^5 Class _ Book _. COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT (^^ONICIiES OF JEoj^pil. BY V^ NORFOLK ; John W. Barcroft, Publisher, S3 Main Street. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S86, By JOHN W. BARCROFT, Norfolk, Va. In the OflBce of the Lihrarian of Congress, at Washington, INTRODUCTION. About the beginning of the second quarter of the eighteenth century, when we judge the fol- lowing extracts of the chronicles open, Spain had already been drained of the larger part of her boldest and most enterprising sons, who, led by the insatiable thirst for gold, had exhausted their energies in the wilderness of the new world ; and already had the national prosperity sunk helplessly in consequence of this diversion of enterprise from its legitimate, industrious and commercial pursuits. Spain, now with the empire and mines of a world, presented the marks of internal decay and of real poverty, her vigor was impaired, her character de- graded; the once proud blazonry of Castile y Leon had faded. Still the tide of emigration and adventure flowed onwards, though in a diminished current; and now that the El Dorados of Mexico and Peru had be- come monopolized to a considerable extent, later adventurers sought for newer fields, where as the 3 INTRODUCTION. ! first pioneers, they might hope to derive the greater advantages. Having premised this by way of introduction we shall proceed to give a free, yet fair rendition ol such portions of the chronicles as may prove of sufficient interest to the general reader. We deem it proper to state that we shall alter the ortho- graphy of proper names in the text wherever thit can be done with propriety to meet the require- ments of another language and the lapse of one hundred and fifty years : thus for Tanase, Vatoga, Ooueke, Quanasse, etc., we shall substitute Ten- nessee, Wautoga, Oowee, Hiwassee, etc. In conclusion, the regret may here be expressed that this work necessarily begins and ends abrupt- ly, for want of ampler material, and that many difficulties existed in the correct rendition of the text given. Gl|i^or|iclGS of Floi^ielq. BDDK I, CHAPTER 7. THE EXPEDITION TO CATENGEMA. '^P'iy esta tiemjjo, at this time, says the chroni- Ij r cler, a company was formed here (Pensacola) for the prosecution of mining operations among the high mountains which are situated about one hundred and fifty leagues towards the northeast. Having a perfect knowledge of all the material facts connected with the expedition that followed, I trust my friends will not blame me for digressing at this point of my narative, though what I am about to relate will be of some length. The person of most influence concerned in the business was Don Carlos de Lerida, a Catalan by birth, who in the indulgence of a wild career, had 6 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. risked the forfeiture of his patrimony under a mortgage, which he was now anxious to redeem. With this intent, accompanied by an only son, he had crossed the sea — and like other noblemen — in the hope of soon amassing wealth. His original destination under a commission from the court had been for Mexico, but his views underwent a sudden change when the vessel in which he sailed touched here by the way to disembark some troops, some of the first that were sent since the French cession. He had no sooner landed than he heard of the existence of immense mines in the interior. This information struck the right chord of his heart, and he forthwith applied himself with ardour to procure all means necessary to enable him to reach the desired region. His informant was one Oli- viera Payez, a galley fugitive, an unprincipled braggart whose pompous speech and affected hero- ism covered the darkness and baseness of his purposes. For a few years previous to this time, Oliviera had enjoyed the patronage and admiration of the CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 7 Senor Governor, whose own deficiency in all the qualities of true and generous bravery,incapacitated him from discriminating these from the mere froth of the bully. Oliviera then lodged at the palace, a constant attendant to echo his excellency's vain and silly boasts. Matters stood thus for aAvhile, till when under the influence of wine, in an un- lucky moment, Oliviera ventured to insinuate some decided doubts respecting one of Don Diego's vaunted exploits. The offence was unpardonable and to be rid of one whose presence had become undesirable, the Governor despatched him on a secret mission among the Indians to the northward — adding slyly, " that it suited a person of indom- itable valor to go there." He had been absent a considerable time after leaving Saint Augustine, when he suddenly reappeared at Pensacola. His object in unbosoming himself to Don Carlos was to secure in the enterprise one possessed of means and ability to set it afoot, also whose disconnection with the existing Governor was the more likely to yield the greater consideration to his informant 8 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. and indispensible guide. Oliviera gave an extrava- gant account of the mineral wealth of that region, called by the natives Catengema, whose confines he had recently visited. Another Mexico, he repre- sented, rich in unappropriated mines and but thinly peopled, was ready for their possession. Nor were occular proofs wanting to stimulate still further the awakened cupidity of Don Carlos. Fourteen ounces of gold dust were exhibited and reported to have been collected from the surface in less than six weeks by an old Indian. In the eagerness of the moment, Don Carlos paused not to enquire whether the country had been sulBQciently reconoitered ; all he desired was to be led forthwith towards it. It will be seen presently that neither he nor Oliviera were altogether misled in his en- thusiasm. Fifty-seven persons having clandestinely en- listed, rendevouzed on the island of Santa Isidora, at the mouth of the Apalachicola, whither also were conveyed three larger boats, a few periauguas, a liberal supply of arms, ammunition, provisions. CHEOKICLES OF FLOEIDA. 9 mining implements and articles of trade. Previ- ous to their embarkation, Don Carlos assumed the chief command and assisted by Oliviera and his son Don Pacheco, the first and second officers under him, proceeded to draw up articles for the government of the company, and to fix the shares in the enterprise, which received the sanction of all the rest of the adventurers who with but two excep- tions, deserve no particular notice in this place. These two had reached the point of rendevouz a few days before, on their route from the Santa Fe settlement to Pensacola. When the objects of the expedition were made known to them, together with an invitation to join it, with the intimation that they would in no case be allowed to resume their journey, they at last consented, but claimed no share or compensation for the services they were willing to render. The latter of these two named Teodoro, though poorly clad and deeply bronzed by a tropical sun, was remarkable for the high intellectual cast of his countenance. His commanding forehead, the piercing fire of his eye, ' 10 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. the energy of his lips, united to prove him no or- dinary man, yet there were traces in his features of past care and trouble, things never to be obliter- ated quite from the memory or the outer man, but over all these prevailed, as a halo, the holy calm of resignation, internal peace, and unfeigned be- nevolence. Andreo, his companion, was a very personification of meekness and contentment, though of an intellectual order, inferior by nature and cultivation to Teodoro, his nice moral sense could scarcely be surpassed. He was also gifted with great strength, courage and power to endure excessive hardships and privations. He had a fa- vorite maxim : " That enmity in the heart was worse than a thousand enemies wiilioutr On Easter Monday, all things being in readiness, we (here the chronicler inadvertently shows that he also was present) commenced ascending the river in the boats. The neighboring Indians were at this time in league with the Government, and therefore friendly towards the Spaniards. Seizing upon this favorable circumstance Don Carlos had CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. H engaged the chief o£ the Talachy (Tallahassee) tribe with upwards of a hundred warriors to march along the left bank of the river as an escort to the few men who took care of the beasts of burthen belonging to the expedition, until they should reach the confines of the Muscogees. When they had proceeded about fifty leagues, they were threat- ened with a serious disaster, for Soquilla, a Creek {Cree in the original) chief, being informed that boats were ascending the river, accompanied by In- dians on the war path, had collected his warriors about a league below his village, for purpose of giving battle. The position of the Creeks on a thickly wooded promontory at a bend of the river, where of necessity the boat must hug close to the shore to avoid the main current, was admirably chosen for an effective discharge of arrows and to screen the Indian canoes from view, till the decisive moment should arrive for an advance, while at the same time an ambuscade was laid against the land force among the canebrakes. To the acute perception of the Talachy chief was due the timelv 12 CHBONICLES OF FLORIDA. detection of danger ; for pausing suddenly on the march he declared they were watched by spies and ordered immediate preparation for battle. At a preconcerted signal Don Carlos repaired with the boats to the place where the halt had been made. Indian scouts were sent out in various directions, who finally confirmed the apprehensions of the chief. Meantime Soquilla, having found the plan of an ambuscade frustrated, came to the determi- nation to hold a parley. He therefore sent an In- dian down the river to communicate with the ex- pedition. Glad of a chance to avoid all collision the Spaniards received the messenger with joy, and sent him back with presents, and friendly assur- ances. This soon brought about a council, at which all smoked the calumet and partook of the black drink (a decoction of a species of holly) of nauseous taste, denied to all but warriors. Soquilla was so delighted with the present of a burning glass, fancifully set in false stones, by means of which he could draw fire from heaven, that he swore to conduct the expedition in person, to the CHKOKICLES OF PLOKIDA. 13 mountains of Oatengema. Before doing so he en- treated the Spaniards to spend a few days with him at a village called Achitfca, a short distance west of the river. His invitation was cheerfully accepted under the assurance of a safe conduct for the rest of the journey. About the fifth week the navigation proved im- practicable and the boats were abandoned. The route thence extending overland though mainly along the banks of the same river. Soquilla's train generously assisted in transporting the. provisions and mining implements. Several villages lay in their way, of which Coweta was by far the most considerable. Here the Spaniards were received with marked hospitality, as indeed they were every- where, through the influence of Soquilla. Up to the village of Kesauke the company had proceeded entirely by direction of Oliviera; there however the question was debated whether the route should continue towards the northeast or turn due north. Oliviera contended for the latter because from that 14 CHRON'ICLES OF FLORIDA. point had come the specimen of gold which had first conjured up the expedition ; but the natives having displayed an entire ignorance of mines in the latter direction and spoken of the high moun- tains to the northeast where gold had been found, Don Carlos decided to preserve the general line of march. They had not gone far from the village when they entered one of the most charming re- gions of this continent, of forest-clad mountains and of fertile valleys, reposing in a balmy atmos- phere — a region whose wild and exhuberant beauty rose to view as fresh as when creation first burst into existence. They now reached the pass of Tulamassee, the approach to which is so gradual that one would scarcely know he was crossing a dividing ridge but for the fact of two rills issuing from the same source, a little morass at the summit, and running in opposite directions. At this point they were met by Hiantuga, the young war chief of the Cherokees (in the original Cherake, at times Che- CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 15 lake) who, in the midst of his followers, demanded the object of this visit to his country. Oliviera replied through a Creek interpreter that they were Spaniards, friends of the Indians and enemies to the English (who had a few years before spread havoc among the savages), and exhibiting offerings intended for the great chiefs, requested permission to search the mountains for gold. Hiantuga ap- peared quite satisfied. He invited them to proceed with him to Attinha, a town situated about five leagues below on the Tense (Tennessee) at which source they now were ; Soquilla and his escort being well remunerated by Don Carlos took leave to return home. Attinha or Itlah, for it was called by either name, is built on a hill, from the base of which a plain of small extent intervenes to the river bank. The village consists of a single roAv of lodges constructed of poles, mud and bark, of very humble appearance — but for its commanding site. In the center of the plain below rises a singular monument of earth, having a semi-cir- 16 CHEOKICLES OF FLORIDA. cular base and flattened top. The use of this mound could not be ascertained as no tradition now existed to reveal its origin, only this — that it was of great antiquity. Here Don Carlos took formal possession of Catengema, in the name of the King, by planting the cross and displaying the banner of Spain. The mound was called the Star of Mary (Estrella de Sta. Maria). Tents were then erected and such military precautions taken as the situation required. In the meantime Don Carlos was invited to a talk with the great chiefs of that region, who, attended by the grandees in all the gaudiness of their warlike attire, had come down into the plain. Augichee, otherwise called Eion Augichee — or Drowning Bear — was venerable in appearance, though seventy winters had not bent his frame or impaired his vigor. Unlike his attendants he wore no ornaments except a few eagle feathers of uncommon length bound with a red fillet to his forehead, while a simple, though glossy, bearskin hung from his shoulders. Don Carlos having sent Oliviera in advance with pre- CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 17 sents for the chiefs to gain their good will, when he arrived he found the chiefs not only willing but eager to negotiate with people who had shown themselves so generous. The amiable disposition of the old chief, as events afterwards proved, was owing to higher motives, for being in advance of the intelligence of his race, he sought for know- ledge, and turned hopingly to the Spaniards as those likely to instruct them. No difficulty ensued in concluding a sort of a treaty on the terms dic- tated by Don Carlos. Full permission was ac- corded and guides tendered him for the exploration of the country. He received a liberal present of provisions, with the promise of continued supplies upon very moderate terms, and was allowed to make a settlement at any place not already appro- priated. With their affairs so favorably arranged, all that was immediately wanting by the Spaniards %as language to enlarge their intercourse with the people. In the lace conference the interpreter was a Cherokee who understood the Creek language, and was thus able to communicate with Oliviera 18 CHROKICLES OF FLORIDA. and Don Carlos. In passing, it must be remarked that Oliviera had learned the language of signs whilst at the galleys, and was also so apt a linguist that a few days in his transition from tribe to tribe enabled him to acquire enough of the dialect to express himself intelligently. In the meantime a freshet came on and delayed a reconnoissance of the country for a few days. As Augichee demands our attention in this place I shall go back to relate some adventures connect- ed with his past career. When, by inheritance or natural ability, he had risen to the rank of a war chief, he immediately planned an attack on the Creeks. All attempts to dissuade him from this project were vain, and to such he opposed the claims of an hereditary grudge and the necessity he felt to show that his dignity was not unmerited. As it often happens, the young warriors who had never been in battle were warm in his support and had given him the token. ********** Seeing matters at this pass, an old chief advised CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 19 the mustering of the whole tribe before entering upon a war against so warlike a nation as the Creeks. This counsel was bitterly opposed by Au- gichee, because he was well aware how very averse that portion of the Cherokees in the immediate vi- cinity of the enemy were to a renewal of their feuds, and beside, he feared if other townships be- yond his influence were brought into the enter- prise, the command might fall into the hands of some older and more popular chieftain. He there- fore used every means and argument to keep the movement within his preconcerted plan. By well managed threats and promises he eventually won over all whose influence and aid were desirable, even the two chiefs of Oconorocto and Watauga (Vatoga) hastened to offer their services ; an offer doubly acceptable to Augichee, as he had hitherto looked upon them with suspicion, or as possible rivals for public favor. To attract as little attention as possible, five or six hundred warriors set out in the night. The month of August had been fixed upon for the cam- 20 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. paign, because the maize then nearly ripe, stood ready in the fields to supply the foraging parties. The march was kept in single files with long inter- vals from man to man, with scouts in advance, and sentinels on the flanks. Whenever it was neces- sary runners kept up a constant communication between the front and rear. As they approached the confines of the Creeks, they marched only in the night, carefully avoiding every circumstance that might attract the attention of the enemy. The first irruption was in the night, a whole dis- trict and its villages were surprised, the people in- discriminately slaughtered and the dwellings laid in ashes. From this time scenes of disaster at- tended Augichee, which the bravery of his men and his own undaunted behaviour could not with- stand. The vengeance of the Creeks burnt fiercely after them. From river to river, from forest to forest, Augichee sternly and unrelentingly main- tained the war, but with a courage now bordering on despair. His force had now diminished to two or three hundred half famished wretches when he CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 21 reached the fork of two large rivers, with the enemy in hot pursuit. A dark stormy night intervened as B, short respite from impending ruin. A leader of ordinary character, well knowing that the van- guished were devoted to certain death, seeing no means of escape, would have decided to rush in desperation on the foe and sell their lives at the highest price; but Augichee was of another stamp. That very day a Creek woman had thrown herself in his way, with the avowed purpose to claim pro- tection or fall beneath the tomahawk. She was the wife of a chief who had cruelly maltreated, then threatened her with divorce. The latter indignity in favor, too, of a rival, had so stung her into madness that she had attempted to kill him, but failing in this, she had escaped to the Oherokees. Her features were masculine, her person was tall, robust and of a haughty bearing. When Augichee had assured her of protection, she uttered these words in a solemn tone, " Now your foe is my foe." It was in the midst of a retreat with his hands reddened with blood that Augichee met Chiusteh. 22 CHRONICLES OF FLOEIDA. When questioned concennng the present locali- ty, Chiusteh described one of the rivers as . then entirely impassable, while the other was only ford- able for about tAvo-thirds of its breadth, at a certain point which passage she thought was strictly guarded by a strong party of Creeks. She in- formed him that for sometime past the enemy had determined to drive the Cherokees into this dan- gerous position and that on the previous morning, when about to succeed in the attempt, the great Creek warrior had sent a message to a large gather- ing of warriors recently arrived, and now encamped two leagues below, with orders that they should move up at sunrise and assist in the capture of Augichee and his band. It appeared that so soon as they had found the snare to succeed, the pur- suers had called a halt in order to receive reinforce- ments, for the number of combatants, although still considerable, had been much reduced by the conflicts of the last few days. In this strait the decision of Augichee was instant, his words brief — " We, too, go to the great meeting." CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 23 He at once proceeded to construct rafts of poles, branches and vines, rude indeed in appearance, but sufficient for his purpose. On these rafts they safely floated down the river — though half im- mersed in water. They had scarcely entered the main current when some dim watch-fires became visible, the beacons which were to light them to their foes. The landing at a proper place was effected with great difficulty and caution, but once ashore, Augichee so disposed his force that the main attack should proceed continuously from one point of the encampment, while some picked men whom he had sent to the opposite point should disconcert the enemy. Aroused by an attack in the dead hour of the night, in absolute surprise, the Creeks made, in the first place, no attempt at re- sistance ; those who were found on the spot were killed ; the others flying in the opposite direction to rally there, as soon as they had reached the out- skirts, were asaulted with a fierce war whoop which sent them back with a fearful recoil towards the center among a group of terrified women. Dread- 24 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. fill collisions now ensued among themselves. By estimation upwards of fifteen hundred souls were . congregated on the spot, of whom not one-third escaped the great slaughter, which was believed to have been due mostly to their turning arms against each other in the darkness and consternation of the hour. When the sun arose it was over a field of the dying and the dead. Of the cruelties practised there I will not write. When the din and excitement of battle had sub- sided and the braves were still prowling among the debris of the field of carnage, Augichee, possessed by one master thought, sought around for Chiusteh. He had seen her at the onset exhibit acts of heroism with cool determination that might have graced a warrior, but when hurried on by fury into the thickest of the fight, he had missed her pre- sence till the shouts of victory sounded in his eai?s. With gloomy forebodings he retraced his steps. On approaching the river he discovered her bend- ing m mute agony over the corpses of her husband and brother, which she had dragged together from CHKONICLES OF FLOKIDA. 25 the midst of the slain; for a moment the natural tenderness of woman's heart had triumphed over her wrongs. " Woman," said Augichee, mourn- fully, as he gazed upon her, ''Woman, leave the dead ; they are deaf to the voice of grief and love. No voice can rouse them from their sleep ; no, not even Augichee's battle cry." "Ah," she rejoined in anguishing tones, '' let Chiusteh die the traitor- ess of her race ; with hands red with kindred blood where can she claim a country or a friend?" " Both, in Augichee," was his reply, for his fixed determination was to make her his wife. He- thought not of her consent, for was she not his^ captive? So, with gentle compulsion, he led her into the midst of the assembled warriors. "Chiefs," were his words, "when I was urged to wed, I said ' the bear mates not with the muskrat;' now I have found a mate." Such was the mar- riage. The Cherokee having seized many canoes at the landing place and taken such booty as they prized, embarked homeward for the highest point attain- 2 26 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. able on the river. In a few weeks more, some two hundred warriors returned to Attinha amidst the mingled shouts for victory and the wailing of women for departed friends. Though obedience was shown to Augichee as the most renowned warrior of his time, and he was called at the council fires " the drowning bear who had reached the shore to destroy his enemies," yet he was not happy. The father of several children, he had witnessed the death of all but two, a son and a daughter. The first was now a young man of diminutive stature and lame because of a club foot, for which natural defects he was for a long time the peculiar aversion of his father and had acquired the nick-name, in derision, of Taco-taka. A few years before the advent of the Spaniards, the neglected Taco-taka had, notwithstanding his youth, gained a reputation for wisdom on account of his shrewdness and powers of observation. This, together with a most affectionate disposition, had in a measure so softened the old chief's heart that he was no longer heard to say " Taco-taka is a CHROJS'ICLES OF FLORIDA. 27 dog," but simply " Taco-taka is no warrior." It is to Taco-taka that I owe many facts in this narra- tive. The other surviving child was now about eigh - teen years old. As she was reckoned quite a beauty in the nation, I will endeavor to describe her in a few words, to show how relative are our notions of beauty. Unlike her father or mother she was of a middle size, rather square built and fleshy. Her movements exhibited nothing of the agility or grace so apt to be associated with our ideas of the savage maiden. Her features corresponded with her person, a degree of passiveness was inscribed on all ; rarely was she moved to animation. Her face was rather large and heavy, with cheek bones very prominent, over which peered two very small, black eyes. Her mouth, with a set of large and prominent teeth exposed to view, was certainly not enticing to any but Cherokees, especially when added to these she possessed the nasal twang of the language in its perfection. A gently arched fore- head surmounted by coarse coal-black hair would 28 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. be with us redeeming features. Such was Eusteka- (in the original Huesteka) the pride of the Chero- kees, both from her personal charms and social position, the belle of belles. CHAPTER II. ?HAT portion of the Tennessee valley in which the explorers were now encamped, is an irregu- lar oval space comprised between the Cowee mountains on the east and the high Nantehali range on the west. It extends about twelve leagues from Tulamassee to lallatta at its nothern ex- tremity where the two chains just mentioned con- verge, and through whose disrupted rocks the river forces its way. Within this valley numerous moun- tain streams pour tribute into the main or central river, which latter is fordable at an ordinary stage of water. Though charmed with the fertility of this valley, its picturesque beauty and mild climate, together with the amiable inhabitants, the Spaniards were soon satisfied that the main object of their search was not to be there attained. In due time the persons who had been sent out to ex- plore the country to the north and east, beyond the 29 30 CHROKICLES OF FLORIDA. Tuckasege river, returned with unfavorable reports as to gold deposits, but they were charmed with the country. Here I am tempted to give the verses of a youth who had wandered with a companion from Santa Fe, one gifted with poetic, though uncultivated powers, whose graces, like the humble violet, bloomed in obscurity: [" Arboles, los montes y bosques," and all that are too much for the present pen. The following is adopted as a substitute]: The tangled forest's silent shade Has greater charms for me Than wealth, with all its gay parade And gorgeous finery. Beneath the wild wood's pleasant gloom My mind is free from care, Each waving leaf, each floweret's bloom. Brings sweet reflections near. The lofty oak, the creeping vine, And blossoms rich and fair. In one embowering roof combine To make the scene most dear. While warbling songsters sweetly sing In notes of tender love. And cheer the stranger wandering Beneath the shady grove. CHRONICLES OF FLOEIDA. 31 But to return, the only hope of success then rested on those who had gone to explore the west- ward, and when for three days afterwards no tidings had arrived from that quarter, the greatest uneasiness prevailed in the encampment. At night all eyes were turned in the direction of the Nante- hali range and its highest peak the Marihaez, when suddenly a signal fire appeared near the summit of the latter, which no sooner had Don Carlos seen, than he exclaimed with joy, " It is Pacheco's, the mines are discovered." Indeed, this had been pre- concerted in the event of success, and his reaching the summit at night. In a moment the fire de- scended in a waving, serpentine line. The moun- tains were on fire, a fringe of flickering and moving lights skirted the western horizon, starred here and there, whenever the drier trees became ignited from the leaves and grass below. A revulsion of feelings now succeeded; anticipating the realization of their hopes and the rewards of their toils, the Spaniards spent the night in glee and carousals. I will now relate what occurred to Don Pacheco. 