[Page 12]
they knew nothing of work, and relied upon the Indians for food, which
the latter soon tired of providing. The colonists also were restive under
discipline, and were prone to resent their leader's display of authority.

Laudonniere rashly entered into various alliances with Indian
chieftains who were hostile to each other, with the result that it was not
long before he was regarded with distrust by all the tribes around him.
Saturiba, a powerful overlord, who had been his friend, for instance, was
bitterly antagonized when Laudonniere became the ally of Chief Clata
Utina, Saturibia's mortal foe. Utinz and his tribesmen in turn were made
enemies of the French, when Laudonniere held him captive in a futile
attempt to force him to provide the white men with food.

Discontent, conspiracy and sedition spread rapidly through Fort
Caroline. A number of the colonists revolted, confined Laudonniere, who was
suffering from severe illness, upon a vessel in the river, and stealing to small
boats, set out on a plundering expedition to the West Indies. Their piratical
activities ended disastrously, however. Many of the mutineers were killed by
Spaniards who assaulted them suddenly from three Spanish ships. Several of
the Frenchmen were captured and sent back to Spain as proof of French
ambitions and activities in Florida. The ones who escaped beat a retreat up the
coast to the mouth of the River of May, where they were taken by
Laudonniere's loyal followers, and four of their ringleaders executed.