After thus
taking possession of the country, Menendez proclaimed that the new
city, founded upon the smoking blood-stained ruins of the pleasant
little Indian village of Seloy should be called "San Augustin," which
name it bears to this day, and that the River of Dolphins should be
thereafter known as the "San Augustin River."
When the bewildered chief of the Seloy Indians found that these strange
white men were about to destroy his village, he made a bitter protest
against their cruelties; but he was no more regarded than if he had
been a barking dog. They would have killed him, but he gathered
together a few of his chosen warriors, and with them fled for
protection to his white friend Laudonniere, at Fort Caroline, which
place he reached the next day.
He had some difficulty in gaining admittance to the fort, for since its
attack by the Seminoles its garrison were suspicious of all Indians,
and had it not been for Rene de Veaux he would have been driven away.
Rene happened to be near the gate when the sentinel challenged the
newcomers, and recognizing the good old chief who had been so kind to
him, and whom he knew to be a friend of his uncle, ordered the sentry
to admit these Indians, at the same time pledging his own word for
their good faith.
When Rene learned the importance of the tidings brought by these
fugitives, he at once conducted the chief to Laudonniere, on whom the
fever still retained such a hold as to confine him to his room.
Pages:
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121