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diff --git a/old/44337.txt b/old/44337.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..44222c7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/44337.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14187 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Lily and the Totem, by William Gilmore Simms + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. 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: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LILY AND THE TOTEM *** + + + + +Produced by Rene 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) + + + + + + + + + + THE + + LILY AND THE TOTEM, + + OR, + + THE HUGUENOTS IN FLORIDA. + + A SERIES OF SKETCHES, PICTURESQUE AND HISTORICAL, OF THE + COLONIES OF COLIGNI, IN NORTH AMERICA. + + 1562-1570. + + BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE YEMASSEE," "LIFE OF MARION," + "LIFE OF BAYARD" ETC. + + + NEW YORK: + BAKER AND SCRIBNER, + 145 NASSAU STREET AND 36 PARK ROW. + + 1850. + + + + + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, by + + W. GILMORE SIMMS, ESQ. + + In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States + for the Southern District of New York. + + + C. W. BENEDICT, + _Stereotyper_, + 201 William st. + + + + + EPISTLE DEDICATORY. + + TO THE + HON. JAMES H. HAMMOND, + OF + SOUTH CAROLINA. + + +MY DEAR HAMMOND: + +I very 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 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. + +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 _vraisemblance_, in the introduction +of 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 _certain_ from the _conjectural_; 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 _probable_, the apparent deficiencies of the _actual_, +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. + +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 _Appendix_ 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 +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. + + Very truly yours, as ever, + + THE AUTHOR. + + CHARLESTON, S. C., } + _May 1, 1850_. } + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + I. + The First Voyage of Ribault, 1 + + II. + The Colony under Albert, 29 + + III. + The Legend of Guernache, Chap. I. 37 + + IV. + The Legend of Guernache, Chap. II. 44 + + V. + The Legend of Guernache, Chap. III. 59 + + VI. + The Legend of Guernache, Chap. IV. 71 + + VII. + Lachane, the Deliverer, 81 + + VIII. + Flight, Famine, and the Bloody Feast of the Fugitives, 100 + + IX. + The Second Expedition of the Huguenots to Florida, 110 + + X. + Historical Summary, 123 + + XI. + The Conspiracy of Le Genre--Historical Summary, 131 + + XII. + The Conspiracy of Le Genre, 133 + + XIII. + Historical Summary, 164 + + XIV. + The Sedition at La Caroline, 166 + + XV. + The Mutineers at Sea, 185 + + XVI. + The Adventure of D'Erlach, 193 + + XVII. + The Narrative of Le Barbu, 218 + + XVIII. + Historical Summary, 251 + + XIX. + Captivity of the Great Paracoussi, 263 + + XX. + Iracana, 294 + + XXI. + Historical Summary, 310 + + XXII. + The Fate of La Caroline, 321 + + XXIII. + The Fortunes of Ribault, 364 + + XXIV. + Alphonse D'Erlach, 387 + + XXV. + Dominique de Gourgues, 414 + + Appendix, 463 + + + + +THE LILY AND THE TOTEM. + + + + +I. + +THE FIRST VOYAGE OF RIBAULT. + + 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. + + +The 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, 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--"_Huc nos_ venimus, serenissime princeps, &c.," furnishes a +suggestion to one set of writers. Another finds in the words "_Heus +quenaus_," which, in the Swiss _patois_, 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 _apes_ or +followers of John Hus--"_les guenons de Hus_;"--_guenon_ 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 +_Eignot_, derived from the German _Eidegenossen_, 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 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. + +It is not so generally known that the colonies of the Huguenots, in +the new world, were almost coeval with those of the 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 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.[1] 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 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. + + [1] Charlevoix expressly says, speaking, however, of Charles IX., + "qu'il fut fort aise de voir que M. de Coligni n'employoit a cette + expedition que des Calvinistes, parce que c'etoit 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." + +From Brazil he turned his eyes on Florida. This _terra incognita_, 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 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 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." + +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 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." + +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 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,[2] 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 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." + + [2] Charlevoix describes Ribault as "un ancien officier de marine," + and speaks of him as a man of experience and "Zele Huguenot." Of his + vessels, on this expedition, he says that they belonged to the class + called "Roberges, et qui differoient peu des Caravelles Espagnoles." + +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 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. + +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. Francois. 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, 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,[3] 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." + + [3] 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 general 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. + +From this river, still pursuing a northwardly course, Ribault 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.[4] 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. + + [4] "A quatorze lienes de la Riviere de Mai, il en trouva une + troisieme qu'il nomma la Seine."--_Charlevoix's New France._ Liv. 1, + p. 39. + +The object of Ribault had been some safe and pleasant harborage, in +which his people could refresh themselves for a 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 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." + +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 antennae 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 _cordon_ +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. + +With impressions of the scene and region such as realized to 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 _west_, the other toward the +_north_." Our Huguenot captain chose the _western_ 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 _east_, up which the captain determined to sail and leave the greate +current." + +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 which they feel. Skins of the _chamois_--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. + +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. + +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 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." + +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 _they_ 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. + +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. 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." + +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 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 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. + +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 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." + +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, _having ever made profession of +armes_, have beene knowne unto the great estates." This is in seeming +conflict with what Laudonniere has 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 "_well furnished with gentlemen_ (of whose +number I was one) and old soldiers."[5] 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. + + [5] 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, parmi lesquels il y avoit _quelques gentilshommes_." 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. + +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 _them_, as it has never discouraged him from the +performance of his duties. The great examples of history are in _his_ +eyes, and should be in _theirs_. + +"Howe much then ought so many worthy examples move you to 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." + +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. "_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._" 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 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. + +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 _Grande Riviere_ of the French is our +Broad River.[6] 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 was at Coosawhatchie, in South Carolina. Now, the +Coosawhatchie is the principal stream that forms the _Grande Riviere_ 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! + + [6] 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. + +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 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 _La Belle France_--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 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 _each_ 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 _La Belle France_. + + + + +II. + +THE COLONY UNDER ALBERT. + + +The 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 +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. + +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 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,[7]--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. + + [7] The name in Charlevoix is written A_n_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. + +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 friendship +of four other chiefs or princes, his tributaries, whose names are given +as Mayou, Hoya, Touppa, and Stalame.[8] 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 Stalame, 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 Stalame. 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 singular +feasts of his religion. One of these feasts, that of TOYA,[9] 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. + + [8] 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. + + [9] According to Charlevoix, Toya was the name of the Floridian god, + and not that of the ceremonies simply. "Elle se celebroit en l'honneur + d'une Divinite nommee _Toya_." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +"For this reason,"--such was the language of the savage monarch--"we +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 COUEXIS, +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." + +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. + +Thus was the first intercourse maintained by our Huguenots 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. + + + + +III. + +THE LEGEND OF GUERNACHE.--Chap. I. + + 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. + + +Guernache, 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 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 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 +_Grande Riviere_, was sufficiently complete, to make him wonder at times +how his countrymen ever suffered his departure from the shores of La +Belle France! + +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. 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. + +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 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,[10] 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 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. + + [10] 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." + +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 _Toya_." 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 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 +_cuisine_. 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. + + + + +IV. + +THE LEGEND OF GUERNACHE.--Chap. II. + +THE FESTIVAL OF TOYA. + + 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! + + +It 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 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 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!"[11] + + [11] 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. + +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 _sanctum sanctorum_. 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 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 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." + +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 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, 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. + +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 +_La Belle France_, 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 _en passant_, 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 sunk back with a secret +presentiment of evil. He but too well knew the character of his +superior. + +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. + +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 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 Caesar 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. + +"You will not dance with _me_, Monaletta?" + +"No," she answered him in broken French--"No dance with you--dance with +_him_!" pointing to Guernache. + +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 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. + +"Away, sirrah, to the pinnace! See that you remain in her until I summon +you! Away!" + +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 retired-- + +"You push me too hard, Captain Albert." + +"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, +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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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 _all_ 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 _he_ 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 could the people or the +priesthood be appeased, unless by the sacrifice of the guilty person. + +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 +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. + +"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 +_was_ their friend. He had shown himself their friend, and they had a +faith in _him_ 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. + + + + +V. + +THE LEGEND OF GUERNACHE.--Chap. III. + + The Legend of Guernache is continued, showing how the Fortress of the + Huguenots was destroyed, and what happened thereafter to Guernache + the Musician. + + +The 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 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.[12] 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 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. 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! + + [12] Charlevoix thus describes Captain Albert: "Le Commandant + de Charles-Fort etoit un homme de main, et qui ne manquoit pas + absolument de conduite, mais il etoit brutal jusqu'a la ferocite, et + ne scavoit pas meme garder les bienseances........ Il punissoit les + moindres fautes, and toujours avec exces, &c."