As briefly as possible, and reserving the details for another occasion,
Rene told his uncle that he had visited the land of the Alachuas, and
had returned with twelve canoe-loads of corn, for which he had promised
in his name twelve packages of trinkets such as he described, and the
safe dismissal of their escort from the fort. He added that those who
had come with him wished to depart that very night, and even now
awaited him at the water gate.
"Alas!" exclaimed Laudonniere, when this had been told him, "I have no
longer the power to make good thy word. While I have lain here as
helpless as one struck with a palsy, another has assumed command; for
know thou, my dear lad, that Fort Caroline and all it contains has
passed into the hands of a body of mutineers, headed by none other than
thy old friend Simon, the armorer. Go thou to him, and I doubt not he
will treat with these friends of thine even as thou hast promised; for
provisions such as thou sayest await even now an entrance to the fort
are too rare a commodity within its walls to be scorned, even by
mutineers. But, lad, return to me as speedily as may be, for the sight
of thy brave face is as balm to the wounded, and thine absence has
distressed me beyond that I can express."
So Rene departed in search of Simon, the armorer, and by his sudden
appearance so frightened the old soldier that for some moments he could
do nothing but stare, speechless, with a mixture of terror and
amazement.
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