33 CHROI^ICLES OF FLORIDA. He had started, in company Avith Oliviera and two other persons, under the guide of Hiantuga. After ascending along a stream, called Catuga, for nearly five leagues, they reached the very steep pass of the Nantehali, which they surmounted with consider- able difficulty and fatigue. The descent on the other side is less abrupt and along a small moun- tain rill which falls into the Nantehali river at the base. At the confluence they found the village of Oconorocto, where they were received with great kindness by its venerable chief Shawnee. At this point the river is quite shallow, and not very rapid, though the scenery is most imj^osing. The mountains present very bald or steep aspects. The trail here is frequently interrupted by fallen trees or swept by torrents, and at times overhang fearful precipices. Three leagues onward occurred another mountain pass, the descent from which Avas exceedingly steep for about a thousand paces. From this, however, a short distance placed them beyond the great mountain ranges, and thence they pursued the way down a small stream, called Tus- CHEOKICLES OF FLORIDA. 33 quitta, whicli meanders in a very pleasant valley. Here Oliviera first discovered traces of gold dust. Further on they entered the fertile valley of the Hiwassee whose scenery is more open and milder than any they had yet passed. On the third night they stopped at the village of Charna on the left bank of the river. In consequence of important information, Hiantuga conducted them on the next morning in a northern course to Hiattee river, a branch of the Hiwassee. The way was over a beautiful and spacious plain which extends on the east towards the great mountain range. The Indians called this "the plain of the dazzling bird" — the subject of a fanciful legend. After a journey of about seven leagues they entered the valley of the Hiattee which presents a most beauti- ful vista, indeed, one of the most beautiful in the world, extending eight leagues up a gently inclined plane of varying widths, through which meanders the river. This plane is bounded on either hand by steep hills that gradually rise in elevation as they approach the high peaks in the distance. The 34 CHRONICLES OP FLORIDA. indications of gold became very evident as the valley was ascended, till examining the roots of an uptorn tree they discovered enough gold adhering thereto to justify operations there. Pursuing the search, gold deposits were found in almost all dependent situations, that is, at the base of steep hills, in ravines and in the beds of rivulets. Gold dust was usually found in the gravel but little removed from the surface and immediately above the slate rock. Elated with joy, the explorers would have hastened back to their comrades had it not been for a love adventure which detained Don Pacheco for a few more days at Wahu. The charmer was Omuna, who was regarded by the Spaniards, but not by her countrymen, the most beautiful woman of the nation. Her form and features and her Toice reminded one more of an Andalusian maiden than aught else. While roaming through the forest in quest of game, Don Pacheco came sud- denly where she stood alarmed. Mutual surprise, and perhaps admiration, ri vetted then for awhile? CHRONICLES OF FLCmiDA. 35 but when he ventured to approach nearer she darted through the tangled bushes and was lost to his sight. Thoughtlessly, he dropped his gun and pursued in the direction she had gone, but his efforts to reach her were in vain. Her image haunted him till, on inquiry of some friends, he learned she lived at Wahu. There he sought her and found she was not indifferent to him, but she prudently reserved her final decision till her brother (who had gone on a hunt) should return. For this cause he entertained a high sense of respect for Omuna. Thus they became mutually attached to each other — because she, like her sex in general, admired a superior nature in him, and because he found his heart fascinated with the idea of loving a savage in love. When they parted it was, with her faith, that he would return to take her to his lodge. Up to this time the most friendly relations ex- isted between the two races, but before returning to Attinha, Oliviera had a serious difficulty with the chief of Charna, because the former had im- 36 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. prudently boasted of his prowess in disparagement of the latter; bloodshed must have resulted but for the timely interference of Teodoro at the risk of his own life. When this matter was adjusted the pacified chief went from one extreme to another — so far, indeed, as to offer one of his wives to Oliviera. On the arrival of the explorers, the company at once broke up the encampment on the Star of Mary and took the march to the field of operations. Hiantuga acted again as guide, having been liber- ally rewarded for his services. In the valley the Spanish quarters were temporarily located in the vicinity of Wahu, in order to organize matters for the future welfare of the expedition. To Teodoro, Andreo, and one or two others, was assigned the task of procuring means of subsistence from the Indians or the chase, and an abundance of provisions was cared for, and stored away for future use. These men by their frequent inter- course with the Indians, were soon masters of the CHRONICLES OF FLOEIDA. 37 language, and learned also the manners and cus- toms of the natives. The summer was spent in searching for gold among the ravines, but with a success entirely dis- proportioned to the expectations formed; the aver- age amount obtained daily being not more than seven reals per man. Don Carlos, disatisfied with the slow progress made so far, wandered inces- santly among the hills in search of indications that might lead to the discovery of richer deposits of the precious metal. A certain restlessness, an acerbity of temper, a careless dress, marked him as he wended his way with spade and mattock. His meals were neglected or hastily dispatched afc ir- regular times, and very often he passed the night without sleep. In this condition about the first of September, guided as he stated by mineralogical appearances and a dream, Don Carlos, unhappily pitched upon a spot Avhich included the sepulchres of the Indians. This may be described as a small rounded hill. 38 CHRONTCLES OF FLORIDA. a spur of the principal river range, having a gradual descent to the river, and connected on the other side to the adjoining eminence by a narrow neck of land difficult of access from the sides. It is of sufficient elevation to command a full view of the heights, in its immediate vicinity, but more from the general features of the ground than from its own isolation. This hill was covered by numer- ous heaps of stones, beneath which reposed the dead of centuries. Passing over the natural causeway, one came to the adjoining hill which was of much larger extent, and there it was that the main min- ing operations were to be prosecuted and a furnace built. Desirous to secure a permanent location for the winter, the company readily assented to the wishes of their leader. A fort or block house was erected upon the spur near the point, where the causeway commences, and so constructed, that a deep ditch cut quite across its narrow part, interrupted all access in the direc- tion of the river, which was about a mile off; the only passage left free was to and from the prin- CHRO"N"ICLES OF FLORIDA. 39 cipal hill. I omitted to mention, that about a month or two previous, Oliviera, with the consent of Don Carlos, had sent a messenger to Pensacola to one Padre Riquez, urging him to bring on the enforce- ments, promised on receiving the news of their success. This Riquez, had been sent to Pensacola by the Senor Obispo, on a mission. When solicited to join the expedition, his reply was : " My mission in the new world is not in quest of gold, but to extend the religion and monarchy of Spain. Should you find the natives tractable, write to me and I will join you with additional men and ammunition." No sooner had the fortification been completed, than it was visited by Santnoh, the Kongateh, a sort of priest, juggler and physician, whose very name filled the Indians with awe. He demanded with an air of conscious authority, "Who had given the pale faces permission to build among the burial places of his fathers or to dig within the sacred precincts ?" Don Carlos coming forward replied, that as no objection had been made to his careful 40 CHKOI?"ICLES OF FLOEIDA. selection of a locality, he had chosen this spot, but would guard the tumuli of the dead from all dese- cration. It soon appeared that no argument, apology or present could pacify Santnoh, or win his good will towards the Spaniards; after some impas- sioned gesticulation and muttered imprecations, this meddlesome guest departed with malice and revenge pent up within his bosom. Meantime, an Indian, employed in the excavations of the hill, had found a nugget of gold which cir- cumstance so flattering to the hopes of Don Carlos, deprived him of whatever remains of prudence he might have had. Though now urged to change his location by some who by recent observation among the Indians saw the full danger of their situation, he gave heed to no remonstrance, but on the contrary, became the more infatuated. He now spoke hurriedly, urged the work in spite of all obstacles, and behaved at times as if the very hills should burst open at his bidding and disclose their treasures. A large majority of the company sided with Don Carlos, and all dissatisfaction CHRON'ICLES OF FLORIDA. 41 hitherto existing, was hushed up in the enthusiasm of the moment. Within a few days the Indians who had been employed in the mines suddenly withdrew, as also did others in the vicinity of the fort, under the pre- text of a hunt, but in reality to obey the mandates of the Kongateh. Alarmed by these indications, Don Pacheco entreated his father to invite Augi- chee to a conference, that impending difficulties might be avoided. This request was obtained at last solely on the score of interest to get back the Indian miners, the want of whom had become serious — for the Spaniards themselves disliked to work. The mines in consequence were greatly neglected. Insubordination was manifested, which Oliviera fostered to suit his views and thus rose to sudden popularity. He would have made a capital Athenian demagogue. He declared his scheme from the first was to obtain a sufficient force to compel the natives to labor in the mines, as had been done in other settlements. In the meantime 42 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. he concurred with Don Pacheco, for a council, till he could mature his plan. Teodoro and his colleagues having to visit At- tinha in quest of certain articles and provisions, were also commissioned to make arrangements for a conference with the chiefs. On their arrival there, Augichee lay dangerously ill; indeed, by common report, his recovery was past all hope. Yielding to the dictates of his heart Teodoro requested permission to visit the chief. Though Augichee had permitted no one to approach him, except the family and Santnoh, yet when it was whispered that one of the white chiefs had called to see him, the thought came that pos- sibly the stranger was possessed of some means to alleviate his sufferings, and Teodoro was granted admission. This hut or lodge of the chief (for he had several) was constructed, as it were, expressly to exclude the fresh air, having but one low entrance, through which, one was constrained to crawl, after having removed the raw hide that served as a door. CHKOKICLES OF FLORIDA. 43 Within was a warm, loathsome and offensive at- mosphere, and on one side lay Augichee, stretched on a pallet of deer skin. The fitful glare of a de- caying fire in the center of the earthen floor, flickered occasionally upon the face of the old man, whose features appeared almost obliterated, by the inroads of the disease, erysipelas, under which he suffered. In a husky and tremulous voice, he entreated Teo- doro to give him the white man's remedy, " For,' added he, " Santnoh had already sung the death song and gone on a journey." Impressed wjth the delicacy of his position, Teodoro, never- theless consented to prescribe as he had acquired some knowledge of physic, both at Montpelier and in his travels. Indeed, he thought it a solemn duty to give assistance to the needy on all occasions. As a first step he ordered the chief to be conveyed to a more airy lodge, where he yielded him the most assiduous attention. The next night Augichee lay restless and delirious till midnight when the fever abated and he fell into a 44: CHROJ^"ICLES OF FLORIDA. calm slumber. Towards morning he dreamed of the spirit land, but it was far diiferent from any conception he had previously formed. Instead of shadowy warriors engaged in the full career of the chase, and ranging through ever verdant forests, a multitude of joyous people, radiant with light, stood before him, among whom and not the least conspicuous was Teodoro. As he gazed entranced in admiration, a united shout overspread the mighty host in which he heard his name pro- nounced, and himself welcome as a brother. The next day the three Spaniards and family, being gathered around Augichee in the lodge, he expressed the greatest gratitude to Teodoro and related the dream. The conversation which ensued lasted some time, and I can only relate a few topics. The chief spake to the following effect : " Brother, the red man looks at the sky, he sees the lightning's flash, he hears the growl of the thunder, 'tis all, he knows no more. I have found my white brother. His medicine is life. Santnoh knows nothing. Augichee has often seen the trees CHROKICLES OF FLORIDA. 45 cast their Jeaves, his sinews are stiff, his sight is dim, yet his spirit wanders over the past, as a bird returns to the nest where he was fledged. Why- does his heart sink within his breast ? Why is it when warriors stoop before the great chief, he feels like a dog ? Tis this — Angichee mourns his years of crime ; he knows all is not right within his breast. Augichee hears the wailings of w^omen for their untimely slain, he hears the dying warrior's groans, he sees the outstretched hands of supplica- ting mothers screening in vain their infants and themselves. Say it is war, still Augichee's hands are red with blood. The blood of enemies is in his eyes — now death looks at Augichee. How shall he look at the slain in the spirit land ? Can the Great Spirit who is himself so good tolerate the evil ? What says the white brother ? Santnoh knows nothing ; the red men's Kongateh is a fool." When the chief had ceased, Teodoro scarcely able to re- strain his emotions, informed him that from their first meeting he had not ceased to pray to the Great Spirit to enlighten and bless Augichee and his 46 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. people. He then proceeded to instruct the family. At the conclusion, the chief begged for a few days for reflection, adding that he thought he had heard the truth for the first time. A short time sufficed to put Augichee in a con- dition to undertake the journey to Charna, whither he had notified the subordinate chiefs to meet in council. He was now well aware of the bitter hatred of Santnoh for the Spaniards, and especially for Teodoro, whose skill had triumphed over that of the Indian Kongateh, though Augichee hoped to pacify the wrath of the latter, little knowing how unreasonable is the spirit of fanaticism. The chiefs train consisted of some thirty per- sons, about one-half were women carrying provi- sions and a few infants on their backs, while the men led the way in single file, unshackled save by their arms. Having been unavoidedly detained on the route, they arrived at the pass of the Marihaez, at nightfall and encamped a little further on the other side. While most of the party sat about the fires, absorbed in a species of gambling so CHRONTCLES OF FLORIDA. 47 strong a passion of savage life, or regaling them- selyes, Augichee approached the white men, and pointing to the path which led up the mount, beckoned them to follow him. The chief walked firmly before them up a serpentine and precipitous path till the great ascent to the summit was reached. This was so abrupt and difficult, that they were compelled to clamber up its sides for some distance. As they proceeded the trees became more and more stunted and sparse, till the party emerged upon the bald portion of the mountain, and a little distance upwards stood upon the summit. The moon had just risen. The view was grand, awful and overpowering, well calculated to make one see his utter insignificance in the vast scale of creation. There they stood as on a rock, isolated as it were in the midst of a boundless ocean, whose dark and heavy billows heaved silently below to sink in chasms, whose depths, night rendered more appal- ling, A calm, frosty night reigned on the heights. When oppressed with care and in trouble, Augi- chee had oftimes resorted to this spot to address 48 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. the Great Spirit, thus in his estimation it had became sacred, and thither he had thought proper to hear the words of those who bore a message from Him. Now, seated at the foot of Teodoro, he said, "Augichee has two ears for his brother." In the course of Teodoro's address he gave the follow- ing account of himself : " When I was a boy the Great Spirit gave me wisdom. Tlie people of my country save my own kindred did not love that wisdom. In exile we were driven from place ta place. At length, though I had been commissioned to teach others the way of life, I was shut up within a dark place, apart from mankind. Six and twenty moons had passed overhead, while I pined there ; but God was light to my soul and balm in my distress. At length he who brought my daily food, stopped once to listen to my prayer. He heard me pray even for my enemies. This touched his heart. He found means to open my door, to talk with me in private and to kneel together in prayer. We embraced, became brothers and found means to escape. Thenceforth the wide world was- CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 49 our field, all men our brethren. We resolved to do good wherever we could. We sought at first such countries, whose language we understood. We travelled far, but men hated us, so soon as they heard we had wisdom — wisdom that would keep them from evil ways which they prized. We left them and passed on, 'till Andreo said, * perhaps the red men will hear us,' and we were brought here." Their conference lasted until the gray of the morning ; contending emotions had alternately swayed the bosom of the venerable chief, as he found the long cherished notions and educational prejudices of his life vanish one by one under the calm manly pleadings of Teodoro, till the latter rising up, pointed eastward as the dawn approached and then spoke of the sublime transactions away in Judea, and of that salvation which angels de- sired to look into. "There," said he, "you will find love, light and life — and there alone." Then Augi- chee's features beamed with joy — all doubts had vanished forever, embracing his friends he ex- claimed. "It is the truth ! It is the truth ! " The 3 50 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. gorgeous sun had sprung from behind the hills — night had fled — each dew drop glistened in the light as they went down the mountain rejoicing. Before they set out again they were overtaken by Santnoh, who approached Teodoro and said: " The white medicine man is stronger than the red man, ha!" The former replied that he was no Kongateh, and left that honor entirely to Santnoh, to whom it belonged, and that he had never intended to offend the Kongateh of the Oherokees. At this point Santnoh appeared pacified. " Ah," then said he, "very good." Still on the way, he neglected nothing to excite mistrust if not hatred against the Spaniards. With all the Indians except a very few, he succeeded but too well, by frequent appeals to their religious fears on account of the desecration of the burial places. An accident soon after came near ridding the Spaniards of this troublesome enemy, for while in advance at the descent of the next range Santnoh was attacked and overpow- ered by a couple of panthers (gatos de montes) and must have been destroyed but for the seasonable haste of Andres to his deliverance. CHAPTER III. PPKISED of the arrival of the chiefs at Charna, Don Carlos, at the request of Oli- viera, sent presents to all who possessed in- fluence in the approaching council, Oliviera know- ing that Eusteka engrossed the affections of her father, declared his intentions in advance, to win her heart if possible, but at all events to be so devoted in his attentions to her, as to gain her con- fidence, which might lead to a knowledge of the secrets of the Indians. Don Carlos himself would not go to Charna at this time, because a few miners having resumed operations in the course of the recently discovered gold deposits, became so transported with the notion of the wealth of the mines now to be reached, that he solemnly resolved not to abandon the spot, but at the last extremity. Feeling that the emergency might arise to force 61 52 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. the natives to work the mines, he concluded so soon as the conference should end, to send his son with Andreo, to Achitta to hurry on the expected re- inforcement. Several days elapsed at Charna while the pre- liminaries of council were being arranged, and this gave scope to the intrigues of Oliviera. This in- dividual was not devoid of personal advantages, from past experience with others, he was confident of soon making an impression on the chief's daughter — even if it; should end by his win- ning a principality in the nation. Though Eusteka received his attentions with the secret pleasure, natural to her sex, she cautiously avoided any encouragement, her policy appeared merely to be to allow them, as of right, her due, and a matter of pure courtesy. Baffled, and piqued by her coldness and reserve, he felt but the more anxious to succeed. Nothing however could change her general tone of conduct, nor would she wear any ornaments he presented for her decoration. Meanwhile the frequent visits of Oliviera gave rise CHR02?'ICLES OF FLORIDA. 53 to exaggerated reports. During all this time, Oli- viera knew not, dreamed not, that danger lurked in his path — that Eusteka was the affianced bride of Hiantuga the young war chief. When the latter came to Charna, having returned from a long hunt near the Kanosege, (Tuckasege) he was shocked with what appeared the perfidy of Eusteka and the success of his rival. Without inquiry, in the distraction of his mind, he turned away abruptly and plunged back into the recesses of the forest. Taco-taka's poetical version in the Cherokee style may be pardonably rendered as follows, (the nasal imitation left out): Maddened by jealousy, his first thought was revenge — violent and instant. When the sun sunk in the west, he saw in the sky but the hue of blood. The night came on, and yet he moves lonely through the dark avenues of the forest, cut off from every human tie and chilled at the heart. Onward he moves, the wind moans — Is it the voice of commiseration or in mockery ? Onward he moves. The eyes of the night, the cold white stars look down upon him ; is he lonesome now, since for good or evil, those watchers follow him through the mazes of the forest ? 54 CHROl^ICLES OF FLORIDA. Onward he goes, the sound of flowing waters met his ear. Flow on thou stream ! forever ! Must he, too, move thus ? Onward he moves, the morning star has crowned yon mountain height ; there is hope now, hope of light and life. Onward he goes — the gray streaks of morn appear, and the sounds of waking life are heard upon the hills. Once more he is connected with the world and with the living. Early in the morning Taco-taka and his sister on their way to visit a near relative whose lodge was on the Hiattee ; within sight of the place a stream descends the river almost at right angles, there they spied Hiantuga as he sat upon a fallen tree absorbed in thought, while before him stood his javelin stuck in the ground. On being hailed his surprise was great when he saw Eusteka. After awhile he rose and walked besides her, going in the same di- rection, his soul was full, his agitation extreme. Controlling himself he said : "The stranger stands between us, you no longer behold Hiantuga." " Old friends," she replied, " are not to be forgotten, they rise every morning to gladden our eyes, their pre- sence is like the perfume of the purple flower (Calycanthus) when dew is on the leaves." "If so/^ CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 55 he resumed, " why seek new faces ? Is not blood in the face of the red man ? Is there not warmth in his hand ? The pale face is dear to Eusteka, let him beware !" Finding his wrath increasing, she spoke suddenly: " Hiantuga, threaten not! The strangers came here in peace, let them remain here in peace. As for Unaik, (Teodoro) he is all gentleness and noble — far above our race. The Great Spirit made him to excel, vv^hy shoukl we repine ?'' Hiantuga, with drooping lids, looked on the ground, but could not command the terrible emotions at work within, for with a keen, piercing glance towards her came words in impassioned utterance : "You love him ! I am de- ceived, betrayed ! Thus it is ever with your sex — like that vine which has wound itself around the first sapling within its reach. See! It has killed it I and now, aspiring still higher, it clasps the trunk of the sturdy oak ; such is woman's love !" Eusteka,. who little understood the cause of such a storm, at length said, with unafiected sincerity: " Eusteka is to be the bride of Hiantuga — she weds not above 56 CHROI^ICLES OF FLORIDA. her people. Then let not Hiantuga look upon his Eusteka in anger — his smiles is her joy — she lives for Hiantuga." She then told him of various inci- dents that had happened since their last interview, especially how a pale face, Unaik, had saved her father's life, and had taught him many great and good things. She begged, Hiantuga would seek instruction of Unaik, who was a true friend of his, and had cautioned her to behave with reserve towards the pale faces, which advice she had strictly followed. Oliviera was not mentioned even once by either, yet he, it was against whom a scheme of private revenge had been formed, and although Hiantuga listened with calmness and in- terest to his beloved Eusteka, that scheme was finally merged and lost in the fixed determination to destroy the entire expedition, save only one, for the sake of the tender petitioner. Thus, as it has always been in all regions and ages — we find the spirit of poetry, epic or amatory, in the man and in the woman, the object and the cause. Althougli Charna had been selected for the CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 57 conference, Don Carlos could not be induced to leave the ueigborhood of the mines; so the chief had, after some difficulty, reluct- antly consented to meet near the fort, at a sort of ampitheater, on the principal river — hill in the rear. The foliage of the trees now ex- hibited all the gaudiest tints so remarkable a feature of this region in Autumn. When the chiefs arrived they sat in semicircles on the ground, and awaited in silence the coming of the Spaniards. Then Don Carlos with his officers and such armed men as could be spared from guard, all dressed in imposing military costumes, marched out to meet them by the sound of martial music, and bear- ing aloft the flag of Spain. Indeed every effort was made to gain the admiration and respect of the natives. It may be well to state here, Olivier a, ever full of inventions had since his difficulty with the chief of Charna, closely shaven his head and colored it with a red dye, over which he wore a flowing wig, for the purpose, he declared, to practice a tricK on the 58 CHROKICLES OF FLORIDA. Indians. When the procession reached the river range, the flag was planted and the conference began. The chiefs on their part observed much formality, but in a very quiet way. Oliviera who still acted as spokesman addressed them as follows : "It is with regret, chiefs, that we have heard of unfriendly feelings existing on your part against our people, though we have smoked the pipe of peace together ; because we have built our great lodge here, it is said, you are angry. Now we wish to maintain peace with our red brothers, and in that view, promise never to violate the sepulchres, if we are not molested in our present place. On the other hand we cannot now remove without great loss and hazard ; for this cause we desire all opposi- tion against us to cease. Our brothers must know that in seeking peace we are not actuated by fear ; ' for though we are few in numbers, our power is great and our prowess unquestionable." He then entered more minutely on the subject of Spanish grandeur and imprudently hinted of succour from abroad. When he ceased, a silence of \ CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 59 some minutes elapsed, in the hope that Augichee, to whom all eyes were turned, would next speak. At length Stikititla, a chief of great shrewdness, arose and asked : "How long did the pale faces intend to stay in the country ? If for a short time, huts like those of the Indians or their own tents might have answered, but their great lodge was to stand for many summers." This question Oliviera endeavored to evade by saying that the Spaniards were accus- tomed to such dwellings. But Stikititla again put the question: " How long do the pale faces intend to stay?" To this Oliviera merely remarked, he hoped they were echulahe (all one) that is brothers or friends. Santnoh now sprung up not able to restrain his feelings, and as he assayed to speak blood spurted from his nostrils: "The bones of our fathers are violated or trodden under foot. Corn would not grow — the chase would fail unless the pale faces were sent or driven away. They had corrupted the youth by employing them to dig the hills or to carry burdens. The nation would become ener- 60 CHKONICLES OF FLOKIDA. vated, -would become women." It was evident when he stopped, he had checked himself in midway. It was plain that his views swayed a majority of the chiefs, as manifested by their marks of approbation. The time had now arrived when Augichee could no longer remain silent, so he stood up calmly while expectations waited on him. He proposed that if the chiefs did not approve of the permanent occupation of the locality by the Spaniards, justice demanded that they be allowed time enough to make a removal elsewhere without loss. He thought some four or five moons at least ought to be granted to them. As the white friends had been encouraged to make a settlement they should not now be turned out in the winter. Santnoh opposed this proposition with warmth. "Not one moon," he exclaimed, "shall be yielded them, and if they will not go we shall compel them." " Compel them, indeed," said Oliviera with scorn, " when I alone can eat up the whole tribe. Santnoh sprung backwards, poised his war club for action, and then with a sudden leap CHKON"ICLES OF FLOKIDA. 