The poor old chief told his pitiful tale to Laudonniere, and begged his
powerful aid in driving away these wicked white men, who had treated
him so differently from all others who had landed at his village.
Promising to do what he could, Laudonniere at once despatched a
messenger down the river to Admiral Ribault, who had returned with his
ships and again lay at anchor beyond the bar.
In answer came an order for all the fighting men of Fort Caroline to
join the fleet immediately, as the admiral proposed to sail southward
and attack these impudent Spaniards ere they had time to erect
fortifications, or so strengthen their position that to attack it would
be useless.
Then came a time of tremendous bustle and excitement within the fort.
There were men hurrying hither and thither gathering their weapons,
women and children screaming and crying--for many of these had been
brought out with the new colonists--and dogs barking.
Rene de Veaux begged his uncle to permit him to accompany the fighting
men, but Laudonniere said "No," that the order did not include boys,
and he could be of greatest service by remaining within the fort.
So the fighting men marched away to join the fleet, leaving Fort
Caroline to be defended only by the old, the sick, the women, and the
children. Besides the commandant and Rene de Veaux, among those who
remained behind were Le Moyne, the artist, and old Simon, the armorer,
to whom was given the command of the guard.
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