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Show 350 TirE LILY Al'ID TilE TOTEM. them had made like pmycrs all night; that they were accordingly in the vcty mood of zniml to resolve what was to be done in their extremity. lfc made ti.Jis to appear as bad as possible, describing them as "harrasscd with fatigue, shorn of strength, without bread, munitions or any ltunuln rcsourcc.n Some one counselled their retreat to St. Augustine before tho llugucnots should discover them. "Very good advice," quoth )[clcndcz, "but suffer me still another word. The prospect is undoubtedly a gloomy one, but look you, there arc the portals of La Caroline. No\v, it may be just as well to sec how affiLirs stand with our enemies. According to all appearances they arc not in force. 'V c may not have the power to take the place, but it is well to sec whether the plncc can bo taken. If we retreat now, we arc not sure that we shall do so securely. They will probably hunt us tl..trough the forest, at every step of the way, encouraged by our show of wcnkness nnd timidity. h is not improbable that we may surprise this fort. l\fcn seldom look either for friends or enemies in bad weather. I doubt if they can sustain a bold assault; but if they do, and we fail, we have the consolation at least of having done all that was possible for mcn.n The assault was agreed upon; and in a transport of joy, the Adclantndo sunk upon his knees, in the mire where he stood, and called upon his troops to do likewise, imploring the succor of tho God of battles. Ilc gave his orders with rapid resolution and according to a fixed design already ent.crtaincd. 'l'aking with him Francis Jean, the renegade, he put himself at the head of one division of his troops, and gave other bodies to tho Captains Martin de Ochoa, Francis Rccaldc, Andres Lopez Patino and others, and, covered TilE FAT£ OF LA CAROUN£. 351 by tho midnight darkness from observation-with all sounds of drum and trumpet stilled-with the echoes of their advancing squadrons hushed in the fall of torrents and the roar of sweeping winds-the assailants made their ,o;ay, slowly and painfully but without staggering, toward the silent bastions of La Caroline. Under the guidance of the renegade :Frenchman the Spanish captains made a complete rcconnoissance of the fortress. A portion of it was still unrcpnircd, and this they penetrated without difficulty. We have seen, in a. pre,,ious chapter, with what doubtful vigilance the lieutenants of Laudonuicre performed their duties. It will not be forgotten tllat, on the night of the 19th September, the charge of the watch lay with Captain de Ia Vigue; nor will it be forgotten 'vith what pity that amiable captain regarded the condition of his sentinels, exposed to such unchristian weather. " ' c luft the fortress of La. Caroline in most excellent repose ; the storm prevailing without, and the garrison asleep within. It was while tl10y slept that Don Pedro de Melendez was praying to heaven that he mig:ht be permitted to assist them in their slumbers, changing the temporary into an ct.crnal sleep. Thus passed the night of the 19th September over La Caroline. The dawn of the 20th found the Spaniards, in sco;cral divisions, about to penetrate tho fortress, Two of their leaders, Martin do Ochoa and the master of the camp hnd already done so. They hnd examined tho place at tl1eir leisure, passing through an unrepaircd breach of one of tho walls. Rctuming, with the vicvf to making their report, they had mistaken one pathway for another, and encountered :.. drowsy Frenchman, who, starting at their approach, demanded " Qui vive ?" Ochon promptly answered, "France," and the man approached them only to receive a stunning blow upon the head. Tho }~rcnchman recovered hm;sclf instantly, |
