scarcely in motion, before Gourgues found the +chief Holata Cara at his side, followed by a small party of the +red-men; the rest had been carefully concealed in the woods, in +order to pursue the combat after their primitive fashion. Holata +Cara was armed only with a long spear, which he bore with great +dexterity, and a macana which now hung by his side, a flattened +club, the two edges of which were fitted with the teeth of the +shark, or with great flints, ground down to the sharpness of a +knife. This was his substitute for a sword, and was a weapon +capable of inflicting the most terrible wounds. The spear which +he carried was headed also with a massive dart of flint, curiously +and finely set in the wood, and exhibiting a rare instance of Indian +ingenuity, in its excellence as a weapon of offence, and its +rare and elaborate ornament. Gourgues examined it with much interest. +The instrument was antique. It might have been in +use an hundred years or more. The heavy but elastic wood, almost +blackened by age and oil, was polished like a mirror by repeated +friction. The grasp was carved with curious ability, and +exhibited the wings of birds with eyes wrought among the feathers, +in the sockets of which great pearls were set, the carving of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_438" id="Page_438">- 438 -</a></span> +feathers forming a bushy brow above, and a shield all about them, +so that, grasp the weapon as you would, the pearls were secure +from injury. Gourgues examined the owner of the spear with as +much curiosity as he did the weapon. But without satisfaction. +The features of the other were immoveable. But the signals being +all made, Holata Cara waved his hand with some impatience +to the fort, and Gourgues had no leisure to ask the questions +which that moment arose in his mind.</p> + +<p>“It was,” says the venerable chronicle, “the Sunday eve next +after Easter-day, April, 1568,” when the signal for the assault +was given. Gourgues made a brief speech to his followers before +they began the attack, recounting the cruel treachery and the +bloody deeds of the Spaniards done upon their brethren at La +Caroline and Matanzas Bay. Holata Cara, resting with his spear +head thrust in the earth, listened in silence to this speech. The +moment it was ended, he led the way for the rest, from the +thicket which concealed them. As soon as the two parties +had emerged from cover, they were descried by the watchful +Spaniards.</p> + +<p>“To arms! to arms!” was the cry of their sentinels. “To +arms! these be Frenchmen!”</p> + +<p>To the war-cry of “Castile” and “Santiago!” that of +“France!” and “Saint-Denis for France,” was cheerily sent up +by the assailants; and it was observed that no shout was louder or +clearer than that of Holata Cara, as he hurried forward.</p> + +<p>When the assailants were within two hundred paces of the fort, +the artillery of the garrison opened upon them from a culverin +taken at La Caroline, which the Spaniards succeeded in discharging +twice, with some effect, while the Frenchmen were approaching. +A third time was this piece about to be turned upon the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_439" id="Page_439">- 439 -</a></span> +assailants, when Holata Cara, rushing forwards planted his spear +in the ground, and swinging from it, with a mighty spring, succeeded, +at a bound, in reaching the platform. The gunner was +blowing his match, and about to apply it to the piece, when the +spear of the Indian chief was driven clean through his body, and +the next moment the slain man was thrust headlong down into the +fort. Stung by this noble example, Gourgues hurried forward, and +the assault being made successfully on the opposite side at the +same instant, the Spaniards fled from the defences. A considerable +slaughter ensued within, when they rushed desperately from +the enclosure.</p> + +<p>But they were encountered on every side. Escape was vain. +Of the whole garrison, consisting of threescore men, all were +slain, with the exception of fifteen, who were reserved for a more +deliberate punishment.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the fortress on the opposite side of the river opened +upon the assailants, and was answered by the four pieces which +had been found within the captured place. The Frenchmen +were more annoyed than injured by this distant cannonade, and +immediately prepared to cross the river for the conquest of this +new enemy. Fortunately, the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">patache</i>, bringing their supplies, +had ascended the stream, and, under cover from the guns of the +Spaniard, lay in waiting just below. Gourgues, with fourscore +soldiers, crossed the stream in her; the Indians not waiting for +this slow conveyance, but swimming the river, carrying their bows +and arrows with one hand above their heads.</p> + +<p>The Frenchmen at once threw themselves into the woods which +covered the space between this second fort and La Caroline, the +latter being only a league distant. The Spaniards, apprised of +the movement of the patache, beholding shore and forest lined<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_440" id="Page_440">- 440 -</a></span> +with the multitudes of red-men, and hearing their frightful cries +on every hand, were seized with an irresistible panic, and, in an +evil moment abandoned their stronghold, in the hope of making +their way through the woods, to the greater fortress of La Caroline. +But they were too late in the attempt. The woods were +occupied by enemies. Charged by the advancing Frenchmen, +they rushed into the arms of the savages, and, with the exception +of another fifteen, were all butchered as they fought or fled. +Holata Cara was again found the foremost, and the most terrible +agent in this work of vengeance.</p> + +<h3><a name="XXV_VIII" id="XXV_VIII">VIII.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">THE CONQUEST OF LA CAROLINE.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Chevalier de Gourgues now proposed temporarily to rest +from his labors, and give himself a reasonable time before attempting +the superior fortress of La Caroline, in ascertaining its +strength, and the difficulties in the way of its capture. The +captives taken at the second fort were transferred to the first, and +set apart with their comrades for future judgment. From one of +these he learned that the garrison of La Caroline consisted of +near three hundred men, under command of a brave and efficient +governor. His prisoners he closely examined for information. +Having ascertained the height of the platform, the +extent of the fortifications, and the nature of the approaches, he +prepared scaling ladders, and made all the necessary provisions +for a regular assault. The Indians, meanwhile, had been +ordered to environ the fortress, and so to cover the whole face +of the country, as to make it impossible that the garrison should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_441" id="Page_441">- 441 -</a></span> +obtain help, convey intelligence of their situation to their +friends in St. Augustine, or escape from the beleagured station.</p> + +<p>While these preparations were in progress, the Spanish governor +at La Caroline, now fully apprised of his danger, and of +the capture of the two smaller forts, sent out one of his most +trusty scouts, disguised as an Indian, to spy out the condition of +the French, their strength and objects. But Holata Cara, who +had taken charge of the forces of the red-men, had too well +occupied all the passages to suffer this excellent design to prove +successful. He made the scout a prisoner, and readily saw +through all his disguises. Thus detected, the Spaniard revealed +all that he knew of the strength and resources of the garrison. +He described them as in very great panic, having been assured +that the French numbered no less than two thousand men. +Gourgues determined to assail them in the moment of their +greatest alarm, and before they should recover from it, or be +undeceived with regard to his strength. The red-men were +counselled to maintain their ambush in the thickets skirting the +river on both sides, and leaving his standard-bearer and a captain +with fifteen chosen men in charge of the captured forts and +prisoners, Gourgues set forth on his third adventure. He took +with him the Spanish scout and another captive Spaniard, a +sergeant, as guides, fast fettered, and duly warned that any +attempt at deception, or escape, would only bring down instant +and condign punishment upon their heads. His ensign, Monsieur +de Mesmes, with twenty arquebusiers, was left to guard the +mouth of the river, and, with the red-men covering the face of +the country, and provided with all the implements necessary to +storm the defences, Gourgues began his march against La +Caroline.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_442" id="Page_442">- 442 -</a></span></p> + +<p>It was late in the day when the little band set forth, and evening +began to approach as they drew within sight of the fortress. +The Don in command at La Caroline was vigilant enough, and +soon espied the advancing columns. His cannon and his culverins, +commanding the river thoroughly, began to play with great +spirit upon our Frenchmen, who were compelled to cover themselves +in the woods, taking shelter behind a slight eminence +within sight of the fortress. This wood afforded them sufficient +cover for their approaches almost to the foot of the fortress—the +precautions of the Spaniard not having extended to the removal +of the forest growth by which the place was surrounded, and by +help of which the designs of an enemy could be so much facilitated. +It was under the shelter of this very wood, and by this +very route—so Gourgues learned from his prisoners—that the +Spaniards had successfully surprised and assaulted the fortress +two years before.