members of the
council to regard him with approving glances, and it was with less of
sternness in his tone than usual that, after the door was closed,
Laudonniere said,

"Now, sir, explain to us the meaning of this sudden departure of thy
people, and the reason of thine own action in thus acting the part of a
spy upon us."

With flashing eyes the young Indian answered in the French that he had
learned of Rene:

"My name is Has-se. I am the son of a chief. My father and my people
have been friendly to you and your people. This country is ours, and
in it we go where we please when we are ready to go, and stay where we
please when we are ready to rest from going. I have done nothing that
I should be brought here against my will, and until I am set free I
will answer no questions. Has-se has spoken."

Rene's face flushed with pleasure at this brave speech of his friend,
and even Laudonniere admired the young Indian's coolness and courage,
but he nevertheless felt it his duty to maintain his dignity, and
questioned him sternly. To all his questions however, Has-se remained
dumb, absolutely refusing to open his lips. The expression, "Has-se
has spoken," with which he had ended his defiant speech, signified that
he had said all that he had to say, and nothing should induce him to
speak further unless his condition of being set at liberty were
complied with.

At last Laudonniere called in the soldiers and ordered them to take the
prisoner to the guard-house, and there treat him kindly, but to watch
him closely and on no account allow him to escape. When Has-se had
thus been removed, Laudonniere turned to the members of the council,
and asked what, in their opinion, should be done with him.

Le Moyne, the artist, declared that the young Indian should be set free
at once, and treated with such kindness that he might thereby be
induced to give them the information they sought to gain. Then Rene de
Veaux, blushing at his own boldness, jumped to his feet and made a
vehement little speech, in which he said that Has-se was his dear
friend, and that, as he himself had said, they had no right to make a
prisoner of him, besides much more to the same effect. He became so
excited in his defence of the Indian lad that finally his uncle
interrupted him, saying,

"Softly, softly, Rene! Thou art right to defend thy friend if indeed
he be not our enemy, but thou hast no authority for finding fault with
those who are much o