A WONDERFUL DELIVERANCE The building of Fort Caroline occupied about three months; and during this time the friendly Indians willingly aided in the work of preparing the tree-trunks which, set on end, were let deep into the earth close beside one another, and in digging the wide moat that surrounded the whole.

A heavy embankment of earth was thrown up on the inner side of the palisade of tree-trunks, and upon this were mounted a number of great guns.
During the time thus occupied, Rene de Veaux became acquainted with Micco's son, a young Indian of about his own age, named Has-se, which means a sunbeam, and a strong friendship was speedily cemented between them.

They saw each other daily, and each learned the language of the other.
After the ships had sailed away Rene's uncle found time, even in the midst of his pressing duties, to attend to the lad's education; and every morning was devoted to lessons in fencing, shooting the cross-bow, and in military engineering.

The evenings were passed with the good Jacques Le Moyne the artist, who was a very learned man, and who taught Rene Latin, and how to draw.
Although his mornings and evenings were thus occupied, Rene had his afternoons to himself, and these he spent in company with his friend Has-se, who instructed him in the mysteries of Indian woodcraft.

Now it happened that while Has-se was a merry, lovable lad, he had one bitter enemy in the village.