</p> + +<p>Here, then, our chevalier determined to lie perdu until the +next morning, the hour being too late and the enemy too watchful, +at that moment, to attempt anything. Besides, Gourgues +desired a little time to see how the land lay, and how his approaches +should be made. On that side of the fortress which +fronted the hill, behind which our Frenchmen harbored, he discovered +that the trench seemed to be insufficiently flanked for +the defence of the curtains.</p> + +<p>While meditating in what way to take advantage of this weakness, +he was agreeably surprised by the commission of an error, +on the part of the garrison, which materially abridged his difficulties. +The Spanish governor, either with a nervous anxiety to +anticipate events, or with a fool-hardiness which fancied that they +might be controlled by a wholesome audacity, ordered a sortié;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_443" id="Page_443">- 443 -</a></span> +and Gourgues with delight beheld a detachment of threescore +soldiers, deliberately passing the trenches and marching steadily +into the very jaws of ruin.</p> + +<p>Holata Cara, as if aware by instinct, was at once at the side +of our chevalier, with his spear pointing to the fated detachment. +In a moment, the warrior sped with the commands of Gourgues, +to his lieutenant, Cazenove, who, with twenty arquebusiers, covered +by the wood, contrived to throw himself between the fortress +and the advancing party, cutting off all their chances of escape. +Then it was that, with wild cries of “France! France!” the +chevalier rose from his place of hiding, with all his band, and +rushed out upon his prey, reserving his fire until sufficiently near +to render every shot certain. The Spaniards recoiled from the +assault; but, as they fled, were encountered in the rear by the +squad under Cazenove. The battle cry of the French, resounding +at once in front and rear, completed their panic, and they +offered but a feeble resistance to enemies who neither asked nor +offered quarter. It was a massacre rather than a fight; and +still, as the French paused in the work of death, a shrill death-cry +in their midst aroused them anew, and they could behold the +lithe form of the red chief, Holata Cara, speeding from foe to +foe, with his macana only, smiting with fearful edge—a single +stroke at each several victim, followed ever by the agonizing yell +of death! Not a Spaniard escaped of all that passed through +the trenches on that miserable sortié!</p> + +<p>Terrified by this disaster, so sudden and so complete, the garrison +were no longer capable of defence. They no longer +hearkened to the commands or the encouragements of their governor. +They left, or leaped, the walls; they threw wide the +gates, and rushed wildly into the neighboring thickets, in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_444" id="Page_444">- 444 -</a></span> +vain hope to find security in their dark recesses, and under cover +of the night. But they knew not well how the woods were occupied. +At once a torrent of yells, of torture and of triumph, +startled the echoes on every side. The swift arrow, the sharp +javelin, the long spear, the stone hatchet, each found an unresisting +victim; and the miserable fugitives, maddened with terror, +darted back upon the fortress, which was already in the possession +of the French. They had seized the opportunity, and in +the moment when the insubordinate garrison threw wide the gates, +and leaped blindly from the parapets, they had swiftly occupied +their places. The fugitive Spaniards, recoiling from the savages, +only changed one form of death for another. They suffered on +all hands—were mercilessly shot down as they fled, or stabbed as +they surrendered; those only excepted who were chosen to expiate, +more solemnly and terribly, the great crime of which they +had been guilty!</p> + +<h3><a name="XXV_IX" id="XXV_IX">IX.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">THE SACRIFICE OF THE VICTIMS.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> captured fortress was won with a singular facility, and +with so little loss to the assailants, as to confirm them in the +conviction that the service was acceptable to God. H<span class="smfont">E</span> had +strengthened their hearts and arms—<span class="smfont">HE</span> had hung his shield of +protection over them—<span class="smfont">HE</span> had made, through the sting of conscience, +the souls of the murderous Spaniards to quake in fear at +the very sight of the avengers! The fortress of La Caroline +was found to have been as well supplied with all necessaries for +defence, as it had been amply garrisoned. It was defended by +five double <i>culverins</i>, by four <i>minions</i>, and divers other cannon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_445" id="Page_445">- 445 -</a></span> +of smaller calibre suitable for such a forest fortress. “Eighteen +great cakes of gunpowder,” (it would seem that this combustible +was put up in those days moistened, and in a different form from +the present, and hence the frequent necessity for drying it, of +which we read,) and every variety of weapon proper to the +keeping of the fortress, had been supplied to the Spaniards; so +that, but for the unaccountable error of the sortié, and but for +the panic which possessed them, and which may reasonably be +ascribed to the natural terrors of a guilty conscience, it was +scarcely possible that the Chevalier de Gourgues, with all his +prowess, could have succeeded in the assault. He transferred all +the arms to his vessels, but the gunpowder took fire from the +carelessness of one of the savages, who, ignorant of its qualities, +proceeded to seethe his fish in the neighborhood of a train, which +took fire, and blew up the store-house with all its moveables, destroying +all the houses within its sweep! The poor savage himself +seems to have been the only human victim. The fortress +was then razed to the ground, Gourgues having no purpose to reestablish +a colony which he had not the power to maintain.</p> + +<p>But his vengeance was not complete. The final act of expiation +was yet to take place; and, bringing all his prisoners together, he +had them conducted to the fatal tree upon which the Spaniards +had done to death their Huguenot captives! This was at a short +distance from the fortress.</p> + +<p>Mournful was the spectacle that met the eyes of the Frenchmen +as they reached the spot. There still hung the withered and +wasted skeletons of their brethren, naked, bare of flesh, bleached, +and rattling against the branches of the thrice-accursed tree! +The tempest had beaten wildly against their wasted forms—the +obscene birds had preyed upon their carcasses—some had fallen,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_446" id="Page_446">- 446 -</a></span> +and lay in undistinguished heaps upon the earth; but the entire +skeletons of many, unbroken, still waved in the unconscious +breezes of heaven! For two weary years had they been thus +tossed and shaken in the tempest. For two years had they thus +waved, ghastly, white, and terrible, in mockery of the blessed +sunshine! And now, in the genial breezes of April, they still +shook aloft in horrible contrast with the green leaves, and the +purple blossoms of the spring around them! But they were now +decreed to take their shame from the suffering eyes of day! A +solemn service was said over the wretched remains, which were +taken down with cautious hands, as considerately as if they were +still accessible to hurt, and buried in one common grave! The +red-men looked on wondering, and in grave silence; and Holata +Cara, leaning upon his spear, might almost be thought to weep +at the cruel spectacle.</p> + +<p>But his aspect changed when the Spanish captives were brought +forth. They were ranged, manacled in pairs, beneath the same +tree of sacrifice. Briefly, and in stern accents, did Gourgues recite +the crime of which they had been guilty, and which they were +now to expiate by a sufferance of the same fate which they had +decreed to their victims! Prayers and pleadings were alike in +vain. The priest who had performed the solemn rites for the +dead, now performed the last duties for the living judged! He +heard their confessions. One of the wretched victims confessed +that the judgment under which he was about to suffer was a just +one; that he himself, with his own hands, had hung no less than +five of the wretched Huguenots. With such a confession ringing +in their ears, it was not possible for the French to be merciful! +At a given signal, the victims were run up to the deadly branches, +which they themselves had accursed by such employment; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_447" id="Page_447">- 447 -</a></span> +even while their suspended forms writhed and quivered with the +last fruitless efforts of expiring consciousness, the chieftain Holata +Cara looked upon them with a cold, hard eye, stern and tearless, +as if he felt the dreadful propriety of this wild and unrelenting +justice! The deed done—the expiation made—Gourgues then +procured a huge plank of pine, upon which he caused to be +branded, with a searing iron, in rude, but large, intelligible characters, +these words, corresponding to that inscription put by the +Spaniards over the Huguenots, and as a fitting commentary upon +<span class="nowrap">it:—</span></p> + +<div class="center serfont"> +<p>“These are not hung as Spaniards,<br /> +nor as Mariners, but as<br /> +Traitors, Robbers, and<br /> +Murderers!”</p> +</div> + +<p>How long they hung thus, bleaching in storm and sunshine; how +long this terrible inscription remained as a record of their crime +and of this history, the chronicle does not show, nor is it needful. +The record is inscribed in pages that survive storm, and wreck, +and fire;—more indelibly written than on pillars of brass and +marble! It hangs on high forever, where the eyes of the criminal +may read how certainly will the vengeance of heaven alight, or +soon or late, upon the offender, who wantonly exults in the moment +of security in the commission of great crimes done upon +suffering humanity.