61 had certainly slain Oliviera, had not Augichee and Teodoro interposed. When the former called Sant- noh's attention to the solemn nature of a conneil, he replied aloud, '* Very well — let this pass now but I vow to have his scalp." " Here take it now," ex- claimed Oliviera, while he threw his wig at the foot of the Kongoteh, thus exposing his reddened scalp. The Indians were utterly appalled at the phenome- non — indeed Santnoh fled some steps in utter amazement; nor was their emotion abated when Oliviera quickly picked up the wig and replaced it on his head with a shout of exultation. This and a demonstration of the effects of fire arms, so over- awed the chiefs that a majority were soon obtained to extend to the Spaniards the terms proposed by Augichee as the middle ground of concession. By the advice of Teodoro, Don Carlos agreed to them as the best terms that could be obtained at present. A treaty was duly ratified ; by the terms of which the Spaniards were to remain in the present lo- cality till the spring, when the leaves of the oak should be as large as a squirrel's ears, when they 62 CHROiaCLES OF FLORIDA. sbould abandon the fort and then either enter into a new treaty by which a new location should be assigned them or forever quit the country. This latter clause was added by Santnoh, in the hope that it would not be accepted as events immediately proved. Don Carlos saw in this treaty an oppor- tune means to postpone his difficulties, that by bribes and duplicity he might eventually obtain his own terms, and be in a position before spring to dictate to the refractory natives. Taken entirely off their guard by what they had witnessed and the unexpected decision of the ma- jority, Santnoh and his immediate associates, after the preliminaries had been settled, preserved a solemn silence, till the calumet of peace was offered around, when they arose and marched off the ground without so much as looking behind. Thus troubles were brewing against the expedition that rendered efficient vigilance and measures for pro- tection necessary. When once more congregated within the fort, the company deliberated upon the present aspect of CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 63 affairs, and the contingencies that might arise. Oliviera began by saying that the interval now obtained was only to be employed in preparation for hostilities and in expectation of reinforcement. A cherished object in the meantime was to create dis- sentions among the Indians, and to form a party in alliance with the expedition. The good will of some had already been won, by supplies of aqua- diente and the female portion was much inclined to be friendly with the whites, as it oftimes happens among inferior races. Any advice to abandon the fort or loose the fruits of their operations was to be denounced at once as cowardly, unless indeed this advice was based upon the certainty of better pros- pects elsewhere. But having secured an ample supply of provisions against a siege to keep up this supply for the future, it will be necessary to retain prisoners of influence as hostages. He proposed for his part to decoy and entrap the chiefs daughter, because the intimacy he had attempted to maintain with her, might afford reasonable grounds to show that she had taken her abode at 64 CHROiNICLES OF FLORIDA. the fort through loye and her own choice, not violence ; others might imitate his example. Any hostility on the part of the Indians would prove vain and futile, since the fort was well supplied with arms and ammunition. Before all he hoped to make it appear, that he knew how to combat the savages, having heretofore defeated more than half a dozen in the open field. To all this Don Carlos yelded his hearty support. When Teodoro would introduce a few words of entreaty and advice, Oliviera, in a rough and harsh manner, interrupted him, saying : " Comrades ; be careful how you hearken to this man, for I have good reason to suspect him to be in league with the Indians. Heard you not with what reverence he was styled ' Unaik the Kongateh ?' Heard you not how earnestly he pleaded for Augichee's terms of the treaty ?" Extending his arms to address the company, the accused was checked by hisses and groans, which did not cease till Don Pacheco interceded, or rather interposed, an authority rarely disputed. Comparative order being intro- CHRON"ICLES OF FLORIDA. 65 duced, Teodoro said : *' By your leave, Don Carlos, I am permitted to defend myself. I call upon every man here to testify whether I have done him wrong, or whether (which I boast not) I have ever ministered to the wants of the sick and necessitous. To you, Don Carlos, I especially appeal. Have I not with fidelity and economy used the means placed in my hands for the purchase of provisions ? That I have acquired the respect and confidence of the natives, bespeaks not an intriguing spirit, but one actuated with a sense of justice and love to man. That I advised the treaty was to spare the eflfusion of blood — to spare which my voice shall ever be heard, though it brings destruction on my head. I essayed to speak awhile ago in the cause of justice, in the cause of innocence, but I was silenced. By an examination of your stores you will find provisions collected there for several months, at least to last through the winter. This is the work of myself and my colleagues — without as- sistance or without remuneration. If, after this 66 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. exhibit, you are dissatisfied with me, you will please give me permission to accompany Don Pacheco to Achitta. 'Tis all I ask." After he had finished, Andreo and another friend asked leave to go with him. Hereupon Don Carlos, alarmed lest a defection should extend further and others for various causes should break ofi" from the expedition, and perhaps imperil its success, after a brief conference with Oliviera, brought about a reconciliation, which was as false on one side as it was sincere on the other. On the following day Don Pacheco, with Andreo alone, was sent out to meet the expected reinforce- ment and conduct it by the nearest route* Teodora still continued to exchange trinkets and commodities for maize and other provisions, though opportunities for barter became fewer every day. Three other persson were detailed to hunt and cure venison and other game. Now a strange mutation took place in the mind of Don Carlos. As he had been the slave of pleasure, then of gold, he finally became that of CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 67 ambition and military glory. Already, in his esti- mation, lie was destined to become the Cortes of Catengema. Oliviera, who was U7i lionibre politico^ (a politician) hailed this change with pleasure, hoping to take the rule when the affairs of the expedi- tion should become involved. Arms were order- ed to be distributed to each man, a strict military discipline was instituted ; sentries were regularly posted and the mines abandoned for the winter. The ammunition had been so carefully husbanded that little less remained on hand than the quantity brought. A piece of Artillery or swivel {ima jneza de artiUeria, un pedrero) was placed over the gate to command the entrance and causeway. After the council had adjourned, Santnoh sought with eagerness for the young war chief, but he had hurried on with all expedition homewards. While on this quest the medicine-man accosted Taco-taka^ who was engaged in spearing fish on the river. " Well met," exclaimed Santnoh, " I looked for one and behold the other; now follow me to a spot that has no ear. Santnoh's spirit fills his bosom. 68 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. nigh to bursting." At the base of an overhanging rock they sat on the ground opposite to each other. Santnoh fixed a sad gaze on Taco-taka for a few minutes in profound silence. Wearied, at length the latter asked, " What means the cloud on Sant- noh's face ?" Then followed from the chief a sort of chant in measured cadences, impossible to be correctly rendered here, but scarcely to be omitted altogether : ** When Augichee spurned his crippled son, Because no warrior he might be, Who helped his feeble steps among the hills *? Santnoh ! *' When the cruel father called him *dog,' Who hugged him like a petted fawn And taught the way to fame and power ? Santnoh ! *• Who gloried more, when with youthful face Taco-taka sat among the wise For honors won, unsurpassed in council ? Santnoh ! " Who would say : * Be not Taco-taka But now Tetishko, the kongateh, And ever wear this wampum belt for me ? ' Santnoh ! " " My heart feels big towards Santnoh," replied CHROl^ICLES OF FLORIDA. 69 Taco-fcaka with deep emotion, "I call upon the Great Spirit to guide him. Oh, Santnoh ! What is the wisdom we have known? Nothing! The true wisdom I have received from the white Kon- gateh. Go to him, also, and learn what it is to live. Taco-taka can never be a Kongateh." This he said with the best of feelings, then what was his surprise to see Santnoh leap upwards and stare at him with horrified aspect. " Does my eye prove false," he cried, " is this my bosom's child? Does the storm enter my ears? My child gone to the foe ! The stars have indeed vanished before the rising sun, and Santnoh falls at the feet of Unaik. Down sinks his honors and his name, in clouds and darkness, is borne by the winds away. Spirits of departed warriors, and thou, the shadowy Kongateh of my dreams, howl the song on the hills afar, as Santnoh leaves the world. But, no I The time has not yet come ! Santnoh has friends though Taco-taka be lost. Santnoh will yet save his people. I will, in life, stay the downfall of the Cherokees. Now let war 70 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. come, leb our foes be destroyed ere others come, and our own mountain home is free ! " He then quickly returned to the forest deter- mined once more to seek Hiantuga, who he learned had gone back to his lodge on the Tuckasege ; but pursuing a direct route scarcely heeding obstacles. Santnoh arrived there in advance of the war- chief. Hiantuga had traveled on in deep thought resolved upon hostilities of some sort against the pale faces. At this interview, both chiefs were in full accord; but to urge Hiantuga to instant action, Santnoh related the tradition of an ancient sage, who had predicted that the red man for their bloody ways, should in time be driven away before the pale faces, that the water courses should shrink and the hills be cut down ; a saying about which he had often pondered without coming to a solu- tion until lately when the full meaning suddenly flashed upon him. Would Hiantuga live to see the evil day ? That indignant chief drew himself up to his stature and after a deep inspiration said: " Hiantuga can indeed fall, but who shall drive him CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 71 away ?" The conversation then turned upon the fire- arms of the Spaniards, termed by the natives, the little thunders, and about the self-scalping feat of Oliviera. After further deliberations they came to the conclusion that with superior numbers, re- sources and stratagem, the en^my would soon be overpowered and for the first time Santnoh smiled for joy. By fostering hatred for the Spaniards, and harping upon the desecration of the sepul- chres, they began in their present vicinity to or- ganize a powerful league among the chiefs. Soon they sent abroad messengers to chiefs, more remote and not under the immediate influence of Augi- chee. But their main desire was to obtain the con- currence of the vaunted chief Hilnota, who re- sided near the Creek country, and for this purpose they sent Stikititla. As weeks must have inter- vened before he could join them with his braves and confederate chiefs, they determined to advance at once towards Charna and hold a secret war council at the great town house near that place. They assembled around them as they went some of 72 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. the most turbulent of the tribe over whom they held a sway ; these after due instructions were sent out with the war token, and with as much secrecy as possible to the various townships scattered with- in the space of six days journey, Augichee and those who could not be influenced by these secret emisaries were passed over by strict instructions in the general summons. But however secret these movements were, some notices of them did not fail to reach Augichee and the Spaniards. Oliviera had received early information through the nephew of Stikititla, whose services he had bought by oc- casional supplies of aquadiente. Full of self im- portance, full of the brags he so frequently made, he expressed a resolution to repair to the council in a disguise that would enable him to mix unob- served in the crowd during the night. Having made the banter too openly, calmer reflections and appeals came too late to admit of an abandonment of so dangerous an enterprise. The council house was a large conical edifice, built of poles and bark on a slightly elevated hill CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 73 a very few leagues from Oharna, a small babbling rivulet flowed at the base, while around in a sort of a semicircle arose undulating heights covered with timber. A more secluded spot could scarcely be imagined. As the guide led the way, Oliviera followed Avith an indescribable dread of discovery or treabhery, using great circumspection. Several times he was on the point of retreating, but each time the dread of pursuit and capture deterred him, for he knew that many Indians were still on the way to the council. As he drew near, the scene presented to his view was not at all calcu- lated to reassure his spirits. A chill star-lit sky reigned on high, from whence a thin vapor, more perceptible to the feelings than to the sight, had settled towards the earth, rendering the outlines of objects less defined. Before him rose in the dark a shapeless mass, around which he saw a number of indistinct forms in motion, or in stationary^ groups, all reminding one more of the abode of dis- embodied spirits than of aught earthly. Oliviera's; fears were overcome at last by the antagonistic prin- 4 *^4: CHROi^ICLES OF FLORIDA. ciples of sliame and prudence ; so worming his way through the motley crowd in front of the door, he reached it just as the council fire was about to be kindled in the center of the interior; and when this was done the horrors of the moment were but in- creased. The light made the darkness of the smoked interior the more apparent, while it re- vealed the gi'im savages, ranged around in all the appalling disfigurements of their warlike and un- couth ornaments. Shortly after Augichee arrived. He had been apprized of the movement late in the day before and had travelled hither with all haste. There was no change from his ordinary dress — the bear- skin still hung down his back and from beneath it gleamed a bright hatchet, affixed to his belt, the only weapon he wore. This unexpected appear- ance threw the ringleaders into some consternation, but no sooner had he taken his seat, than Santnoh arose and said: "Let the aged speak." At this Augichee, rising slowly, said : ^' Warriors ! But yesterday, when the sun had CHROJ^ICLES OF FLORIDA. 75 sunk beneath the hills, I was in the wigwam smok- ing the calumet of peace, when suddenly screamed aloft the eagle of war. The cry went through all the land. The aged could not rest his limbs. That cry drove sleep away. Through the dark night I followed the sounds of war. Here stands Augichee. This is the war council. A war against whom ? A handful of peaceful men who came here to dig the earth for stones. Fallen, fallen are the Cherokees if they speak with forked tongues and regard not the clasping of hands nor the force of treaties. Shall the Cherokee kill his brothers ? Augichee wars not against the pale faces. War- riors, I have said." The next that spoke was Hiantuga, bold, daring, full of fire : " 'Tis not the young who speaks, 'tis my father's spirit that gives me words. The pale faces are treacherous. 'Tis they who speak with forked tongues. Weak are they now, so was once the oak. Peaceful will they be so long as they are weak. Take my advice, chiefs, attack them now. The spark that falls among the dry leaves may be 76 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. easily put out with the foot, neglect it and soon the mountains are involved in a general conflagration. Drive the pale faces away or let them die ere they overshadow the red man." Augichee now rose again. Somewhat excited, but soon subduing his emotion, he proceeded with calmness : " Chiefs and warriors, when the pale faces came they asked for leave to dig among the stones of the hills ; we said dig. We said the Great Spirit sent the rain and gave the game — eat and drink with us. We smoked the calumet of peace and, as the smoke went up, Augichee said who knows but these men may bring good to the Oherokees. Aug- ichee's heart felt big towards them. Sickness came. Santnoh said, I must go to the spirit land and he sung the death song. Then Unaik, sent by the Master of Life, raised me up and taught me wisdom. Food is necessary for man, but far more that wisdom. The wisdom of the red man is dark- ness and thunder. Santnoh hastily sprung up and interrupted CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 77 him thus : " Fallen is the great chief of the Oherokees. He speaks words that should cause each warrior to raise his tomahawk and utter the war whoop. The Great Spirit of the Oherokees, the wisdom of our ancestors whose bones lie mould- ering and polluted on our hills — are they to yield to the pale faces ? Has Augichee turned traitor ? Has he lost the red blood in his age? Let him fear the curse of the evil-eye or the blast from the spirit land. Warriors, Augichee leads us no more on the war-path. Warriors, speak if the red blood still warms your hearts." Then a savage yell began within the lodge, and caught up by those without, made the hills re- sound and re-echo with that most fearful note, the war whoop. This told Augichee, too plainly, that for the first time in his long career he was abandoned by his people. The thoughts of de- parted greatness and a mixed emotion of indigna- tion and boiling wrath rose within him. Deprived of reason for a time he advanced toward Santnoh with the uplifted hatchet, exclaimiug: "Then the 78 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. war begins here." Yontliful vigor and manly strength seemed to pervade his form, but the next moment the hatchet dropped from his nerveless grasp as if paralyzed, and he stood like a statue with his eyes turned upwards. The wiley Santnoh, pointing at him, uttered these words with a hissing sound: "The curse of the evil one upon him who supports our enemies." All eyes were ri vetted upon the aged chief in the belief he was under a supernatural spell, which belief estranged even his nearest friends. But he resumed a look of cool and calm composure, saying at the same time: "Augichee's hands shall never more be stained with blood." He then walked out of the council, and from this time he must be considered as virtually deposed. The council then resolved to massacre the Spaniards to a man, lest some might escape to return on a future day with forces to take vengeance on the Oherokees. But one voice was raised in mercy, and but for one man — Hiantuga pleaded for Unaik — all in vain, till Santnoh reluctantly yielded the point, fearing to CHRONICLES OF FLOEIDA. 79 alienate the young war chief. As the Indians ex- > pectecl considerable resistance to their penetrating- within the fort, the time for action was put off for one moon to allow a full collection of forces and the arrival of Hilnota. They then proclaimed death to any one who should inform the Spaniards of this meeting and that he should also bear the curse of the medicine man. Oliviera had escaped detection so far. Having learned enough of the purpose and aim of the council, he descended the hill with stealthy steps to take the route to Charna, where some comrades were waiting at an appointed spot, hoping to hurry on without stopping to the fort. It was well he had left so early, for the wild orgies or ceremonies of the savages attained their height soon after- wards, and he continued to hear those dismal Avhoops resounding through the forest for some distance as he proceeded. He was unaware, that just then it was the custom of warriors to scatter themselves around and inspect the ground; and thus the footprints of a white man were detected. 80 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. On turning round, wliile hurrying on he saw, dis- mayed, two or three torchlights fast appoaching on his tracks. He examined his pistols, as a last resource, then hastened on the way, which in the trepidation of the moment he unfortunately missed by winding at the base of a hill. The further he pressed the more he diverged from the right path. After some time so spent, the route was regained towards Charna. Meanwhile, the warwhoops still continued in the distance, though the torches were no longer seen; the presumption was, the Indians had gone back. Santnoh was about to quit also, when his prac- ticed ear detected footsteps, which he knew to be those of a white man, and he hid himself among some bushes. The sharp twang of a bow, a pang in the shoulder arrested Oliviera. His pistols were ready, but where to direct the shot he knew not, so throw- ing himself on the ground, as if mortally wounded, he awaited the appearance of the enemy, in which event, he was not deceived. He shot at Santnoh twice, in rapid succession but without effect, for CHROl^ICLES OF FLORIDA. 81 Oliviera tliougli expert with the knife, was a bad marksman with firearms. The next moment Santnoh brandished a war club oyer Oliviera ready to slay him. Teodoro, who w^as among the men posted near Charna, becoming uneasy about the safety of Oliviera, went out to meet him on his return. He had reached the place about the same time, when the lights caused him to take shelter in the bushes. The discharge of pistols revealed what was going on. He rushed forward regardless of consequences. Oliviera had been disabled by a blow, and the Indian was about to give the finishing stroke, when he was suddenly dis- armed and overpowered. Santnoh's strength forsook him when he recognized Teodoro, for he saw an evil augury for the future, the more that he was prostrate and in the power of the white Kongateh. He groaned out saying, " Will Unaik slay Santnoh ?" "No!" answered Teodoro, in a voice of thunder, " Flee and learn to be merciful to a fallen foe." On finding himself released, Santnoh imme- diately fled, pursued by supernatural terrors. 82 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. Eor haying witnessed his humiliation, for having allowed the enemy to escape, Oliviera hated Teo- doro the more, even while with the aid indispensa- ble to him in his crippled condition, he was sup- ported till he should meet the guard near Charna :.and reach the fort in safety. CHAPTER IV, ^^N the next day, at a sort of a council held at the fort, Oliviera blazed forth the night adventure and claimed the credit of daring valor. When he spoke of the combat with Sant- noh it was in the most exaggerated terms, taking care to apply the harshest epithets to Teodoro, who refused to kill an unarmed man. He maintained that he could, though disabled, have easily killed his opponent but for the unseasonable interference of Teodoro. He declared the prospects of the expedition very threatning, but he feared not to contemplate them, because he felt the Spaniards must come out victorious in the strife. In conclusion he urged the immediate seizure of hostages, as had been before determined, but with the additional inten- tion that, should it become necessary, the Indian code of blood for blood might be turned against 83 84 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. them. He now asked Teodoro if he could defend his conduct before the company, and further, what was his adyice in the emergency. To which the latter replied : " Don Carlos and Senors — If it is a crime to spare a powerless man, then I am guilty, I plead no more. I was not brought up to the profession of arms. Senors, I am asked for advice. Permit me to say that a pacific policy towards the Indians is best under all circumstances. To main- tain peace we must be just. It is contemplated to seize Eusteka and others as hostages. What would result from the capture of Eusteka but the aliena- tion of one of our most valued and tried friends — her father ? Would not the Indians be the more incensed ; would they not endeavor to recapture the hostages or retaliate ? Is it not wiser — I should say more prudent — to yield in some degree at least to their prejudices ? This might be done without detriment to the expedition, by commencing in good faith to build another fort on the opposite hill, which, while it commands the approach to the mines, would be beyond the precincts of the burial CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 85 ground. If you, Senors, should so decide, no doubt amicable relations may be established. In conclusion, we are here as strangers and need to conciliate the favor of the red man that provisions may be supplied to us." These views not being in accord with the lieu- tenant, he again charged Teodoro, as in league with the enemy, as proved by many evidences of a mutual understanding between them. Having said this, Oliviera assumed airs of great authority, and resorted to threatning language. Though somewhat nettled at the arrogance of this man, Don Carlos could not well forego his services, nor resist his popularity in the expedition. In fact, without his knowledge, he was a mere tool in the hands of this unscrupulous ofiicer. Preparations were therefore made to seize Eusteka and such others as might be deemed prudent. Just at this juncture as if to facilitate this scheme, Augichee, with his family, came to Wahu to receive those consolations in his distress which his soul yearned to obtain of 86 CHRONICLES OF FLOEIDA. Unaik, his friend. Abandoned by his people, degraded, shorn of all influence, now with his purpose and aim in life so truly changed, he needed encouragement and support. The night was dark and drizzly, when Teodoro, who had been informed of the chiefs desire, started to visit him. It was a matter of no little difficulty to avoid the vigilance of Indian scouts, who were always prowl- ing about the vicinity. He had succeeded well till almost in Wahu, but when near the place, Hian- tuga tracked him as if by instinct, till he met Augichee in front of a lodge that stood apart from the rest. They saluted each other with joy, in the Indian mode, which is by grasping the elbows of each other. The old chief said he had lost all power to serve his brother, for bad men ruled in the council of the Cherokees. "As you for told, my trials have indeed come, but I will hold on in the path I have chosen." "M7igu7i pantano se encitentra en el eamino,^^ said Teodoro, in Castilian. " You will meet with no quagmire on the road," then he testified supreme CHROiTICLES OF FLORIDA. 