e supposed to exist there. For more than a
month they had traversed broad sand barrens, crossed deep rivers, and
been lost in the mazes of dark swamps. They had discovered rare birds
of gorgeous plumage, strange and beautiful flowers, and many wild
animals whose nature was unknown to them, but no trace of the gold of
which they were in search.

Keenly disappointed, ragged, sick, and hungry, they at length came to a
village of Indians who had never seen nor heard of white men, and who
fled at their approach. The famished soldiers rushed into the lodges,
took whatever they could find to eat, and, building a fire, proceeded
to cook for themselves a feast. While they were thus busy, their
carelessly tended fire crept to one of the tinder-like palmetto lodges,
and in a few minutes more the whole village was in flames.

From their hiding-places in the surrounding forest, the savages,
witnessing what they supposed to be a wanton destruction of their
property, discharged a cloud of arrows at the white men, by which one
was killed and several were wounded. Flying from the place, the
wretched soldiers started for Fort Caroline, followed by their unseen
foes, from whom they did not escape until four more had paid with their
lives for their carelessness. When, some days later, the five
miserable survivors of this unfortunate expedition dragged themselves
into Fort Caroline, it was only to bring the news of their failure to
find gold, of the death of their comrades, and of the fact that they
had stirred up all the Southern Indians to war upon the whites.

Laudonniere, who had taken Rene's departure keenly to heart, and who
had grieved over the lad as though he were lost to him, had also
suffered great anxiety on account of the scarcity of provisions within
the fort. Now, added to these troubles, came these latest tidings of
ill, and, as a result, the fever against which he was struggling
overcame him, and he was confined to his bed.

To many within Fort Caroline the serious illness of their chief brought
great sorrow; but others, seeing in it an opportunity for the carrying
out of their own plans, rejoiced accordingly. These others were those
who were dissatisfied with the present aspect of affairs, and
despairing of a change for the better while remaining at Fort Caroline,
were secretly planning a mutiny. Its object was to compel Laudonniere
to abandon the fort and the New World, and to lead them back to France
in a sh