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Show 438 THE Llf,Y AND THE TOTE.J. feathers forming a busby brow above, and a shield all ahout them, so that, grasp the weapon as you would, the pearls were secure from injury. Gourgucs examined the owner of the spear with as much curiosity 1\S he did the Wo3apon. But without S.'Ltisfaction. The features of the other ''ere immoveable. But the signals being all mn.dc, Uolata Carn waved his hand with some impatience to the fort, and Gourgucs had no leisure to ask the questions which that moment arose in his mind. "It was," says the venerable chronicle," the Sunday eve next after Easter-dn.y, April, 1568," when the signal for the assault was gi,•cn. Gourgucs made a brief spooch to his followers before they began the att.ack, recounting tho cruel treachery and the bloody deed;; of the Spnninrds done upon their brethren at J,a Cnroline and ;\Tatnnzas Bay. Rolata. Cnra, resting with his spear bend thrust in the cnrtl11 listened in silence to this speech. The moment it wM ended, ho led the 'vay for the rest, from the thicket which concealed them. As soon a.s the two parties h:1d emcrg~d from cover, they were descried by the watchful Spaniards. u To arms! to arms!" was the cry of their sentinels. "To nrms! these be Frenchmen !" To the war-cry of "Castile'' and "Santiago!" that of 11 France !" and "Saint-Dcnis for Frnnce," was cheerily sent up by the assailants; and it wo.s observed that no shout was louder or clearer than that of IIolata Cnra, as he hurried forwnrd. 'Vhen the ass!li!ants were within two hundred paces of the fort, the artillery of the garrison opened upon them from o. oulvcrin taken at J~a Cnrolinc, which the Spaninrds succeeded in discharging twice, with some effect, while the Frenchmen were approaching. A third time W:lS this piece about to be turned upon tho DOMINIQUE DE GOURGUES. 439 assailants, when 11olata Cara, rushing forwards planted his spear in the ground, nnd swinging from it, with a mighty spring, succeeded, nt a bound, in reaching the platform. 1'ho gunner was blowing his match, and nbout to apply it to the piece, when the spear of the Indian chief was dri\·en clean through his body, and tho next moment the slain man was thrtL'lt headlong down into tho fort. Stung by this noble example, Gourgues hurried forward, and the assault being made successfully on the opposite side at tho sa.me instant, the Spaniards fled from the defences. A considerable slaughter ensued within, when they rushed desperately from the enclosure. But they were encountered on every side. Escape was vain. Of the 'vholo garrison, consisting of threescore men, all were slain, with the exception of fifteen, who 'verc r<'Scrvcd for a. more deliberate punishment. Meanwhile the fortress on the opposito side of the river opened upon the assailants, and was answered by the four pieces whiob had been found within the captured place. The Frenchmen were more annoyed than injured by this distant cannonade, nnd immediately prepared to cross the river for the conquest of this new enemy. Fortunately, the patadu., bringing their supplies, had nsccndcd the stream, and, under cover from the gnllll of tho Spaniard, lay in waiting just below. Gourgues, with fourscore soldiers, crossed the stream in her; the Indians not waiting for this e.low conveyance, but swimming the river, carrying their bows and arrows with one hnnd above their heads. The Frenchmen at once threw themselves into the woods which covered tho space between this second fort and I.n Caroline, the latter being only n league di.stnnt. The Spaniards, apprised of tbe lllQVCmcnt of the patnehc, beholdins: shore and forest lined |