--N. France, Liv. 1, p. + 51. + +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 heart, forget all the +accompanying influences which might endanger his safety. + +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. + +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 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, 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. + +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 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 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!" + +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," so recently acquired from +the granaries of King Ouade, with the building that contained them, were +swept in ashes to the ground. + +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 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 "_not guilty_;" 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 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. + + + + +VI. + +THE LEGEND OF GUERNACHE.--Chap. IV. + +THE DUNGEON AND THE SCOURGE. + +Being the continuation of the melancholy Legend of Guernache. + + +The 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 _La Chere_[13] 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 _his_ 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 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. + + [13] The names are thus written by Laudonniere in Hakluyt. But in + Charlevoix there is only one given to this personage, and that is + "Lachau." + +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 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. + +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 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. + +"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!" + +"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?" + +"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!" + +But the prayers and supplications of the wretched man were 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 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! + +With the morning of the next day, Guernache was brought before the +judgment-seat of Albert. The charges were sufficiently 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 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.[14] 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. + + [14] Says Charlevoix:--"Il pendit lui-meme un soldat, qui n'avoit + point merite la mort, il en degrada un autre des armes avec aussi peu + de justice, puis il l'exila, et l'on crut que son dessein etoit de le + laisser mourir de faim et de misere, etc." But we must not anticipate + the revelations of the text. + +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 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. + + + + +VII. + +LACHANE, THE DELIVERER. + + +But 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. 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." + +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. 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 _amour +propre_ 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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +These rash and cruel proceedings of their chief produced a 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. + +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 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 Barre, +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. + +"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!" + +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. Barre +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. + +"Meanwhile," said Barre, "our poor comrade must not starve!" + +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 Barre, with one other +comrade, set forth secretly at midnight on their generous and perilous +mission. + +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 hearts more than ever filled with +disgust and indignation at the cruelty and malice of their commander. + +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! + +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. + +"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 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." + +How closely did they press the poor fellow to their hearts! + +"You should not have perished," said Nicholas Barre, 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?" + +"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." + +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: + +"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 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, _mes amis_, 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!" + +"That blow must now be struck very soon," said Nicholas Barre. "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." + +"Hear me," said Lachane; "you have not laid the plan for his overthrow?" + +"Not yet! But we are ready for it. All's ripe. The proper spirit is at +work." + +"Let it work! All right; but look you, comrades, it is for this hand to +strike the blow. I demand the right, because Guernache was my closest +friend. I demand it in compensation for my own sufferings." + +"It is yours, Lachane! You have the right!" + +"Thanks, _mes amis_! And now for the plan. You have resolved on none +yourselves. Hearken to mine." + +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, Barre, 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 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--Barre 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. + +Everything succeeded to the wishes of the conspirators. Albert, who +was passionately fond of the chase, was easily persuaded by the +representations of Barre 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 Barre alone preserved a +stern, unbroken composure, which the gay humor of his superior failed +entirely to overcome. Nothing so much vexes superiority as that it +should condescend in vain; and the silence and coldness of Barre, 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. + +"By my life, Lieutenant Barre,"--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." + +"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." + +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 Barre, which seemed so +equally mistimed and unmeaning, and his merriment increased with every +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 Barre 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 Barre 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. + +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 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 Barre +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. + +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 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! + +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! + +"Ho! Ho! Ho!" howled the stranger. + +"Guernache!" was the single word, forced from the guilty soul of the +criminal! + +"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!" + +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 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 _couteau de chasse_ 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!" + +"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!" + +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 Barre +had spoken while they set forth. The hunter had indeed become the +hunted. Lachane gave him little time for meditation. + +"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!" + +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 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! + +"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 ejaculated-- + +"Guernache! dear friend, behold! the hand of Lachane hath avenged thee +upon thy murderer!" + + + + +VIII. + +FLIGHT, FAMINE, AND THE BLOODY FEAST OF THE FUGITIVES. + + +The 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. + +"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 Barre,[15] whose +former position, as Lieutenant under Albert, and whose recent connection +with the party by which he 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 Conde 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. 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 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 _nostalgia_, 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 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." + + [15] "Il fallut songer ensuite a 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 a leur tete + un fort honnete homme, nomme Nicholas Barre, lequel par son adresse et + sa prudence retablit en peu de tems la paix et le bon ordre dans la + colonie."--_Charlevoix_, _N. Fran._, Liv. 1. + +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 +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 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." + +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!" + +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. + +"My comrades!" said the noble fellow, "you hunger--you 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 _shall_ +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!" + +A groan was the only reply of those around him. Lachane threw open his +breast. + +"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!" + +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. + +"Ah!" said he, reproachfully; "you fear--you would not that I should die +in this manner; but, _mes amis_, 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 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." + +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 cold, ere the survivors fastened upon his +body; and, ere the last morsel of the victim was consumed, they had +assurances of safety.[16] + + [16] Lest we should be suspected of exaggeration we quote a single + sentence from the condensed account in Charlevoix:--"Lachau, celui la + meme, que la Capitaine Albert avoit exile, apres l'avoir degrade des + armes, declara qu'il vouloit bien avancer sa mort, qu'il croyoit + inevitable, pour reculer de quelques jours celle de ses compagnons. + Il fut pris au mot, et on l'egorgea sur le champ, sans qu'il fit la + moindre resistance. _Il ne fut pas perdu une goute de son sang, tous + en burent avec avidite, le corps fut mis en pieces, et chacun en eut + sa part._" + +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 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. + + + + +IX. + +THE SECOND EXPEDITION OF THE HUGUENOTS TO FLORIDA. + +The Fortress of La Caroline and the Colony of Laudonniere. + + +Thus, 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 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 Rene 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.[17] 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 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.[18] A voyage of two months brought the voyagers 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 _Paracoussy_, or king, was named +Satouriova, the oldest of whose sons, named Athore, 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. + + [17] Charlevoix describes Laudonniere as "un gentilhomme de + merite--bon officier de marine, et qui avoit meme servi sur terre + avec distinction." + + [18] It was much superior to that originally sent out with Ribault. + "On lui donna des ouvriers habiles dans tous les arts, &c. que utilite + dans une colonie naissante. Quantite de jeune gens de famille, et + plusiers gentilshommes voulurent faire ce voyage _a leurs depens_, et + on y joinit des detachemens de soldats choisis dans de vieux corps. + _L'Admiral eut soin surtout qu'il n'y eut aucun catholique dans cet + armement._" + +"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 +_Thimogoa_, their most ancient and natural enemies, as hee largely +declared. Whereupon, when I saw with what affection and passion hee +spake when hee pronounced _Thimogoa_, 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." + +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 to violence and strife with one +another, in order that he may procure the object of his avarice. + +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." + +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 _de Morgues_, 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. + +The Huguenots left their Indian friends with reluctance. As the ships +coasted along the shores, pursuing their way up the river, the word +"_ami_," one of the few French words which the 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. + +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. + +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 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." + +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. + +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 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. + +"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." + +There is no exaggeration in this. Such is the odor of the shrubs--such +is the picturesqueness of the prospect. + +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." + +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. + +"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; _besides the +golde and silver that was found there; a thing that put me in hope of +some happie discoverie in time to come_." + +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 out a place, plaine, without trees, which wee perceived from +the creeke." + +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." + +Laudonniere names this pleasant region after himself, the "_vale of +Laudonniere_." 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. + +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,[19] then echoed, for the first time, with a +hymn of lofty cheer from European voices. + + [19] "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. + +"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.[20] 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 +_corps de garde_, and an house, on the other side, towarde the north." +* * * "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." + + [20] 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. + +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. + + + + +X. + +HISTORICAL SUMMARY. + + +Thus, then, was founded the second European settlement on the Continent +of America. The fortress was named LA CAROLINE, 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 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 _vertuous_ +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." + +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 upon the Indians; and, for +eighteen 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. Malica 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 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." + +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; 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 _La Caroline_, with no inconsiderable spoil of gold and +silver, skins painted, and other commodities of the Indians. + +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 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: + +"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 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 +_discharged mine ordnance against his dwelling_, which had burnt up an +infinite sight of greene meadowes, and consumed even downe unto the +bottom of the water." + +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. + +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, _that enough were founde to have laden +fiftie carts_. 