Laudonniere, who had taken Rene's departure keenly to heart, and who
had grieved over the lad as though he were lost to him, had also
suffered great anxiety on account of the scarcity of provisions within
the fort. Now, added to these troubles, came these latest tidings of
ill, and, as a result, the fever against which he was struggling
overcame him, and he was confined to his bed.
To many within Fort Caroline the serious illness of their chief brought
great sorrow; but others, seeing in it an opportunity for the carrying
out of their own plans, rejoiced accordingly. These others were those
who were dissatisfied with the present aspect of affairs, and
despairing of a change for the better while remaining at Fort Caroline,
were secretly planning a mutiny. Its object was to compel Laudonniere
to abandon the fort and the New World, and to lead them back to France
in a ship which they proposed to build from such materials as they had
at hand.
The mutineers were headed by no less a person than Rene's old friend
Simon, the armorer. He had always been inclined to grumble and growl,
and his feelings had been deeply wounded by being arrested, confined in
the guard-house for one day, and finally discharged (because of the
necessity for his services), with a sharp reprimand from Laudonniere
for having, though unconsciously, aided Rene's departure. The old
growler had always secretly sided with the mutineers, and after this he
openly took part with them, and soon became their leader.
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