We have now seen how, when Jean Ribaut was making an attack on the Spaniards, his plans were thwarted by a storm of strange fury. One of the ships was wrecked at a point farther northward than the rest, and it was her company whose camp-fires were seen by the Spaniards at their bivouac among the sands of Anastasia Island. They were attempting to reach Fort Caroline, in regard to whose fate they knew nothing, while Ribaut, with the remainder, was farther southward, struggling through the wilderness toward the same goal. Of the fate of the former party there is no French record. Solis, the priest and brother-in-law to Melendez, was eye-witness to the following scenes, a report of which was sent to Spain: When the Adelantado saw the French fires at a distance, he dressed in the garb of a common sailor, and rowed toward the shipwrecked men, the better to learn their condition. A bold Gascon succeeded in making the passage by swimming, when Melendez demanded, "Who are you?" The Frenchman replied, "We are the people of Ribaut, Captain-general of Florida." "Are you Lutherans?" "We are Lutherans." "Gentlemen," continued Melendez, "your fort is taken, and all in it put to the sword, save the women and children under fifteen years of age." In proof of which he caused articles of plunder from Fort Caroline to be shown to the unhappy Frenchmen. He then left and went to breakfast with his officers, first ordering food to be set before his petitioners. Having eaten, he returned to them. "Are you convinced, now, that what I have told you is true?" The French captain assented. "But assist us to leave--that is, in truth, what we demand." "Demand nothing of me, for I tell you, as a gentleman and an officer, holding a high commission from the Court of Spain, that, if the heavens were to mingle before my eyes, the resolution I once make I never change. If you were Catholics, and I had ships, I would help you, but I have none." The supplicants expressed a hope that they would be allowed to remain with the Spaniards till ships could be sent to their relief, since there was peace between the two nations, whose kings were friends and brothers. "We are men made equally in the image of Deity, and serve the same God, if not at the same altars." "If you will give up your arms and banners, and place yourselves at my mercy, you may do so, and I will act toward you as God shall give me grace. Do as you will, for other than this you can have neither truce nor friendship with me."