The Flamingo Feather | Page 9

drawn up on the beach was found to be
missing, and search parties had been sent both up and down the river,
but as yet they had not returned.
As Has-se slowly recovered consciousness, and opened his eyes, his
sister bent over him and whispered, "Who dealt thee the cruel blow, oh,
my brother?"
Receiving his faint answer, she sprang to her feet, and turning to her
father, who stood near, exclaimed, "'Tis Chitta the Snake who has done
this thing in revenge for our Has-se's success in the games of
yesterday."
From the entrance of the lodge the old chief proclaimed the news, and
all through the great assembly were heard cries of anger against Chitta
the Snake.
The destruction of this winter's supply of food was not only a serious
blow to the Indians, but to the little garrison of Fort Caroline as well,

for Laudonniere had just completed arrangements with Micco for the
purchase of the greater part of it. Only a small quantity of provisions
remained in the fort, and though the forest contained an abundance of
game, and the river teemed with fish, the French soldiers were not
skilled in either hunting or fishing, and had become dependent upon
their Indian neighbors for what they needed of such food. It was
therefore with feelings of surprised alarm that, on the second day after
the burning of the granary, they noticed the absence of all Indians from
the vicinity of the fort. Scouts were sent to the Indian encampment to
discover the cause of this unusual state of affairs, and they soon
returned with the report that the place was wholly deserted, and that not
an Indian was to be found.
Not only had all the visiting Indians disappeared, but also every soul of
Micco's tribe; and, what was more significant, they had taken with
them their lodges and all portable property.
Laudonniere at once realized the full force of the situation. His soldiers
were worn out with the labor of building the fort, and many of them
were prostrated by a peculiar fever that racked their joints with severe
pains and unfitted them for duty. The store of provisions upon which he
had depended to feed his men through the approaching winter had been
destroyed. The Indians who might have provided him with game had
abandoned him and gone he knew not whither. His men knew nothing
of the art of winning for themselves a livelihood from the wilderness
that surrounded them. Although the soldiers had been allowed to think
differently, he knew that some months must still elapse before the
arrival of reinforcements and supplies from France. He himself, worn
out by anxiety and overwork, was beginning to feel symptoms of the
approach of the dreaded fever, and he feared that ere long he would be
unfitted to perform the duties of his important position.
In this emergency, he decided to hold a council with the officers of the
garrison, and ask their aid in deciding what was to be done. He
therefore sent word to Soisson, his lieutenant, old Hillaire, the captain
of artillery, Martinez, the quartermaster, Chastelleux, the chief of
engineers, Le Moyne, the artist, and to Réné, his nephew, bidding them

meet him in council. He added Réné to the number, for his uncle
wished him to fully comprehend the difficulties of their position.
The council met in the commandant's private room, and Laudonniere,
stating the situation clearly to them, asked what was to be done. Some
suggested one thing and some another, and the discussion was long and
earnest. Le Moyne, the artist, added to the perplexities of the
commandant by stating that he had heard rumors of dissatisfaction
among the garrison, and threats that unless provisions were speedily
obtained they would build a vessel, abandon the fort and country, and
attempt to make their way back to France.
While the discussion was at its height, two soldiers appeared at the
door, leading between them a slender young Indian, whom Réné, with a
joyful cry, at once recognized as his friend Has-se the Sunbeam.
CHAPTER IV
HAS-SE IS HELD PRISONER
Saluting his commandant, the sergeant of the guard, who held the
prisoner on the right, reported that this young savage had been seen
skulking in the forest near the fort, and that, deeming his presence and
movements very suspicious, he had sent a party of men to capture him.
They had gone out by a rear gate, and, making a long detour, had
surprised him just as he was making off through the underbrush, and
after a sharp tussle had secured and brought him into the fort.
At the first appearance of his friend, Réné had started up with an
exclamation of joy to go to him, but his uncle sternly bade