X.
THE CHIEFS OF THE LILY AND THE TOTEM EMBRACE AND PART.
"San Augustine!"
Such were the words spoken to Gourgues by Holata Cara at the close ofthis terrible scene of vengeance, and his spear was at once turnedin the direction of the remaining Spanish fortress. Gourgues readilyunderstood the suggestion, but he shook his head regretfully--
"I am too feeble! We have not the force necessary to such an effort!"
The red chief made no reply in words, but he turned away and waved hisspear over the circuit which was covered by the thousand savages who hadcollected to the conflict, even as the birds of prey gather to the fieldof battle.
But Gourgues again shook his head. He had no faith in the alliance withthe red-men. He knew their caprice of character, their instability ofpurpose, and the sudden fluctuations of their moods, which readilydiscovered the enemy of the morrow in the friend of to-day. Besides,his contemplated task was ended. He had achieved the terrible workof vengeance which he had proposed to himself and followers, and hispreparations did not extend to any longer delay in the country. He hadneither means nor provisions.
He collected the tribes around him. All the kings and princes of theFloridian gathered at his summons, on the banks of the Tacatacorou,or Seine, where he had left his vessels, some fifteen leagues from LaCaroline. Thither he marched by land in battle array, having sent allhis captured munitions and arms with his artillerists by sea, in thepatache.
The red-men hailed him with songs and dances, as the Israelites hailedSaul and David returning with the spoils of the Philistines.
"Now let me die," cried one old woman, "now that I behold the Spaniardsdriven out, and the Frenchmen once more in the country."
Gourgues quieted them with promises. It may be that he really hoped thathis sovereign would sanction his enterprise, and avail himself of whathad been done to establish a French colony again in Florida; and hepromised the Floridians that in twelve months they should again beholdhis vessels.
The moment arrived for the embarkation, but where was Holata Cara? TheFrenchman inquired after him in vain. Satouriova only replied to hisearnest inquiries,--
"Holata Cara is a great chief of the Apalachian! He hath gone among hispeople."
A curious smile lurked upon the lips of the Paracoussi as he made thisanswer; but the inquiries of Gourgues could extract nothing from himfurther.
They embraced--our chevalier and his Indian allies--and the Frenchmenembarked, weighed anchor, and, with favoring winds, were shortly out ofsight. Even as they stretched away for the east, the eyes of Holata Carawatched their departure from a distant headland where he stood emboweredamong the trees. The graceful figure of an Indian princess stood besidehis own, one hand shading her eyes, and the other resting on hisshoulder. At length he turned from gazing on the dusky sea.
"They are gone!" she exclaimed.
"Gone!" he answered, in her own dialect. "Gone! Let us depart also!" Andthus speaking, they joined their tawny followers who awaited them in theneighboring thicket, within the shadows of which they soon disappearedfrom sight.