87 joy in finding him the same mind. "Stay not," he entreated, "but go back with Eusteka and Taco-taka without delay. Go at once and before dawn. These are the words of a friend." On his part Augichee warned Teodoro to keep within the fort after the present night. It was evident neither could divulge more to the other, and so far the duties of friendship had been observed. Calling the family around them, after brief religious exer- cises, Teodoro declared that he had a presentment, that his life on earth was about to close, but did not feel a sorrow on that account, but rather rejoiced. In departing, he thanked the Great Spirit that he had been honored to testify the truth, even to suffer in proof of his faith. Then said the chief, " Au- gichee's life is almost spent. He wishes to be buried beside his brother." After a few more words, they parted to meet under far different cir- cumstances. Immediately afterwards the chief heard footsteps, and Hiantuga soon appeared before him. ^Yhen the young warrior had seen an unknown person 88 CHRONICLES OF PLORIDA. take the path to the lodge, haunted by suspicions of foul play, he followed to a crevice where he could easily see and hear what was going on. His words now were, " When the man stood before you my eye was upon my arrow and upon him. I then heard all, I knew Unaik. He is a good man. Hiantuga will watch over him." Then whistling the note of a bird, two Indians came to meet him, whom he sent to follow the stranger to the fort, and keep him from danger. The family, with Hiantuga, then decided to start in the early dawn for Attinka, where the young war chief should re- ceive his bride. With these illusory plans they parted for the night." One of the Indians sent to protect Teodoro, was the spy employed on a former occasion by Oliviera, who thought it was that person he was now follow- ing. Teodoro was about half way on his return, when he was surprised to meet Oliviera and a party going to entrap Eusteka. They pressed him to turn back, but he positively refused. In the mean- time, an Indian boldly came, who declared to CHROl^ICLES OF FLORIDA. 89 Oliviera, that he had been following him, since he had parted with Angichee. Startled at such an announcement, Oliviera took the Indian aside, and after vigorous questions, came to the conclusion that Teodoro held secret intelligence, not only with Augichee, but with the war chief. He then gave orders to arrest and bind the traitor who had given warning to Augichee. A squad was detailed to conduct the prisoner, with the Indian, within the fort. In the dark of the morning, a single Spaniard called at the entrance of Augichee's lodge, when all were plunged in the soundest morning sleep. He stated that Teodoro had despatched him to con- duct Eusteka and Taco-taka out of harm's way im- mediately. The unsuspecting old man hurried his son and daughter, with directions they should go with the stranger to Attinha, whilst he got ready to follow with Hiantuga. Thus they were led into the very midst of the Spanish party and thence to the block house, when the spy was dismissed under pledges with presents. An Indian scout who 90 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. witnessed some of these transactions near the fort, brought word to Hiantuga. His fury knew no bounds. Driven by its violence he hurried to Augichee, to organize a force sufficient to sweep the pale faces from the earth. But the old man received the intelligence with his head bowed down in calm resignation, little in unison with the burning wrath of the young war chief. Chiusteh's grief overwhelmed her — her severest trial had come. The villagers crowded to the lodge, and as they heard of the capture, each vowed vengeance. The old chief now rose in solemn grandeur, softened however by tenderness for his afflicted wife, whom he approached. "Chiusteh," he said, " we have offended the Great Spirit. He has par- doned us. Remember, after sorrows here, we shall all meet again in the happy land. Sorrow is but for time — ^joy lasts forever. Why mourn for Taco- taka; why mourn for Eusteka ? Behold, the Great Spirit watches over them, loves them more than we CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA.. 91 can." At this, Chiiisteli breathed forth these- words : " Eorgiye a woman ; true, our children are safe." Then suddenly seizing Hiantuga by the hand,, Augichee said: '*Be assured, Eusteka loves Hian- tuga — she will do what is right ; she will be de- livered. Tell me, you who are a Skiagusteh, a master spirit among the Oherokees, are you not weary with this world of sorrow and violence ?" Hiantuga bit his lips, but made no reply. In consequence of this seizure, the Indians re- doubled their vigilance and increased their prepara- tions for a vigorous attack. Erom this time no Spaniard dare leave the immediate vicinity of the' fort, except in well armed squads. Within two or three days, notwithstanding the care they had taken of the prisoners, Taco-taka had escaped and re- joined his friends. Shortly after this, matters were brought to a crisis sooner than was anticipated, and before the- arrival of the redoubtable chief, Hilnota. It happened on this wise. On an excessively cold '92 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. night, while a severe snow storm, accompanied with sleet, prevailed outdoors, the inmates of the fort were surprised to hear a plaintive female voice, ivhose melancholy tones arose from below in the intervals or lulls of the fitful north wind. The words were Cherokee, and every now and then the burthens which could be distinguished from the rest, rang thus : The cold wind blasts the early flower, White man pity the lonely maiden. Perhaps these lines, which an amateur poet com- posed afterwards, may serve as a version. [The English version is still worse, but here it is] : Untimely love, misplaced love, A spark that falls upon the snow, The arrow that finds the lonely dove, Breasting on high the northern wind. At one fell swoop she dropped below. To icy death her form resigned. The cold winds rush from yonder heaven, White man, pity the lonely maiden. Untimely love, misplaced love, A flower that opes in winter, when Balmy breeze from the sun above Deceitful breathes of hope and joy, CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 9$ And birds begin to sing again, When sudden cold and frost destroy. The cold wind blasts the early flower, White man, pity the lonely rover. Untimely love, misplaced love, How burns the cold ? How blows the wind ? The limbs, benumbed, refuse to move, Life flutters only at the heart. Now sleep descends the sense to bind, Sweet sleep that never will desert. The cold wind blows, why let it then, Forever sleeps the lonely maiden. As the possibility of a stratagem was feared, no one ventured out ; the sounds gradually became fainter and died in a moan, then the storm reigned alone. At dawn, Pacheco returned with the expected reinforcements. On rounding the hill to the ascent he discovered the body of an Indian female, lying prone on the snow. He turned the body- over. It was Omuna — dead ! Pacheco fell sense- less. On recovery, he could scarcely be separated from her lifeless remains. Frequently he uttered r *'0h, had we lived separate from all the world besides I " .94 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. A belief prevailed that Omuna, unable to endnre the long absence of Don Pacheco, fearing he was sick, and becoming distracted on this account, came towards the fort to seek information, and was on the way and without shelter when the storm over- took her. We shall soon see what influence her ■death had on the fate of the expedition. When Don Pacheco had embraced his father, he 'gave orders for the decent burial of Omuna, whose character he publicly pronounced above suspicion ; he then retired to a private portion of the fort to indulge in the intensity of his grief. The reinforcement, now arrived, consisted of -about thirty-six men, one of whom, the Padre Eiquez, was a travelling ecclesiastic, ascetic and severe .solely through educational influences, for otherwise he would have proved a man of generous impulses. His own native city of Seville was justly shocked ;at the mere relation of the bloody sacrifices of the Mexican priesthood, but would hail with holy ^eal an auto-da-fe. Don Pacheco found them near Cowetta. On en- CHKONICLES OF FLOKIDA. 95 tering the Cherokee country they had been threat- ened with opposition, but by marching mostly at night, and being favored by the inclemency of the weather, they succeeded in reaching their place of des- tination in safety, bringing along a few horses, some necessaries and a supply of ammunition. At Achitta he learned of the recent visit of a few Eng- lishmen to that place, which event Don Carlos re- garded as adding to his other difficulties. The first question of Andreo was about his friend. All to whom he applied averted the eye and remained silent. At length approached the young friend who had always been detailed to as- sist Teodoro as commissary, but he himself was too full for utterance. Then came Oliviera, who said '^Your friend Teodoro is safe in prison. I now arrest you upon charges of high crimes and misdemeanor against the expedition." In the cell where Teodoro was chained, Eusteka was also confined. On seeing Andreo, the former was moved greatly saying : *-A second time you find me thus, but I grieve to think the charges against me now are not for maintaining 96 CHROmCLES OF PLOEIDA. the truth. Let us pray for our enemies, and peti- tion that we we may not be permitted to suffer as malefactors." While engaged in their religious, exercises, one portion of their hymn, which has been preserved by the sentry, was as follows (which I give almost verbally in English, not metrically :) Bear up nor resign to grief, The journey of hfe so brief ; Bend meekly 'neath chastisement, Oft in kindest mercy sent ; Look upwards, the goal is near, Christ the humble soul will cheer. While so engaged. Padre Riquez opened the door and stood among them. In the open court of the fort Don Carlos was- deliberating about the proper disposal of the mules- Avhich had survived, and of the horses recently- brought. As the beasts of burthen could not all be quartered in the fort, it was unfortunately de- cided without due military caution, to erect a shelter on the outside — in close proximity to the entrance — as tlie cannon placed above it was thought sufficient to defend the approach. Work- CHROKICLES OF FLORIDA. 9?' men were set about the work and a foraging party detailed to go into the cane brakes after forage for the subsistence of the horses through the winter. The new comers were greatly alarmed at the- unexpected difficulties with the natives, but Oliviera reassured them by saying that the Indians- were cowardly and easily terrified with fire arms. Besides, he was engaged in forming a party among them who should be subsidized to take up arms; against the rest, when he should come in and decide the contest for good in behalf of the Spaniards. Teodoro and Andreo had had secret intelligence with the chiefs, and had thrown diffi- culties in the way, but they were now imprisoned ; so was Eusteka, tlie chiefs daughter, w^ho was to become his wife in due time. Hostages would soon be captured and the Spaniards w^ould thus have it in their power to retaliate. He intended to send for more men together with some choice blood hounds so soon as the season opened, he would then be ready to compel work in the mines to be resumed. 5 98 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. Just then, Riquez, with horror depicted on his countenance, rushed into their presence exclaiming : ''Diavolos! Diavolos! I exorcise them. Holy Peter and Paul, the Holy Virgin of Toledo and all the saints witness against them. What impiety! I exorcise them, Diavolos !" Frantic with emotion, he went on gesticulating, with the cross in his hand, frothing out epithets, while the audience stood aghast not knowing what it all meant. "What" asked one, blanching at the thought, " are the In- dians upon us?" "Worse," he exclaimed, "holy inquisition, don't you understand me? The heretics are here." Some one exclaimed: "The padre means the English!" and without waiting further many rushed for the battlements, and a scene of uproar and confusion ensued. "Are you mad?" Riquez shouted out, "the heretics are there !" pointing to the cell where the prisoners were kept. In the din of the moment, Don Pacheco was roused from his grief and came forward; his soul had passed through a severe trial, and the traces were left imprinted upon the haggard and pa'e CHRON'ICLES OF FLORIDA. 99 countenance. He found Eiquez, (though now in a hollow solemn voice) still declaring how the com- pany entertained among them the most dangerous of heretics, men who were pursued by the Avrath of heaven — proscribed by the faithful everywhere — whose presence brought pestilence, war and famine — for whom the hurricane gathered its force that it might sweep them aAvay — the earth opened her strong jaws to swallow them — the lightning — aye the lightning of heaven flashed against them, and the thunders bellowed their curse. A deadly pal or seized the auditors, who saw the most appalling evils impending on their heads; though, they them- selves were sie^npre fiel. By this time it was pretty well known that Teodoro and Andreo were indicated in this charge. Oliviera, well pleased, now proposed that liiquez should order the heretics to be disposed of as he might think best. This being approved by some, Eiquez said : " Now, if they will not repent I will giA'e them over for the destruction of their bodies." It was now that Don Paclieco interposed. " Do 100 CHROIS'ICLES OF FLORIDA. you know what you propose? I will tell you, the destruction of the purest and best men. Kill them and take your proper names of murderers. I know Andreo well — a man as bold as a lion, but meek as a lamb, a man indeed, but with a woman's tender heart. Is he not a Christian ? "Which of you would be more ready to sacrifice his life for a friend, nay for an enemy? AVhich of you, when tortured with hunger, would deny himself food to give it to a famishing companion as he did for days to me on our last journey? Teodoro has served you well, to him you owe your present subsistence. He is no heretic or traitor. Had you followed his advice, the Indians would not this day be our enemies. Destroy them if you will, but let my lot be with them." Don Carlos, seeing the sulky condition of his son, entreated Eiquez and Oliviera to postpone further action for the present, " For," added he, "it is not his true sentiments he now expresses, but the result of a diseased imagination, which will give way when his strefigth shall be recruited. Do CHRON^ICLES OF FLORIDA. 101 nothing now to increase his ilhiess ; in due time shall those heretics be richly dealt with." They acquiesced in silence, andDo n Pacheco en- tered the prison chamber. s CHAPTER V. |REVIOUS to the occurences last detailed,. Augichee had made several attempts to rati- '^ som Eusteka, failing in these, he had desired to be allowed an interview with her, which was also denied. Taco-taka proposed also to return to con- finement on the condition of the liberation of his sister, but Oliviera declared emphatically that Eusteka was with him from choice. This declara- tion brought painful surmises to the minds of Chiusteh and Hiantuga, but the old man and his son maintained their trust in the fidelity of Eusteka. During those abortive iiegotations, Hiantuga visited the old chief very frequently, and in those interviews he began to imbibe the elements of a new belief. His mind still wavered between accepting or rejecting them, when word was- 102 CHEOKICLES OF FLORIDA. 103 brought that a number of new pale faces had arrived at the fort, and on reaching the base of the hill they had killed an Indian woman — supposed to be Eusteka, in the act of escaping — and had carried the body away. Maddened by this thought, Hiantuga resolved upon immediate action. The coming night was to witness his vengeance. The night set in cold, and all around was a dreary waste of snow, above which arose the dark masses of the leafless forests, holding melancholy converse with the winds from the mountain tops* Fearing no assault in such an inclement night, the Spaniards collected around two fires in the open court and indulged in the sociable feelings of the moment. The new comers gave an account of their past adventures. The pioneers of the expe- dition spoke of their prospects. Then some ex- cellent wine, which had been recently brought, was passed around. Music and songs brought before the minds Castilian fields and maids. Nor was the youthful poet and drummer forgotten then. For the rest, Don Carlos paced around as 104 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. •one whose mind was ill at ease, while his son sat by the fire, not at all interested in what was going on. The prisoners — who were confined in one of the wiugs — were, evidently from the low sonnds in that direction, engaged in devotional exercises. Sometime after midnight the merriment had in a measnre ceased, and the greater part of the com- pany was locked in sleep. The sentry usually posted over the gateway was permitted to withdraw on account of the cold, the other sheltered below near the gate, being thought sufficient. Things wore on in this wise till the dark of the morning, when a sudden, shrill and appalling war- whoop rang overhead, while a volley of arrows were shot into the midst of the sleepers. The Indians had ascended the walls over the horse shelter and held complete command of the western end of the fort. Seeing Don Carlos badly, though not dangerously wounded, Don Pacheco, aroused from his lethargy, called upon the men to arm and follow him. It was the work of a moment for many to collect at the eastern extremity of the CHR02TICLES OF FLORIDA. 105 court. Here, by well-directed shots at the heights on the opposite side, now in possession of the enemy, they enabled others to rally around Don Pacheco. The battle then raged. On one side were the Spaniards, discharging their muskets and carbines as fast as they could load them, to repel the advance of the Indians ; while the latter on their side tore up the logs for defence or hurled them below upon those who had been wounded, at the same time, the twang of the bows, and the sharp hiss of the arrows threatened to silence the guns. At one moment a body of Indians descended into the court and rushed towards the Spaniards with their tomahawks and clubs, but a volley of shots did such execution that the survivors retreated with precipitation to seek shelter behind the logs of the battlements. But amidst the warwhoop and din of battle one voice was heard, one chief was seen leading everywhere — it was Hiantuga. In the work of destruction the Indians came to the place where the prisoners were confined. Just then they were preparing to set the fort on fire, 106 CHKON"ICLES OF FLORIDA. and the hope of resistance on the part of the garrison seemed almost at an end, the more so that the way to the ammunition was under the control of the enemy, and the supply now on hand was well nigh exhausted. The battle then rested upon a forlorn and desperate effort. At this critical moment the voice of Eusteka reached Hiantuga — he forsook the fight to fly to her rescue. She had been led outside with her fellow prisoners, and a little beyond the g.ite, the •captors were about to sacrifice the latter. It was her screams to save her friends that reached the war chief. Like a flash of lightning he came upon them, caught Eusteka in his arms, and dashed down the uplifted hatchet then ready to slay Andreo, crying: "Spare them! They are onr friends ! " After placing them under guard for safety, and leaving Eusteka with them, he rnshed back to the fort ; but matters were there changed. His absence had decided the contest. Unanimated by the example of their leader, the warriors had dropped back and slackened the fight, while the CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 107 Spaniards rapidly advanced, cheered on by Don Pacheco, who commanded them to press forward, exclaiming : " The day is ours ! " This movement drove the enemy to the extremity of the western battlements, gave opportunity to extinguish the fires that had been kindled, and restored the maga- zine and swivel to the use of the garrison. Now came forward Oliviera, Eiquez, and several others who had either secreted themselves through fear, or perhaps had been rendered useless by their position; these were, by order of Don Pacheco, placed under command of Lopez, a man of un- doubted bravery and a veteran in former services, Oliviera was too much alarmed for his personal safety to resist this order, knowing himself entirely unequal to the exigency. The enemy were upon the point of quitting the heights, or of being pre- cipitated below, when Hiantuga appeared among them. A savage warwhoop was given, a partial advance attempted, when the war chief received a mortal wound. The Spaniards, cheered on by their leaders, sent a murderous discharge of shot at 108 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. such as attempted to make a stand or an advance. The Indians then retreated by means of vines attached to the battlements and over a portion of the horse shelter within their reach, and in so doing managed to carry off some of their dead and wounded. While Teodoro and Andreo, in great anxiety for the fate of their comrades, stood guarded near the mining pit, a chief, fainting from the loss of bloody was borne near them. Teodoro recognized Sant- noh. The blood still welled from a wound in the arm, which by his request Teodoro was allowed to inspect and arrest. When Santnoh had recovered full consciousness he said: " The white Kongateh; always the white Kongateh. Unaik is the friend of Santnoh." Shortly after, the retreat went on with the greatest haste, and the two white men were left alone. They then returned to the fort to deliver themselves up, but were set at large by Don Pacheco, then in command. It was day; a truly sad spectacle presented itself. The partially dis- CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 109 mantled fort, with marks of incendiarism, rose amidst a hill of crimsoned snow. Before the gate, on the west and in the moat, the space was strewn with corpses. Inside of the fort the marks of combat were still more horrible. When the muster roll was called, seventeen men were found dead, up- wards of thirty more or less severely wounded, and two unaccountably missing. The Indians must have brought to the assault some three hundred warriors, of whom, it was conjectured, they sus- tained the loss of at least one-third. This was a day of sorrow to the company. Their attention was divided in burying the dead, min- istering to the wounded (of whom two died), re- pairing the breaches and making further prepara- tions for defense. In consequence of the severe wounds of Don Carlos and the present necessity Don Pacheco still retained command, assisted by Lopez, to the satisfaction of all but Oliviera and his warmest partizans. Oliviera, now smarting under what he now termed a degradation, en- deavored to defend his conduct at the beginning 110 CHRONICLES OF PLORIDA. of the battle, which had been notoriously pusilani- mous, by stating that his intentions had been to fire the magazine under the Indians, though ample evidence existed to show that he was engaged in making a way of escape on the east. Pacheco's first care was to dismiss the few wounded prisoners with words of conciliation and peace to the chiefs, offering them permission to remove and bury their dead. He desired a confer- ence with them, and promised, in advance to evacuate the fort at the end of the winter, provided they would not oppose his building elsewhere. He admitted the wrong that had been done by seizing hostages, and promised not to countenance such conduct in the future. This act of clemency and oonciliation, together with their recent and disas- trous defeat, induced the chiefs who had fought, all except Santnoh, to advocate a talk of peace. They came the next day to bury their dead, and after mutual recriminations and concessions a sort of amnesty was established to terminate after due notice by either party. Nothing could be heard of the fate of the two Spaniards. CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. Ill The young war chief was borne to Wahu, whither Angichee and Ensteka accompanied him, in the hope by constant assiduity to give relief to the sufferer. When the ohl man knew that Teodoro had been brought out of the fort with Eusteka, he constantly regretted that the latter had not pre- vailed upon him to accompany her. Hiantuga lingered for a few days, and now the final scene drew nigh. Augichee knelt beside him, a little further off sat Eusteka, supported by her mother, both sobbing in the agony of their hearts, while at the foot stood Taco-taka, gazing in silent grief. Just then footsteps were heard and Santnoh ap- peared. According to Taco-taka, who was an adept in Cherokee poetry, having been brought up among the wise men, this was the song of the Kongateh, delivered in measured cadences and with grave movements : ^' Shall the wounded warrior hear the war song? Let Santnoh sing the fame of Hiantuga. Let his name live among the warriors ; By his deeds they shall kindle the fires of war, ' Who was Hiantuga?' our children shall say, 112 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. ' Hiantuga the first warchief of the red men, Who fought the fires of the pale faces. When their lightnings flashed, their thunders burst. His proud war whoop rose like the storm in its wrath.' " Hiantuga faintly called his attention and said, " Let Augichee, let my father sing the death song, not of war, not of blood — but of peace. Cease then to mention the bloody path of battle. I became a warchief to win Eusteka — I fought to revenge her death, now I go before her to the spirit land, the land of peace. Hiantuga has other thoughts. Au- gichee has told the truth. Sing, Augichee." The old man began in a low and plaintive tone, whilst Santnoh listened in wonder. The words were of peace, of love to God and man, of victory over death and of immortal life. New thoughts of a new belief were breathed in Avords, Avarm from the impulse of the heart. At every pause Hiantuga whispered "Truth." When Augichee had euded, Hiantuga called Eusteka to draw nearer; he then whispered : " I go in peace — will Eusteka meet me there ?" and while she pressed his hand in token CHROI^ICLES OF FLORIDA. 113 of assent, a single word " peace," and a smile which passed not away, were the last signs of life exhibited by the chief. A lond wail rang among the hills. Santnoh left abruptly, saying to Augi- chee : " Thus have you corrupted the boldest war- rior of the Cherokees I" Eusteka died about six days after, of fever brought on by the trials through which she had passed. She never ceased to speak of Hiantuga while she lived, even in her delirium, she con- stantly called on her beloved. So soon as the weather would permit, their bodies were carried to be buried on a small hill, about which flows the rivulet Tola, within a league or two of Attinha, for there they had first plighted troth. They were buried there side by side at midnight. A long procession of friends followed them bearing torches. On a former occasion it was stated that a lad from Santa Fe had accompanied a friend in search of their fortunes. He became the drummer of the expedition, and was also gifted by nature with some 114 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. poetical genius, which he exercised, however, rudely. To him or to Taco-taka, whatever metrical productions are here preserved, must be ascribed. I insert the following funeral dirge : Mourn for the dead, who never return From the tombs of their long sojourn, Follow them now, as we'll follow Them soon, in one continued flow. They rest from their woes, they rest from their foes. And their spirits have fled, like dew from the rose. Where is the spirits' home ? Where do our beloved roam ? Dark clouds must intervene 'Till death reveals the scene. Mourn for the dead ? No ! Happy are they ! Mourn for the living— their woes display The anguished heart — the tearful eye, The tortured bosom's suppressed sigh. Bury the dead at dark midnight. Seek not the tombs in the sunny light. Darkness and woe are fitting mates. With every funeral intimates. So when morn shall return with her roseate crest, We shall seek for those who are at rest. We shall go to the scene Where their presence had been And there, their image dear Shall seem forever near. Oft shall we start when memory recalls, As evening's dewy shadow falls, The forms, the features that we love, And longing, hope to meet above. CHROKICLES OF FLORIDA. 