sentence to shooting, and an hour before sunset they were marched blindfolded to the spot where they were executed, and all were buried in one grave.

Finding himself unable to leave Florida at once, Francisco Estevan, in order to keep himself occupied, volunteered to join La Roche Ferriere in his successful tours of discovery. La Roche Ferriere had visited the Indians near the Appalachian Mountains, and had made alliances which excited the jealousy of Outina. He returned to Laudonnière with fine presents from the new friends of the French, consisting of gold and silver plate, curious quivers, furs, arrows ornamented with gold, hangings made of beautiful feathers, hatchets and other utensils.

On the first expedition in which Francisco Estevan accompanied La Roche Ferriere they learned that a chief, Onathaca, had in his possession two white men who were slaves, and who, upon promise of their ransom, would be sent to Carolinia.

"They must be two of my nationality," said Estevan to Laudonnière, who ordered the ransom. paid and the prisoners to be brought to the fort. As Estevan had predicted, they proved to be Spaniards who had long been in slavery, having been lost in one of the exploring expeditions of the Spaniards. One of them had a piece of gold worth twenty-five crowns. Laudonnière, eager to

learn all he could of the country, asked the oldest of the Spaniards to tell him all he knew of Florida. Through Francisco Estevan as interpreter the Spaniard said:

"Onathaca reigns over the eastern part of Florida; but toward the west reigns another king called Callos, who was owner of all the gold and silver mines of Florida. A great number of European vessels have been wrecked on his coast, which is quite dangerous for shipping. This prince has a ditch six feet deep and three wide filled with gold and silver ornaments. In his town are four or five European women of rank with their children who were wrecked on his inhospitable coast about fifteen years ago. This chief or king has great power over his subjects, who believe him to be a supernatural being. He has persuaded them that the fertility of the earth is owing to him, for which reason they sacrifice to him every year about harvest time an unhappy captive. I advise you not to trust the Floridians; they are treacherous dogs, and are most dangerous when making their greatest pretentions to friendship."

"How many men would it take to conquer Callos?" asked Laudonnière.

"With one hundred men we could put you in possession of Callos and also make other great discoveries."

Laudonnière merely said he would give the matter his attention and dismissed the Spaniards, assuring them that they could inake their home in his colony. Instead of espousing the cause of any tribe of Indians, Laudonnière sought to reconcile them to each other, and formed alliances with many of their chiefs to which he intended to have recourse in case of new disturbances in his colony, or if the rumored invasion from Spain should prove to be a reality. He gave employment to his people by storing his magazines, and dispatched Ottigny, who took Francisco Estevan with him, on new discoveries. On this expedition they visited a great lake, the sand along the shore of which was thought to contain fine grains of gold. On their return to the fort they visited Outina, with whom, at his earnest request, Ottigny left some of his companions under Francisco Estevan.

Outina, finding himself involved in a fresh war with the son of Potanou, desired of Laudonnière a small force of men and guns, and Ottigny was sent to him with thirty auxiliaries. After a two day's march, Outina was a little dismayed to learn that his enemies were prepared to receive him, and his war juggler advised him to retreat, for young Potanou was waiting with two thousand warriors.

Outina was alarmed and on the point of turning

back, when Ottigny and Francisco called him a coward and pressed on with thirty soldiers armed with matchlocks. The onset began by a volley of musketry, which made such havoc among the enemy that the Indians fled in dismay, leaving Outina and his French allies master of the field.

On their return from this successful campaign, John Gyrot, who had hitherto kept aloof from Francisco Estevan, approached the Spaniard, and, in a voice full of irony, said:

"Monsieur makes a brave soldier; I congratulate him; but what has become of his priestly intentions?"

Turning a look of withering scorn on this human reptile, Francisco replied:

"Beware how you taunt me

-you cur!"

CHAPTER VII.

SIR JOHN HAWKINS.

THE more Francisco knew of Laudonnière, the better he liked him. His kindness, genteel manner, and nobility of character recommended him to any fair-minded person. The noble commandant guaranteed him life and liberty while in the colony, and promised to send him and the other Spaniards to Cuba as soon as practicable. All knew it would be certain destruction for a French vessel to venture near the Cuban coast after the recent outrages of D'Oranger and his cut-throats. Laudonnière was found in very low spirits on their return from the campaign against Potanou.

"Monsieur, it is a desponding colony you see," Laudonnière said. "Truly we are all on the verge of despair."

"Why?" asked Estevan.

"Reinforcements and provisions, which Ribault was to bring from France, have not arrived, and our colony is again on the point of mutiny."

"The soil yields bountifully and would produce