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 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. + + + + +XI. + +CONSPIRACY OF LE GENRE. + +HISTORICAL SUMMARY. + + +The 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 Genre, a lieutenant, and somewhat in the +confidence of Laudonniere. Le Genre was the 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 Genre, 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. + + + + +XII. + +THE CONSPIRACY OF LE GENRE.--Chap. I. + + +Le Genre, 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.[21] This preference was quite sufficient to provoke the envy +and enmity of Le Genre. 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 Genre had desired for himself, had +given him no little mortification when he found that, as usual, D'Erlach +had received 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 Genre 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. + + [21] Laudonniere, in Hakluyt, spells this name improperly. It is + properly written D'Erlach. "Ce Gentilhomme," says Charlevoix, "etoit + Suisse, et il n'y a point de maison de Suisse plus connue que celle + d'Erlach." + +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 Genre 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 +_personnel_, 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 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. + +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 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. + +"And you think, Alphonse," said Laudonniere, when they had entered +the wood, "that Le Genre is really anxious to return to France in the +Sylph." + +"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." + +"Well! And you?----" + +"Would let him have her." + +"Indeed! I am sorry, Alphonse, to hear you say so. Le Genre 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." + +"That is just my opinion," said the youth, coolly. + +"Well! And with this opinion, you would have me risk the vessel in his +hands?" + +"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 _he_ 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." + +"Alphonse, you are an enemy of Le Genre." + +"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." + +"True, but you suspect much of this. You know nothing." + +"I _know_ all that I have told you," replied the young man, warmly. + +"Indeed! How?" + +"That I cannot tell. Enough that I am free to swear upon the Holy +Evangel, that all I say is true. Le Genre is at the head of a faction +which is conspiring against you." + +"Can you give me proof of this?" + +"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!" + +"Ay! Would he were!" + +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. + +"Speak of the devil," said Alphonse, "and he thinks himself called; here +comes Le Genre." + +"Indeed!" said Laudonniere. + +"See now if I am not right--he comes to solicit the command of the +Sylph." + +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 the new comer. Le Genre 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 Genre +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 Genre changed upon this refusal. + +"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?" + +"Nay," said Laudonniere, "but I better prefer your services here--I +cannot so well dispense with them." + +A bitter smile crossed the lips of the applicant. + +"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?" + +"Lenoir!" + +"I thought so--another favorite! Well!--Monsieur, I wish you a good +evening." + +"You have refused him, I see," said Alphonse, returning as the other +disappeared. + +"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." + +And, still discussing that and other kindred subjects, Laudonniere +and his young companion followed in the steps of La Genre towards the +fortress. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +That night the young Alphonse D'Erlach might have been seen stealing +cautiously from the quarters of Laudonniere, 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: + +"Bon Pre?" + +"The same: all's ready." + +"Have they gone?" + +"Yes!" + +"Let us go." + +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. + +"Let us out, my son," said Bon Pre; "we are late." + +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. + +"You told him all?" asked Bon Pre. + +"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." + +"He will grow wiser before he is done. You did not suffer him to know +where you got your information?" + +"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----" + +"Ay, but that 'if!'" said the old man. "Time will not be allowed. Le +Genre will be rather slow--but there are some persons not disposed to +wait for the return of the parties under Ottigny and your brother." + +"Enough!" said D'Erlach--"Here is the cypress." + +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 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. + +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 Genre 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 Genre commenced by relating +his ill success in regard to the vessel. + +"We must have it, at all hazards," said Stephen Le Genevois, "we can do +nothing without it." + +"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 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. + +"I do not see," he replied, "that this vessel is so necessary to us. A +few canoes will serve us better." + +"Canoes--for what?" was the demand of Le Genevois. + +"Why, for ascending the rivers, for avoiding the fatigue of land travel, +for bringing down our bullion." + +"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." + +"Ay! fighting--no digging;" said Le Genre 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. + +"_Messieurs_," 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." + +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. + +"_Messieurs_," 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." + +"Ay--ay! There you are right--that's it;" was the response of Le Genre +and Stephen Le Genevois. + +"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 +quarters, as you all know, stand apart from all the rest, with the +exception of the little building occupied by the division of Le Genre, +with which it is connected by the old bath-room. This bath-room is +abandoned since Laudonniere has taken to the river. Suppose Le Genre +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." + +"Say no more! It shall be done!" said Le Genre. "I will do it!" + +"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?" + +"Let that be my task;" said old Bon Pre, who had hitherto taken little +part in this conference. + +"You are the very man," said Fourneaux. "He takes his coffee from your +hands. La Roquette will provide the poison." + +"When shall this be done?" demanded Le Genre. "We can do nothing +to-night. It will require time to-morrow to prepare the train." + +"Ay, that is your part; but may not Bon Pre do his to-morrow? and should +he fail----" + +"Why should he fail?" demanded La Roquette. "Let him but dress his +coffee with my spices, and he cannot fail." + +"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." + +"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 Genre?" + +"Without fail! It is sworn!" + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +Alphonse D'Erlach 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 surprises. His conference with old Bon Pre, +when they met again that night was remarkably illustrative of these +characteristics. + +"What shall we do?" demanded the old man. + +"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." + +"But, Le Genre--the gunpowder!" + +"I will see to that." + +"What will you do?" + +"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." + +"Why?" + +"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." + +"_Can_ 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." + +"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 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." + +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, + +"Who is there?--Alphonse?" + +"The same, sir." + +"Come in--where have you been at this hour; is it not very late?" + +"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." + +"What have you to say?" demanded Laudonniere, half rising at this +preliminary. + +"I have been getting some new lessons in chess from old Marchand." + +"Ah! what new lesson?" asked Laudonniere, whose passion for the game had +prompted D'Erlach with the suggestion he made use of. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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!" + +"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." + +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. + +"Well, is it spiced? Has La Roquette furnished the drug?" + +"His own hands put it in." + +"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." + +"But the rest!" said Bon Pre, in a whisper. + +"We must manage that, also, quite as well as this." + +"If you should want help?" + +"We must find it. But the thing must go forward to the end. Remember +_that_! This scoundrel must be suffered to burn his fingers." + +"Can you contrive it--_you, alone_?" + +"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." + +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. + +"What! you here, Alphonse; but you have been to bed?" + +"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?" + +"The coffee is cold." + +"It spoils your breakfast, too, I imagine. You do not eat heartily at +breakfast." + +"No; dinner is my meal. But, Alphonse--did I dream, or did we not have +some conversation about Marchand and chess-playing last night?" + +"We did! This morning rather." + +"Is he the great player you describe him?" + +"He is. I can think of none better." + +"Well--saucy as he is, I must meet him." + +"You permitted me to arrange for it, to-night. I had your consent to +bring some amateurs." + +"Yes, I _do_ recollect something of it--Le Moyne and--" + +"Challus." + +"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." + +"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 Genre, +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." + +"Why, Alphonse, you are very nice in your details. But, you are right, +and the arrangement is a good one." + +"The sooner Le Genre receives his orders the more time for +preparations;" said the youth indifferently. + +"He shall have them as soon as I go below." + +By this time Laudonniere was dressed and they descended the court +together. + +"Has he drunk," asked Le Genre anxiously, with Forneaux and La Roquette +on each side, as they beheld Bon Pre descending 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. + +"Diable!" was the half-suppressed exclamation of La Roquette. + +"Enough, comrade!" said Le Genre, in a whisper--"it remains for me." + +They separated, and entered, from different points, the area where +Laudonniere stood. + +"Lieutenant;" said the latter, as Le Genre 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." + +Le Genre touched his hat and retired. + +"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." + +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 Genre 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. + +The labors of Alphonse began as soon as Le Genre had disappeared +with his party. The six men whom he had taken with him, were his +confederates. The object of the youth was to operate in security, free +from their _surveillance_. 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 Genre. 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 Genre. Here +he left it, still connected with the train of powder, but rather less +distant from the match than Le Genre had ever contemplated. Perhaps, he +sprinkled the train anew with fresh powder--it is certain that he went +away secure and satisfied, long before Le Genre returned from his +expedition, with the canoe of Satouriova. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +At 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 Rene 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 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. + +"I shall beat you, Marchand." + +"You can't--you shan't," was the ready answer; "you're not my match, +captain." + +This answer piqued Laudonniere. + +"We shall see--we shall see; not your match! Well! we shall see." + +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 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. + +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 Genre. + +"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." + +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. + +"It is half-past eleven, you say? I will go at once," said Villemain. + +"We will go with you," cried La Roquette and Stephen Le Genevois in the +same breath. + +"No! no! not so!" said Le Genre. "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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"I could wish to save the painter, if any," remarked La Roquette; "but +at all events, we shall inherit his pictures." + +"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?" + +"Here--ready!" + +"Depart, then," said Le Genre; "the sooner you light the match after you +reach my quarters, the better. We shall be ready for the blast." + +"He is gone!" said Fourneaux. + +"Let us follow, and each to his task;" cried Le Genre. "Each of you +take care of the flying timbers; find you covers as you may. My men are +mustered behind the old granary. _Adieu, my friends_,--the time has +come!" + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +The 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 +indifferently-- + +"I see you are nearly at the close of your game." + +"Indeed!" said Laudonniere, with some sharpness in his accents,--"and +pray Monsieur Alphonse, how do you see that?" + +"You will finish by twelve," was the reply. "I see that it now lacks but +a few minutes of that hour." + +"Pshaw, Monsieur!" exclaimed Laudonniere--"you talk illogically, you +know nothing about it. Chess is one of those games----" + +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. + +"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." + +"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. + +"The game is nearly finished. According to my notion, you have but two +minutes for it." + +"Two! how!" said Laudonniere, not lifting his head. + +"But one!" + +"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 thunderbolt had just broke at their feet, and the +whole was succeeded by a deafening ringing sound in all their ears. + +"Jesus--mercy!" exclaimed Laudonniere--"The magazine!" + +"Checkmate!" cried Marchand, as he set down the white queen in the final +position which secured the game. + +"Ay! it is checkmate to more games than one! Gentlemen, to arms, and +follow me!" exclaimed Alphonse. "We are safe now!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +They 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 _Place D'Armes_. 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 Genre 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 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 Genre, 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 +Genre. 