115 Not long after the battle, Don Pacheco was con- fined by sickness, and so Oliviera assumed the com- mand he had long coveted. He then proceeded again to imprison Teodoro and Andreo as enemies to the Spanish faith, and therefore natural allies of the English. He urged Riquez to excite the pre- judices of the company to the highest pitch against those men. "No doubt," said Riquez^ " those disasters we have suffered were sent in the wrath of Heaven, because we harbored heretics. Let us now show our true repentance by bring- ing them to trial. If they recant, well; if not^ we shall see." With this intent Riquez called on Don Carlos, who was still suffering from his wound, and under the fear of death liad entirely abandoned all his former aspirations and would, in- deed, prefer the walls of a monastery to his present position — and had thus undergone another mental phase and become childishly superstitious. These two, with natural bigotry, decided to appoint a commission, with powers of life and death — whose judgment should be final in the matter of those 116 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. men. Oliviera, Eiqnez, and a tool of tlie former, by name Pedro Blanco, were constituted such. The prisoners were examined, teased and annoyed day .after day, and their confinement became extremely rigorous. Finally, they were put to the torture. Teodoro's more delicate frame gave way at once, and after the first question he could no longer use his limbs ; still his constancy remained, and greatly .awed Eiquez, whose nature was not harsh, and whose mental culture caused him to doubt the correctness •of his own actions. Andreo, whether from his own iron constitution or the greater leniency shown him, was little disabled. Far from denying their religious tenets, they gloried in them, but scorned .all idea of being traitors to the King, or in the pay of the English, as charged. Oliviera, finding Eiquez about to temporise, ordered them either to Tenounce their faith, or to prepare for trial the next day — that is, for condemnation. He did not wish to await for the possible recovery of Don Pacheco, for he looked upon those men as in the way of his ambition. CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 117 Soon after this, Oliviera and some cavaliers rode out and when near the river came up to a single Indian, apparently on the way to the fort. The leader, viewing him as a spy, hailed him in insult- ing language, using an epithet very obnoxious to the Cherokees; whereupon the Indian, not the least daunted, returned taunts for taunts, till the wrath of Oliviera getting the better of his prudence he ordered a charge against the defenceless Indian, who was seized and mercilessly beaten. When turned loose the Indian asked : " Is this the way you keep the truce?" It is now believed that this Indian was Hilnota, himself. At night an individual, born indeed under the Spanish flag, but whose ancestry (regardless of earthly fame, yet anxious to. be inscribed in the Book of Life) had sacrificed all in the cause of religious liberty, contrived by management to secure the post of sentry over the prisoners in the latter watch. He enter- ed the cell unobserved, and he found the prisoners, for whom he was concerned, soundly 118 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. asleep. Anclreo first awoke, and when he found the sentry was a long and tried companion, who had risked himself in their behalf, he entreated him to depart. But the latter urged them to prepare to escape, for he had made arrange- ments with Augichee to receive them, that even now Taco-taka was below awaiting to conduct them to the chief, with the consent of the heads of the nation. Teodoro replied briefly: " My children, it is my desire that you two shall escape from this place. For my part, I should but endanger your flight, and my loss of strength would again put me in the power of my enemies. Go, in mercy, and may the blessing of God accom- pany you." Andreo, being by this time liberated from his chains, rushed to the embrace of Teodoro, Baying : " We are one in life, let us if there is need be one in death. come, I will bear you on my shoulders in safety or perish with you in the at- tempt to escape. Stay not here to be butchered ; but if you are determined to stay I will not desert you in this extremity, but share your fate." Like- CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 119 wise said the sentry, only regretting that the drum- mer, who followed from Santa Fe, was not now with them, but lioped he would soon escape. Teo- doro could not endure this any longer, but still begged they Avould not hazard their lives for him. ''Go, then," said he, " with my blessing; God can deliver me from this extremity. If not," he added, '^ we shall meet above." " Remember how St. Paul was let down a wall," said Andreo, " suffer the same to be done for you." " I yield, then," said Teodoro, " but first let us commend ourselves to Ood." When Teodoro's chains were entirely removed he looked sadly at his excoriated limbs, and said, ^^ I fear your love and assiduity are in vain. I think I shall sleep before another sunset. Where shall I see Augichee ?" The answer was, near the furnace. " The furnace," he mused, " aye, that is the place. I pray God to have you in his keeping wlien I am gone." Andreo and the sentry having removed part of the roof, conveyed him to the palisades, there they 120 CHROiTICLES OF FLORIDA. let liim down by means of a rope and blanket, safely into the arms of Taco-taka, at the base of the western side near the precipice. Andreo next de- scended followed by the sentry. Teodoro was sup- ported in the arms of the two friends, while Taco- taka, who silently and cautiously led the way, watched around and above lest they should be dis- covered. They had thus safely reached the main ridge, when Oliviera, going the rounds of duty by an odd chance, for this was usually entrusted to Lopez, saw the prison door ajar and without a sentry. He ran up the ladder and calling others to follow, discovered by the aid of flamebeaux that the prisoners had escaped. The alarm was in- stantly extended throughout all the fort and all were called to arms. The sentry over the gate, saw for the first time, though indistinctly, some moving objects in the dark going towards the fur- nice. Furious with excitement Oliviera sprung to his side, and cried out : '' Hang them ! turn the guQ towards them, and let them have it." Riquez CHEOi^ICLES OF FLOKIDA. ' 121 liiinded up the match ; a loud report followed, the garrison stood in breathless suspense, when a cry of distress was heard in the distance. Oliviera exclaimed : '" They have got it !" He then ordered the few horses to be saddled and prepared to sally forth at the head of some choice men. But before this could be accomplished Don Pacheco, who had risen from his hammock, appeared, and though still feeble, resumed the command, Oliviera vowed vengeance for this second affront, but he checked his feeling when he saw Lopez and others follow the lately recognized leader of the expedition. The fugitives had scarcely reached the furnace when Teodoro was committed to the arms of Augi- chee and his wife, who gladly received him. The friends went. in search of poles to form a litter, while Taco-taka was sent a little way back to watch against pursuit. Teodoro sat on the trunk of a tree between the aged couple when a discharge of grape or slug shot bore all three to the ground. Chiusteh was killed on the spot. The other two w^ere mortally wounded. Pointing to Chiusteh^ 6 122 CHRONICLES OF FLOEIDA. Teorodo said: "She is gone before us but not long." Then clasping the old chief in his arms, he uttered a brief prayer. The words soon became faint and ceased. When Tacotaka saw what had occurred he uttered a cry of woe. Andreo examined the dead calmly. No sign of grief escaped him, but on taking up the old chief, neither he nor the sentry, who stood near could refrain from tears, because the wound was fearful. Augichee then slowly said: "I have shed blood, it is just, my death should be bloody. Unaik never harmed any one. Great was the day that brought this man and you to Augichee. take Taco-taka with you. Take the only tie that binds Augichee to this world. Be a father to him." Having said this the chief fainted through loss of blood. The tramp of horses now drew nigh. Taco-taka would not leave the body of his father; but Andreo drew him away telling him it was useless to expose themselves since their friends were beyond human help. At some little distance they concealed themselves behind some kalmia bushes. Pacheco was the first CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 123 to alight and examine the bodies. The old chief showed signs of life, which was ebbing fast away. He could speak again a few words. Pointing to Teodoro he said almost inaudibly: "His fault and mine was to know more than our people." Then Augichee's eyes shone with an effect to startle the Spaniards, and with the words, " my dream," his spirit passed away. Pacheco's indignation was aroused against Oliviera : " How dared you to im- prison those just men," he said, " and when they had escaped, preferring the wild woods and their tenants to your society, you basely murdered one of them thus. Behold your other victims, if the darkness of the night will allow you to see your dark deeds. This aged Indian was our best friend, when all his people were our foes. AVhoever will, let him stay in this region, dishonor and Pacheco cannot live together." Oliviera merely rejoined, ^'take care, Pacheco, or you will try our patience too far." " But," interposed Kiquez, who had come up, " Teodoro and his friends were heretics." ^' Heretics," said Pacheco, sneeringly, " heretics whom God will avenge." 124 CHKOKICLES OF FLOEIDA. He had scarcely said this, when that sound which had often struck terror in the stoutest heart (the warwhoop) rose loud and sharp in the direction of the fort. In the panic of the moment, Oliviera threw his lantern an the ground, put spurs to his horse, and dashed for the fort to seek for shelter^ On the other hand, Don Pacheco, more calm, en- deavored to keep the men back. Seven alone re- mained, three of whom were mounted. Having seen their arms were in order, Pacheco thought it best to re-approach the fort cautiously, lest they might fall into an ambuscade. The two other fugitives came forward from their hiding places,, and reported to Don Pacheco, who was glad to meet them unhurt, and also to learn that no enemy was in the direction from whence they came. Taco- taka also joined them, and stated that he had an- ticipated an attack on the fort, but did not expect it so soon. A report was pretty current that the Spaniards had violated the truce. Andreo and Taco-taka were sent ahead as scouts, while the rest followed after, slowly leading the CHROKICLES OF FLORIDA. 125 horses. They had not gone but a few steps when two riderless horses came galloping along and weve caught by those with Pacheco. Again the war- whoop and reports of firing redoubled ; the party stopped, warned that the Indians were between them and the fort. Presently a horse dashed by dragging something after him. The horse was pur- sued and caught by the bridle, the corpse of Olivi- era was found attached by the foot to the stirrup. Now a bright glare burst up from the fort ; it rose and fell for a moment, then towered on high with a crackling noise. Pacheco lost all hope, and ex- claimed in agony : " My father ! Oh, my father !'' Then came another tramp of horses at full speed, and the riders (when they saw persons in their path) manifested a disposition to turn away. One of the horses bore Lopez and the other Riquez and the drummer. As Lopez drew up he said : " Don Carlos was one of the first victims ! Let us es- cape with all speed !" The persons now on the brow of the river hill were fourteen in number, including Taco-taka, and 126 CHROl^'ICLES OF FLORIDA. had among them nine horses. They determined to take Taco-taka along as guide, and hurry on their flight, all being mounted by causing some to ride double. Chosing the most hidden routes they arrived in safety in the vicinity of Wahu, when a report of a terrific explosion reached their ears. The powder magazine had been blown up, destroy- ing numbers of the Indians, as was afterwards understood, and thus possibly interfering favorably for the flight of the whites who had so escaped. The sun was now risen. At Wahu, Taco-taka ob- tained leave to call at the lodge of the mother of Omuna, to whom he committed the burial of his parents and Teodoro, for which he received assur- ances that all should be done according to his desire. This detention was momentary, and then the fugitives rode on with all possible haste. As they approached Charna, a woman espied them and ran to alarm the village. Being in want of pro- visions, they saw on consultation no alternative but to make a dash into the place, which upon entrance was found entirely deserted by the CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 127 women and other feeble inmates, its late sole oc- cupants. Having procured provisions enough for a couple of days, they quickly remounted and rode off in haste. When night overtook them a few leagues onwards, and as the horses were well nigh broke down, they diverged from the banks of the Hiawassee and made for the recesses of the moun- tains to obtain some rest. Then it was that Lopez began the doleful recital of the capture of the fort: The excitement consequent upon the escape of Teodoro and his friends, and the departure of Oliviera, had not subsided, a species of insubordi- nation reigned among those who remained behind, amounting to a little over forty souls, part of whom had not recovered from their recent wounds. The gate was open and curiosity led many to it and the battlements overlooking the river hill. The sen- tries had quit their posts ostensibly to aid the forward movement, w^here all interest centered. Such was the state of things, when a war whoop unexpectedly rung in the rear of the fort. The Indians had silentlv filled the moat with fascines 128 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. and surmounted the ramparts, whilst at the same time masses of them had climbed the precipitous sides of the hill to the front of the entrance and forced their way to it. That point became the seat of the combat. There was no opportunity to close the gate. The attack was so close that fire arms could scarcely be employed. In the meanwhile the Indians having piled an immense mass of combus- tibles in the rear, rising against the palisade, set it on fire — beyond the hope of extinction. Just now, some of the Spaniards had succeeded in making a proper use of fire arms, but the swivel having been discharged could not conveniently be reloaded, and was thus more than useless in the crisis, as it took the attention of some few who might have been better emploj^ed. But all resistance was vain. The flames increased — the fort was on fire. Indeed, the Indians and the fire had surmounted the battle- ments in the rear. War whoops and "Hilnota! Hilnota!" rung in their ears. Don Carlos came forward, his face was deadly pale. At this moment the Indians penetrated into the fort from the gate. CHROKICLES OF FLORIDA. 129 Two Indians fonglit with Don Carlos, one of whom he killed npon the spot; the other, Santnoh, uttering a yell, cleaved him to the ground with a tomahawk. Thus fell Don Carlos. Unable to pro- tect Don Carlos, and as the place was lost, Lopez seized the only remaining horse, resolved to cut his way out. Finding the gate partially clear, he made a sudden dash towards it, upsetting the savages in the way, or cutting them down with his sabre till he had gotten past unhurt. On the way he saw the corpses of the Spaniards who were slaughtered on returning from the furnace. A horse lay dead beside them. Further on he met Padre Kiquez, and another on horseback. They rode together — not dreaming they should ever meet with any more of their comrades, and in utter despair of ever escaping from the savages. Riquez related that in approaching the fort he had been taken upon the horse of his com- panion, who finally reined in, saying : " After all, Don Pacheco may be right ?" Presently, blows and cries were heard ahead, and some horses — one 130 , CHROi^'ICLES OF FLORIDA. dragging a body — passed them. They then con- cluded to return towards the furnace. The next day the fugitives resumed their retreat. When they had crossed the Naucouchee mountains three of the horses were abandoned as unfit for use. In this emergency Andreo and Taco-taka resigned their horses to Kiquez, so they, Lopez and another individual, were reduced to travel afoot. As they came to the few villages on their route, the inhabi- tants fled away, thus giving them a chance to obtain provisions from time to time. In a few days there remained but one horse among them, and as their progress was necessarily slow and circuitous, they begin finally to suffer from want, and miglit have perished had it not been for the indefatigable labors of Taco-taka, Andreo and another, who procured for the party roots, and occasionally game and eggs, which enabled all to subsist, though somewhat scantily. For a day or two Andreo and his friend had to assist Padre Eiquez on the journey, often bearing him on their should- ers. Broken hearted, sick and weary, at last they CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 131 reached the confines of the Creeks, a friendly peo- ple, who received them with unbounded hospitality. That night Andreo was called upon to offer up thanks for deliverance and prayers for their future welfare. But he said the place belonged of right to Padre Riquez, an ecclesiastic. '" Not so,'^ said the latter, '* I yield to you whose heart is pure, who has won your enemy by unheard of kindness. For me to learn of Andreo is now the desire of my heart." Here Andreo could not con- tain himself, but wept aloud, saying at the same time : " that my brother had lived to witness this I" '' Yes," said both Pacheco and Eiquez, *^ would that he now were alive !" " He was slain unrighteously," Pacheco continued, "the true gold was in him. We indeed sought ignorantly for that which has brought misery to us, when we might have been filled with eternal riches. Our minia- ture state, with all its elements of authority, like the kingdoms of the earth, has passed away. Be- hold its sad remnants. Give me your hand, An- dreo, I was reclaimed through you." "And I," 132 CHROmCLES OF FLORIDA. said Lopez, " when I saw and heard a captive pray, he won my heart." " Last of all," added Eiquez, " put me down conquered by love. The voice of all concur that Andreo shall be our leader in name, as indeed he was and is, in fact." " Not I, not I,"" exclaimed Andreo, " who am the least among you. Teodoro was indeed an an omted minister, though banished and proscribed of men. I was but his servant ; after having been forced to serve in the Inquisition against my will, I found in Teodoro a brother." They then united in heart- felt devotion. I will now draw this narrative to a close. About eleven months after the expedition had started, fourteen men returned to Pensacola. Pacheco and another of the party, a good linguist and geome- trician, received employment as commissioner and secretary to locate and set the metes and bounds of the great Arredondo land grant, a task of no little difficulty. Eiquez was proscribed because of his changed sentiments. For a time he lived with Andreo, who embarked in the fishery, assisted CHROKICLES OF FLORIDA. 133 by the lad who was the poet and drummer of the expedition, but whose father resided near Tomoko on the coast. Jealousy among the fishermen soon drove them from their labors, and so in company with Pacheco, forming a party of six (including Taco-taka, now called Juan) took their way back to the Santa Fe where they had friends. EDDK II, CHAPTER I. THE GOTERI^MEN'T UKDER D0:N" DIEGO (WHOSE FULL ]^AME IS KEVER GLYEN) CONCLUDED. ^^FTER the unsuccessful attack by Colonel Palmer, on St. Augustine, which as we have seen, took place in 1725, the senor governor fell sick of a calenture, from which he recovered with difficulty, being left for a long time subject to an unhappy disorder of the nerves with some im- pairment of his mind, to such an extent, indeed, that he could not tolerate any sudden noise or emotion of any sort. Malicious persons had their sur- mises as to the cause, but as he was there under the tender care of the senora, we Avill not witlidraw the curtain of the sick room. In time however, through good nursing and care, Don Diego convalesced, and though the tone 134 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. IS 5 of his mind was not restored, once more the usual rounds of festivities resounded through the Gov- ernor's Palace. It was now for the first time, that he saw his duty to render the Koyal Government a relation of what had transpired in Florida. As the secretary of the governor was constantly now under the influence of wine to keep off the calenture, a young scribe was dictated to write in part, as follows : " The king requires of me won- ders — and wonders I have done. Consider what difficulties I have heroically surmounted. With a handful of men, not of tlie most courageous sort, and badly supplied with arms and ammunition, I was placed here to protect a vast country from the attack of the English and savages. Well, I have succeeded. This bulwark of the Spanish posses- sions is once more safe after a severe campaign against the English pirates and their Indian con- federates. The enemy in prodigious numbers was led by one Palmer. Our little force was about to succumb through a panic, when I hastened to their relief and bv a flank movement turned the scale 136 CHRONICLES OP FLGKIDA. in our favor. The enemy finding his plan frustrat- ed retreated with precipitation. Our troopa then followed, afoot and in barges, till he was out of sight." For this service the governor received the cross of Saint lago. The 19 th day of September, 1726, is memor- able for the occurrence of a terrible storm. At noon of that day, the air appeared unusually clear and calm, not a cloud rested above the horizon. A little later the pelicans began to wing their lazy flight landward. Thin vapors then began to settle from above or move in from the sea. The tempera- ture, then rather high for the season, fell ; the mist thickened while the sun, now declining, shone shorn of his beams. Then came a puff of wind and ceased. Transparent, watery clouds heaved up in strange commotion and hung overhead as if an ocean flowed above. Then came a warning gust which shook all things as it passed. It ceased, but not long, for now the hurricane, gathering all its rage, rushed to the charge with the sound of a mighty torrent. Its terrific and appalling dirge CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 137 was mingled with the crashing of the forest and buiklings, the lashing of the tempest-driven rain and the roarings of the sea, whose angry and foam- ing billows dash far beyond the shore line. Man, bewildered, knows not where to betake himself. The sea, the sea rises — it now flows over spots that for centuries had been without its reach. A night — starless — a night of substantial darkness, of horror and dismay, reigns over all. Who now can sooth the Avidow and the fatherless, the stranger and the helpless ? Thou, God, seest me ! 'Tis He alone who can bid the storm to cease, the sun to rise! Yet, hark! The last fitful howl is past and the storm has swept by. A'ain delusion. From landward it now returns, and with redoubled force descends to the work of destruction. Morning returns but the sun appears not. Watery clouds yet spread on high, over a waste of ruins on earth. Still the storm, though noAv abating, holds its sway. Horror holds every tongue mute. The sea has receded leaving its shores with the marks of it 138 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. wrath. Ye storm-tossed sufferers in the wildest hour when despair was near, did ye not hear the Voice : " It is I ; be not afraid ! " I am almost ashamed to leave the solemn train of thought to dive into the ludicrous ; but it can- not be now avoided. Daring the storm where was our hero ? Pale, through fear, and trembling in every limb he sat muffled in a blanket in the kitchen corner. Was not the roaring of the storm enough ? Could it not silence the excessive wrang- ling and rattle of his wife, who, puffing in the excess of pinguescence, scolded and bandied him for his lack of manliness ? Where was his Oastilian pride, his noble demeanor ? Shall the very menials laugh at him ? This had been a gala day at the governor's house. Thither had congregated all the officers of the establishment, in honor of the senora's birth- day. The choicest venison and fish had graced the board, while wine and wit had flowed to excess. The chief servant, Jose, had witnessed his most trying time. A little before the storm, the gov- CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 1 31> ernor, who sat at the head of the table, with a cup of wine in one hand and a cigar in the other, was engrossing the attention of the company as follows: " Yonr worships do not know, yon cannot realize- until deprived of this 7mdtuin in parvo — that is of ■ me — what a blessing it is to have as a commander, a man who studies the interest of his post night and day. When the redoubtable Palmer came against you, what would have become of you had you had the misfortune to have been under the command of my predecessor ? Why you would have been killed by the English and scalped by the Indians. Noav you have seen what superior bravery and military strat- agems can do. I sent Sebastian Seco to pepper the enemy with all his might, even though they had buried their balls in the walls of the fort. I was the soul of this movement. Presently, as I stood on the plaza giving orders — 1 don't know how the enemy knew I was there, but so it was — down came a cannon ball and made a great hole in the ground. They wished to get rid of me and make an easy conquest. 'Forewarned is forearmed,'' 140 CHROJs'ICLES OF FLORIDA. thought I. A commander should not expose his person till the trying hour. So I hurried to a isecure position and kept couriers running to and fro. This black, Jose, did his part well. At length the enemy fell back, and I knew it was only Si feint to change position, I rushed to the scene •of action." Here he was interrupted by the storm. A dead palor seized him notwithstanding the potations, and he asked in a whisper : " Is that the English ? Yes, yes, I know the sound ; the English have taken the town ! Eush out, men, and do your best!" Now, when the wind shook the building to its very foundation, he ran seeking the senora. ^' 0, Juanita," he cried, " why did we come here to be murdered by the .barbarous English?" The senora was too much accustomed of late, to the humors of her husband, to be easily carried away with them. So, in his alarm, he ran out and immediately saw his error. Jose was sent to call back the officers who were ordered to their posts and enjoined to use increased vigi- CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 141 lance — an order for which they had reason to curse the governor from the bottom of their hearts. But to Don Diego the sense of danger was as great from a hurricane as from the English, so he retired to the kitchen, as before stated, and spent the time more dead than alive. Scenes like the preceding had been so frequent during the summer, when the thunder squalls peculiar to this region occurred^ that they ceased to demand any serious notice. Some time after this, a sail was descried in the offing, beyond Anastasia Island, making for the bar. As the tide would not serve till midnight, the pilots were of opinion she would not venture to cross the bar — at best rather difficult — till noon of the next day. Don Diego, ever apprehensive, walked down the plaza to the water wall. He then spied the vessel for a long time, and occasionally cast a glance on the pilot boat on the way to reach her. He then turned to the lieutenant and re- marked there was cause to give rise to suspicion that the vessel was only in advance of a strong squadron, for though he could descry the ensign of 142 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. Spain, other marks showed she was under false colors; in proof, her sails were too white, her hull too black for a Spaniard. '' Besides, the pilot, as he draws near, has evident fears of an enemy. See ! How he goes this way then that way instead of pursuing the direct course ! " The lieutenant who was a man of few words, a brave and obedient soldier, made no reply, but hastended at the command of the governor to put the guns in order. He was not a Spaniard, but as an artillerist he could not be superceded, and in truth. Palmer had been repelled by his brave defence. But such is fame, even his name had been metamorphosed by the Spaniards, for which he cared not a maravede. When Don Diego could see no objects in the offing, through the shades of the evening, he retired for the night to the fort as the safest asylum, leaving the senora to the care of Jose and the aged padre, a man of unquestioned worth. The night was dark and objects con Id not be dis- tinquished a few paces off. Lieutenant Seco had CHROI^ICLES OF FLORIDA. 