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_448" id="Page_448">- 448 -</a></span></p> + +<h3><a name="XXV_X" id="XXV_X">X.<!--was XI.--></a><br /> +<span class="smfont">THE CHIEFS OF THE LILY AND THE TOTEM EMBRACE AND +PART.</span></h3> + +<p>“S<span class="simcap">AN</span> A<span class="simcap">UGUSTINE</span>!”</p> + +<p>Such were the words spoken to Gourgues by Holata Cara at the +close of this terrible scene of vengeance, and his spear was at once +turned in the direction of the remaining Spanish fortress. Gourgues +readily understood the suggestion, but he shook his head <span class="nowrap">regretfully—</span></p> + +<p>“I am too feeble! We have not the force necessary to such +an effort!”</p> + +<p>The red chief made no reply in words, but he turned away and +waved his spear over the circuit which was covered by the thousand +savages who had collected to the conflict, even as the birds +of prey gather to the field of battle.</p> + +<p>But Gourgues again shook his head. He had no faith in the alliance +with the red-men. He knew their caprice of character, +their instability of purpose, and the sudden fluctuations of their +moods, which readily discovered the enemy of the morrow in the +friend of to-day. Besides, his contemplated task was ended. He +had achieved the terrible work of vengeance which he had proposed +to himself and followers, and his preparations did not extend to +any longer delay in the country. He had neither means nor provisions.</p> + +<p>He collected the tribes around him. All the kings and princes +of the Floridian gathered at his summons, on the banks of the Tacatacorou, +or Seine, where he had left his vessels, some fifteen +leagues from La Caroline. Thither he marched by land in battle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_449" id="Page_449">- 449 -</a></span> +array, having sent all his captured munitions and arms with his +artillerists by sea, in the patache.</p> + +<p>The red-men hailed him with songs and dances, as the Israelites +hailed Saul and David returning with the spoils of the Philistines.</p> + +<p>“Now let me die,” cried one old woman, “now that I behold +the Spaniards driven out, and the Frenchmen once more in the +country.”</p> + +<p>Gourgues quieted them with promises. It may be that he really +hoped that his sovereign would sanction his enterprise, and avail +himself of what had been done to establish a French colony again +in Florida; and he promised the Floridians that in twelve months +they should again behold his vessels.</p> + +<p>The moment arrived for the embarkation, but where was Holata +Cara? The Frenchman inquired after him in vain. Satouriova +only replied to his earnest <span class="nowrap">inquiries,—</span></p> + +<p>“Holata Cara is a great chief of the Apalachian! He hath +gone among his people.”</p> + +<p>A curious smile lurked upon the lips of the Paracoussi as he +made this answer; but the inquiries of Gourgues could extract +nothing from him further.</p> + +<p>They embraced—our chevalier and his Indian allies—and the +Frenchmen embarked, weighed anchor, and, with favoring winds, +were shortly out of sight. Even as they stretched away for the +east, the eyes of Holata Cara watched their departure from a distant +headland where he stood embowered among the trees. The +graceful figure of an Indian princess stood beside his own, one +hand shading her eyes, and the other resting on his shoulder. At +length he turned from gazing on the dusky sea.</p> + +<p>“They are gone!” she exclaimed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_450" id="Page_450">- 450 -</a></span></p> + +<p>“Gone!” he answered, in her own dialect. “Gone! Let us +depart also!” And thus speaking, they joined their tawny followers +who awaited them in the neighboring thicket, within the +shadows of which they soon disappeared from sight.</p> + +<h3><a name="XXV_XI" id="XXV_XI">XI.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">MORALS OF REVENGE.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Historians</span> have been divided in opinion with regard to the +propriety of that wild justice which Dominique de Gourgues inflicted +upon the murderers of his countrymen at La Caroline. One +class of writers hath preached from the text, “Vengeance is mine +saith the Lord;” another from that which, permissive rather than +mandatory, declares that “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man +shall his blood be shed.”</p> + +<p>Charlevoix regrets that so remarkable an achievement as that +of Gourgues, so honorable to the nation, and so glorious for himself, +should not have been terminated by an act of clemency, which, +sparing the survivors of the Spanish forts, should have contrasted +beautifully with the brutal behavior of the Spaniards under the +like circumstances; as if the enterprise itself had anything but +revenge for its object; as if the butcheries which accompanied the +several attacks upon the Spanish forts, and the butcheries which +followed them—where the victims were trembling and flying men—were +any whit more justifiable than the single, terrible act of +massacre which appropriately furnished the catastrophe to the +whole drama!</p> + +<p>If the Spaniards were to be spared at all, why the enterprise at +all? No wrong was then in progress, to be defeated by interposition; +no design of recovering French territory or re-establishing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_451" id="Page_451">- 451 -</a></span> +the French colony was in contemplation, making the enterprise +necessary to success hereafter. The entire purpose of the expedition +was massacre only, and a bloody vengeance!</p> + +<p>It is objected to this expedition of Gourgues, that reprisals are +rarely possible without working some injustice. This would be an +argument against all law and every social government. But it is +said that revenge does not always find out the right victim, particularly +in such a case as the present, and that the innocent is +frequently made to suffer for the guilty.</p> + +<p>Gourgues could not, it would seem, have greatly mistaken his +victims, when we find one of them confessing to the murder of five +of the Huguenots by his own hand, and none of them disclaiming +a participation in the crime. But there is a better answer even +than this instance affords, and it conveys one of those warning lessons +to society, the neglect of which too frequently results in its +discomfiture or ruin.</p> + +<p>That society or nation which is unable or unwilling to prevent +or punish the offender within its own sphere and province, must +incur his penalties; and this principle once recognized, it becomes +imperative with every citizen to take heed of the public conduct +of his fellow, and the proper exercise of right and justice on the +part of his ruler. There are, no doubt, difficulties in the way of +doing this always; but what if it were commonly understood and +felt that each citizen had thus at heart the wholesome administration +of exact justice on the part of the society in which he lived, +and the Government which can exist only by the sympathies of +the people? How prompt would be the remedy furnished by the +ruler to the suffering party! how slow the impulse to wrong on +the part of the criminal!</p> + +<p>The suggestion that magnanimity and mercy shown to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_452" id="Page_452">- 452 -</a></span> +Spaniards by Gourgues, after his victory, would have had such a +beautiful effect upon the consciences of those guilty wretches, is +altogether ridiculous. The idea exhibits a gross ignorance of the +nature of the Spaniards at the time. Gourgues knew them thoroughly. +A more base, faithless, treacherous and murderous character +never prevailed among civilized nations, and never could +prevail among any nation of <em>warlike</em> barbarians. We do not +mean to justify Gourgues<!--was Gorgues-->; but may say that it is well, perhaps, for +humanity, that heroism sometimes puts on the terrors of the +avenger, and visits the enormous crime, which men would otherwise +fail to reach, with penalties somewhat corresponding with the +degree and character of the offence! There are sometimes criminals +whom it is a mere tempting of Providence to leave only to +the judgments of eternity and their own seared, cold, and wicked +hearts. The murderer whose hands you cannot bind, you must +cut off; not because you thirst for his blood, but because he +thirsts for yours! But ours is not the field for discussion, and +we may well leave the question for decision to the instincts of humanity. +The vengeance which moves the nations to clap hands +with rejoicing has, perhaps, a much higher guaranty and sanction +than the common law of morals can afford.</p> + +<h3><a name="XXV_XII" id="XXV_XII">XII.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">THE CHEVALIER AT HOME—MONTLUC COUNSELS GOURGUES +FROM HIS COMMENTARIES.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Having</span> taken his farewell of the Floridians, and embarked with +all his people, it was on board of his vessels, with their wings +spread to the breeze, that the Chevalier De Gourgues offered up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_453" id="Page_453">- 453 -</a></span> +solemn acknowledgments to Heaven, for the special sanction which +he had found in its favor for the enterprise achieved. It was +with a heart full of gratitude, that he bowed down on the deck of +his little bark, and offered up his prayer to the God of Battles +for the succor afforded him in his extremity. It was with a light +heart that he meditated upon the sanguinary justice done upon +the cruel enemies of his people; the honor of his country’s flag +redeemed by a poor soldier of fortune, when disgraced and deserted +by the monarch and the court, who derived all their distinction +from its venerable and protecting folds. It was with a just +and honorable pride that he felt how certainly he had made the +record of his name in the pages of history, by an action grateful +to the fame of the soldier, and still more grateful to the fears and +sympathies of outraged humanity. The acclamations of the wild +Floridian—their praises and songs of victory, however wild and +rude—were but a foretaste of those which he had a right to expect +from the lips of his countrymen in <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">la Belle France</i>! Alas! +the hand of power covered the lips of rejoicing! The despotism +of the land shook a heavy rod over the people, silencing the +voice of praise, and chilling the heart of sympathy. But let us +not anticipate.