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 Genre 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 Genre, 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. + +"Whose carcass is this?" demanded Laudonniere, as they threw out the +mangled remains of the incendiary from the scene of ruin. + +"That of your lieutenant, Le Genre," was the answer of D'Erlach, given +without looking at the object. + +"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 Genre." + +"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. + +"But what does it all mean, Alphonse?" demanded the bewildered +Laudonniere, not yet recovered from his astonishment and alarm. + +"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." + + + + +XIII. + +HISTORICAL SUMMARY. + + +The 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 Genre, 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 +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. + + + + +XIV. + +THE SEDITION AT LA CAROLINE.--Chap. I. + +MOUVEMENT. + + +There 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 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 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. + +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 Ferriere 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; 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, 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. + +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 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 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 +_statuesque_ 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 weapon which he bore; but this was one of those very precious +acquisitions which the Indian had already purposed to bury with him. + +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 _seem_ 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: + +"It is not too late," said he, "to escape this arrangement." + +"And why seek to escape it, Alphonse?" replied the other, with something +like impatience in his tones. + +"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." + +"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. + +"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----" + +"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. + +"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 Genre, 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----" + +"Pshaw!" exclaimed Laudonniere, with renewed impatience. "You are only +too suspicious, Alphonse. You make too much 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." + +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 Genre, by his vigilance, had somewhat +wounded his _amour propre_. 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. + +"Am I to hope, sir, that you really design to honor me with this +command?" + +"Certainly, if you wish it, Alphonse." + +"I certainly wish it, sir, if the expedition be resolved on." + +"It is resolved on," said Laudonniere, with grave emphasis. + +"I shall then feel myself honored with the command." + +"Be it yours, lieutenant. In one hour be ready to receive your orders." + +"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 hour, he was on the +march with twenty men, accompanied by Oolenoe and his dusky warriors. + + + + +CHAPTER II.--THE OUTLAWS. + + +The 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 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. + +"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." + +"He is now in ours," said La Roquette, gloomily. + +"Aye, if the Indian keeps his faith," was the desponding comment of +Fourneaux. + +"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?" + +"You must give him blood with it," responded Fourneaux. + +"Aye, it must be seasoned. He must have blood," echoed La Roquette. + +"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. + +"True--but----" + +"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!" + +"I sometimes wonder myself. Ask La Roquette, there. He can tell you. I +owe it all to his magic." + +"What says your magic now, Roquette--have you any signs for us?" + +"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. + +"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." + +Such was the language of the more manly and impetuous Le Genevois. It +provoked only a fierce glance from the magician. + +"All in good time," said the latter. "Be patient. We shall soon hear +from Oolenoe." + +"Good! and you have seen that we shall be successful?" demanded +Fourneaux. + +"We shall be successful." + +"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." + +"Stay--hark!" said Fourneaux, interrupting him eagerly. "I hear sounds." + +"The wind only." + +"No!--hist." + +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. + +"_Ami!_" was the single word of the intruder, at he stretched out his +arms in signification of friendship. + +"Said I not?" demanded the magician, confidently. "This is our man." + +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? + +"Ah!" said one of the conspirators, "if we could only bring Le Genre to +his senses. He would be the man." + +"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." + +"Who has seen him lately?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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?" + +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. + +"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." + +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. 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. + +"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!" + +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 peaeg 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. 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. + + + + +CHAPTER III.--THE MIDNIGHT ARREST. + + +Sweet 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 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. + +"Rene 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?" + +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. + +"We will take the gag from your jaws, if you promise to make no outcry. +Nod your head in token that you promise." + +The prisoner had no alternative but to submit. He nodded, and the +kerchief was taken from his jaws. + +"You know us, Rene Laudonniere?" demanded the conspirator. + +"Stephen Le Genevois, I know you!" was the answer. + +"'Tis well! You see to what you have reduced me. You have held a trial +upon me in my absence. You have sentenced 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?" + +"What is it?" + +"Read this paper." + +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. + +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. + +"No movement, or this!"--showing the dagger. "Have you read?" + +"I will not sign that paper!" said the prisoner, hoarsely. + +"Will you not?" + +"Never!" + +"You have heard the alternative!" + +Laudonniere was silent. + +"You do not speak! Beware, Rene 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 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." + +"Genevois!" said the prisoner, "even this shall be pardoned--you shall +all be pardoned--if you will forego your present purpose." + +"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." + +"I will not sign!" said the prisoner, doggedly. + +"Then you die!" and the dagger was uplifted. + +"Strike--why do you stop?" exclaimed Fourneaux; "we can slay him, and +forge the paper." + +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. + +"Will my life be spared if I sign? Have I _your_ oath, Stephen Le +Genevois? I trust none other." + +"By G--d and the Blessed Saviour! as I hope to be saved, Rene +Laudonniere, you shall have your life and freedom!" + +"Undo my hands and give me the paper." + +"The right hand only," said Fourneaux, with his accustomed timidity. + +"Pshaw, unbind him!" exclaimed Genevois; "unbind him, wholly. There, +Rene Laudonniere, you are free!" + +"I cannot forgive you, Genevois; you have disgraced me forever," said +the miserable man, as he dashed his signature upon the paper. + +"You will survive it, _mon ami_," 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." + +"You will not carry me with you," demanded the commander, with something +like trepidation in his accents. + +"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!" + + + + +XV. + +THE MUTINEERS AT SEA. + +HISTORICAL SUMMARY. + + +For 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 _duresse_, 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. + +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 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. + +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 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 _cassavi_, 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 _patach_, to which chase was immediately +given. A sharp encounter followed. The _patach_ 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. + +Greatly, indeed, were our free companions delighted with their +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 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 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 _patach_ 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 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 denouement 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; 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." + +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. + +"What," said he, "brethren and companions, will you suffer us to die so +shamefully?" + +"These are none of your companions," said Laudonniere;--"they are no +authors of seditions--no rebels unto the king's service. Ye appeal to +them in vain." + +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. + + + + +XVI. + +THE ADVENTURE OF D'ERLACH. + + +It was in sullen and half resentful mood that Alphonse D'Erlach parted +from his superior at the gates of _La Caroline_. 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 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! + +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 +_steppes_ which belonged wholly to the province of the sea. Without +absolutely suspecting 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. + +To all this D'Erlach had nothing to oppose. The pretences 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. + +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 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. + +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 _eleve_ 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 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. + +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. 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. + +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 _couteau de chasse_, 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. + +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 Genre--the banished man who had headed the first +conspiracy against Laudonniere. As he approached, rushing wildly +forward, with his _couteau de chasse_ 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. + +"Seize upon Oolenoe. Suffer him not to escape you." + +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 Genre, 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 _couteau +de chasse_ now drooped, its sharp extremity pointing to the ground. + +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 encounter with an +enemy. As he drew nigh, followed by his band, Le Genre addressed them +with mournful accents. + +"Is there no faith for me hereafter, _mes amis_? 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." + +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. + +"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 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 _you_ drive me from you also!" + +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. + +"But what of this savage, Oolenoe!" demanded the lieutenant, when the +first burst of grief had subsided from the lips of Le Genre. + +"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." + +"Successful?" + +"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 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." + +"You mean not to say, Le Genre, that they have succeeded in this?" + +"Ay, do I--the garrison is in their hands--the shipping; and Laudonniere +is himself a close prisoner on board the unfinished brigantine." + +"God of heaven! and I am here!" + +"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 hear! Put thy men in order. The subtle savage is about +to gird thee in." + +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. + +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 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 +_escaupil_, 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 Genre 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. + +It was the ninth day from that on which they left La Caroline, when Le +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 suddenly struck into a path with which Le Genre +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 Genre 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 Genre urged D'Erlach to a night movement, +in which they might 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. + +"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, Mercoeur 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." + +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, 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 _canes_, 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 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. + +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 Genre 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. + +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 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 _ruse_ 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 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. + +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. + + + + +XVI. + +HISTORICAL SUMMARY. + + +Sustained 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 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. + +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 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.[22] 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 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. + + [22] "Ces Calos ou Carlos, sont anthropophages, et fort cruels, ils + demeurent dans une Baye, qui porte egalement leur nom, et celui de + Ponce de Leon."