and down the river, but as yet they had not returned.

As Has-se slowly recovered consciousness, and opened his eyes, his
sister bent over him and whispered, "Who dealt thee the cruel blow, oh,
my brother?"

Receiving his faint answer, she sprang to her feet, and turning to her
father, who stood near, exclaimed, "'Tis Chitta the Snake who has done
this thing in revenge for our Has-se's success in the games of
yesterday."

From the entrance of the lodge the old chief proclaimed the news, and
all through the great assembly were heard cries of anger against Chitta
the Snake.

The destruction of this winter's supply of food was not only a serious
blow to the Indians, but to the little garrison of Fort Caroline as
well, for Laudonniere had just completed arrangements with Micco for
the purchase of the greater part of it. Only a small quantity of
provisions remained in the fort, and though the forest contained an
abundance of game, and the river teemed with fish, the French soldiers
were not skilled in either hunting or fishing, and had become dependent
upon their Indian neighbors for what they needed of such food. It was
therefore with feelings of surprised alarm that, on the second day
after the burning of the granary, they noticed the absence of all
Indians from the vicinity of the fort. Scouts were sent to the Indian
encampment to discover the cause of this unusual state of affairs, and
they soon returned with the report that the place was wholly deserted,
and that not an Indian was to be found.