</p> + +<p>The Chevalier De Gourgues sailed from the mouth of the Tacatacorou, +on the third of May, 1568. For seventeen days the +voyage was prosperous, and his vessels ran eleven hundred leagues; +and on the sixth of June, thirty-four days after leaving the coast +of Florida, he arrived at Rochelle. The latter half of his voyage +had been far different from the first. As at his departure +from France, he suffered severely from head winds and angry +tempests. His provisions were nearly exhausted, and his people +began to suffer from famine. His consorts separated from him in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_454" id="Page_454">- 454 -</a></span> +the storm, one of them, the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">patache</i>, being lost with its whole +complement of eight men; the other not reaching port for a +month after himself. His escape was equally narrow from other +and less merciful enemies than hunger and shipwreck. The bruit +of his adventure, to his great surprise, had reached the country +before him. The Spanish court, well served, in that day, by its +emissaries, had been advised of his progress, and that he had appeared +at Rochelle. A fleet of eighteen sail, led by one large +vessel, was instantly despatched in pursuit of him.</p> + +<p>Received with good cheer and great applause by the people of +Rochelle, it was fortunate that he did not linger there. He set +forth with his vessel for Bordeaux; there he went to render an account +to his friend, the Marechal Blaize de Montluc, of his adventures. +This timely movement saved him. The pursuing +Spaniards reached Che-de-Bois the very day that he had left it, +and continued the chase as far as Blaze. He reached Bordeaux +in safety, and made his report to the king’s lieutenant.</p> + +<p>Montluc was one of those glorious Gascons who would always +much prefer to fight than eat. He was proud of the chevalier as +a Gascon, and he loved him as a friend. But the approbation +that he expressed in private, he did not venture openly to speak.</p> + +<p>“You have done a famous thing, Monsieur De Gourgues, you +have saved the honor of France, and won immortal glory for +yourself; but the king’s lieutenant must not say this to the king’s +people. I praise God that you are a Gascon like myself, and no +race, I think, Monsieur De Gourgues, was ever quite so valiant as +our own; but my friend, I fear they do not love us any the better +that they have not the soul to rival us. I fear that the glory +thou hast won will bring thee to the halter only. Hearken, my +friend, Dominique, dost thou know that, at this very moment, thy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_455" id="Page_455">- 455 -</a></span> +vessel is pursued by a host of Spanish caravels? the winds rend +and the seas sink them to perdition! Thou knowest, how I hate, +and scorn, and spit upon the cut-throat scoundrels! Well! +That is not all. I tell thee, Dominique, my friend, there is a +courier already on his way to the ambassador of Spain, who will +demand thy head from our sovereign, that it may give pleasure +to his sovereign, the black-hearted and venomous Philip. What +would he with thy head, my friend? I tell thee, it is his wretched +selfishness that would take thy head—not that it may be useful to +him, but that it shall no longer be of use to thee! Was there +ever such a fool and monster! Thou shouldst keep thy head, +my friend, so long as thou hast a use for it thyself, even though +it ache thee many times after an unnecessary bottle!”</p> + +<p>“Think’st thou, Montluc, that there is any danger that the +court of France will give ear to the king of Spain?”</p> + +<p>“Give ear! Ay, give both ears, my friend! Our head is in +the lap of Spain already. She hath the shears with which she +shall clip the hair by which our strength is shorn; and, if she will, +me thinks, she may clip head as well as hair, when the humor +suits. It is not now, my friend, as when we fought against the +bloody dogs at Sienna, remembering only to outdo the famous +deeds of the stout men-at-arms that followed Bayard and La +Palisse in the generation gone before. Ah! <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Monsieur</i>, thou wast +with me in those days. Thou rememberest, I trow, the famous +skirmish which we had before the little town of Sêve. But I will +read thee from my commentaries, which I have been writing in +imitation of Roman Cæsar, of the wonderful wars and sieges in +which I have fought, and in which I have evermore found most +delight.”</p> + +<p>And he drew forth from his cabinet, as he spoke, the great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_456" id="Page_456">- 456 -</a></span> +volume of manuscripts, afterwards destined to become the famous +depository of his deeds.</p> + +<p>“I have written like a Gascon, Monsieur De Gourgues, but let +none complain who is not able to do battle like a Gascon! He +who fights well, my friend, may surely be allowed the privilege of +showing how goodly were his deeds. I will read thee but a passage +from that famous skirmish at Sêve; not merely that thou +shouldst see the spirit of what I have written, and bear witness +to the truth, but that thou mayst find for thyself a fitting lesson +for thy own conduct in the straight which is before thee.”</p> + +<p>Having found the passage, Montluc read as follows:</p> + +<p>“As the Signior Francisco Bernardin and myself, who, for that +time were the Marshals of the camp, drew nigh to the place, and +were beginning to lodge the army, there sallied forth from fort, +and church, and trench, a matter of two or three hundred men, +who charged upon us with the greatest fury. I had with me at +that time, but the Captain Charry—a most brave captain, whom +thou must well remember—”</p> + +<p>Gourgues nodded <span class="nowrap">assent—</span></p> + +<p>“——with fifty arquebusiers and a small body of horse. +Knowing this my weakness, the Baron de Chissy, our camp-master, +sent me a reinforcement of one hundred arquebusiers. +But my peril was such, that I sent to him straightway for other +help, telling him that we were already at it, and close upon the +encounter. At this very moment, Monsieur de Bonnivet, returning +post from court, and hearing of the fighting, said to the Baron +de Chissy, without alighting from his <span class="nowrap">horse—</span></p> + +<p>“‘Do thou halt here till the Marechal shall arrive, and, meanwhile, +I will go and succor Monsieur de Montluc.’</p> + +<p>“He was followed by certain captains and arquebusiers on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_457" id="Page_457">- 457 -</a></span> +horseback. We had but an instant for embrace when he arrived, +for the enemy were already charging our men.</p> + +<p>“‘You are welcome, Monsieur de Bonnivet,’ I said to him +quickly; ‘but alight, and let us set upon these people, and beat +them back again into their fortress.’</p> + +<p>“Whereupon, he and his followers instantly alighted, and he +said to me, ‘do you charge directly upon those, who would recover +the fort.’</p> + +<p>“Which said, he clapped his buckler upon his arm, while I +caught up an halbert, for I ever (as thou knowest) loved to play +with that sort of cudgel. Then I said to Signior Francisco <span class="nowrap">Bernardin—</span></p> + +<p>“‘Comrade, whilst we charge, do you continue to provide the +quarters.’</p> + +<p>“But to this he <span class="nowrap">answered—</span></p> + +<p>“‘And is that all the reckoning you make of the employment +the Marechal hath entrusted to our charge? If it must be +that you will fight thus—I will be a fool for company, and, once +in my life, play Gascon also.’</p> + +<p>“So he alighted and went with me to the charge. He was armed +with very heavy weapons, and had, moreover, become unwieldy +from weight of years. This kept him from making such speed as +I. At such banquets, my body methought did not weigh an +ounce. I felt not that I touched the ground; and, for the pain of +my hip (greatly hurt as thou knowest by a fall at the taking of +Quiers) that was forgotten! I thus charged straightway upon +those by the trench upon one side, and Monsieur de Bonnivet did +as much upon his quarter; so that we thundered the rogues back +with such a vengeance, that I passed over the trench, pell-mell, +amidst the route, pursuing, smiting and slaying, all the way, till<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_458" id="Page_458">- 458 -</a></span> +we reached the church! I never so laid about me before, or did +so much execution at any one time. Those within the church, +seeing their people in such disorder, and so miserably cut to +pieces, in a great terror, fled from the place, taking, in flight, a +little pathway that led along the rocky ledges of the mountain, +down into the town. In this route, one of my men caught hold +upon him who carried their ensign; but the fellow nimbly and +very bravely disengaged himself from him, and leapt into the path; +making for the town as fast as he could speed. I ran after him +also, but he was too quick even for me, as well he might be,—<em>for +he had fear in both his heels!</em>”</p> + +<p>Here Montluc paused, and closed the volume.