--CHARLEVOIX. + +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 known as _coonti_ 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. + +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 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." + +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 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. + + + + +XVII. + +THE NARRATIVE OF LE BARBU: + +THE BEARDED MAN OF CALOS. + + +Now 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 _corps de garde_, 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 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. + + * * * * * + +Then, at the repeated entreaty of Monsieur Laudonniere, Barbu arose and +spoke: + +"First, Senor 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 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. + +"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 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." + +Here our captain, Laudonniere, interrupted Barbu, and said-- + +"Verily, Senor 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." + +With the permission thus vouchsafed him, Barbu, the bearded man, thus +resumed his discourse: + +"We plead for the interposition of the Virgin, Monsieur le 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." + +"And so, indeed, it might, Senor Spaniard," said Laudonniere graciously; +then, as the latter remained silent, Barbu continued: + +"Doubtless, Senor, 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 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, 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. + +"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 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. + +"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; 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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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 +_aguardiente_ 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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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! + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"Now, many months had passed in this manner, and still I was employed +about the king's household. This lord of Calos 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 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! + +"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 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. + +"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 +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. + +"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 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! + +"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." + +"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. We will bid the chief, +Onathaqua, send her after thee, so that thou may'st wed her according +to the rites of the church." + +"Alas!" replied Barbu, "thou compellest me, Senor 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." + +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: + +"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 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 _see_ +the things 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.' + +"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." + +Here Captain Laudonniere interrupted the speaker. + +"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?" + +"Alas, Senor 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 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 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 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, senor, 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. 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." + +"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. + +"Thou shalt hear, Senor. 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 _Coonti_, of +which they have an abundance, of a quality far superior to that of all +the neighboring country. 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! senor, 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 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 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, 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 the +warrior, and the deadly fang of the war-rattle, for the path between +us is everywhere sown with the darts of death.' + +"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." + +Thus ended the narrative of Le Barbu, or the Bearded Man of Calos. + + + + +XVIII. + +HISTORICAL SUMMARY. + + +We 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 +Barre. + +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 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 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." + +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." + +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 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." + +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 _terra incognita_, 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. + +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 +arbour made of purpose, as faire, I say, as any in all Christendom, +although it be altogether naturall." + +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. _Holata_, as we now +write the word, is evidently the Olata of Laudonniere. It was probably +a title rather than a name.[23] 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 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." + + [23] Holata Mico (or Blue King), and Holata Amathla, were + distinguished leaders of the Seminoles in the late war in Florida. + +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 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 _auri sacra fames_ 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, 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. + +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; 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +"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 _esquine_, (?) beate it, and made meale thereof, which they +boiled with water, and eate it. 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." + +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 +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. + +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 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. + +"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. + + + + +XIX. + + Of the captivity of the Great Paracoussi--Olata Ouvae Utina, and the + war which followed between his people and the French. + +CHAPTER I. + + +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 +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. + +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 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 _dais_ 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 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. + +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 _dais_ +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 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. + +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 +"_Ami_," and "_Bonjour_." 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. + +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 before them, with a +vessel of water, the impatience of Laudonniere broke into utterance. + +"Paracoussi Utina," said he, "you have long known the want which has +preyed upon our people." + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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?" + +"Why parley with the savage?" said Alphonse D'Erlach, "if you mean to +take him? I care not for his insolence which 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." + +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. + +"Awhile, awhile, Alphonse--be not too hasty, my son;" was the reply of +Laudonniere. He continued, addressing himself to the Paracoussi: + +"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, _we want, and you have plenty_. 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." + +"There is mil and beanes before my white brother. Let him take and +divide among his people." + +"But this will not suffice for a single meal. Does the Paracoussi laugh +to scorn the sufferings of my people?" + +"The Paracoussi laughs because the granaries of the red-men are full. +There is no famine among _his_ 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!'" + +"Would the Paracoussi make the Frenchmen his enemies? Is their anger +nothing? Is their power not a thing to be feared?" + +"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.'" + +"Did they tell thee so, Utina? But thou shalt see. Once 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." + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +The 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 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. + +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 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. + +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 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 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. + +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 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. + +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. 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." + +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 Athore, 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 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. + +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 Laudonniere-- + +"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." + +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 +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. + +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 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: + +"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." + +The necessities of the French were too great to make them hesitate at +a renewal of the attempt, where all others had proved so profitless; +particularly when the old king, with some solemnity, placing his hand +upon the wrist of the French captain, said to him-- + +"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?" + +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 _him_ 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 resumed their +negotiations with more activity, and withdrew their archers from the +neighborhood. + +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. + +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 _sine qua non_, 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. + +We are not told of the exact amount of ransom required for 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. + +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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +The 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 +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. + +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. 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. + +"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." + +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." + +"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?" + +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. + +"Our red brothers have but to speak, and these chains fall from the +limbs of their well beloved chiefs." + +"Heh!--We speak!--Let them fall!" + +"Speak to your people that these piles be complete," pointing to the +grain. + +"They have heard. See you not they come?" + +"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." + +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. + +"These grow not by nature," continued D'Erlach; "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?" + +The chiefs were silent. The youth proceeded: + +"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." + +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 determination that had +interposed all the obstacles in the way of procuring the supplies +promised. + +"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." + +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. + +"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 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. + +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 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. + +"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." + +To this Ottigny consented; and leading one of the divisions 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. + +"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." + +Ottigny prepared to follow this counsel. His men were all 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. + +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. + +"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." + +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 desire for close conflict, with their +stone hatchets and macanas. At this show, D'Erlach spoke to his men in +subdued accents. + +"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." + +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, 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." + +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 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. + + + + +XX. + +IRACANA, + +OR THE EDEN OF THE FLORIDIAN. + + +The 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. + +"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." + +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. 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. + +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 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. + +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 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 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 chant,-- + +"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!" + +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." + +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 +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +"Ah! handsome Frenchman," she said to her companion,--"You please me so +much." + +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 might have been ready to waive, for a season at least, +their impatient desire to return to France. + +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. + +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 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. + +"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." + +"I will come again, noble Queen, believe me," was the assurance. + +"Ah! come soon," she said, "come soon, for you please me very much, +_Aphon_." + +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 +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. + +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. 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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"Ha!" said one addressing D'Erlach, "You have beautiful women in your +country, like Iracana, the Queen?" + +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 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 words-- + +"You will come to me, _Aphon_--you will? you will? I too much want you! +Come soon, _Aphon_. Iracana will dance never no more till _Aphon_ be +come." + +"_Aphon_" 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. + +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 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. + +"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." + +"Nay, Iracana, I love you greatly. I will come to you again. I find it +hard to tear myself away. But my people--" + +"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." + +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 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. + +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 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. + + + + +XXI. + +HISTORICAL SUMMARY. + + +The 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, 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 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." + +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 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 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." + +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 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; _but they being souldiers, desired to live by +the sweat of other men's browes_." 