tic Cat-sha, and the
band of outlaws whom they had joined in the great swamp, had passed
that way. Their object was to surround Fort Caroline, and harass its
weakened garrison by cutting off any stragglers who might venture
beyond its walls, until they should have so reduced the number of its
defenders that it would fall an easy prey into their hands.

Upon arriving in the vicinity of the fort, the Seminoles found there a
strong war-party of angry savages from the South, who were also
watching for an opportunity to make a successful attack upon it, and
thus obtain satisfaction for the destruction of one of their villages
by the white gold-hunters. With these savages the Seminoles joined
forces, and Cat-sha, whose fame as a bold warrior had spread over the
entire land, was given command of the little army thus formed.

When they made their attack and were driven back from the walls of the
fort by the terrifying roar of its great guns, it was Cat-sha who
planned the ambush that so nearly proved fatal to Simon, the armorer,
and his men. So well had he contrived the movements of his savage
forces that but for a sudden and unexpected attack from behind he would
certainly have captured the fort.

Rene's anxiety for the safety of his countrymen, when he discovered
that the Seminoles were moving towards the fort, caused him to urge
upon Yah-chi-la-ne the need of all possible haste in the hope of
overtaking them. The Alachuas were as anxious as he to come into
contact with their Seminole enemies, and so rapidly did they travel
that they finally entered the River of May in time to hear the thunder
of guns from the fort when the first attack of the savages was repulsed.

Landing some distance below the fort, and leaving only a few warriors
in charge of the canoes, the rest of the little band proceeded with the
utmost caution up the river bank until they came in sight of the tall
shell mound. Here they remained concealed, while scouts were sent out
to discover the exact condition of affairs. Gliding with wonderful
ease and silence amid the dense underbrush, these went, and, at the end
of two hours returned. They had discovered Cat-sha's plan of an
ambush, and reported that the white men were even then leaving the fort
to attack the shell mound.

Then Yah-chi-la-ne ordered an advance, and dashed forward, with Rene
and Has-se close beside him, and followed by his eager warriors. They
reached the scene of the conflict jus