</p> + +<p>“It is enough that I have read; for thou wilt see the counsel +that I design for thee. It is not easy for thee to take it, being a +Gascon; but such it is, borrowed from the wisdom of that same +ensign. Thou sawest him scamper, for thou wert on that very +chase;—now, if thou wouldst save thy head from the affections +of the king of Spain, <em>take fear in both thy heels</em>, and run as nimbly +as that ensign.”</p> + +<p>“Verily, it is not easy, Monsieur de Montluc, seeing that I +am conscious of no wrong, but rather of a great service done to +my country; and if my own king deliver me not up, wherefore +should I fear him of Spain.”</p> + +<p>“That is it, my friend! Our king will, not from his own nature, +but from that of others, who love not this service to thy +country. The Queen-mother will deliver thee up, the Princes of +Lorraine will deliver thee up, and the devil will deliver thee up—all +having a great affection for the king of Spain—if thou trust not +the counsel of thy friends, and wilfully put thy head in one direction +where the wisdom of thy heels would show thee quite<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_459" id="Page_459">- 459 -</a></span> +another. Hast thou forgotten that good proverb of the Italians, +which we heard so much read from their lips and honored in their +actions,—‘<i lang="it" xml:lang="it">No te fidar, et no serai inganato?</i>’ Above +all, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">mon ami</i>, trust +nothing to thy hope, when it builds upon thy service +done to kings. It is a hope that has hung a thousand good fellows +who might be living to this day. Now, in counselling thee +to flight and secrecy, I counsel thee against my own pride and +pleasure. It would be a great delight to me to have thee near +me, while I read thee all mine history;—the beginning, even to +the end thereof;—the thousand sieges, battles and achievements, +in which I have shown good example to the young valor of +France, and made the Gascon name famous throughout the +world.”</p> + +<p>The heart of the Chevalier Gourgues was not persuaded. He +could not believe that his good deeds for his country’s good and +honor, would meet with ill-return and disgrace.</p> + +<p>“The king will do me justice.”</p> + +<p>“Verily, should he even give thee to him of Spain, or hang +thee himself, they will call it by no other name,” answered +the other drily.</p> + +<p>“But the baseness and the cowardice of flight! This confiding +one’s courage and counsel to one’s heels, Montluc!”</p> + +<p>“Is wisdom, as thou shouldst know from the story of Achilles. +Verily, it requires that the secret meaning of this vulnerableness +of the heel on the part of the son of Thetis, is neither more nor +less than that he was a monstrous coward—that he would have +been the bravest man of the world, but for the weakness that +always made him fly from danger. It was in the form of allegory +that the satirical poet stigmatised a man in authority. You see +nothing in the treatment of Hector by Achilles, but what will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_460" id="Page_460">- 460 -</a></span> +confirm this opinion. He will not fight with him himself, but +makes his myrmidons do so. What is this, but the case of one +of our own plumed and scented nobles, who procures his foe, +whom he fears, to be murdered by the Biscayan bully whom he +buys?—But, let me read thee a passage from my commentaries +bearing very much upon this history.”</p> + +<h3><a name="XXV_XIII" id="XXV_XIII">XIII.</a><br /> +<span class="smfont">FALL OF THE CURTAIN.</span></h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">We</span> need not listen to this passage. The reader will find it, +with other good things, in the huge tome of the braggart, and +garrulous, but very shrewd and valiant old Gascon. Enough to say, +that this counsel did not prevail with his friend. Gourgues determined +to persevere in his original intention of presenting himself +at court. His reasons for this resolution were probably not altogether +shown to Montluc. Gourgues was a bankrupt, and +needed employment. His expedition had absorbed his little +fortune, and left him a debtor, without the means of repayment. +With the highest reputation as a captain, by land and sea,—and +with his name honored by the sentiment of the nation, which was +not permitted to applaud,—he still fondly hoped that his friend +had mistaken his position, and that he should be honored and +welcomed to the favor and service of his sovereign. He was one +of those to hope against hope.</p> + +<p>“As thou wilt! Unbolt the door for the man who is wilful. +If thy resolution be taken, I say no more. But thou shalt have +letters to the Court, and if the words of an old friend and brother +in arms may do thee good, thou shalt have the sign-manual of +Montluc, to as many missives as it shall please thee to despatch.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_461" id="Page_461">- 461 -</a></span></p> + +<p>The letters were written; and, with a full narrative of his expedition +prepared, the Chevalier de Gourgues made his appearance +at court. He had anticipated the ambassador of Spain; but he +was received coldly. The Queen Mother, and the Princes of +Lorraine, with all who worshipped at their altars, turned their +backs upon the heroic enthusiast. The king forebore to smile. +In his secret heart, he really rejoiced in the vengeance taken by +his subject upon the Spaniards, but he was not in a situation to +declare his true sentiments. Meanwhile, the Spanish ambassador +demanded the offender, and set a price upon his head. The +Queen Mother and her associates denounced him. A process +was initiated to hold him responsible, in his life, for an enterprise +undertaken without authority against the subjects of a monarch +in alliance with France; and our chevalier was compelled to hide +from the storm which he dared not openly encounter. For a +long time he lay concealed in Rouën, at the house of the +President de Marigny, and with other ancient friends. In this +situation, the Queen of England, Elizabeth, made him overtures, +and offered him employment in her service; but the tardy grace +of his own monarch, at length, enabled him to decline the appointments +of another and a hostile sovereign. But, nevertheless, +though admitted to mercy by the king of France, he was left +without employment. Fortune, in the end, appeared to smile. +Don Antonio, of Portugal, offered him the command of a fleet +which he had armed with the view to sustaining his right to the +crown of that country, which Philip of Spain was preparing to +usurp. Gourgues embraced the offer with delight. It promised +him employment in a familiar field, and against the enemy whom +he regarded with an immortal hate; but the Fates forbade that +he should longer listen to the plea of revenge. While preparing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_462" id="Page_462">- 462 -</a></span> +to render himself to the Portuguese prince, he fell ill at Tours, +where he died, universally regretted, and with the reputation of +being one of the most valiant and able captains of the day—equally +capable as a commander of an army and a fleet. We +cannot qualify our praise of this remarkable man by giving heed +to the moral doubts which would seek to impair the glory, not +only of the most remarkable event of his life, but of the century +in which he lived. We owe it to his memory to write upon his +monument, that his crimes, if his warfare upon the Spaniards +shall be so considered, were committed in the cause of humanity!</p> + +<p>Our chronicle is ended. The expedition of Dominique de +Gourgues concludes the history of the colonies of France in the +forests of the Floridian.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_463" id="Page_463">- 463 -</a></span></p> + +<h2><a name="APPENDIX" id="APPENDIX">APPENDIX.</a></h2> + +<p><span class="smcap">Originally</span>, it was the design of the Author, to write a religious +narrative poem on the subject of the preceding history. The +following sections, however, were all that were written.</p> + +<h3>I.<br /> +<span class="smfont">THE VOICE.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A midnight voice from Heaven! It smote his ear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That stern old Christian warrior, who had stood,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fearless, with front erect and spirit high,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Between his trembling flock and tyranny,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Worse than Egyptian! It awakened him<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To other thoughts than combat. “Dost thou <span class="nowrap">see;”—</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thus ran the utterance of that voice from <span class="nowrap">Heaven,—</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">“The sorrows of thy people? Dost thou hear<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Their groans, that mingle with the old man’s prayer,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the child’s prattle, and the mother’s hymn?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Vain help thy cannon brings them, and the sword,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Unprofitably drunk with martyr blood,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Maintains the Christian argument no more.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Arouse thee for new labors. Gird thy loins<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For toils and perils better overcome<br /></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_464" id="Page_464">- 464 -</a></span> +<span class="i0">By patience, than the sword. Thou shalt put on<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Humility as armor; and set forth,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Leading thy flock, whom the gaunt wolf pursues,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To other lands and pastures. ’T is no home<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For the pure heart in France! There, Tyranny<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hath wed with Superstition; and the <span class="nowrap">fruit—</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">The foul, but natural issue of their lusts,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is murder!