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Show 346 TilE LILY AXD THE TOTEM. hurt,-let him be well entreated, but let l1im not escape from thy sight." The Reverend Fatl1er Sak:mdi bestowed his benediction upon the kneeling circle, and they separated for the night. And still the storm roared without, and still the rains descended, but the heart of i\Ielendcz rejoiced in the tempest, ns it were a.n angel sent by Heaven to his succor. CHAPTER V. TUE DINNER•PARTY OF .. IELENDEZ. BuT the consolations of l\lclcndcz were not those of his people, nor did they arrive at his conclusions. I t was soon bruited abroad that he WtiJI to march through the tempest upon La Caroline, and his soldiers spoke the open language of sedition. 'fhcir clamors reached the cars of Melendez, but he wa.~ one of those wonderful politicians who know what an error it is, at times, to be too quick of sight ami hearing. 1'ho discontents of the urnailk gave him little concern ; yet he watched them without seeming to do so; and employed processes of his own for inducing their quiet, without showing himself either apprehensive or angry. Some of his officers were guilty of seditious speeches also-some of those whom his will had silenced in council, rather than his argumcnta convinced. He took his measures with these in o. simple manner, without allowing his preparations to be arrested for a moment. One of these officers, named St. Vincent, positively declared his purpose not to go upon an expedition where they would only get their throata cut; and that if :Melendez persisted in his mad 347 design, be would embatk with all those left at St. Augustine, and take his route back to Hispaniola. This same person, with the Srflors Francis Recaldc and Diego de Maya, openly and boldly remonstrated with the Adelantado against the enterprise. lie answered them by inviting them, and all other of his officers who had been of the council, to a great dinner which he prepared for them that day. Here he gave them quite a splendid entertainment, and in the midst of their hilarity he said- " That it was with very great surprise he discovered that the secret councils of the hst night had been improperly revealed to all the world-eouneils of \var," said he," my comra.des, arc mat-. tors the value of which depend wholly upon t}lcir sccresy. It would be my duty to find out and punish the nuthors of this wretched infidelity; butT. am t.oo well persuaded of the mercies of God to myst:lf and to all of us, not to be indulgent to the faults of our pC'ople. This offence, accordingly, is forgiven, no matter who sh:tll ha.ve been the offender. But, hereafter, I may say that all future seditions among the soldiers shall be punished in the officers. It is from the officC'rs only that the soldiers are led into insubordination. They shall answer for their men. Let it be known, however, that all who lose heart, who tremble at this enterprise, to which God himself has summoned us, arc at liberty to remain. I am satisfied, however, that the greater number are prepared to depart with me the moment I give the signal, under the proper cx::unple of their captn.ins. Still, I am willing to bear counsel from you touching this expedition. I am not mulish enough to adhere to a resolution when better counsels arc given against it. Speak freely your minds, therefore, if you think otherwise than mysrllf; remembering this only, that our resolution, once taken, if there shall be one so bold as to oppose words where he should do |