French Pathfinders in North America

LONY ON THE S

Gold, and how it was rewarded.-Buccaneering.-A Storm-cloud gathers in Spain.-Misery in the Fort on the St. John's.-Relieved by Sir John Hawkins.-Arrival of R

the spring of 1564, under the command of Rene de Laudonnière, who had been with Ribaut in 1562. It re

hief who told him that he was two hundred and fifty years old. But, after all, he might probably expect to live a hundred years more, for he introduced another patriarch a

n, and the river Jordan, which was said to be somewhere in Florida and to possess the same virtue, and

the glamour of romantic dreams about the New World still fresh upon them, visions

brawling soldiers and piratical sailors, with only a few quiet, decent artisans and shop-keepers, but with a swarm of reckless young nobles, who had nothing to recommend them but a long

e what is now called St. John's Bluff and was named Fort Caroline, in honor of

d by a story of great riches up the river, he actually made an alliance with Outina, the chief of the Thimagoas. Thus the French were engaged at the same time to help both sides. But the craze for gold was now at fever-heat, and they had little notion of keeping faith with

the situation worse, when he went, unaided, and attacked his enemies and brought back prisoners, the French commande

eir feet teemed with fish. The woods about them were alive with game. But they could neither fish nor hunt. Starving in a land of plenty,

Frenchmen saw, instead of a splendid city of the "kings of the Appalachian mountains," rich in gold, just such an Indian town, surrounded by rough fields of corn and pumpkins, as the misguided Spaniards under Soto had often come upon. The poo

ceased to bring in food for barter. The garrison was put on half-rations. Men who had come to Florida expecting to find themselves in a land of plenty and to reap a golden harvest, would sc

Car

y and find its treasures? He is keeping us from ma

nd interminable pine-barrens of Florida, cheered on by the delusive assurance that when they came to t

" once more. They stole two pinnaces, slipped away to sea, and were soon cruising among the West Indies. Hunger drove them into H

Pedro Menendez de Aviles, a ruthless bigot who would crush a Protestant with as much satisfaction as a venomous serpent. Imagine the effect upon his glo

early all were bent on buccaneering. One day a number of them mutinied, overpowered the guard, seized Laudonnière, put him in irons, carried him on board a vessel lying in the river, and com

ers hidden in the hold. The buccaneers let her come alongside without suspicion and began to parley. Suddenly the soldiers came on deck, boarded, and overpowered them, before they could seize their arms. In fact, they were mostly drunk. After a short career of successful piracy, they had suddenly found themselves attacked by three armed vessels. The most were killed or taken, but twenty-six escaped. The pilot, who had

ms, rich in gold. Once more they were duped into fighting his battles by the wily Outina, who promised to lead them to the mines of App

elves about the fort, digging roots or gathering any plant that might stay the gnawings of hunger. They had made enemies of their neighbors, Satouriona and his people; and Outina, for who

: "The effects of this hideous famine appeared incontinently among us, for our bones eftsoones beganne to cleave so neere un

eers. But they must have another. They began with furious haste to build one, everybody lending a hand. Then came a disastrous check. When things were well under way, th

brought in the corn, and the Frenchmen released Outina, according to agreement. But when the former started from the village, each with a bag of corn on his shoulder, to march to their boats, which were at a landing two or three miles away, they were savagely attacked from both sides of the road. They were compelled to drop the corn and fight for th

be among the Iroquois, of the North. They could supply the Frenchmen with corn in considerable quantities, taking it o

Spanish vessels? Presently "the meteor flag of England" floated out on the breeze, and soon a boat brought a friendly message from the commander, the famous Sir John Hawkins. Being a strenuous Puritan, he was a warm sympathizer with th

aply, taking cannon in payment. Then, smiling grimly at the two pitiful little craft in which they purposed sailing for France, he offered them

on was lost, for the fort was defenceless. Then the river was seen full of armed barges coming up. Imagine the wild joy of the garrison, when the sentry's ch

d, about dusk, by a huge Spanish galleon. The officers were on shore, and the crews cut the cables and put to sea, followed by the Spaniard firing, but not able to ove

e turned away and sailed southward to an inlet which he called San Augustin. There he found three ships of his unloading troops, guns, and stores. He landed, took formal possession of his vast domain-for the Florida of which

ations. A brilliant idea came to the French commander. His dispersed ships had returned to their anchorage. Why not take them, with all his men and all of Laudonnière's that were fit for service, sail at once, and strike the Spaniards before they c

o terrific gales. Making all speed, he sailed away with every available man, leaving Laudonnière, sick

owly missed taking Menendez himself, who was on board a solitary Spanish vessel w

icane. The Frenchmen could no longer think of attacking, but only of saving themselves from immediate wreck. Down the coast they worked their w

g gale, while every living thing cowered before driving sheets of rain, this man of blood and iron marched away with five hundred picked

waist-deep through mud and water, for food and drink having only wet biscuit and rain-water, with a sup of wine; for lodg

eless. They were half-famished and drenched to the skin. Still they were w

o the dismal moaning and creaking of the tall pines, the roar of th

the ramparts. He sounded the alarm; but it was too late. With Spain's battle-cry, "Santiago! Santiag

th. When, however, the first fury of butchery had spent itself, Menendez ordered that such persons should be spared,

determined to go back and appeal to the humanity of the Spaniards. The mercy of wolves to lambs! Seeing these poor wretches butchered, the others felt that their only hope was in making their way to the mouth of the river, where lay t

ships, the little flotilla sailed for France, carrying Laudonnière and the

n armor, clothing, and provisions-all the supplies lately brought by Ribaut from France. Everybody has read how Mene

struggling to keep away from the reefs, and were finally wrecked, o

came in, breathless, with tidings that the crew of a wrecked vessel, struggling northward, had reached an arm of the sea (Mat

reakfast before them, surrendered, and, having been ferried over the i

among them. Not knowing of the horrible fate of his countrymen, he tried to make terms with the Spaniards. While he was parleying with Menendez, two

ills and his hands were tied. Then he knew that he had been duped, and calmly faced his doom.

e brought over in tens, led away, ti

trying to build a vessel out of the timbers of their wrecked ship. He sent a messenger to summon them to surrender, pledging his honor for their safety. Part preferred to take the chance of being eaten by Indians, they said, and they actually fled to the native vill

with the proceeds equipped and manned three small vessels, sailed to the coast of Florida and, with the assistance of several hundred Indians, who hated the cruel Spaniards, captured

nd Florida. A long period-one hundred and thirty-four years-was to pass before the

in them. The legend was, however, much older than Maundeville's time. In the "Romance of Alexander the Great," which was very popular hundreds of years ago, it is related that Alexander's cook, on one of his marches, took a salt fish to a spring to wash it before cooking it. No sooner was the fish put into the water than it swam away. The cook secured a bottle of the magic water, but concealed his kno