—which, hot-hunting fresher feasts,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Knows never satiation;—raging still,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where’er a pure heart-victim may be found<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In these fair regions. It will lay them waste,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Leaving no field of peace,—leaving no spot<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where virtue may find refuge from her foes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Permitted to forbear defensive blows,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Most painful, though most needful to her cause!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The brave shall perish, and the fearful bend,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till unmixed evil, rioting in waste,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wallows in crime and carnage unrebuked!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Vain is thy wisdom,—and the hollow league,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That tempts thee to forbearance, worse than vain.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Flight be thy refuge now. Thou shalt shake off<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The dust upon thy sandals, and go forth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To a far foreign land;—a wild, strange realm,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That were a savage empire, most unmeet<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For Christian footstep, and the peaceful mood,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But that it is a refuge shown by God<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For shelter of his people. Thither, then,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Betake thee in thy flight. Let not thy cheek<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Flush at the seeming shame. It is no shame<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To fly from shameless foes. This truth is taught<br /></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_465" id="Page_465">- 465 -</a></span> +<span class="i0">By him, the venerable sire who led<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His people from the Egyptians. Lead thou thine!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Forbear the soldier’s fury. I would rouse<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Prophet and the Patriarch in thy breast,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And make thee better seek the peaceful march,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Than the fierce, deadly struggle. Thou shouldst guide,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With pastoral hand of meekness, not of blood,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The tribes that still have followed thee, and still,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Demand thy care. Far o’er the western deeps<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Have I prepared thy dwelling! A new world,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Full of all fruits and lovely to the <span class="nowrap">eye,—</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Various in mount and valley, sweet in stream,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cool in recesses of the ample wood,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With climate bland, air vigorous, sky as pure<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As is the love that proffers it to <span class="nowrap">faith—</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Await thee; and the seas have favoring gales<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To waft thee on thy path! Delay and die!”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<h3>II.<br /> +<span class="smfont">COLIGNY’S RESOLVE.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“And, if I perish!” the gray warrior <span class="nowrap">said,—</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">“I perish still in France! If cruel foes<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Beleaguer and ensnare<!--was ensare--> me to my fate,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The blow will fall upon me in the land<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which was my birth-place. Better there to die<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The victim for my people, than to fly<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Inglorious, from the struggle set for us<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By the most cruel fortunes! Not for me<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The hope of refuge in a foreign clime,<br /></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_466" id="Page_466">- 466 -</a></span> +<span class="i0">While that which cradled me lies desolate<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In blood and ashes! It is better here<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To strive against the ruin and misrule,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Than basely yield the empire to the foe,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whose sway we might withstand; and whose abuse,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Unchecked, were but the fruitful argument<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For thousand years of woe! I would not lay<br /></span> +<span class="i0">These aged bones to sleep in distant lands,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though pure and peaceful; but would close mine eye,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Upon the same sweet skies—by tempests now<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Torn and disclouded—upon which gladly first<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They opened with delight in infancy.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This fondness<!--was fondnesss-->, it may be, is but a weakness<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Becoming not my manhood. Be it so!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I know that I <em>am</em> weak; but there’s a passion,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That glows with loyal anger in my heart,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And shows like virtue. It forbids my flight;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And, for my country’s glory, and the safety<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of our distracted and diminished flock,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Declares how much more grateful were the <span class="nowrap">strife—</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">That proud defiance which I still have given<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To those fierce enemies, whose sleepless hate<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hath shamed and struck at both. I deem it better<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To struggle with injustice than submit;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For still submission of the innocent<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Makes evident the guilty; and the good,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who yield, but multiply the herd of foes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That ravin when the retribution sleeps!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What hope were there for sad humanity,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If still, when came the danger, fled the brave?<br /></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_467" id="Page_467">- 467 -</a></span> +<span class="i0">Fled only to beguile, in fierce pursuit,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The wolfish spoiler, leaving refuge none,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In heart or homestead? Not for me to <span class="nowrap">fly—</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Not though, I hear, Eternal Sire! thy voice<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Still speaking with deep utterance in my soul,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Commending my obedience. All in vain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I strive to serve thee with submission meet,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And move to do thy will. The earth grows up,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Around me; and the aspects of my home,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Enclose me like the mountains and the sea,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Forbidding me to fly them. Natural ties,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That are as God’s, upon the mortal heart,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fetter me still to France! and yet thou knowest,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">How reverent and unselfish were my toils,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In this our people’s cause. I have not spared<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Day or night labor; and my blood hath flowed,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Unstinted, in the strife that we have waged.