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, _who naturally are more desirous +of peace than of warre_, but also shall have abundance of victuals +proffered them for nothing, &c." The testimony of Hawkins is as +conclusive in behalf of the Floridians 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 +_four_ feet to _three_ 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. + +Hawkins's account of the coast and characteristics of Florida 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 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. + +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 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 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. + + + + +XXII. + +THE FATE OF LA CAROLINE. + +CHAPTER I. + + +The fleet of Ribault consisted of seven vessels. The _three_ smallest of +these had ascended the river to the fortress. The _four_ 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 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 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." + +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." + +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 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 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. + +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, 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. + +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 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 _hors de combat_ 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 +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. + +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 _show_ of diligence, rather 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." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +RIBAULT'S FORTUNES AT SELOOE. + + +It 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. + +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 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 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 _fleur-de-lis_ 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 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. + +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. + +"Call you this the cause of our king only, in which we are 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!" + +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!" + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +MELENDEZ AT SELOOE. + + +But 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. + +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 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. + +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 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 _knew_ 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 _felt_ 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 necessary +it was that man should show himself worthy, by his prudence and +preparations, of the intervention and the care of Deity. + +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 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. + +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 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, 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. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE COUNCIL OF WAR AT SELOOE. + + +It 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. + +"Oh! ye of little faith!" he exclaimed, rising in their midst, "is +it thus that ye give acknowledgment 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 +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!" + +Audible murmurs here arrested the speaker. + +"What is it that ye fear, my children?" continued Melendez. + +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?" + +"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 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 _a l'outrance_ 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." + +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 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. + +"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. +_In te Domine speravi_,--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." + +Even as he concluded, one at the entrance of the council-house entreated +entrance. It proved to be a priest, the Reverend Father Salvandi, who +brought with him a strange man, overgrown with beard, and partly in the +costume of a mariner. + +"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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"Ah! Laudonniere will hang you, if he gets you into his power." + +"For that reason, my lord, I would have you get him in yours." + +"You shall have your wish. The Lord hath indeed spoken! Your name?" + +"Francis Jean!" + +"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!" + +"Doubt me not, my lord. I will do you good service!" + +"Be it so! My comrades--the Lord hath provided. Senor Martin de Ochoa, +take this man into thy keeping. Do him no hurt,--let him be well +entreated, but let him not escape from thy sight." + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE DINNER-PARTY OF MELENDEZ. + + +But 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 _canaille_ 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 design, he would embark with +all those left at St. Augustine, and take his route back to Hispaniola. +This same person, with the Senors 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 said-- + +"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 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!" + +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! + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE STORMING OF LA CAROLINE. + + +The preparations for departure were complete. The Adelantado himself +marched at the head of his vanguard, the immediate command of which +was confided to Senor 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 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 _freshet_ 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!" + +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 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." + +Some one counselled their retreat to St. Augustine before the Huguenots +should discover them. + +"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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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 "_Qui vive?_" Ochoa promptly answered, "France," and the man +approached them only to receive a stunning blow upon the head. The +Frenchman recovered himself instantly, 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 _cri de guerre_, 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!" + +The warning came too late. The amiable weakness which 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 _corps de garde_ 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 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: + +"That is he! That is the captain of the heretics--that is Laudonniere!" + +"Ah, traitor! Is it thou?" cried Laudonniere. "Let me but live to slay +thee, and I care nothing for the rest." + +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 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 _corps de garde_. 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. "_Sauve qui peut!_" 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, + +"Hither, now, Monsieur Rene," cried Bartholomew, grasping 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." + +"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!" + +And the tears gushed from his eyes, and he paused and thrust the point +of his sword into the earth with vexation and despair. + +"We have not a moment, Monsieur Rene," 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." + +"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!" + +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. + +"Slay! slay! Smite and spare not!" was the dreadful command of Melendez. +"The groans of the heretic make music in the ears of Heaven!" + +Laudonniere shut his ears, and with his companion plunged deeper into +the forests. Here he found other fugitives like himself, 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 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! + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +VAE VICTIS. + + +And 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 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 Villaroel. 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, 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. + +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 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. + +"Separate these women from the other prisoners." + +It was done. + +"Now detach from these last, all children under fifteen years." + +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 demanded-- + +"Is there among ye any who profess the faith of the Holy Catholic +Church?" + +Two of the prisoners answered in the affirmative. + +"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?" + +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. + +"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." + +The silence was unbroken. + +"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!" + +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. + +"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 live in this faith, we deem it one in +which it will not be amiss to die!" + +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. + +"Speaks this man for the rest of ye?" demanded Melendez. + +For a moment there was silence. At length a matelit advanced--a common +sailor--a man before the mast. + +"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!" + +"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!" + +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 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 raised beneath the tree, upon +which was printed in large characters-- + + "These do not suffer thus as + Frenchmen, but as + Heretics and + Enemies + to God!" + + + + +XXIII. + +THE FORTUNES OF RIBAULT. + +CHAPTER I. + + +Having 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 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, _en masse_, 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 _Te Deum_, in exultation at the twofold +conquest which he had won, at the expense equally of their own, and the +enemies of the church. + +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. + +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, 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 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. + +"Who are these people?" demanded Melendez. + +"We are Frenchmen, all, who have suffered shipwreck." + +"What Frenchmen?" + +"The people of M. Ribault, Captain-General of Florida, under commission +of the king of France." + +"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." + +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 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. + +Melendez replied-- + +"Senor, 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." + +The Frenchmen looked incredulous. + +"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." + +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 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. + +After an hour's absence he returned. + +"Are you satisfied," he asked? "of the truth of the things which I have +told you." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Senor, 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." + +"Assist us to leave it, senor: that is in truth what we demand." + +"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." + +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. + +"Though but a poor soldier, senor, 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!" + +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 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 _Te Deum_, and the +acclamation for good Christian service, from a Christian people. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +The 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +"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 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. + +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. + +"Monsieur," said he to Laudonniere, "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." + +To this Melendez replied in the very same language which he had used to +the preceding detachment: + +"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 you must yield to my discretion, leaving it to me to do with you as +God shall determine me!" + +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. + +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. + +"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!" + +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. + +"They were beguiled with the same arguments," said young Alphonse +D'Erlach; "arguments which appealed to their hunger, 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." + +We need not pursue the debate which continued for three hours. At the +end of this time, Ribault returned to the landing. + +"A portion of my people," he said, "but not the greater number, are +prepared to surrender themselves to you at discretion." + +"They are their own masters," replied Melendez; "they must do as they +please; to me it is quite indifferent what decision they make." + +Ribault continued: + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"I will sooner trust the incarnate devil himself, than this Melendez," +was the resolution of Alphonse D'Erlach to his elder brother. "Go not, +_mon frere_, 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." + +And such was the resolve of many others, but it was not that of Ribault. + +"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?" + +The infatuated leader, broken in spirit, and utterly exhausted in the +struggle with fate, replied: + +"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." + +"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." + +He was unheard, at least by the Huguenot general. + +"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. _Quem Deus vult perdere prius +dementat._ He goes to the sacrifice!" + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +The 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. + +"Have I lived for this? Is it thus, Monsieur Melendez, that you treat a +warrior and a Christian?" + +"God forbid that I should treat a Christian after this fashion. But +_are_ you a Christian, senor?" + +"Of the Reformed Church, I am!" was the reply. + +"I do not hold yours, senor, to be a church of Christ, but of Satan. +Bind him, my comrades, and take him hence." + +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 _auto-da-fe_, as fearful as the preceding--finished 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 "_Domine, +memento mei_, &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." + +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 him-- + +"Senor, you are the general of the French?" + +"I am!" + +"You have always been accustomed to exact obedience, without question, +from all the people under your command?" + +"Without