As it was, Iberville promised them all a share of what was got.
On the twentieth day after leaving Quebec they sighted islands, and simultaneously they saw five ships bearing away towards them.

Iberville was apprehensive that a fleet of the kind could only be hostile, for merchant-ships would hardly sail together so, and it was not possible that they were French.

There remained the probability that they were Spanish or English ships.

He had no intention of running away, but at the same time he had no wish to fight before he reached Port de la Planta and had had his hour with Gering and Phips and the lost treasure.
Besides, five ships was a large undertaking, which only a madman would willingly engage.

However, he kept steadily on his course.