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Page 34
The only farewells sent after them came in the shape of a few arrows
shot at the ship by the angry savages who lined the river-bank, and
sullenly watched the departure of their intended victims.
That day they sailed to the mouth of the river, but found so great a
sea rolling in over its bar that they dared not attempt a passage
through it, and were therefore forced to drop anchor while still within
shelter of the land, and await its abatement.
CHAPTER XIII
ARRIVAL OF JEAN RIBAULT
As the fugitives from Fort Caroline lay inside the mouth of the River
of May, awaiting the calming of the great seas that broke in columns
and hills of foam on its bar, and for a favorable wind with which to
put out to sea, they attempted to strengthen their crazy vessel and
render her more seaworthy. Already her seams, calked with moss and
pitch, had opened in so many places that she leaked badly, and only
constant labor at the pumps kept her afloat.
Laudonniere had no hope of a successful termination of their voyage,
and as he shared his fears with Le Moyne and R�n� de Veaux, these three
found little consolation in the thought of leaving the river and
embarking upon the turbulent sea that promised them only a grave. They
had no choice, however, but to go on with the rest; for to remain
behind would be to fall into the hands of the savages, and thus meet
with a more terrible death than that offered by the sea.
For several days they awaited the opportunity to depart, and at length
it came. The great waves subsided, the wind blew from the right
quarter, and spreading all their sorry showing of canvas, the little
band of white men carried their vessel over the bar, and putting boldly
out to sea, bade farewell, as they thought forever, to the shores on
which they had suffered so greatly.
But other things were in store for them, and their voyage was soon
brought to an end; for, as they were fast losing sight of the land, and
it showed only as a low-lying cloud in the west, the ship suddenly rang
with the thrilling cry of "Sail, ho!" All eyes were eagerly turned to
the white speck seen far away to the southward, and its probable
character and nationality were anxiously discussed. Many felt
confident that it was one of the ships of Admiral Ribault, bringing the
long-expected reinforcements, but as many more felt certain that it was
a Spanish ship. If it should prove to be the latter they could expect
only death or cruel captivity, for, being Huguenots, they knew that no
mercy would be shown them by the Spanish Catholics.
As they watched the sail with straining eyes it was joined by another
and another, until they beheld a goodly fleet bearing down upon them.
Only constant labor at the pumps kept their own wretched craft from
sinking, as she crept on at a snail's pace compared with the rapid
advance of the on-coming fleet, and those on board of her knew that in
any case flight was impossible. Nor were they in a condition to defend
themselves against an attack from even the smallest of the approaching
ships. Therefore there was nothing left for them to do but pray that
those who came might prove friends and not enemies.
At length Laudonniere, whose cot had been brought on deck, pronounced
that by their rig and general appearance the ships they watched were
not French. Upon this a feeling of dull despair seized upon all who
heard him, for they thought, if not French, they must certainly be
Spanish ships.
In a moment, however, this despair was changed into the wildest joy,
for from the mainmast-head of the foremost ship there flew out upon the
freshening breeze, not the cruel yellow banner of Spain, but the brave
blood-red ensign of England.
Shouts of welcome burst from the throats of Laudonniere and his men.
They danced about the deck as though crazed by the thoughts of their
great deliverance, and most speedily they ran to their own mast-head
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.
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