doubt!" replied Ribault, somewhat wondering at the question. + +"Deem it not strange, then, senor," continued the soldier, "that I +execute faithfully the orders I have received from my commandant!" + +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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +OF THOSE WHO REFUSED TO FOLLOW THE FORTUNES OF RIBAULT. + + +We 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 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. + +"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 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!" + +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. + +Advised by the Indians that the surviving Frenchmen were at work at +Cannaverel, building themselves both fortresses and vessels, 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 Patino, 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 their lives, +but promised to receive as many of them as thought proper, into his own +ranks as soldiers. + +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. + +"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." + +"But what are we to do, Monsieur D'Erlach? We have small provisions +here. He hath environed us with his troops." + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"Would you place life at his mercy?" + +"It is so now!" + +"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!" + +"No! surely, I shall never serve Melendez. I seek this only as the mean +whereby to return to France." + +"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 them living for the pollution of the soil. This is my +purpose, brother, though I go forth into the wilderness alone!" + +"Thou shalt not go alone, Alphonse. We will live and die together." + +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. + + + + +XXIV. + +ALPHONSE D'ERLACH. + + +The 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 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. + +"We are now upon the great promontory of the Floridian," said 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 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 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." + +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 minutiae 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 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. + +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 +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: + +"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." + +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 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 exploration of the golden territories of which they had +heard, as well as the French. + +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 in the north-west, and thither +should we turn, if we seek for the Grand Copal." + +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; 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. + +"Let us at least separate in peace and good-fellowship, _mes +camarades_," 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. + +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: + +"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." + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +"Onward!" cried Alphonse D'Erlach; "we have not a moment 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." + +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. + +"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 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. + +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 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 _le baton +rouge_--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. + +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 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. + +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 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 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. + +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. + +To linger in that spot was impossible; but whither should they direct +their steps. + +"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." + +"Better that we had perished with our comrades, under the knife of +Melendez," was the gloomy speech of the elder D'Erlach. + +"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!" + +And he led the way down the rugged heights, the others following +passively and in moody silence. + +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 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. + +"Where is Philip?" demanded the elder brother. + +"We are all that remain, my brother," was the reply. + +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; 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. + +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. + +"We are but two, my brother, two of all," said the elder D'Erlach. "Let +us die together, my brother." + +"If fate so pleases," was the reply--"well! But let us hope that we may +live together yet." + +"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." + +"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 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." + +"But, Alphonse, my limbs are weary, and my strength is gone." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"This world is ours, my brother," responded the younger, impetuously; +"and, if we are men, if we had no misgivings--if we 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." + +"Reproach me not, Alphonse," replied the other; "thou hast a strength +and a courage both denied to me." + +"Believe it not; be resolute in thy courage, and thy strength will +follow. It is the heart, verily, that is the first to fail." + +"Mine is dead within me!" + +"Yet another effort, _mon frere_,--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." + +"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. + + * * * * * + +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 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. + +"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." + +"If you sleep, you die." + +"I shall rejoice!" + +"You must not, brother. I will help you. I will carry you." + +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. + +"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." + +"It is death, Alphonse." + +"Death! Pshaw! We cannot fail now; now that we are 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?" + +"I see nothing but the sky and ocean. It is the waters that roll about +us." + +"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." + +"Brother, this is so sweet!" + +"What?" + +"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." + +"What waters? What places?" + +"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!" + +"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!" + +And Alphonse D'Erlach hastened to kindle the flames, and he 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, + +"Mother, we are come!" + +And then he lay speechless. The younger brother turned away, and looked +yearningly to the mountains. + +"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." + +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. + + * * * * * + +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 that rolled their blue and billowy summits +in the east, circumscribing his vision, and he murmured-- + +"I shall be in time. Do not despair, my brother. I will soon be with you +and bring you succor." + +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: + +"I go from your eyes, my brother, but I go to bring you help." + +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. + + * * * * * + +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. + + * * * * * + +Another spectacle follows in their place. Sudden, along the rocky ledges +of the high precipices which overhang the gorge, 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. + + + + +XXV. + +DOMINIQUE DE GOURGUES. + +I.--EARLY HISTORY OF GOURGUES. + + +The 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 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. + +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! + + * * * * * + +The Chevalier, Dominique de Gourgues, was a Gascon gentleman, born +at Mont de Marsan, in the County of Cominges. His 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.[24] But the forbearance of Montluc has not deprived us of all +the testimony which belongs to the fame 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 _sans peur et sans reproche_, +makes a famous figure in the chronicles of _le loyal serviteur_, 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 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 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 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. + + [24] 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. "_La il fut prius douze ou quatorze + chevaux legers de ma compagnie, dont le Capitaine Gourgues, qui estoit + a la suite de Strassi, estoit du nombre_," _&c._ 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 "_France, France!_" from their + friends without, they began the struggle within--"_ils commencerent a + se secouer les uns et les autres, et mesmes le Capitaine Gourgues, qui + se deslia le premier_," _etc._ 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. + + + + +II. + +BLAIZE DE MONTLUC. + + +This 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 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 himself:-- + + "Cy dessous reposent les os + De Montluc, qui n'eut onc repos." + +was not the person to feel grateful in the possession of an office which +gave no exercise to his restless and martial propensities. + +"We are shelved, _mon ami_," 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 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--'_Un bel mourir, tutta la vita onora!_' Did this adventure +of yours, Monsieur, but promise a great battle, verily, I should like to +share it with you." + +"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 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 +Benin, in Africa, whence we carry the negro cannibal, that he may be +made a Christian by proper labor under Christian rule." + +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. + +"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!" + + + + +III. + +GOURGUES AT SEA. + + +The 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 _roberges_, or brigantines,--ships of light +burthen, resembling the Spanish caravels; and one _patache_, or tender, +a vessel modelled after the frigate of the Levant, and designed for +penetrating shallow harbors. One hundred and fifty 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 _Rio del Oro_, 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 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. + + + + +IV. + +GOURGUES DECLARES HIS PURPOSE TO HIS FOLLOWERS, IN A SPEECH. + + +His 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: + +"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. 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 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 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?" + +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. + + + + +V. + +GOURGUES WELCOMED BY THE FLORIDIANS. + + +It 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, 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. + +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 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! + +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. + +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 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. + +"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!" + +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 Bre, 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, _le Baton +Rouge_, 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. The chiefs of a score of scattered tribes, with all their best +warriors, were assembled with Satouriova, to welcome the Frenchmen to +the land. + + + + +VI. + +OLOTOCARA. + + +Satouriova, 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, Helmacape, Helicopile, 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 Bre, the captain of +the French 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. + +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!"[25] which we may +translate, "Beloved Chief or 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. + + [25] 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 _Esquire_ after the name. + +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. + +"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. + +"Such a chief was not known to us," said he, "in the time of +Laudonniere." + +"He looks for all the world like a Frenchman," murmured Gourgues. + +"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." + +Gourgues whispered the boy: + +"Who is this chief? Have you ever seen him before? Do you know him?" + +"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." + +"Who?" + +"I can't say, Monsieur, I can't; and the more I look, the more I am +uncertain." + +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 to make a _reconnaissance_ of the +Spanish fortress, he rose quietly, looked towards Satouriova, and, +striking his breast slightly, with his right hand, simply repeated his +own name,-- + +"Holata Cara!" + +"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: + +"I will follow you, but not to be seen; and our people shall be nigh to +watch, lest there be danger from the Spaniard." + +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 Bre being sent along with +them, on the _reconnaissance_ 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. + + + + +VII. + +FIRST FRUITS OF THE ADVENTURE. + + +The reconnaissance was completed. The report of Holata Cara and +D'Estampes 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 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. + +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, Helicopile, 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 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. + +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 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. + +"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. + +"To arms! to arms!" was the cry of their sentinels. "To arms! these be +Frenchmen!" + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 _patache_, 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. + +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 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. + + + + +VIII. + +THE CONQUEST OF LA CAROLINE. + + +The 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 obtain help, convey intelligence of +their situation to their friends in St. Augustine, or escape from the +beleagured station. