Lily and the Totem, or, The Hugenots in Florida, A Series of Sketches, picturesque and Historical, of the Colonies of Coligni, in North America. 1562-1570. By the author of "The Yemassee"

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440 THE LILT AND THE TOTEM. with the multitudes of red-men, and bearing their frightful cries on every hand, were sci1:cd with an irresistible panic, and, in an evil moment nbandoncd their atrongbold, in tho hope of making their way through the woods, to the greater fortrc8S of La Caro­line. But they wcro too late in the attempt. 'fhc woods were oocupicd by enemies. Charged by the advancing Frenchmen, they rushed into tho arms of the Htlvagcs, and, with the excep­tion of another fifteen, \vcrc all butchered as they fought or fled. Holata Cnra was again found tho forcm011t, and tho most terrible agent in this work of vengeance. VIII. THE CONQUEST OF LA CAROLINE. The Chevalier do Gourgues now pruposcd temporarily to rest from his labors, and give himself a rcnsonablc time before attempt­ing the superior fortress of L& Caroline, in n.sccrtaining its strength, nod the difficulties in tho way of its capture. Tho captives taken at tho second fort were transferred to the first, and set apart with their comrades for future judgment. From one of these he lcar~ed that the garrison of La Caroline consisted cf ncar three hundred men, under command of a bravo and effi­cient governor. His prisoners be closely e:z:nmincd for infor­mation. Hnving nscortaincd the height of tho platform, tho e:z:Wnt of tho fortifications, and the nature of the approaches, ho prepared scaling ltl.ddcrs, and made all tho necessary provisions (or a regular assault. Tho Indians, meanwhile, hd been ordered to environ the fortress, and so to cover the whole face of the country, as to make it impossible that the garrison should DOMtNIQUE DE GOURGUES. 441 obtain help, convey intelligence of their situation to their friends in St. Augustine, or escape from the belcagurcd station. While these preparations were in progress, the Spanish gov­~ rnor at La. Caroline, now fully apprised of his danger, and of the capture of the two smaller forts, sent out one of his most trusty scouts, disguised as an lmlian, to spy out the condition of the Freuch, their strength and objects. But Holata Cam., who had taken charge of the forces of the red-men, had too well occupied all tho ptli!snges to suffer thi<3 excellent design to prove sucecs.!!ful. He made the scout a. prisoner, and readily saw through all his disguises. Thus detected, the Spanin.rd revealed all that he knew of the strength nod resources of the garrison. He described them as in very gren.t panic, having been assured that tho French numbered no less thn.n two thousand men. Gourgucs detc .. mined to assail them in tho moment of their greatest nlarm, and before they should recover from it, or be undeceived with regard to his strength. The red-men were ~ counselled to maintain their ambush in the thickets skirting the river on both sides, and leaving his standard-bearer and a cap­tain with fifteen chosen men in chn.rge of the cn.ptured forta and prisoners, Gourgues set forth on his third adventure. He took with him the Spanish scout and another captive Spaniard, a sergeant, ns guides, fast fettered, and duly wn.rned that any attempt at deception, or escape, would only bring down instant and condign punishment upon their heads. His ensign, :Monsieur de Mesmes, with twenty arquebusiers, was left to guard the mouth of the river, nod, with the red-men covering the face of the country, and provided with all the implements necessary to storm the defences, Gourgncs bcgn.n his march against La Caroline.