“Crebleu!” he scowled, “there must be three thousand of them at least. Fools that they are! I have no men to waste upon such carrion as these. You are a wise soothsayer, M. de Brésac!”
“Monsieur!” replied the Chevalier with some dignity, “I have only replied to your questions with the best of my understanding.”
“But these red devils,” De Gourgues continued, “are armed to the very finger-nails. They look from here little like the allies you have promised us, M. de Brésac. Ho! Dariol, come aft!”
De Gourgues was striding up and down in a ferment. He saw his anchors gone and his plans set adrift by this unexpected resistance. When Dariol came, he stopped before him savagely, and pointing to the dark mass upon the beach said with scorn:
“Look you, master trumpeter, at your friends yonder! Look, I say! Must we cut our way through all this red vermin before we may reach the Spanish Fort? Explain it,--if you can. What has happened?”
“The matter is bad, my Captain, for these Indians are surely bent upon war----”
“If we cannot prove our friendship we shall not land without a battle.”
“’Tis plain as a pike-handle,” said Bourdelais.
“M. de Gourgues, had you thought,” interrupted De Brésac quietly, “that they may take us for Spaniards?”
“Seigneur, I am willing to take a risk. If Dariol will go with me, I will go to the beach asking for Satouriona----”
A murmur arose among those within hearing. It seemed to many a most daring thing to offer; for to our people, many of whom had never passed the borders of France, these Indians were as wild beasts or Africans, fit only to be shot or captured as slaves. For me, I believed with Brésac and having been at the council table with Satouriona I foresaw little harm if he were put among the natives upon the beach. So when Dariol had said that he would go, I too offered my services.
But De Gourgues in his uncertain and dangerous mood was of a different mind.
“I have no humor to lose all my men upon such a fool’s venture,” he said. “Dariol may go, if he have the hardihood. M. de Brésac----”
“Seigneur,” interrupted the Chevalier, “this man must be rowed ashore. He cannot talk and make signs to these Indians, rowing at the same time. It is I who first offered this service.”