143 retired to rest, according to the routine of the gar- rison, and Diego was entertaining an ecclesiastic in front of the chapel with some of his wonderful ex- ploits, when the sentry near the tower reported that the sound of oars were heard in the harbor. Being in a place of comparative security surroun- ded by massive walls and bastions, knowing, too, that the porous lime-stone blocks with which !San Marco had been built could not be fractured by cannon balls, Don Diego was not at all daunted by the intelligence, but in the haughtiest tone of command, ordered the men to open the batteries upon the enemy and then hail them afterwards. " They will find we are not asleep, but prepared to meet them." Then a tremendous discharge ensued ; Don Diego lost all presence of mind and hurrying the padre along, sought the recesses of the chapel to hide himself, under the impression that a bomb of the enemy had exploded within the fort. The flash of the guns had revealed only a single boat or canoe a short distance from the shore, over 144 CHROKICLES OF PLOKIDA. which the balls had luckily passed. When the roar had subsided, continued cries of "Amigo ! Amigo I" arose from the surface of the water. Seco, who had reached the parapet by this time, shouted out, ''Qui viva?" The answer then again was "Amigo !" After which a female voice screamed out : " It is no one but Franchita and her father !" Thus the battery of San Marco had been opened upon an old man and his daughter on their return in an open boat to town — fear having magnified this into a flotilla of the enemy. In reflecting upon the occurrences of life, we sometimes in our shortsightedness, are tempted to say, how much better if such and such a thing had happened, forgetting for the time that all things are under the direction of Infinite Wisdom, who alone can see the end clearly from the begin- ning. I was on the point of saying how many woes had been spared had Franchita died on this night — but I recall it as sinful. The vessel seen in the preceding day, arrived at noon and proved to be one Avith supplies from Havannah. CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 145 Franchita liad been not long married to Fran- cisco Corello, a subaltern attached to the garrison. Under a gay exterior she carried a deeply tender heart from Avhich welled up the purest emotions. Corello was about 35 years of age, of strong, athletic build, with features rather stern, enclosed by very black whiskers, in disposition somewhat taciturn, but in great esteem with his comrades on w^hom he had spent his wages in treating them to aquadiente. Four or five months of married life had indeed curtailed this liberality, but his friends were always ready to help him with purse and ser- vice so much had he won upon the esteem of his associates. I must now relate the tragical affair in which he was the victim. Having obtained permission to go on a hunt within a couple of miles of the town, where deer abounded, he proceeded to the gate early in the morning, accompanied by his wife to that point. There a sad presentiment seized her and she could scarcely be prevailed upon to part from him. He, however, managed to slip through the gate and had 7 146 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. it closed against her. Taking the Camina del Eej he then turned into the forest and palmetto jungles. He had not gone far when he was en- countered by two Indians, one of whom, whether in earnest or not, levelled a gun at him. With intrepidity, the Spaniard cocked his gun, and the next moment the Indian fell dead. The other Indian on seeing this fled with all speed. All thoughts of game for the present were out of the question, so Corello returned in haste to the gate. Franchita had not retired far, but sat on a stone, weeping. Taking her by the hand he led her homewards and as they walked he whispered : " I wish I had stayed with you, Franchita, for I have shed the blood of an Indian in my defence,'* He there related to her the circumstance. She hurried him on, saying : " Let us go at once to the senora ; she is kind to me and will listen to the truth as you have spoken it." Senora Juanita was in the reception room when Franchita entered, and, without preface, related what had befallen her husband. The senora replied : " The Indians are CHRON"ICLES OF FLORIDA. 147' revengeful and may involve iis in war ; but it would be better thus, than to truckle to them espe- cially in a case where your husband was so clearly in the right." When Don Diego was called in and the matter reported, turning round, he looked up at Corello. " So, caraJto, you have transcended your duties! You have murdered an Indian I Fine hunter, indeed, to shoot a man instead of a deer. Do you intend to bring the Indians upon us ? Ten chances to one you will not shoot them as truly as you did the one this morning. If the worse comes I will hang you in chains." "Alas !" said the se- nora, "forthe sangre azul j alas! for the descen- dant of the Compeador." Early in the evening the governor retired, or rather was borne to bed in profound intoxication. The night was dark and about the hour of ten a drizzly rain began to fall. The town was well defended on the land side by a deep moat and re- doubts, which extended from Fort San Marco on the east to Saint Sebastian, a creek on the Avest, and was entered only by a single gate. From the fort 148 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. and "vvall extended three parallel streets, one along tlie water wall, another from the gate passing by the palace, and the third lying between them. Fronting the palace is the plaza which interrupts those three streets for an interval. In consequence of the rain, the sentinels posted near the gate took shelter within the boxes. Awhile after, certain strange, grating sounds and blows were heard against the gate from the out- side. Greatly alarmed, intelligence was at once sent to the governor, who when aroused, ordered the general alarm to be beaten which called the whole soldiery and volunteers to be put under arms to meet danger. Seco then Availed on the governor and stated that while there were no real causes for apprehension, yet as the populace were so alarmed it was necessary that his excellency should show himself in order to keep them from committing some act of folly in the panic in which they were. His excellency then said : " Lieutenant, you are very unfortunate — you cannot see danger till it is too late. You know one of our men murdered an CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 149 Indian; is it nofc plain they have now come to avenge his death ? I can indeed fight with civilized people, bnt don't like the murderous assaults of these scalping cannibals. I will, however, go tO' the place, speak to the people and send them all with whatever weapons they can find to defend the gate and the wall." He then ordered the war horse, Boracho, to be brought out by Jose. This horse had been chosen for no other quality than his size and the gentle- ness brought about by age and hard usage, and perhaps, because small men are apt to choose large women and large horses — for what cause if not by contrast ? Together, with the horse, came the music band, the standard bearer and the body guard, with torches. The unmilitary portion of the citizens, a motly crowd, were ready to show their zeal and to follow the governor. At last the senor appeared, supported by the lieutenant, when the band played the tune of " Catalina de Liana." Taking off his hat he ordered most of his escorts- to pass on ahead. Seated on Boracho, by the aid. 150 ClTROKICLES OF FLORIDA. of Seco, to the joy of his rider the ill-natured beast would at first scarcely move. At length he ^whispered : " Lieutenant, I wish you would act in my stead, for I really feel very ill from my frolic. Do let me take the repose I need." The only answer given was to prick Boracho slyly with a dagger, when the beast started off in a heavy gallop, to the great dismay of his rider. In this mood he labored up the narrow street regardless of the crowd. Confusion reigned in his path ; the torches were scattered in various directions and the musicians silenced. "Stop! Stop him ! " cried the governor, noAV encircling the horse's neck with all his strength. But an attempt to stop Boracho only made matters worse, by reminding him of a dagger's point. As he drew towards the gate, the terrors of the governor, and the consternation of the soldiers there, knew no bounds. A brief delay might have given the entire custody of the gate to Don Diego and Boracho, for the soldiers were :averse to attacks in front and rear at the same moment. However, when Boracho saw the way CHRON^ICLES OF FLORIDA. 151 •closed ahead — having gone as far as he coukl — he suddenly stopped and began leisnrely to crop the weeds that grew on the side of the street. When the troops gathered around, full of curiosity to learn the cause of so hasty a visit, the governor could only ask : " Have you seen the enemy ?" in tones of alarm. On being told that they con- tinued to hear strange noises at intervals, he mut- tered : " That fellow, Oorella, will be the death of us all yet." He had dismounted to readjust the saddle when Seco and the escort arrived. The former congratulated and praised him for the .alacrity displayed in reaching the point of danger. ^' Danger ?" groaned his excellency, " do you really — do you really think there is danger now?" While asking this the gate shook slightly, with a grating sound that startled the soldiery. This was enough for our hero. Remounting Boracho with such aid as he had, he ordered all to mount guard till morning. As he put spurs to his horse he exclaimed : " Let us see if the enemy will now dare show his face." He then wished in vain that 152 CHRON"ICLES OF FLORIDA. he might go down the street as fast as he had come lip. On reaching his wife, he exclaimed : " 0, Juanita ! The Indians are at the gate ; let ns hide- onrselves." Tradition holds that Don Diego and his wife (for the first time mislead by him) hid themselves on this memorable night among some- tall plants in the garden ; that twice they quar- elled because they had drawn too near to each other; that once Don Diego mistook her for an Indian ; that finally both of them, terror stricken at the entrance of Jose into the garden, had ac- tnally jumped over the wall into the adjoining marsh where they remained in miserable plight among a species of small crabs till morning. Some may think these relations are exaggerated. Let them think so if they will, yet these were the reve- lations of personal witnesses. At early dawn a sentinel on tlie battlements- of San Marco espied the cause of the night's alarm. Close to the gate lay three or four cows that had been shut out in the evening ; CHKOKICLES OF FLOEIDA. 153 their attempting to gain admittance to their calves, was the cause of the panic now re- vealed. The soldiers at the gate dared not look over the wall during the night, so great was their fear of Indian stratagems. The lieutenant had, however, investigated enough of the matter to ex- press himself without any apprehension of the least danger ; this not satisfying the senor, Seco thought the whole too good a joke to be suddenly interrupted ; and in this he was encouraged by a lady whom he had met on. the way to the palace. The governor returned in a pitiable plight, covered with mud, and on finding the true nature of the nocturnal noises, resorted to a happy inven- tion ; he declared that yielding to a strong desire to make a personal investigation he had passed over the wall into the marsh, determined to out- flank the works of defence. His wife, of her own accord had followed him saying that he should not perish alone in the public service. The tides having recently been so high, they made but a slow progress, sinking in the soft mud and quick- 154 CHKOKICLES OF FLORIDA. sand at every step, till the approach of day induced them to return. Under ordinary circumstances this would have been history. A month precisely from this day, a vast number of Indians made their appearance in the vicinity of Saint Augustine. The warriors were tall, athletic, well proportioned and went almost nude, but with Avarlike decorations of repulsive charac- ters. At this time of which I am treating, their good will was bought by the Spanish authorities with supplies of goods at stated periods. This proved to be a bad policy and had the effect to place the sovereignty of the colony in abeyance, and to subject the government to pay tribute at the dictation of a people known to be treacherous, and never long satisfied. Almost with the news of their arrival, the chief, with a numerous retinue, came to the gate, without fear, and demanded satisfaction for what he termed the murder of one of his men. To the lieutenant, who went out to meet him, he said in plain terms that he " wanted blood for blood." Seco remon- CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 155 strated that it was now utterly impossible to iden- tify the person who had done the deed; that it might have been done in self defence, and in either case he offered valuable presents to satisfy the friends of the deceased. To this the chief gave no heed but averred that he could and would identify the murderer (if allowed to enter the place) who must be delivered and devoted to death, else the tribe would seek ample and multiplied vengeance. In- dignant at the stern attitude of the chief, the lieu- tenant was about to deliver an appropriate answer, when the reflection came, that in strict military subordination, it was proper for the governor to assume the responsibility of what might ensue from the conference. Word was then sent to the colonial head that the Indian deputation awaited his presence at the gate. In that moment Don Diego would have feigned sickness, but for the sneers of the senora and the opinion she expressed that a bold demeanor was sure to prevail with the savages, who of all things admired a fearless temper. This, and a 156 CHROiq'ICLES OF FLOKIDA. consideration of his various mishaps of late, came to the aid of a desperate resolve, and turned the scale of his deliberation ; in an evil lionr he decided :to meet the chiefs. Previous to this time, Don Diego had always so contrived matters as to avoid 'being present at the numerous conferences held ivith the Indians during the past years of his gov- ■ernment, but had always confided the task to Seco, or some other officer, and as the Indians liad never been permitted to enter the town he had only had glimpses of them at a distance. In fact, he esteemed them only as ferocious wild beasts.. Boracho was brought out fully caparisoned for the occasion, and Don Diego at length approached, fantastically dressed and armed to the teeth. Now, when assisted to the saddle, his attitude was in- effably droll and grotesque. The decorations and accoutrements on a person of his dimension and symmetry (the more so when seated on so large an animal) gave him the air of a very buffoon. Now, placing his body in a half bent posture, and clasp- ing the bridle and mane, he ordered Jose to lead •CHROKICLES OF FLORIDA. 157 TBoracho, and moved off attended by a strong armed •escort under lieutenant Seco. In the pride of his martial attitude and surrounding, his excellency ^dilated his chest, and said with exultation, " Ah ! the savages will find they have no child to deal with." In the next moment, he added : " I wish they were a thousand leagues off." Then he whis- pered to Seco : " Suppose they should take it into their unreasonable heads that I am the murderer ?" He seemed pacified when told there was no fear of such a silly mistake. Arrived at the gate, his resolution gave way ; on •one pretense or another he would have turned back. At one time he had forgotten a present for the •chief, then again he had not bid adieu to the se- 'nora, and to sum up all, in truth, in very truth, because he " felt indisposed." Seco gave him some ■drink and prevailed upon him to proceed. Seeing 110 Indian when the gate was opened, he plucked up courage and rode out, not forgetting to give di- rections, should he ride back in haste, that the ;gate should be immediately thrown open for his entrance. 158 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. On reaching the camina real, he saw the chiefs at a short distance off. The nudity and determina- ed air of these grim savages alarmed him much and he exclaimed : " They are dangerous wild beasts, cannibals ; nay, very devils. 0, my fate ! Why should I be brought here to be scalped and devoured ?" He then struck spurs to his horse and would have lumbered back to the gate had not Jose and Seco interposed. " Get away," he cried to Jose, "are you also against me ?" Just now three of the chiefs, who had separated from the others, came down fearlessly into the midst of the Span- iards. Wlien Don Diego saw them he was nearly paralyzed by fear and gave up all attempts to escape as entirely useless. One of the chiefs asked of the interpreter to point out the great white chief and when this was done the chiefs clapped their hands, exclaiming: "Sticky! Sticky!" and rushed to the place where he still sat on horseback. The old chief caught him by the hand, in courtesy^ when Don Diego, aroused to desperation, endeavor- ed to escape and called upon the men not to desert CHRONICLES OF FLOEIDA. 159 him. Seco hailed him to take care how he offended the Indians, who were there too few to be danger- ous with impunity, and the governor reluctantly yielded and returned the salutations. The old chief then turned round to the interpreter and observed : " If your great chief is no bigger in soul than in body he is little indeed." I would not have dwelt so long on the tiresome narrative of such a scene but that a faithful record demands occasional pictures of the officials sent out into the colonies — officials that were commissioned through bribery, not for merit. As an immediate sense of danger wore off, the arrogance and pomposity of Don Diego increased in proportion, till the chiefs reminded him of the" visit. " Give me," said the principal chief, ^^ give me the guilty man that I may slay him, and I will smoke the pipe of peace with the little great chief; deny this and the tomahawk is unburied." When his excellency saw the features of the chiefs lower- ing and knew their fixed determination, his fears once more returned and he answered : " Don't be 160 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. angry, gentlemen, we are all friends ; I am your best friend. I say, with you, the guilty person ought to be punished, killed. What right had he to interrupt our friendship ? But you know I have a vast, a great number of warriors here — a great many great warriors — then, how can you find out the guilty person among so many ?" The chief replied : " If they were so numerous as the leaves of that tree," pointing to a pine, " he shall be found." " If that be the case you should not be so angry," said the governor, " I agree to deliver the man if he be detected." " Beware," interposed the lieutenant, " how you promise lest it be rashly done." " Do you wish these- savages to eat us up, lieutenant ?" " Better to die all, than give up one innocent person," replied Seco, with indignation. " You may say so," his excellency said, " but my decision is made up. At all events, the Indians cannot indicate the same person twice, I will manage to cheat them." The sincerity of the lieu- tenant gave grave offence to his superior, who soon eent him to the frontier to inspect the defences and report on his return. CHRON'ICLES OF FLORIDA. 161 According to agreement made, an Indian accom- panied by three chiefs was introduced into the fort on the next day. The force of the garrison was paraded in lines in the open court. At a signal given the Indian ran along the lines twice and singled out Francisco Oorrella. This Indian proved to be the one who had run away after the death of his comrade. The governor then feigned that he was not satisfied, and that Fran- cisco could not have been the person who shot the Indian. The witness maintained his point with vehemence, in which he was also supported by the chiefs who charged the governor with want of good faith. ^' Well, come again to morrow, and if you point out the same person I will believe you." The next morning Francisco being thoroughly disguised and placed in quite another position, awaited his singular trial. The Indian this time ran along the ranks but once, and again pointed out Francisco. The governor thought he could not refuse the chiefs the retaliation they demanded. So with no just regard for the lives of those en- 162 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. trusted to his care and with the worst policy in the workl, he ordered Francisco to prepare for death. A few minutes only were allowed him to confer with the priest. He was then lead to the ramparts where the Indians stood with loaded muskets awaiting his coming. He then spoke to the priest : " Franchita knows I am innocent. Tell her my last regret is to die without having seen her. Yet it is perhaps best she is spared this sight. Adios comarados ! He knelt, a command, a few reports of musketry followed, and Francisco was no more. As he fell the Indians rushed forward to scalp him. Then, and not till then, the superstition of the governor stronger then his fear, impelled him to interpose between the lifeless corpse and the vin- dictive malice of the savages. " Hold ! hold !" he exclaimed, " yow have taken his life ; I claim his body. He must receive a Christian burial !" The Indians received presents and returned homewards praising the justice of the little great chief, only regetting that they bore no bloody trophy of their revensre. CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 163 Were I writing a romance I might here depict the grief of Franchitii, but think it is best to leave it to the imagination, with the brief remark that she survived not the spring flowers — indeed a withered flower, and its accompanying bud were liarshly cropped by death. CHAPTER II. |HE next winter was perhaps the severest ever witnessed at this 23lace ; it commenced on the' night of the 23rd of December, with so very sndden a fall of temperature as took the people by surprise and totally unprepared for the intense; cold. Up to that night the weather had continued pleasant and rather Vv^arm, indeed almost like sum- mer, so much so that the fair sex went about of evenings in light clothing, with bare necks, but still adorned with flowers and fire bugs (cuchillos)^ But about midnight the northwest wind blew in force and before morn water was frozen to the thickness of a dollar (pesos). Tlie suffering of the people became great for want of fuel and clothing ; moreover unaccustomed to stand a low degree of temperature, and the piercing wind which accom- panied it, they were forced to abandon the fisheries 164 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 165 and indeed all work in the open air, and kept close at home in a sort of a stnpor, mnffled np to the l3est of their ability to screen their persons. In this emergency the venerable priest with a conple of other ecclesiastics, the physicians of the post, and other charitable persons, came to the front as Christians always do in the distress of a commn- iiity, nor did they avoid yielding all assistance in their power. Since the terror, for it was no less, caused by the Indians had ceased, Don Diego only experienced that another and still worse had sprnng np in its place with redoubled force, for it was ever present within and around him. True the Indians had departed in peace, and well pleased, but now the fears of a supernatural Avorld, that slackened not a moment overwhelmed him. Day or night, awake or asleep, the name of Erancisco sonnded in his ears. No greater injury could be inflicted upon him than to pronounce that inauspicious name, even when calling an individual to whom it rightly belonged. Added to this, the padre, like another 166 chroinTicles of Florida. Nathan, had, after some deliberation and hesita- tion, privately upraided him for the heinous deed» He wonld have shunned the presence of the lieu^ tenant, who evidently abhored the late tragedy^. had not his own mental inability rendered it neces- sary when that officer had returned, to surrender to- him much of the business of the government. At home as well as abroad, his excellency found no- rest. The senora, however vain glorious she had been of i^ower, conkl not but express her horror and deep detestation of the act; nor did she rest even there, but taxing her memory, she unburied the hidden things of the past, his various derilic- tions of duty, his meanness of soul and cowardice.. Shut out, then, from what might have proven his chief source of solace — the bosom of his Avife — the- world was a barren waste before him ; no flowers of hope grew there, the future loomed instead and in view, dark, boding and fearful. He only looked for the lightning gleam of approaching wrath. Was there no one who might sooth his feverish agony ? 0, for a Lazarus to give him a drop of CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 167 cold water! During the crisis, Jose, yes, the faithful Jose, alone in all the Avorld stood by his side. He had shared the prosperity of his master, and now, in the days of his affliction, stood closer than a brother. For several months the relations of the colony remained peaceful. A severe though not fatal epi- demic prevailed in the place ; it began with the sudden seizure of pain in some joint and after a few days of racking fever, left the persons attacked unhurt. During the summer, fearful thunder storms occurred. Scarcely three days passed away without noises like close cannonading followed by the rattling of unnumbered chariots overhead. During the summer a fev/ deaths took place by lightning, but the trees in the vicinity were struck in innumerable instances. On All Souls Day, the tolling of the church bell had commenced, and many who had lost friends during the year, as they passed through the Yestibule, seized the bell-rope, each in turn, and tolled according to the number of the departed 168 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. whom tliey wished to commemorate. It was on this occasion the crowd at the door gave away as Don Diego, pale, emaciated and dressed in sombre habiliment, entered. He would have tolled the bell, when a rough voice startled him, saying: •^^ Away with your sacriligious hands." Then an individual stepped up, seized the rope, and tolled the bell, solemnly emphasizing the words ; " Eest to the soul Corella! Rest to the soul of Franchita!" Don Diego recognized the father of Franchita ; he swooned away and was carried out of the church. AYhen the governor had recovered from the shock, he resolved, against the strong interces- sion of Jose, to issue a process against the old man. The latter had just reached home when a file of soldiers arrested him. He was brought to an au- dience. " You stand accused of an assault on his excellency, this morning," said the secretary, ^' what have you to answer against so grave a charge ?" The prisoner, fixing his eyes on the gov- ernor, replied : " I am a man, your excellency, and the feelings of a man and father urged me to what CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 169 I did. In the heat of the moment I thought that the slayer of my children meant to toll their knell, and I could not brook the action." " How dare you," interposed the governor, " how dare you term the commander-in-chief the slayer of your chil- dren ?" The prisoner paused awhile as if to collect his thoughts, then said : " There was a man, senor, under your authority; one of undoubted bravery, who would have sacrificed his life in your defence ; one, though poor, of undoubted honor and integrity whose word was never called into question — one, in whose veins coursed the royal blood of Cordova." Here the old man hesitated, and Don Diego, with impatience cried, " go on ! go on ! " " Such a one then, your excellency, was shamefully delivered up to be murdered by the Indians, to the eternal infamy of the Spanish name. And why ? Because the Indians, jealous of the lives of their people, demanded it and because the flag floated over cowards, who were not actuated by a simular regard for the lives of those they should protect." Don Diego taken by suprise, and the force of words 8 170 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. spoken from the heart, hung down his head, while the prisoner proceeded : " His death brought on that of my daughter. Let mine follow, too, how soon I care not. For what can now bind a friend- less old man, an outcast in a foreign land, to a life of sorrow ? Finish now the work, I have said." " Enough ! enough !" shouted the governor, " away with him to dungeon !" As they led the prisoner out, he drew back and said : " The day of retribu- tion will come on you, on Spain, not at once — yours first. Then another flag shall wave on poor Fran- cisco's grave." '* Francisco, always Francisco," muttered the governor ; how his eyes glared ! Then the prisoner was delivered to Seco, with the order for his close confinement within the dun- geon, on the charge of being dangerous to the governor. The dungeon lay beneath the north- eastern bastion of the fort, was filled with damp exhalations and infested with filth and vermin. Whoever was there detained for a length of time was sure to loose health, if not life. As Seco led in the old man, he whispered : " Courage ; I will CHRONICLES OF FLOEIDA. 