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Page 9
Laudonniere at once realized the full force of the situation. His
soldiers were worn out with the labor of building the fort, and many of
them were prostrated by a peculiar fever that racked their joints with
severe pains and unfitted them for duty. The store of provisions upon
which he had depended to feed his men through the approaching winter
had been destroyed. The Indians who might have provided him with game
had abandoned him and gone he knew not whither. His men knew nothing
of the art of winning for themselves a livelihood from the wilderness
that surrounded them. Although the soldiers had been allowed to think
differently, he knew that some months must still elapse before the
arrival of reinforcements and supplies from France. He himself, worn
out by anxiety and overwork, was beginning to feel symptoms of the
approach of the dreaded fever, and he feared that ere long he would be
unfitted to perform the duties of his important position.
In this emergency, he decided to hold a council with the officers of
the garrison, and ask their aid in deciding what was to be done. He
therefore sent word to Soisson, his lieutenant, old Hillaire, the
captain of artillery, Martinez, the quartermaster, Chastelleux, the
chief of engineers, Le Moyne, the artist, and to R�n�, his nephew,
bidding them meet him in council. He added R�n� to the number, for his
uncle wished him to fully comprehend the difficulties of their position.
The council met in the commandant's private room, and Laudonniere,
stating the situation clearly to them, asked what was to be done. Some
suggested one thing and some another, and the discussion was long and
earnest. Le Moyne, the artist, added to the perplexities of the
commandant by stating that he had heard rumors of dissatisfaction among
the garrison, and threats that unless provisions were speedily obtained
they would build a vessel, abandon the fort and country, and attempt to
make their way back to France.
While the discussion was at its height, two soldiers appeared at the
door, leading between them a slender young Indian, whom R�n�, with a
joyful cry, at once recognized as his friend Has-se the Sunbeam.
CHAPTER IV
HAS-SE IS HELD PRISONER
Saluting his commandant, the sergeant of the guard, who held the
prisoner on the right, reported that this young savage had been seen
skulking in the forest near the fort, and that, deeming his presence
and movements very suspicious, he had sent a party of men to capture
him. They had gone out by a rear gate, and, making a long detour, had
surprised him just as he was making off through the underbrush, and
after a sharp tussle had secured and brought him into the fort.
At the first appearance of his friend, R�n� had started up with an
exclamation of joy to go to him, but his uncle sternly bade him keep
his seat. He obeyed, but scowled angrily at the soldiers, who still
retained their hold of Has-se, as though fearful that if they let go he
might in some mysterious way vanish from their sight.
Laudonniere commanded them to release their hold of the prisoner and to
retire from the room, but to remain within call. They did so, and the
young Indian, left to face the council, drew himself up proudly, and
folding his arms, stood motionless. R�n� tried in vain to catch his
eye, that he might, by a sympathetic glance, assure him of his
friendship; but the other betrayed no recognition of his presence, nor
once looked in his direction. He was dressed in the full costume of a
young warrior who occupied the honorable position of Bow-bearer to a
great chief, and in his hair gleamed the Flamingo Feather that
proclaimed the station in life to which he was born. His handsome
figure, proud face, and fearless bearing caused the 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 R�n�:
"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."
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