This Country of Ours

e new peace and happiness of the Fre

another and another. No word was spoken, and in eerie silence the strange ships crept stealthily onwards, and cast anchor beside

arkness. "Gentlemen," it asked,

nce," was

ing here?" was t

ers and supplies for a

ntry, and for many whi

tholics or

across the dark water. It

ied the French, "we ar

Frenchmen's turn

they cried, "an

l Lutherans whom I may find by land or by sea. And my King has given me such strict commands that I have power to pardon no man of them. And those commands I shall

h a shout of wrath wen

ried, "why wait for dawn? Come o

ffing words. Thereupon Menendez was so enraged that he swore to silence those Lutheran dogs

thstand the Spaniards, for their leader was ashore with most of his sol

aniards called them, were skilful sailors. Menendez could not catch them, and

med so strong that he would not attack, but sailed a

and gentlemen. In all the gay trappings of knighthood, with many-coloured banners fluttering in the breeze, they marched. Then as they advanced another procession came tow

eir heads kissed the crucifix. So was the land claimed for Spain and the Catho

followed the Spaniards, and seen them land. Th

ral of his chief officers, came to his room to tell him the news which the returning ships had just brought. And besid

ome one objected. But at length it was decided to go by sea

shot. Their leader was as sick and feeble as any of them. But he dragged himself from his bed to review his forces. They were poor indeed, but Laudonni?re made the best of them. He appointed e

s thus ordering his

e rest of the colonis

d in the night they c

h vess

close to them they fled to the shelter of their harbour. And

the number of the ships that most of the French colonists must b

attling with wind and waves he resolved to move quickly over land and take

arry it out at once, he ordered Mass to be said, then he called a council and laid his plan before his officers. They, however, met his eagerness w

zeal. This is God's war, and we must not turn our backs upon it. It

is hearers. They answered him only with mutterings. Still Menendez insist

begun. In a few days all was ready, and the expedition set out. It was a simple matter. There was no great train of sumpter mules or baggage

and on the men trudged. They plunged through seas of mud, and grass which grew wai

rd night they lay down upon the muddy ground, cursing their leader for having brought them forth to died thus miserably. But while the men cursed Menendez pr

business. The men were utterly dishearte

est he spoke to the wretched, shivering, rain-drenched men. He taunted, h

was begun, and when day dawned the

the guard had sent his men to bed, for they were soaked to the skin and he was sorry for them. In such rain and wind what enemy would

e Spaniards. Then suddenly the silence of

d the Spaniards,

niards poured in. The dim light of dawn showed the dark cruel faces, and the gleam of drawn swords. Then clash

ere there was a tent. This stopped his pursuers, for they stumbled over the cordage and became entangled with it. The confusion gave Laudonni?re a few minutes' respite in which he escaped through a breach in the ramparts, and took r

our lives. Even if they slay us what of that? It is but a moment's pain. Bett

agreed to throw themselves up

held back, when they saw the fate of their companions, fled through the forest. Some sought refuge among the Indians. But even from that refuge the Spaniards hunted them forth and slew them without pity. Thus the land was filled with bloodshed and ruin. Many were slain at once by th

e homewards, and unfurling thei

uccess of his bold scheme, Menendez marched back to St. Augustine

nd at length were wrecked. But although the ships were lost all, or nearly all, of the men succeeded in reaching the shore

r the destruction of Fort Caroline some Indians came to Menendez with t

ible to reach them. Hiding, therefore, in the bushes by the water's edge Menendez and his men watched the Frenchmen on the other side. The Spaniards soon saw that their enemies were in distress. They suspected that they were starving, for they could be seen walking up a

to meet him. As he drew near Menendez called

Viceroy of the King of Fran

cs or Lutherans?

erans," answ

e more talk Menend

rned to the boat to say that five of the French leaders wished to sp

returning to his own side he sent the

ceremonious greetings the Frenchmen begged the Spaniards to lend them a boa

n," he said, "it were idle for you to go to your

f his words the Spanish leader bade his men show the heretics the plunder which had

to them Menendez left them, and wen

looked at their gloomy faces his heart rejoiced. "Do you

d be useless now to go to the fort. All we ask of

nendez, "if you were Catholics, an

them stay with his people until help came to them from France. It was little enough to ask, they though

by land and sea, for I am Viceroy for my King in this country. I am here to plant the holy Gospel in this land , that the Indians may come to the light and knowledge of the Holy Catholic, faith of our Lord Jesus

counsel with those who waited there. They talked long, and anxiously those on the Spanish side awaited their return. At length o

omise nothing. The Fr

in his hands. And bot

ere, so they yielded t

ma

our. Then guarded by Spanish soldiers the Frenchmen were brought across by tons. As each batch landed the

he did not go far, for the sun was already setting, and it was time to camp for the night. So but a little way from the shore he stopped, and drew a line in the sand. And when t

other large party under Ribaut, who, ignorant of all that had happened, were still slowly making their way to Fort C

ut others were filled with misgiving. Still they resolved to try to make terms with the Spaniards. So first one of his officers, and then Ribaut himself, rowed across the strip of water to parley with the Spanish leader. They found him as pitiless as their companions had found him. And seeing that t

d his back. As his followers came over they, too, were bound and led away. Then as trumpets

" he said, "and to dust we must return: twenty years more or less can matte

paniards sated. Then, his horrible labour ended,

ut again news of their doings was brought to Menendez by the Indians. And again he set out to crush them. When the Frenchmen saw the Spaniards come they fled in terror. But Menendez sent a messenger after them promising that

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