the lily banner of France. Its appearance was the signal for a roar of
kindly greeting from the cannon of the leading English ship, which was
soon afterwards hove-to at a distance of less than half a mile from
them.

The English fleet proved to be that of the brave Sir John Hawkins, the
bluff old sea-king whose very name was a terror to all Spaniards. He
was on his way back to his own country from one of the famous cruises
to the Spanish Main and the West Indies that were even then making him
world-renowned. He had captured many Spanish ships laden with treasure
in gold and silver from the mines of Mexico and Peru, and when he
learned of the sad plight of the Chevalier Laudonniere and his people,
he promptly offered to give them a ship in which they might safely
undertake a voyage to their own country. Moreover, when he was told
how slender was their store of provisions, he furnished the ship which
he was about to give them with a supply of food that would last them
for several months.

In the name of King Charles IX of France, Laudonniere, who had again
assumed command of his little company unquestioned by the mutineers,
thanked the brave Englishman for his great kindness to them, and
accepted his generous gifts. Then the English fleet, with a parting
salute from its loud-mouthed cannon, bore away and resumed its homeward
voyage. At the same time the Frenchmen started back for the River of
May, where, under shelter of the land, they proposed making the
transfer of their property from their own crazy craft to the stout ship
which they had received from the English admiral. Thus it happened
that the sunset of that eventful day found them in the very same place
from which they had so willingly departed that morning, and had never
expected to see again.

At this time Laudonniere made another earnest effort to induce his men
to return to Fort Caroline, and there await patiently the arrival of
Jean Ribault, now that they had a supply of provisions and a good ship,
but to no avail.

Simon, the armorer, expressing the sentiments of all the rest, save
only Le Moyne and Rene de Veaux, said,

"What with fightings and fevers, we are in no condition to drive out
the savages who have doubtless ere this entered into full possession of
Fort Caroline. If we did regain the fort, what could we do save remain
there until this heaven-sent store of provisions should be exhausted?
and then would we not be in as sad a plight as