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The sword hath hacked these limbs—the poisoned cup<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hung at these lips. The ignominous death,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From the uplifted scaffold, look’d upon me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Craving its victim; the assassin’s steel,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Turned from my ribs, with narrowest graze avoiding<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The imperil’d life! Yet never have I shrunk,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Because of these flesh-dangers from the work<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whereto my hand was set. Let me not now<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Turn from the field in flight, though still to lead<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The flock that I must die for! <em>This</em> I know!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I cannot <em>always</em> ’scape. The blow <em>will</em> come!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Not always will the poisonous draught be spill’d,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or the sharp steel be foil’d, or turn’d <span class="nowrap">aside;—</span><br /></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_468" id="Page_468">- 468 -</a></span> +<span class="i0">And to the many martyrs in this cause,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Already made, my yearning spirit feels,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Its sworn alliance. I will die like them,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But cannot fly their graves! I <em>dare</em> not fly,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though death awaits me here, and, soft, afar,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sits safety in the cloud and beckons me.”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<h3>III.<br /> +<span class="smfont">THE VOYAGE.</span></h3> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“And leave thy flock to perish?”—Thus the voice,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Reproachful to the patriarch.—“No,” he cried,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">“They shall partake the sweet security,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of the far home of refuge thou assign’st.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They shall go forth from bondage and from death:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The path made free to them, their feet shall take;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My counsels shall direct them, and my soul<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Still struggle in their service. Those who fly,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Best moved by fond obedience,—with few ties<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To fasten the devoted heart to earth,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And looking but to heaven;—and those who still,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With that fond passion of home which fetters me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Prefer to look upon their graves in <span class="nowrap">France,—</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shall equally command my care and toil,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though not alike my presence. They who go forth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To the far land of promise which awaits them,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mine eye shall watch across the mighty deep,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And still my succors reach them, while the power<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is mine for human providence; and still,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Even from the fearful eminence of death,<br /></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_469" id="Page_469">- 469 -</a></span> +<span class="i0">My spirit, parting from its shrouding clay,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Survey them with the thought of one who loves,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Glad in the safety which it could not share!”<br /></span> +</div> + +<hr class="tb" /> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Even as he said,—a little band went forth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Still resolute for God;—having no home,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But that made holy by his privilege;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Their prayers unchecked, their pure rites undisturbed,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They bending at high altars, with no dread,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lest other eyes than the elect should see,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Their secret smokes arise.<br /></span> +<span class="i16">To a wild shore,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Most wild, but lovely,—o’er the deeps they came;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Propitious winds at beck, and God in heaven,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Looking from bluest skies. From the broad sea,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sudden, the grey lines of the wooing land,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Stretched out its sheltering haven, and afar,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Implored them, with its smiles, through gayest green,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That to the heart of the lone voyagers,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Spoke of their homes in France.<br /></span> +<span class="i16">“And here,” they cried,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">“Cast anchor! We will build our temples here!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This solitude is still security,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And freedom shall compensate all the loss<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Known first in loss of home! Yet naught is <span class="nowrap">lost,—</span><br /></span> +<span class="i0">All rather gained, that human hearts have found<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Most dear to hope and its immunities,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If that we win <em>that</em> freedom of the soul,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It never knew before! Here should we find<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Our native land,—the native land of soul,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where conscience may take speech,—where truth take root,<br /></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_470" id="Page_470">- 470 -</a></span> +<span class="i0">And spread its living branches, till all earth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Grows lovely with their heritage. From the wild<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Our pray’rs shall rise to heaven; nor shall we build<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Our altars in the gloomy caves of earth,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dreading each moment lest the accusing smokes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That from our reeking censers may arise,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shall show the imperial murderer where we hide.”<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<h2>FOOTNOTES:</h2> + +<p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Charlevoix expressly says, speaking, however, of Charles IX., “qu’il +fut fort aise de voir que M. de Coligni n’employoit à cette expédition que +des Calvinistes, parce que c’étoit autant d’ennemis, dont il purgeoit +l’etat.” Of Coligny’s anxiety in regard to this expedition and his objects, +the same writer says: “Coligny had the colony greatly at heart. It was, +in fact, the first thing of which the admiral spoke to the king when he +obtained permission to repair to the court.”</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Charlevoix describes Ribault as “un ancien officier de marine,” and +speaks of him as a man of experience and “Zélé Huguenot.” Of his +vessels, on this expedition, he says that they belonged to the class called +“Roberges, et qui differoient peu des Caravelles Espagnoles<!--was Espagnolles-->.”</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Laudonniere, in Hakluyt, gives the regal title among the Floridians +as Paracoussi. Charlevoix writes the word Paraousti, or Paracousti; “et +ausquels les Castillans donnent le titre général de Caciques.” Mico, in +subsequent periods, seems to have been the more popular title among the +Florida Indians, signifying the same thing, or its equivalents, Chief, +Prince, or Head Warrior.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> “A quatorze lienes de la Riviere de Mai, il en trouva une +troisiéme<!--was troiséme--> qu’il nomma la +Seine.”—<i>Charlevoix’s</i> <cite>New France</cite>. Liv. 1, p. 39.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Charlevoix seems to afford a sufficient sanction for the claim of Laudonniere, +in behalf of the gentle blood among the followers of Ribault. +He says “Il avoit des esquipages choisis, et plusieurs volontaires<!--was volontaries-->, parmi +lesquels il y avoit <em>quelques gentilshommes</em>.” And yet Ribault should +have known better than anybody else the quality of his armament. Certainly, +the good leaven, as the result showed, was in too small a proportion +to leaven the whole colony.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Charlevoix, in his “Fastes Chronologiques,” preparatory to his work +on New France, locates Charles Fort, under Ribault, near to the site of +the present city of Charleston. In his “Histoire Generale,” and in the +map which illustrates this narrative, however, he concurs in the statement +of the text. He also names the North Edisto the St. Croix.