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 sortie; and Gourgues with delight beheld a +detachment of threescore soldiers, deliberately passing the trenches and +marching steadily into the very jaws of ruin. + +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 sortie! + +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 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! + + + + +IX. + +THE SACRIFICE OF THE VICTIMS. + + +The 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. HE had strengthened their hearts +and arms--HE had hung his shield of protection over them--HE 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 _culverins_, by four _minions_, and divers other cannon 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 sortie, 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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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 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 it:-- + + "These are not hung as Spaniards, + nor as Mariners, but as + Traitors, Robbers, and + Murderers!" + +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. + + + + +X. + +THE CHIEFS OF THE LILY AND THE TOTEM EMBRACE AND PART. + + +"San Augustine!" + +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 regretfully-- + +"I am too feeble! We have not the force necessary to such an effort!" + +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. + +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. + +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 array, having sent all +his captured munitions and arms with his artillerists by sea, in the +patache. + +The red-men hailed him with songs and dances, as the Israelites hailed +Saul and David returning with the spoils of the Philistines. + +"Now let me die," cried one old woman, "now that I behold the Spaniards +driven out, and the Frenchmen once more in the country." + +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. + +The moment arrived for the embarkation, but where was Holata Cara? The +Frenchman inquired after him in vain. Satouriova only replied to his +earnest inquiries,-- + +"Holata Cara is a great chief of the Apalachian! He hath gone among his +people." + +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. + +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. + +"They are gone!" she exclaimed. + +"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. + + + + +XI. + +MORALS OF REVENGE. + + +Historians 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." + +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! + +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 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! + +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. + +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. + +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! + +The suggestion that magnanimity and mercy shown to the 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 _warlike_ barbarians. We do not +mean to justify Gourgues; 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. + + + + +XII. + +THE CHEVALIER AT HOME--MONTLUC COUNSELS GOURGUES FROM HIS COMMENTARIES. + + +Having 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 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 _la Belle +France_! 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. + +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 the storm, one of them, the _patache_, 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. + +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. + +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. + +"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 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!" + +"Think'st thou, Montluc, that there is any danger that the court of +France will give ear to the king of Spain?" + +"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! _Monsieur_, thou wast with +me in those days. Thou rememberest, I trow, the famous skirmish which +we had before the little town of Seve. But I will read thee from my +commentaries, which I have been writing in imitation of Roman Caesar, of +the wonderful wars and sieges in which I have fought, and in which I +have evermore found most delight." + +And he drew forth from his cabinet, as he spoke, the great volume of +manuscripts, afterwards destined to become the famous depository of his +deeds. + +"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 Seve; 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." + +Having found the passage, Montluc read as follows: + +"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--" + +Gourgues nodded assent-- + +"----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 horse-- + +"'Do thou halt here till the Marechal shall arrive, and, meanwhile, I +will go and succor Monsieur de Montluc.' + +"He was followed by certain captains and arquebusiers on horseback. +We had but an instant for embrace when he arrived, for the enemy were +already charging our men. + +"'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.' + +"Whereupon, he and his followers instantly alighted, and he said to me, +'do you charge directly upon those, who would recover the fort.' + +"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 Bernardin-- + +"'Comrade, whilst we charge, do you continue to provide the quarters.' + +"But to this he answered-- + +"'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.' + +"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 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,--_for he had fear in both his +heels!_" + +Here Montluc paused, and closed the volume. + +"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, _take fear in +both thy heels_, and run as nimbly as that ensign." + +"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." + +"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 another. Hast thou forgotten that good +proverb of the Italians, which we heard so much read from their lips and +honored in their actions,--'_No te fidar, et no serai inganato?_' Above +all, _mon ami_, 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." + +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. + +"The king will do me justice." + +"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. + +"But the baseness and the cowardice of flight! This confiding one's +courage and counsel to one's heels, Montluc!" + +"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 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." + + + + +XIII. + +FALL OF THE CURTAIN. + + +We 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. + +"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." + +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 +Rouen, 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 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! + +Our chronicle is ended. The expedition of Dominique de Gourgues +concludes the history of the colonies of France in the forests of +the Floridian. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +Originally, 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. + + +I. + +THE VOICE. + + A midnight voice from Heaven! It smote his ear, + That stern old Christian warrior, who had stood, + Fearless, with front erect and spirit high, + Between his trembling flock and tyranny, + Worse than Egyptian! It awakened him + To other thoughts than combat. "Dost thou see;"-- + Thus ran the utterance of that voice from Heaven,-- + "The sorrows of thy people? Dost thou hear + Their groans, that mingle with the old man's prayer, + And the child's prattle, and the mother's hymn? + Vain help thy cannon brings them, and the sword, + Unprofitably drunk with martyr blood, + Maintains the Christian argument no more. + Arouse thee for new labors. Gird thy loins + For toils and perils better overcome + By patience, than the sword. Thou shalt put on + Humility as armor; and set forth, + Leading thy flock, whom the gaunt wolf pursues, + To other lands and pastures. 'T is no home + For the pure heart in France! There, Tyranny + Hath wed with Superstition; and the fruit-- + The foul, but natural issue of their lusts, + Is murder!--which, hot-hunting fresher feasts, + Knows never satiation;--raging still, + Where'er a pure heart-victim may be found + In these fair regions. It will lay them waste, + Leaving no field of peace,--leaving no spot + Where virtue may find refuge from her foes, + Permitted to forbear defensive blows, + Most painful, though most needful to her cause! + The brave shall perish, and the fearful bend, + Till unmixed evil, rioting in waste, + Wallows in crime and carnage unrebuked! + Vain is thy wisdom,--and the hollow league, + That tempts thee to forbearance, worse than vain. + Flight be thy refuge now. Thou shalt shake off + The dust upon thy sandals, and go forth + To a far foreign land;--a wild, strange realm, + That were a savage empire, most unmeet + For Christian footstep, and the peaceful mood, + But that it is a refuge shown by God + For shelter of his people. Thither, then, + Betake thee in thy flight. Let not thy cheek + Flush at the seeming shame. It is no shame + To fly from shameless foes. This truth is taught + By him, the venerable sire who led + His people from the Egyptians. Lead thou thine! + Forbear the soldier's fury. I would rouse + The Prophet and the Patriarch in thy breast, + And make thee better seek the peaceful march, + Than the fierce, deadly struggle. Thou shouldst guide, + With pastoral hand of meekness, not of blood, + The tribes that still have followed thee, and still, + Demand thy care. Far o'er the western deeps + Have I prepared thy dwelling! A new world, + Full of all fruits and lovely to the eye,-- + Various in mount and valley, sweet in stream, + Cool in recesses of the ample wood, + With climate bland, air vigorous, sky as pure + As is the love that proffers it to faith-- + Await thee; and the seas have favoring gales + To waft thee on thy path! Delay and die!" + + +II. + +COLIGNY'S RESOLVE. + + "And, if I perish!" the gray warrior said,-- + "I perish still in France! If cruel foes + Beleaguer and ensnare me to my fate, + The blow will fall upon me in the land + Which was my birth-place. Better there to die + The victim for my people, than to fly + Inglorious, from the struggle set for us + By the most cruel fortunes! Not for me + The hope of refuge in a foreign clime, + While that which cradled me lies desolate + In blood and ashes! It is better here + To strive against the ruin and misrule, + Than basely yield the empire to the foe, + Whose sway we might withstand; and whose abuse, + Unchecked, were but the fruitful argument + For thousand years of woe! I would not lay + These aged bones to sleep in distant lands, + Though pure and peaceful; but would close mine eye, + Upon the same sweet skies--by tempests now + Torn and disclouded--upon which gladly first + They opened with delight in infancy. + This fondness, it may be, is but a weakness + Becoming not my manhood. Be it so! + I know that I _am_ weak; but there's a passion, + That glows with loyal anger in my heart, + And shows like virtue. It forbids my flight; + And, for my country's glory, and the safety + Of our distracted and diminished flock, + Declares how much more grateful were the strife-- + That proud defiance which I still have given + To those fierce enemies, whose sleepless hate + Hath shamed and struck at both. I deem it better + To struggle with injustice than submit; + For still submission of the innocent + Makes evident the guilty; and the good, + Who yield, but multiply the herd of foes, + That ravin when the retribution sleeps! + What hope were there for sad humanity, + If still, when came the danger, fled the brave? + Fled only to beguile, in fierce pursuit, + The wolfish spoiler, leaving refuge none, + In heart or homestead? Not for me to fly-- + Not though, I hear, Eternal Sire! thy voice + Still speaking with deep utterance in my soul, + Commending my obedience. All in vain, + I strive to serve thee with submission meet, + And move to do thy will. The earth grows up, + Around me; and the aspects of my home, + Enclose me like the mountains and the sea, + Forbidding me to fly them. Natural ties, + That are as God's, upon the mortal heart, + Fetter me still to France! and yet thou knowest, + How reverent and unselfish were my toils, + In this our people's cause. I have not spared + Day or night labor; and my blood hath flowed, + Unstinted, in the strife that we have waged. + The sword hath hacked these limbs--the poisoned cup + Hung at these lips. The ignominous death, + From the uplifted scaffold, look'd upon me, + Craving its victim; the assassin's steel, + Turned from my ribs, with narrowest graze avoiding + The imperil'd life! Yet never have I shrunk, + Because of these flesh-dangers from the work + Whereto my hand was set. Let me not now + Turn from the field in flight, though still to lead + The flock that I must die for! _This_ I know! + I cannot _always_ 'scape. The blow _will_ come! + Not always will the poisonous draught be spill'd, + Or the sharp steel be foil'd, or turn'd aside;-- + And to the many martyrs in this cause, + Already made, my yearning spirit feels, + Its sworn alliance. I will die like them, + But cannot fly their graves! I _dare_ not fly, + Though death awaits me here, and, soft, afar, + Sits safety in the cloud and beckons me." + + +III. + +THE VOYAGE. + + "And leave thy flock to perish?"--Thus the voice, + Reproachful to the patriarch.--"No," he cried, + "They shall partake the sweet security, + Of the far home of refuge thou assign'st. + They shall go forth from bondage and from death: + The path made free to them, their feet shall take; + My counsels shall direct them, and my soul + Still struggle in their service. Those who fly, + Best moved by fond obedience,--with few ties + To fasten the devoted heart to earth, + And looking but to heaven;--and those who still, + With that fond passion of home which fetters me, + Prefer to look upon their graves in France,-- + Shall equally command my care and toil, + Though not alike my presence. They who go forth + To the far land of promise which awaits them, + Mine eye shall watch across the mighty deep, + And still my succors reach them, while the power + Is mine for human providence; and still, + Even from the fearful eminence of death, + My spirit, parting from its shrouding clay, + Survey them with the thought of one who loves, + Glad in the safety which it could not share!" + + * * * * * + + Even as he said,--a little band went forth + Still resolute for God;--having no home, + But that made holy by his privilege; + Their prayers unchecked, their pure rites undisturbed, + They bending at high altars, with no dread, + Lest other eyes than the elect should see, + Their secret smokes arise. + To a wild shore, + Most wild, but lovely,--o'er the deeps they came; + Propitious winds at beck, and God in heaven, + Looking from bluest skies. From the broad sea, + Sudden, the grey lines of the wooing land, + Stretched out its sheltering haven, and afar, + Implored them, with its smiles, through gayest green, + That to the heart of the lone voyagers, + Spoke of their homes in France. + "And here," they cried, + "Cast anchor! We will build our temples here! + This solitude is still security, + And freedom shall compensate all the loss + Known first in loss of home! Yet naught is lost,-- + All rather gained, that human hearts have found + Most dear to hope and its immunities, + If that we win _that_ freedom of the soul, + It never knew before! Here should we find + Our native land,--the native land of soul, + Where conscience may take speech,--where truth take root, + And spread its living branches, till all earth + Grows lovely with their heritage. From the wild + Our pray'rs shall rise to heaven; nor shall we build + Our altars in the gloomy caves of earth, + Dreading each moment lest the accusing smokes, + That from our reeking censers may arise, + Shall show the imperial murderer where we hide." + + * * * * * + + + Transcriber's Note: Obvious typos have been amended. 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