171 work for your speedy deliverance from any other fare than mine. In the meantime one night must be spent within the dungeon, lest I incur the dis- pleasure of the governor ; to-morrow, simply give me your promise not to attempt an escape. Corella was my friend." The prisoner was then led into this tomb of the living, and when the massive doors were closed he was involved in impenetrable darkness and unwholesome stench. Is it thus that man treats his brother — the image of his Clod ? The lieutenant kept his word the next morning, but though the prisoner was allotted a good private room, he had contracted a fever from which he re- covered with difficulty. Let us now return to other events. Two ship- wrecked voyagers had arrived at Saint Augustine about this time, of whom I must write. Juan de Alvarado, of a noble ftimily of nuevos Ckristianos, having received a commission from the Captain-General to repair forthwith to Florida, on important business, the purport of which Avas not even known to those in the confidence of that 172 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. officer, embarked on one of tliose small vessels called guar da cost as, as the only cliance imme- diately at hand. His effects and servants were to follow in December, when the nsual supplies for the military station of Saint Angustine were to be forwarded. The Pintado, guarcla costas, mounted a small gun at her bows and had a compliment of eleven men, besides three passengers Alvarado, his servant, and an ecclesiastic, the Padre Trello. Twelve hours after leaving the Moro Castle, head wind begau to impede her progress, though now she had entered the powerful current of the gulf. Early on the next morning a vessel, ajDparently of the same class, was spied in the distance, bearing directly down on their course, with the wind in her favor. The stranger bore the Spanish ensign and as no suspicion was at first entertained regard- ing her character the Pintado kept on her way. But not long afterwards the captain, going aloft, annouced fears that the stranger was a well armed pirate and immediately gave orders to 'bout ship and run back under a full press of canvass for the CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 173 Hayannali. The pirate, for so she proved, saw the moyement and also increased her sail and speed, the latter being far superior to that of the Pintado* In a few minntes the pirate ran np the black flag and began to discharge her guns with fearful pre- cision. All chance of escape being out of ques- tion, the Pintado hove to for action with the re- doubtable piratical cruiser, the Bloodsucker, com- manded by a desperado nicknamed "The Sea Tiger " ( Tigre de la Mar). The crew and passen- gers of the Pintado fought well, as men deter- mined to sell their lives at the highest price, but she was soon boarded and carried by the pirates. iVlverado and his servant were both wounded, though not seriously, and they and a few other survivors, including the padre, were put under guard while the vessel was being pillaged. The Sea Tiger had lost several of his boldest men in the combat, and according to his custom, made proclamation of favor to all prisoners who would willingly join his crew. Alvarado, who stood near his servant, advised him, in a language not under- 174 CHRON"ICLES OF FLORIDA. stood by the pirates to accept the terms. "For," added he, " we may have a chance to escape, or after all, we can but die — by blowing up the whole concern." So these two consented and were forth- with sent off to the Bloodsucker, leaving behind five of their comrades who had survived. The Sea Tiger was heard to say to them, with the most sin- ister and malicious expression, with the ferocious voice of the devil within his breast : " You hesi- tate; you deliberate — it is is too late — the manes of my brave comrades cry against you!" I will not polute my page with the relations of the cruel inventions of the pirates, to increase and intensify the sufferings of their victims. The padre seemed by account to have risen to the dignity of a prophet before his death. "Incarnate demons," said he, "look not for your punishment from man. Such atrocious monsters will not be permitted to live much longer to jDollute the face of nature. Your punishment will be sudden — yet with my latest breath I call upon you to repent. Eepent ! " After the work of butchery and pillage was done, the Pintado was scuttled and left to her fate. CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 175 The wind having shifted in the meantime, the Bloodsucker reversed her course for the northward, on the lookout for an expected prize. But the next day a dead calm ensued off the banks of the Bahamas and the ^ils hung loosely on the masts. Alvr.- rado, feigning that his wound was more serious than the reality would justify, sat leaning on the taffrail. He could see the bottom of that clear and transparent sea and fishes that gambolled below the vessel. Neither the dolphins, the pilot fish, nor the shark, nor yet the flying fish that took to the air could divert his mind from the awfulness of his present situation. He had heard relations of cruelty that almost curdled his blood, and at any moment he might be called upon to be initiated in barbarity. He wished to have access to the maga- zine — he longed for it. In the afternoon a terrible storm came up from the northeast, attended with terrific lightning and thunder ; all sails were reefed and the helm was lashed. The storm howled above, the waters roared around. Now, in the midst of rolling billows toss- 176 CHRON'ICLES OF FLORIDA. ing on high with froth and spray, all seamanship was lost. The vessel yawned in every seam ; the water rushed into her hold. The cry was raised that she had sprung a leak; next, that she was sinking. The crew, composed of such inferior men, became frantic through despair and the free use of ardent spirits ; all subordination had ceased, all thoughts of a hereafter was merged in the present, the animal alone then survived the spiritual. The Sea Tiger then brawled out hoarsely in the endeavor to restore order, but how vain. Some got the long boat ready to be launched, and in such a sea; others heaved goods overboard to lighten the ship ; but none could be got at the pump. The vessel broached to; the sea broke over the deck and swept several men into a watery grave ; utter helplessness now seized upon the Sea Tiger himself, he quivered in every muscle as he saw the men about to quit the vessel, impelled thereto by madness and drink. Alvarado had never seen a countenance like his, bad as it was before, in a mo- ment he was transformed into an image of the CHEOKICLES OF FLORIDA. 177 damned. With a supreme effort he said : " Go who will, the Sea Tiger and Bloodsucker will go down to the bottom of the sea together." Mistaken man, another fate was reserved for thee. The boat was lowered on the lea side and the greater part of the crew jumped into her, to be engulfed immediately. As the cry again rose up, that she was sinking, the restTollowed with precipitation, without thought or motive, and threw themselve into the sea with such articles as were calculated to buoy them up, but in vain. While his comrades were being drowned around him the Sea Tiger tied himself to the mast. The only other persons now remaining on board were Alvarado and his servant, who had armed themselves and stayed in the cabin during the con- fusion, being pursuaded that the great danger was not from the leak, which though alarming enough might have been delayed by the use of the pump, but through the panic which had seized the crew. When the vessel was deserted Alvarado ascended to the companion way while the storm was still 178 CHEONICLES OF FLOKIDA. howling and the thunders pealing with little inter- mission. Amid these, however, he thought he- could distinguish by the roar and dash of infuriated breakers, they were possibly near a lea shore. By a flash of lightning (for it was night) the position of the Sea Tiger was revealed to Alvarado, who said : " Wretch, either from the elements or from me thou shalt receive thy doom." " Spare me ! spare me !" shrieked the pirate. That moment the vessel struck the outer reef and came near broach- ing to, but the next surge bore her off and she settled upon the beach with a fearful convulsion. A vivid flash of lightning, an overpowering shock succeeded, the mast was shivered and the Sea Tiger gone to his account. Fractured in every seam, the vessel would soon have been swept to pieces had not the winds and the waves abated with a veering of the former for the land. The two remaining survivors from the vessel then escaped to the shore. On the next day, having buried a large amount of money and valuables, which they had found on board, taking some provisions with them they CHRONICLES OP FLORIDA. 179 started for the northward. The body of the Sea Tiger was left still tied to the shivered mast, the prey of carrion birds. Our travellers were now on a long sand bank, varying from half a league to a league in breadth, which separated the sea on the east from a lagoon interspersed with low mangrove islands on the wesi;. Abut three or four leagues on their journey they found a canoe which had drifted to the shore of the lagoon. Gladly they set about getting ma- terials to caulk her that they might cross to the opposite shore in search of water. When they had gone over they found there a long island which still intervened before the main land could be reached. There search for fresh water proved fruit- less. Ee-entering the canoe, with excessive thirst and fatigue, they still paddled on into an inextri- cable maze of mangrove islands, or rather (as called) keys, in whose confasion the course was lost and the travellers were compelled again to seek the sea beach and abandon the canoe. AYeary and faint they dragged along with no prospect to allay their 180 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. burning throats. A cape appeared ahead, Alvarado had just presence of mind left to notice that the bank widened considerable to the westward and was probably connected there to the main land. Without reflecting further he turned to the left, while the servant slowly followed. A short dis- tance revealed quite a large pond of fresh water into which the travelers rushed to slake their thirst. In consquense of this over indulgence, a sojourn in this place became imperative. After this, vv^hen the locality was reconnoitred, it soon ap- peared that the sand bank adjoining the ocean was indeed connected to the main land at tliis point by a very narrow neck which divides the lagoon on the south from another on the north. Alvarado resolved to travel along the main land, and after excessive privations met some fishermen who kindly relieved the necessities of the travelers and escorted them to the Tower ol" iJatanzas, near the Barra Ohica, The fishermen declared it was possi- ble to have obtained fresh water along the beach by scooping out the sands a couple of feet below the surface in certain spots. CHROmCLES OF FLORIDA. 181 At Sainfc Augustine, Alvarado appeared simply in the character of a shipwrecked gentleman. He took care to write to the Captain General what had happened and request a renewal of his credentials which had been lost on board the Pintado. Mean- time he entered into all the gaieties of the place with an assumed levity of manners. ]N"ot a ball, not a party of pleasure, not a hunt occurred, but he was present as the leading spirit. He soon won the warm friendship of the lieutenant, whose own good nature and unsuspecting disposition led him to see in the fascinating stranger only an embodi- ment of refinement and high chivalric feelings. There lived in the business portion of the town, a Jew, named Manasseh, vv'hose business, in con- nection with a mercantile firm in Havannah, was to supply the station with stores and ammunition. He was of strict commercial integrity and business habits, in good repute with the Captain-General. Alvarado had very naturally called upon him at the first opportunity when a mutual understand- ing subsisted between them ; for besides financial 182 CHEOKICLES OF FLOKIDA. affairs to be transacted, Alyarado had fully con- fided to his friend that he was of the stock of Israel and only a Christian outwardly, through pru- dential consideration. As he spent most of his leisure moments at the house of Manasseh, sur- mises began to be made, that he had fallen in love with the Jew's daughter, and rumor in this case was more than half right. Judith appeared to be about twenty-three or twenty-four years of age. Gifted with a high order of intellect, in thorough literary training and in strict subordination to refined moral feel- ings, she approached near to human perfection, Her features were in unison with her mind ; singly, none could be called beautiful, but their united expressions of intelligence, benevolence and purity, never failed to fascinate the beholder. Graceful in person and action, with a soft, musical voice, her vocation seemed like that of an angel of light on errands of mercy. Judith had no suspicion of the inclination or attitude of Alvarado till the day he formally offered CHROKICLES OF FLORIDA. 183 her his heart and hand ; then she could have politely declined, but when, in the endeavor to please her, he avowed his religious faith, she could not hide her horror and detestation of such dissim- ulation. "You cannot think," said she, "that I descended from those who gave their lives to the flames for the sake of principles, that I should link my fate with one holding your sentiments ?" "Hear me, Judith," he said, "ere you condemn too harshly. Some generations gone, my ancestors underwent the most cruel persecutions. Some were put to death, others were coerced to abjure their faith. Their mouths pronounced the words but their hearts consented not. Eiches flowed upon them and they purchased power, though still in- curring the suspicion alike of Jew and Gentile. Some few rose high in the Spanish monarchy and were thus enabled to shield their people from per- secution. These advantages resulted from their conforming to a few external ceremonies, while in all else the will was unshackled. I now find my- self in this position — not from my own doings but 184 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. from inheritance. Must I now abandon wealth, friends and titles to brave the flames ? Be it so, if Judith wills it and will share her lot with mine. Behold me, then, no longer the Spanish nobleman Juan de Alvarado, but Moses ben Jacob !" *^ Neither will this avail your purpose," she re- plied, "for I am a Christian, not by profession merely, but from the heart." Taken by sheer surprise, he knew not what to say for a while, at length he said : " Then Juan de Alvarado is also a Christian for your sake." "Unprincipled man," she interrupted him, "seek elsewhere for a fit mate, for Judith can never be your bride." His eyes flashed with anger as he said : " Know you whom you have rejected ? You know my name, now learn. I am governor of Florida. In a few days I shall be installed, when Judith shall find the result of her rashness. Till then beware you tell aught of what has here transpired." In the evening, Seco visited Juditli. A close in- timacy had subsisted between them for a consider- CHKO^ICLES OF FLORIDA. 185 able period, but contrary to v/liat generally hap- pens, it had given no cause for gossipping, for the lieutenant was a general visitor among the ladies of the place — young or old, single or married — none could complain of neglect. He was con- sidered a military man who belonged to the whole sex — none in particular. Nevertheless, Seco and Judith loved each other with deep devotioue The open frankness of Seco, his moral rectitude, and a certain community of thoughts had won the heart of Judith. They now met, there was nothing secret between them. Judith told him of all that had transpired that day. In reply, the lieutenant told her that he now perceived the cause of many of Alvarado's inquiries concerning the government of Don Diego, adding that he was now put on the guard against the new governor and would be circumspect towards him. CHAPTER III, ^iT#HE Santa Fe settlement, as its designation il ! imports, was composed of a number of small "^^ haciendas, in supporting vicinity. The peo- ple were generally quiet and orderly, and quite a number of them were French, who had remained under the Spanish flag since Florida had been ceded back. Because they had contrived to main- tain peace with the Indians in the neighborhood, and had themselves been orderly towards the authorities, they were treated rather with con- tumely than harshness. Still there remained with them a fixed determination to migrate, not to France — from which they considered themselves •exiled — but to some more congenial country and sympathising people. Lately, as we have seen, their number was somewhat increased by a few who had come from Pensacola. When word was brought 186 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 187 to one of these last, of the unhappy condition of Don Diego, he arose and said : " I will take my staff and go to him with words of consolation, for who can sympathise with him more than I ?" Three persons had already gone to Saint Angus- tine, and now he was accompanied by three more. Franchita's father was liberated and invited to the governor's honse. Don Diego spoke feelingly, thus: "I repent having ordered the death of Francisco. Would that I could recall the deed ? All that now remains is repentance. I now beg your pardon, before all, for the harm I have done you. Grant it, and I will be to you in your old age instead of son and daughter." The old man extended his hand to the governor, saying : " O, senor, forgive me, also, for having offended you." For a month that his excellency continued in office after this, it was the observation of all per- sons, that a notable change had come over him. When reviled by his wife, he opened not his mouth, until tired of offending one who did not resist, she 188 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. resumed her obligations and affections. Eesigning' all military affairs to Seco — whom he learned to re- spect and esteem, nay, to adopt as a son and his heir — lie walked among the people like a father In the midst of his children. He was ever easy of access and administered justice with kindness. Hence- forth, to the surprise of his intimate friends, death had no terrors for him, and in this manner his moral courage was confirmed beyond all doubt. Peace and humility marked his footsteps. In December, Alvarado's equipage arrived, to- gether with the document that installed him gov- ernor of Florida. Immediately he proceeded with whatever show of parade he could command to the fort and demanded the keys of Seco, but that officer very justly deferred doing so until he should hear from Don Diego, when he would give the customary salute to the new governor in recogni- tion of his authority. Irritated, however, beyond endurance, Alvarado lavished threats and abuses against Seco, but seeing he could not prevail upon that officer to commit a breach of discipline, he CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 189 proceeded up to the palace. Don Diego had been apprised by these transactions and had already made ample arrangements, (with a few friends, some of whom had come from the settlement) forthwith in a small vessel now ready to sail for Cadiz. Though Alvarado, on his entrance, behaved very insolently, Don Diego extended every courtesy towards him and immediately issued a proclama- tion announcing the change of officers. In the meantime the vessel had dropped down towards the bar, awaiting the arrival of passengers. The wind favorable and tide would soon serve. Alvarado spent some time in examining the papers which had been delivered to him. In doing this he came to a list of persons who had been con- demned to the dungeon for various crimes and misdemeanors, and suddenly he arose, exclaiming : " That is the proper place for him — he shall go there." He then sallied forth bent upon sending Seco to prison. Now he found no obstacles. The gate was im- mediately open and the garrison received him with 190 CHEONICLES OF FLORIDA. all military honors. His first inquiry Avas for Lieutenant Seco. They informed him that the lieutenant had just left the shore in a boat to visit some friends, who were about to sail in the vessel at the bar. As Alvarado looked over the parapet, two boats were wending their way across the waters. It was a beautiful afternoon and the merry waters flashed like molten gold at every stroke of the oars. " What means all this," the governor exclaimed, " 1 see a lady in the boat." The reply was that Lieutenant Seco had accom- panied Manasseh's daughter to the boat. If sud- denly blasted by lightning Alvarado could not have undergone a greater change. It was momen- tary however. " Fire a gun," he cried, '' as signal to return." A gun was fired, some confusion was observed on board of the boats, so much so that some observed they were about to put back. But once more the oars were plied with redoubled vigor in one boat while the other displayed her sail and soon distanced her now heavily laden partner. Alvarado raved — at one time he ordered CHKOKICLES OF FLORIDA. 191 the batteries to be opened on the boats — but he soon countermanded this. He then sent off several messengers — some to get boats ready — some to enquire for Judith at her father's house. He was soon informed that she was not at home, that her father feared she had married and eloped with Seco. The boats being ready, Alvarado threw himself in one and soon they were on the course of the others. By this time, the passengers, including Don Diego and the senora, Seco and Judith, Franchita's father and some three or four per- sons from Santa Fe, had reached the vessel in safety, and now that the tide served, sail was made for the bar. After thumping once or twice in the channel she got over into the open sea and the pilots were dismissed. She was bearing under a fine breeze about half a league on her course, when Alvarado reached the pilots. Cursing their stupidity because they had not put back when signalled, he asked who was with Lieutenant Seco. They then confirmed the fact that Judith was with him in his boat. They 192 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. stated that Don Diego and his party, who com- posed the great majority in the pilot boat, ordered them not to obey the signals. "Enough, enough!" shouted Alvarado, " sail out to sea !" The sun was now setting; Alvarado's boat gained somewhat on the vessel, but it was judged hopeless to hold out much longer, unless she would heave to. Alvarado was pale as a corpse. He stood up at the bow of the boat, waving a handkerchief. No regard was paid to this and still the vessel held on her way. Once, and once only, the men thought they saw the waving of something white, from the stern. Alvarado, who held a small spy-glass in his hands, dropped it suddenly and his whole frame quivered. He murmured: "This is too much; too much," and with a leap, plunged into the sea and sunk for- ever. Having disposed of their property in Spain, Don Diego and Donna Juanita repaired to England, from whence they recrossed the Atlantic to seek a home outside of the Spanish dominion, with Seco and others, in the hope that liberty of conscience coiM be enjoyed in peace with God and man. BQDK III. CHAPTER L EULE AND MISRULE. -^T^HE colony, now deprived of an executive 11 head, in the absence also of' an officer next ^ in regular succession, fell in charge of a council held at the palace, by whom, after mature deliberation, the temporary rule was placed in the hands of Marino Sanchez, then a private gentle- man, but of good military reputation. He began his administration under rumors of great turbu- lence among the savages of the interior, which ranged from Tampa Bay northward — and even ex- tended to the settlements. From the commence- ment of winter heavy rains had prevailed, which soon so flooded the immense low grounds that only the slightly elevated piney knolls appeared, like 9 193 194 CHKONICLES OF PLOEIDA^ islands in a watery waste. As a consequence, the subsistence of the tribes became precarious, and impelled by famine — like prowling wolves — they made inroads wherever they could secure a footing or capture food. The settlers became greatly alarmed. How to organize military movements in that impracticable country, especially at this season, or where to locate posts for protection, the governor ad interim — with all his known ability — found to be beyond his means. He sought for in- formation and advice in vain ; even the charts of the colony could not be depended on for even a partial knowledge of the great interior. In this dilemma he was told that the only person that could be of service to him was then in the town, having been left behind by the late Santa Fe visitors. This person was represented as having a most extensive influence, not only where he habitu- ally resided, but over the greater portion of the inland country, both among the whites and savages. His excellency, without the least delay, went to visit him. When Merceron rose to receive his CHROJ^ICLES OF FLORIDA. 