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> The name in Charlevoix is written A<i>n</i>dusta, but this is most probably +an error of the press. Laudonniere in Hackluyt uniformly uses the orthography +which we adopt, and which furnishes a coincidence so really +striking in the preservation of a name so nearly the same in sound, to this +very day, in the same region.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> A remark of Charlevoix, which accords with the experience of all +early travellers and explorers among the American Indians, is worthy to be +kept in remembrance, as enabling us to account for that frequent contradiction +which occurs in the naming of places and persons among the savages. +He records distinctly that each canton or province of Florida bore, among +the red-men, the name of the ruling chief. Now, as a matter of course where +the tribes are nomadic, the names of places continually underwent change, +according to that of the tribe by which the spot was temporarily occupied.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> According to Charlevoix, Toya was the name of the Floridian god, +and not that of the ceremonies simply. “Elle se célébroit en l’honneur +d’une Divinité nommée <i>Toya</i>.”</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Iawa was the title of the priest or prophet of the Floridian. The +word is thus written by Laudonniere in Hakluyt. It is probably a misprint +only which, in Charlevoix, writes it “Iona.”</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Adair likens the cry of the Southern Indians to the sacred name among +the Jews—“Je-ho-vah.” He writes the Indian syllables thus—“Yo-he-wah,” +and it constitutes one of his favorite arguments for deducing the +origin of the North American red-men from the ancient Hebrews.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Charlevoix thus describes Captain Albert: “Le Commandant de +Charles-Fort étoit un homme de main, et qui ne manquoit pas absolument +de conduite, mais il étoit<!--was etoit--> brutal jusqu’à la férocité, et ne sçavoit pas +meme garder les bienséances........ Il punissoit les moindres fautes, +and toujours avec excès, &c.”—N. France, Liv. 1, p. 51.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> The names are thus written by Laudonniere in Hakluyt. But in +Charlevoix there is only one given to this personage, and that is “Lachau.”</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> Says Charlevoix:—“Il pendit lui-même un soldat, qui n’avoit point +merité la mort, il en dégrada un autre des armes<!--was arms--> avec aussi peu de justice, +puis il l’exila, et l’on crut que son dessein étoit de le laisser mourir de +faim et de misere, etc.” But we must not anticipate the revelations of the +text.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> “Il fallut songer ensuite à lui donner un successeur, et le choix que +l’on fit, fut plus sage, qu’on ne devoit l’attendre de gens, dont les mains +fumoient encore du sang de leur Chef. Ils mirent à leur tête un fort honnête +homme, nommé Nicholas Barré, lequel par son adresse et sa prudence +rétablit en peu de tems la paix et le bon ordre dans la colonie.”—<i>Charlevoix</i>, +<cite>N. Fran.</cite>, Liv. 1.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> Lest we should be suspected of exaggeration we quote a single sentence +from the condensed account in Charlevoix:—“Lachau, celui là +même, que la Capitaine Albert avoit exilé, après l’avoir dégradé des +armes, déclara qu’il vouloit bien avancer sa mort, qu’il croyoit inévitable, +pour reculer de quelques jours celle de ses compagnons. Il fut pris au +mot, et on l’égorgea sur le champ, sans qu’il fît la moindre résistance. <em>Il +ne fut pas perdu une goute de son sang, tous en bûrent avec avidité, le +corps fut mis en piéces<!--was pieces-->, et chacun en eut sa part.</em>”</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> Charlevoix describes Laudonniere as “un gentilhomme de mérite—bon +officier de marine, et qui avoit même servi sur terre avec distinction.”</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> It was much superior to that originally sent out with Ribault. “On +lui donna des ouvriers habiles dans tous les arts, &c. +que utilité dans une colonie naissante. Quantité de jeune gens de famille, +et plusiers gentilshommes voulurent faire ce voyage <em>à leurs dépens</em>, +et on y joignit<!--was joignoit--> des détachemens<!--was détachmens--> de soldats choisis<!--was choisés--> dans de vieux +corps. <em>L’Admiral eut soin surtout qu’il n’y eût aucun catholique dans cet armement<!--was armament-->.</em>”</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> “The evidence,” says Johnson, however, in an appendix to his life of +Greene, “is in favor of the St. Mary’s, and would point to the first bluff +on the south side of that river.” But this is certainly a mistake. The +general conviction now is, that our St. John’s was the May River of the +French.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Jacques de Moyne de Morgues represents the Indian Chief or Paracoussi +of the neighborhood, Satouriova by name, as taking great umbrage +at the erection of the fortress La Caroline within his dominions; thus +differing from Laudonniere, who describes him and his subjects as +cheerfully assisting in its erection. Charlevoix undertakes to reconcile +the difference between them; but in a manner which would soon leave +the chronicle and the historian at the mercy of the merest conjecture. +The matter is scarcely of importance.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Laudonniere, in Hakluyt, spells this name improperly. It is properly +written D’Erlach. “Ce Gentilhomme,” says Charlevoix, “étoit Suisse, +et il n’y a point de maison de Suisse plus connuë que celle d’Erlach.”</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> “Ces Calos ou Carlos, sont anthropophages, et fort cruels<!--was cruel-->, ils demeurent +dans une Baye, qui porte également leur nom, et celui de Ponce de +Leon.”—C<span class="simcap">HARLEVOIX</span>.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> Holata Mico (or Blue King), and Holata Amathla, were distinguished +leaders of the Seminoles in the late war in Florida.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> The Chevalier de Gourgues is only twice mentioned, but both times +with favor, in the chronicles of Montluc. The instances occur in Italy, +in 1556; one of which describes the capture of Gourgues, the other his +rescue from captivity. “<i>La il fut prius douze ou quatorze chevaux legers de +ma compagnie, dont le Capitaine Gourgues, qui estoit à la suite de Strassi, estoit +du nombre</i>,” <i>&c.</i> Montluc was not the Gascon to leave his people in captivity. +He prepares to scale the fort in which they are confined, and, +his attempt begun, Gourgues was Gascon enough to help himself. The +Spaniards had a guard of eighteen or twenty men over their prisoners, +who were sixty or eighty in number, the latter being tied in pairs, to +make them more secure. As soon as the prisoners heard the cry of +“<em>France, France!</em>” from their friends without, they began the struggle +within—“<i>ils commencerent à se secouer les uns et les autres, et mesmes le Capitaine +Gourgues, qui se deslia le premier</i>,” <i>etc.</i> The prisoners, led by Gourgues, +assail their guards with naked arms, wrest from them their weapons, and +where these are wanting, employ paving stones, actually killing the greater +number, and taking the rest captive. Such was the success of the +surprise, and the spirit which they displayed.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> The name is usually written Olotocara; but, to persons familiar with +the singular degree of carelessness with which the Indian names were +taken down by the old voyagers and chroniclers, and the different modes +employed by French, Spanish and English in spelling the same words, +there should be nothing arbitrary in their orthography; nothing to induce +us to surrender our privilege of seeking to reconcile these names with well-known +analogies. My opinion is, that Olotocara was a compound of two +words, the one signifying chief or ruler, the other indicative of the degree +of esteem or affection with which he was regarded, or as significant of his +qualities. Olata, or Holata, was a frequent title of distinction among the +Floridians, and Holata Cara, or Beloved Chief or Warrior, is probably the +true orthography of the words compounded into Olotocara or Olocotora. +It may have been Olata Tacara, and there may have been some identification +of this chief with him from whom the river Tacatacourou took its +name. Charlevoix writes it Olocotora; Hakluyt, Olotocara. It will be +seen that our method of writing the name makes it easy to reconcile it +with that of Hakluyt—Olotocara—Holata Cara—and with that of the title +familiar to the Floridian usage, past and present. Thus Olata Utina occurs +before in this very chronicle; and no prefix is more common in modern +times, among the Seminoles, than that of Holata; thus, Holata +Amathla, Holata Fiscico, Holata Mico. It is also used as an appendage; +thus, Wokse Holata, as we write <i>Esquire</i> after the name.</p></div> + +<div class="tn"> +<span class="smcap">Transcriber's Note:</span> Obvious typos have been amended. +The text on the cover image was added to the original for this e-book and +is granted to the public domain. +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Lily and the Totem, by William Gilmore Simms + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LILY AND THE TOTEM *** + +***** This file should be named 44337-h.htm or 44337-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/3/3/44337/ + +Produced by RenĂ© Anderson Benitz and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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