corpse in the morning. No more communication was had with the Indians.

They determined to return to their native country, and work was begun on their vessels, when a ship from France with a cargo of millet, came into port. With a supply of nourishing food the sick began to recover and the feeble grew bolder; yet nothing could deter them from their design of returning to France.

"What will monsieur do?" asked Laudonnière of Francisco.

"Can you send me to Cuba?" he asked. "Impossible."

"Then I will go to France."

Though he had not abandoned his idea of the priesthood and regarded the Huguenots as heretics and emissaries of the devil, his heart began to flutter at thought of again being in the same country with Hortense. Youth is a flower of which love is the fruit, and happy is he who, after watching its silent growth, is permitted to gather and call it his own. Useless indeed to lay plans which threaten to trample the affections; for love knows no barriers, falters at no difficulties, and laughs at bolts and bars.

The Huguenots were busy again with their preparations, when Gyrot, who had ventured below the fort, gave utterance to a shout of joy.

"Deliverance has come! Deliverance has come!" he cried. "Behold ships from France!"

Four vessels were seen in the offing, and, believing them to be ships sent to relieve the colonists, the greatest demonstrations of joy were made by the Frenchmen. Shouting, singing, dancing, laughing and crying like children, they ran down to the bay.

Francisco Estevan, who shared their joy, was foremost in the race. His eyes were stronger and judgment clearer than his excited companions, and, after giving the vessels a careful inspection, he said:

"Those are not French ships; they fly English colors."

This discovery checked the joy of the French, but only for a moment. They knew the English were friendly to them and would give them aid, so once more their shouts of welcome rose on the air.

The vessels fired a salute which was answered by the fort, and a boat was seen to put off from the largest of the fleet to the shore. Laudonnière, surrounded by his staff, D'Erlac, Francisco Estevan, Ottigny, and Trenchant, went down to meet the boat and learn who the visitors were. The boat touched the strand, and a young sailor landed and approached the ragged colonists.

TO THE BAY.

"Sir John Hawkins from England is in your bay with his fleet," he said, tipping his hat, "and he wishes to land and pay Laudonnière a visit, if he will permit him."

"Inform Sir John Hawkins that I shall be happy to receive him, and such poor hospitality as I can afford will be freely

accorded him."

The sailor returned and Sir John Hawkins landed. His object in touching at the colony was to procure a supply of fresh water. Laudonnière conducted

him to his house, where he treated him to some wild fowls, which Estevan had trapped the day before, and he was almost as happy to meet the generous Englishman as if he had been a brother.

SIR JOHN HAWKINS.

"We are in a most wretched, starving condition," Laudonnière explained. "We have three deadly enemies to contend with: savages, famine, and the Spaniards." Laudonnière then narrated all that had transpired since he had come to the colony, not even omitting the piratical expedition against the Spaniards. The generous Englishman