19 5 guest, there stood up one of the most remarkable, if not the most august, personages of the age, with a look at once apt to strike the beholder with awe and reverence. Though aged, as proclaimed by long, flowing hair and beard, yet in strong con- trast his body exhibited the muscular development of mature manhood coupled with the nimbleness of youth. His mental faculties were both acute and solid; his language, from a richly stored memory for words, was uttered with clearness and precision in a sonorous, manly voice. The history of Merceron was singular : Born of a noble family of Normandy, a passion for sport in the open field, a thorough disgust for books, fostered by the weakness of his mother, who ruled at the chateau, kept his teachers from instilling in him methodical learning. At length by civil commotions, the death and outlawry of his family, he was left when still quite young an orphan, not only without a friend or support but proscribed by sad heritage in the estimation of bigotry. In this strait some good Jesuits took him under their protection, whom, as 196 CHROKICLES OF FLOEIDA. he shirked all confinement to religious exercises, he repaid with personal services. Even from these he would have been dismissed on account of his stolid want of conformity but for an unaccountable par- tiality on the part of the chief father, who always maintained there was some good in the lad. The mission of the company extended to the coast of Mozambique and thither they led Merceron, who by necessity and choice still followed out-door work picking up information w^herever he could by inter- course and observation. In time all the Jesuits learned to love Merceron for they could but observe that his actions were devoid of selfishness, his chief delight being to minister to the poor, afflicted and sick. Personally his great craving was to admire the true and beautiful in Nature, to ven- erate the sublime in the works of G-od, for this raised the mind beyond, to the Great First Cause, and towards the attainment of moral worth. He in after years ever spoke of the Jesuits with affec- tion and profound respect. He parted from them at the Cape of Good Hope on the return home- CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 197 wards, but parted with mutual expressions of love and good wishes, although they knew that he had yielded to the inherent temper of his mind and embraced the Lutheran faith. Henceforth, without family or worldly ties, he wandered at large, as he declared, a " Protestant Jesuit," and in fulfilment of a vow he had made " in early life, that his efforts should be devoted to doing good to man. Strange to say, from all that could be learned, in all his rambles, everywhere he had met with no serious mishaps, all dangers, all obstacles, all intricacies seemed to have yielded to him as if he possessed a charmed life. In fact, he himself never faltered in the belief that he bore in his person the motto of his family : " Shielded by God, when in tlie line of duty," and thus he did things which in other men would be looked upon as imprudent or rash. He ever wore next to his heart, a small black cross, from the time it was there placed by his friends the Jesuits, both as a gift and an appropriate emblem. How a communion was maintained among so lit- 198 CHRON"ICLES OF FLORIDA. tie a flock thus scattered in varioiis countries is now unknown, yet Merceron liad come to Florida to seek out and confirm his countrymen of the same faith, who had remained behind after the ces- sion to Spain. By them this apostolic man was joyfully received everywhere, and everywhere while ministering in love, his wants were cheerfully min- istered to. His fame, besides, was scattered over the territory among the Indians, and his person was so well described in the tribes that he could visit them at any time and meet a welcome reception. His renown had this origin, dating back a few years: The most high and powerful chief in the peninsula, while on a war path, saw Merceron ap- proaching through the forest. From behind an am- bush he aimed at the white man four arrows (which having been conjured had never missed be- fore). Each in succession stuck in the ground at the feet of the assailed, who deliberately stooped, picked them up and carried them to the concealed foe, who stood now stupified, trembling and wor- shipping. Henceforth, believed invulnerable and CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 191^ sacred, walking in goodness and mercy, no Indian could be prevailed upon to approach him but in kindness, while he could go everywhere with im- punity. When, therefore, the acting-governor had made known his difficulites, and appealed for direction or aid, Merceron undertook the task to attempt a pacification. He might have quoted what was taught at Salamanca, Veni ! Vicli ! Vici! for he succeeded in an incredibly short period and all dis- content was removed ; in what mode is not revealed, but some averred, among other means of persuasion he indicated to the tribes — from his superior know- ledge how and where to procure food — where they could get unexpected supplies of molusks, how terrapins could be raised from their hybernation, when schools of fish would ascend the streams, called attention to the palm-cabbage and a peculiar bulb root, indicated where the deer would likely gather during the freshet, how to set traps for birds, and other matters. The pacification being effected; on the part of the 200 CHRONICLES OF FLOEIDA. Indians they were not to pass certain fixed boun- daries ; on the part of the government a certain fixed supply of molasses should be sent to the chiefs at stated periods. Merceron having returned and reported to Senor Sanchez, that officer, thank- ing him for his services (for Merceron would receive no reward) cordially approved of all that had been done. During the same interim, while awaiting advice from Cuba, a courier arrived in haste with intelli- gence still more alarming than the preceeding troubles with the Indians. He brought official reports of marauders having penetrated from the north into the country near Fernandina and the mouth of the Saint John river and driven the set- tlers before them. In the panic, which his excel- lency simply pitied. Captain Santarem offered to raise a volunteer company to go at once against the English invaders. No soldiers could be spared from the fort, so this offer was accepted to allay the existing panic and to reassure the frontier settlers of protection. The patriotic ardor — nay. CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 201 military ambition — of Santarem was so buoyant, that he almost wished himself a thunderbolt to reach the scene of action, and consequently hur- ried the departure of the force without proper preparation, yet, as far as the men were concerned, it was composed of rather good material, for the rest it was poorly equipped and provisioned. San- tarem, however, thought they could depend for supplies on the route and partly on the chase and fisheries. Among other arms they carried quite a number of rusty escojjefas to supply the settlers. The route extended from Palatka, at first by boats down the river, and thence overland to a block house built of palmettos, as recommended by a Frenchman, near the frontier. On the river they had much sport with the alligators and sharks that were encountered on the way. The land travel, chosen for greater secrecy, began and continued with many difficulties. The force passed through sandy plains redundant of briars and" thorny plants, through stifling pine forests that dropped ticks on the person, through interlaced fallen palmettos 202 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. lying in inextricable maze and tied together by- clinging vines. Beneath, were innumerable snakes and other reptiles; above, the men had to fight swarms of mosquitos and gnats without cessation. At last after sloAvly plodding, sore and harrassed, they arrived at the block honse, and even there they could not rest till it was somewhat cleared of vermin and scorpions. The Captain sent out scouts in every direction to feel for the enemy. These were all infantry and spent most of the time smoking their pipes. Recently, however, a daring horsewoman had volunteered her services. Inez Campo, now aged 22 years, had been an orphan consigned to the cold charity of strangers, and trained from an early age to woodcraft and the care of horses and cattle, yet with all this rough usage, her correct behavior, fearless self-possession and refined feelings always commanded respect from her employers and others. She rode her" accustomed horse in cavalier style and showed to advantage, with a gracefully sym- metrical person, supple in every limb, a small CHKO'N'ICLES OF FLOKIDA. 203 Spanish liut, a flowing mantle, a pistol and cutlass by her side. But when, on nearer look, her large black eyes and perfectly chiseled month appeared, no one could refuse the praise that she might be termed the " Pride of Florida." Without hesitation, she rode directly into the camp of Captain Turner, the commander of the English force, waving as she came, a white scarf. He saluted her, courteously, and said : ^' Are your warriors women ?" " No, Senor Capitano, only one." To which he added, " Then you are the first and best of them." She simply remarked, " You flatter me." After a brief and rapid scrutiny the captain asked, "How can I serve so charming a messenger ?" "• By avoiding the shedding of blood and respecting the territory of Spain," she told him. After a pause, in deep thought, the reply came, '' I will give up all Florida for you." " Are these your only terms ?" said she. Captain Turner then very feelingly spoke: "Yes, and honestly meant, if you will accept." To which she replied : " Perform your part ; I will see you again, if you 304 CHKOmCLES OF FLORIDA. are in the same mind." Without another word, Inez immediately turned her horse around, and putting spurs dashed away through the forest. What had transpired, her modesty would not allow to be reported at headquarters, so she at once retired home, resolved to abandon the life of an amateur scout. On the next morning she saw by the direction of the smoke that the English camp was on fire, and soon learned that its occupants had retired beyond the frontier. Thus Inez, who was the heroine of the campaign of a battle fought without bloodshed — victorious, though now a voluntary prisoner — became in due time the wife of Captain Turner. But, like many other meritorious persons, her laurels won in military life were gladly appropriat- ed by those not entitled to them. Santarem showed himself an apt disciplinarian and diplomat- ist of the late governor's training by appropriating all credit, whether due or not, to himself. By his dictation his amanuensis wrote as follows to the government: "A report of our advance in battle CHR015ri€LES OF FLORIDA. 205 array having reached the enemy, he became very alarmed, set fire to his works and retreated with the utmost precipitation. When the smoke of his camp was seen, we pressed on with ardor, hoping to meet at least some stragglers whom we might chastise. Our troops rushed forward shouting, •" Santiago ! Fuego, fuego ! Ingleses, Ingleses !' But when we entered, not a soul remained, they had all deserted on the bold advance of Castile y Leon." Yet it must be noted, though indications of the new encampment of the enemy were dis- tinctly seen at a spot about less than half a league off, and though the line of the frontier was by no means well fixed, Santarem would not pursue him. After leaving about twenty men at the block house, as a rallying point for the settlers, Santarem .started on his march to town. Two or three hours afterwards, the report of a gun, followed by the :appearance of a deer .that . bounded away from a thicket, caused the commander to order the locality to be instantly surrounded. The party came up to a very athletic man, who having just discharged his 206 CHRONICLES OF FLOEIDA. gun, threw up liis hands in token of surrender. He proved to be an Irishman, Odomio (sic.) by name, who had wandered from the marauder's camp and been lost in the forest during the past , day and night. The captain now exulted beyond bounds for this capture of a prisoner of war to grace his triumphant return. He attempted to treat Odonno with studied arrogance and harshness — but the latter received all with mirthful mimi- cry, ludicrous remarks, or boisterous laughter. When they had reached Saint Augustine, Odonno, still domiciled with Santarem for safe keeping and support, his chief service consisted in bearing pre- sents of fruits, fish, flowers and rose-colored billets to a certain Senora Leonardo, ( a widow ) the affianced of the captain. Some who were fond of a joke, said this was done in imitation of a re- nowned demi-historical character — Don Quixote — of whom the captain had heard in his youth, and that Odonno was deputed as a vanquished giant to present letters of love, composed by a hired scribe in grandoliquent style, to the vast delight of the CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 207 loYer. In a short time, through the patronage and intercession of the priest, the Irishman was en- larged on parole and allowed to resort to such private means of self support as presented, among which was an engagement as pugilist — no unneces- sary office — to the head gambler of the town. Santarem, who habitually frequented the tables, still affected to regard the Irishman as a conquered vassal — even sd*far as on one occasion to kick him,, the latter immediately returned a well planted blow, which not only disabled the captain but drew a profusion of blood. Parted for the moment, Odonno was challenged to fight a duel to the death at early dawn, the gambler, nothing loath, being chosen for his second. The terms were simply that the parties should meet at the appointed place and time, armed with sabres of their own respective choice, the combat to begin at sight. There was in the establishment a sword said to have belonged to a Knight of Malta and kept merely as an object of curiosity; it was well tempered, heavy, of un- usual length and breadth of blade, and few men 308 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. besides Odonno could handle it easily. When Santarem drew near the scene of combat he saw his antagonist approaching through the chaparal, like a tornado, before whom every object, bush and branch were flying through the air as the sabre cut around, far-reaching and with great velocity. San- tarem cast a glance at his own sabre, then at Odonuo's, dropped his weapon and commenced running away at full speed. The combat was over, but the news reached town before the principals. On arriving home, Odonno received an invitation to call on the senora, who was anxious to learn the particulars of the combat, but he would say nothing in disparagement of his antagonist. She, on the contrary, remarked : " He cannot now win the widow of a brave officer a lapunta de su espada," — at the point of his sword. To which he archly asked, " If he can't, can anyone else ?" The reply was, "You have never tried." He then declared his utter aversion to a marriage with her, but that, if she chose, he would give Captain Santarem a chance to retrieve his honor and gain her hand. CHROKICLES OF FLORIDA. 209 In her fury she uttered many threats, and through her influence, the result was another duel. In this the terms were that the combatants Avere to be placed at a distance of sixty paces and armed with pistols, to march towards each other at the word, and fire at will and at any distance. Odonno. who had a good insight into human nature, after he had taken some twenty steps, stopped and delib- erately aimed, which act Santarem imitated and at once fired, without hitting the person. Odonno, haying reserved his shot, marched up ta the captain and placing his pistol by his head for one brief moment, then lowering it said, with em- phasis, "Take your life and the old woman." Santarem then said, "Senor, your w^orship has saved my life three times, give me your hand." " Here it is," was the reply, " and remember, an Irishman carries his heart in his hand !" These occurences took place soon after a new governor had been sent from Cuba. To the great regret of the good people of the colony, the rule of the governor ad interim had proved of too brief a :210 CHROIs'ICLES OF FLORIDA. duration, for during its continuance good order and security were maintained with consumate ability. The incoming governor had acquired a renown at Caraccas, in a career half piratical and half banditti, that is : by robbing the inhabitants of their gold and silver plate and the merchants at «ea of their goods. He was overbearing, pompous, ■difficult of access by the people, whom he ruled through his menials. He soon, however, gave place to a successor, because the colony was not large ■enough for his ambition. Very little of interest can be recorded of the public acts of the officers of fhe place. The time was passed in a useless dis- play of rank and decorations, in festivities and military pageants. In the meantime the commerce of Florida was much reduced, the exportations had almost ceased, while the colony was merely held as an advanced military possession, whose chief supplies came by the way of Cuba. The principal inhabitants spent much time in gambling, cock-fighting and danc- ing, yet, strange to say, in the midst of these dis- CHRO^^ICLES OF FLORIDA. 211 sipations drunkenness was rarely noticed. Gambl- ing led to a few assasinations at night, and rival ry at the balls to a few duels — mostly with knives — for firearms were not fancied. Although the sea wall was repaired and the fort well mounted, the people were under constant panics for fear of in- •cursions by the English, who it was said, had emissaries among the savages as reported by some traders, who under the rules and regulations of the Council of the Indies, were licensed to traffic in the interior. CHAPTER II, ]^0R want of better occupation, a spirit of intolerance began to be manifested by the government, and once more was heard the cry of hereticos, which it was believed had died out within this sparsely peopled colony. Some invalu- able immigrants thought proper, therefore, to make preparation for a change of residence in order to flee from threatened persecutions or confiscations ; chief among whom was that apostolic man, Mer- ceron, who early foresaw the necessity to provide for the exodus of his little flock. The alarm increased W'hen it became known that a sharp lawyer, of a class that live by fomenting dissentions among men, had undertaken to institute prying investiga- tions in the interest of the government and clergy~,. and even now, like a venomous spider, was spread- ing his nets in every direction to catch his expected: 212 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 213 yictims. He was ready to act when quite a large margin of property was confided to his hands for sale and transfer. The two men engaged for the survey of the extensive Arredondo land, while awaiting for ad- ditional means and force, now boarded, in common with others, at the house of Pierre Menard, situated at the southeast angle of the plaza. In the capacious upper room of this large stone structure the proprietor kept his school during the day, but at night it was strung with hammocks for a dormitory. Here, also, at stated periods met a small coterie of choice spirits, whose delight was music, recitations from French and Spanish authors or other pastimes. Pierre Menard, a provincal by birth, was gifted with all the fire and much of the poetical ecstacy of the Troubadours, but it was evident, from pru- dential considerations, he ever maintained the dignified restraint of the better class of Spaniards, except, indeed, when in the midst of intimate friends. In early life forced to wander beyond the 214 CHEONICLES OF FLORIDA. Pyrenees, to travel he knew not whither, because- he would not yield to the dictates of the majority^ he ever declared he had realized the blessing that God takes an especial care of strangers. Truly he had reached Florida in penury — but with peace in his heart -and a Greek Testament in his pocket. After teaching awhile, he succeeded in collecting through various sources such works as those of Florian, Cervantes, Moliere and others. He was subject to a species of nostalgia whenever any of the odes or lyrics of his native land was repeated in his presence; then no regal court, with all its. noblemen and beauties, could in his estimation compare with the shepherds and shepherdesses of his youth, no festivities, no enjoyments equal to. theirs. The following lines from Florian always brought tears down his rugged cheeks : *' Ye beautiful trees that now remind me Of those on which my hands inscribed Estella." He had been married for more than twenty years- to the daughter of a French gentleman of Tomoka^ but this lady, though one of the meekest and most CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 215 refined of women, had nothing to remind him of his shepherdesses but the name of Ermine. They were the parents of two daughters and a son. Their society was peculiarly agreeable to those, who, like themselves, had drifted from their native soil. De Lerida became so passionately fond of Isadore that he began to look upon himself as already adopted into the family. Occasionally there came a few boarders whose habits or tastes were far from being acceptable, but — for prudential considerations — Menard could not exclude all such. One of them was a Morisco, named Safet, who had been the servant of Governor Alvarado ; the other was an Italian, who proved to be a spy brought over by the present governor. In a moment of intoxication the Morisco had revealed his knowledge of a considerable treasure that belonged to him and was buried on the southern coast. But when he pointedly refused to share with Mancini, the latter made a report, with many additions, to the rapacious governor. In the dead hour of night Safet was taken out 216 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. of bed and conveyed to the dungeon of the fort ; but there no promises or threats could wring the secret from him ; indeed, no harsh treatment could "Crush the free born spirit of this son of the desert. The only admission they could ever gain from him was to this effect : The treasure was buried by two joint and equal owners, with the full understand- ing that at the death of either the survivor should take it all. Incarceration in a place so damp and foul brought on sickne^ to Safet, and eventually im- paired the use of his limbs. Being so disabled, the commander allowed him the tree air of the open court. Now, whether this was effected through bribes or not it matters not, nevertheless his further liberation was by bribes given the guards when he was taken out in the disguise of a sick washwoman — the wife of one of them. With secrecy, at nightfall, he was carried up the river in a canoe, and thence to the Oamina del rey ; there a conveyance was in readiness to convey him by nightly stages to the hacienda of De Blanton, the CHEONICLES OF FLORIDA. 217 father-in-law of Menard, at Tomoko. The authori- ties of St. Augustine could find no clue to the escape of Safet, except his iron anklets, some cast off clothes and a pair of old shoes, adrift in a canoe in the harbor. The residence of the Sieur Valverde de Blanton was situated in one of the most charming localities on the coast, haying a fine water prospect. The house itself, with its many pillars supporting a moderately low roof, appeared embowered in the midst of immense oaks that bore long trails of grey mosses that waved in every passing breeze. To the right and left extended orchards of oranges, lemons, figs and other fruit trees, separated from ■each other by hedges of cactus and approached by long alleys of evergreens. Evidences of scientific culture could be seen in the selection and arrange- ment of choice, botanical specimens, most of v\^hich were indigenous. His pedigree, of which he never boasted, certain- ly extended to one of the Xorman conquerors of the Byzantine Empire, and besides, he was allied 10 218 CHKOKICLES OF FLORIDA. by marriage to the liistoric family of Conde. This lady, whom he tenderly loved, had died some seventeen years past, leaving in his charge two daughters and a son. The domestic arrangements of this family would have been entirely disrupted had it not been for the kind services of an elderly housekeeper who had followed its fortunes for more than thirty years and become endeared there- in. Too much cannot be said of the self-sacrific- ing devotion of Celestina and of her enlarged faith. She was reputed as descended in the third generation from one of the companions of Colum- bus and the daughter of a cacique of Cuba. The other persons now residing at the hacienda were Jose — the slave of a late governor — his wife and some three or four children. After the retrocession of Florida to Spain, De Blanton and other refugees still remained in the colony. His leisure moments were spent in the study of metaphysics, natural history and me- chanics in all of which he was by no means a mere amateur. Indeed, the exiles of this class who had CHROJ^ICLES OF FLORIDA. 219 passed southward through Spain were, on the whole, people of moral worth and superior attain- ments. Many of them were scattered in this colony, where their orderly conduct, their retired, industrious habits, gained the tolerance, at least, of the authorities for a long period. At a house in this vicinity, built of shell lime- iStone, but of only one story — to avoid the frequent storms — dwelt an Englishman, Glover, the husband of the elder daughter of De Blanton, with an only daughter, Estella, now about eighteen 3^ears of age. Glover's history was also singular ; rescued from a wreck near Cartagena — supposed, whether true or not, to have belonged to the fleet of Admiral Ver- non, long the dread of that coast — and at so early an age that he only recollected the name of Jack Glover and a few English words, he was brought up by Spaniards, so as to forget most of the past, yet in all things else he was still English, which describes him fully. What shall be said of Estella — beloved and loving Estella ! Though Safet had regained much of his health 220 CHROiTICLES OF FLORIDA. it became very evident that his crippled condition- was permanent and would interfere with the use- fulness of his person in any avocation. In grati- tude he surrendered his right to the treasure to those who had saved him as a dear brother, on condition that he should be at their charge for the balance of his life. He then imparted to De Blanton, Menard and Glover, the exact bearings that would lead them to the treasure. These men accepted the trust with the proviso that the con- templated migration and settlement should be promoted, the feeble and old be assisted, the young educated and the larger portion devoted in the cause of civil and religious liberty — freedom of conscience. A few Indians from the mainland came over at times to this settlement, partly for the purpose of trade, but mainly through gratitude for past ser- vices or the kind receptions extended to them by Celestina. whom they venerated as princess born. But the most frequent visitor among them was- Poetla, the chief of a small village, formerly situ- CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 221 ated some leagues from Palatka, which had been broken up by. the Spaniards and its people driven into the interior by arms and bloodhounds ; Poetla, when pursued, bleeding and wretched, in the last throes of despair had been rescued at great risk by De Blanton and Glover, and properly cared for till he could regain the tribe in their new hunting ground. The devotion of this Indian knew no bounds. After awhile, the search for Saf et proving useless, the government abandoned its further prosecution. It was then that Mancini conceived the project to secure the treasure for his exclusive benefit, but being of great credulity and very superstitious, he knew no better plan than to seek the conjuration of one of those negresses, so common in the colonies — the reputed adepts in African mysteries and occult practices. She lived in seclusion, as usual with her class, in a spot rather difficult of access, on the sliores of the Mari-Sanchez. This woman, after many incantations with a black cock, a black cat, a black snake and a carrion crovv^, at length 222 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. resorted to disgusting jugglery with more revolting objects. In conclusion, slie declared that awful spells had been pronounced oyer the treasure for its security, which could only be dispelled by cer- tain ceremonies, charms and amulets to guard against danger and ensure success. Her demands in money were so large that she counselled Mancini to raise it through a party duly sworn to secrecy. The wreck, of which the debris still existed ashore, pretty well indicated the locality to be searched, which she assigned to an area of nxed dimensions as determined from questions propounded to Jose. Over this space the party to be formed were to march in open order, thrusting pikes into the sand as they went, but at midnight, in profound silence, (for a word spoken would instantly dissolve the charm) until the coffer was struck and lifted from its bed ; this injunction was to be strictly observed. All this Mancini received in implicit faith and proceeded forthwith to form a club of some base associates. It was deemed best by De Blanton first to clear CHKOKICLES OF FLORIDA. 223 the beach of these prospectors before acting in the interest of Safet and others. So, when Mancini came with a number of men, ostensibly for the purpose of fishing and gunning on the coast, when they pitched their tent for the night, about bed- time a ship on fire suddenly sailed on the land and discharged a broadside towards the camp. This display of pyrotechnic art from behind one of the sand hills, magnified by fear and superstition, so frightened the group that they instantly retreat- ed and could not be induced to remain, firmly of opinion that the Tigre de la Mar had come to defend his treasure. But in a few days more the conjuress counselled them to make a second at- tempt under more potent spells, the main one was for each man to burn a lock of his hair on march- ing out to the ground. All went well till they had reached a place where a caboose had been purposely buried, which returned a hollow sound to the pikes. At that instant the sudden appearance of Poetla, adorned Avith antlers and covered with phorescent oil, so surprised them, that one exclaimed " Ave JB24 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. Maria !" and so broke the charm. Poetla as sud- denly disappeared. At a safe distance the party- broke up, at enmity, and threatened the life of him who had first spoken when the treasure was — as they thought — almost within their grasp. All attempt at renewing the search was then at an end. When the treasure was brought to the house of Glover it was found not to exceed two hundred thousand pesos in value. Two days after this there was joy in the settle- ment when Merceron, with certain elders and friends, was seen approaching. All who could, ran out to meet him. He bore important news, and letters from brethren, some of their former asso- ciates, now quietly setted in the vicinity of Port Eoyal. Cordial invitations and many inducements were offered to urge their immediate migration thither. One letter, that from Col. Turner, was as warm as it was unexpected. Merceron had secured three haciendas on the route under the respective charge of friends, ]^)upre, Garnet and Langlois, to transfer those present as also others from Santa Fe. CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. 225 Senor Sanchez had also agreed to purchase the habitations at a fair valuation, so that nothing noAV remained to interfere with the exodus beyond the boundary, save what hindrance might be thrown in the way by the government, which was not now to be anticipated. Having said this much, Merceron proceeded in the open air to call around him the convocation of elders and brethren. " We are here assembled," he began, " to show to men by what test the true church is to be known. This test is not zeal but Jove, love in the bond of unity, so that opponents can only say, 'Behold, how they love oue another I ' In this let us walk in God, with God in us. Who- ever knows that God is love must love his fellow mei]. It has been said, 'Ye are the salt of the earth,' then go forth, as a preservative element to social progress, but let your influence be felt as the gentle dew of Heaven. Go forth, now, and add your agency to whatever is promotive of good in the development of a great and holy people on this continent. Other matters will come for your 226 CHRONICLES OF FLORIDA. consideration before we leave for tlie north country. Kow we have formally to receive five members into our fold, after an examination by two elders. In the meantime, I will proceed to unite in marriage these two young brethren, now present, to two granddaughters of our brother De Blanton." After this ceremony, Merceron concluded thus : ^^ And here admonished by the approach of age, and the wishes and necessities of this little flock, I resign my wandering life in the hope that I may be approved by God and man as a faithful pastor. And, my beloved flock, when my eyelids close in death, let my humble remains be buried beneath a palmetto tree, with this verse inscribed above the grave : " * Wise as serjjents, hut innocent as doves.'' " FINIS. '^'CCr^^