hla as teachers, he quickly became familiar. Thanks
to the glowing descriptions of the power and glory of the white men
given by his friends, Rene found himself treated with distinguished
consideration by the Alachuas, who regarded him with the greatest
interest and curiosity. He was always spoken of by them as the young
white chief, and his slightest wishes were gratified as soon as he made
them known.

At the end of a week Rene felt sufficiently strong and well to set
about accomplishing the mission that had brought him to this pleasant
country. Accordingly he sought an interview with the Alachua chief,
and displayed before him the trinkets contained in the package that he
had so carefully brought with him from Fort Caroline. As the chief
gazed with delight and amazement at what he regarded as a most
wonderful treasure, but what in reality was only a lot of knives,
hatchets, mirrors, and fish-hooks, Rene explained to him the distress
of the white men in Fort Caroline, caused by the destruction of their
winter's supply of provisions. He then said that if the chief would,
out of the abundance of the Alachuas, give him twelve canoe-loads of
corn, and send warriors enough to conduct them in safety to the white
man's fort on the great river of the East, he would give him the
package of trinkets there displayed, and would promise, in the name of
his uncle the great white chief, a package of equal size and value for
each canoe-load of provisions delivered at the fort. He also pledged
his word that the Alachua warriors who should escort the provisions
should be kindly treated by the white men in Fort Caroline, and should
be allowed to return at once to their own country.

After taking a day to consider this proposal, and to consult with his
wise men concerning it, the Alachua chief agreed to accept it, and
greatly to Rene's delight the gathering together of the twelve
canoe-loads of corn was at once begun. No difficulty was experienced
in procuring an escort for them, for all the young Alachua warriors who
had not attended the Feast of Ripe Corn were anxious to visit Fort
Caroline, and see for themselves the white men, and the great
"thunder-bows," as the Indians named the cannon that stood in its
embrasures.

Thus, within two weeks of the time of his arrival in the land of the
Alachuas, Rene was ready to set forth on his return to Fort Caroline.
With him were to go his friend Has-se, who had obtained a reluctant
c