Answers:
1. Even a moment of triumph held some fears.
The excerpt discusses the arrival of English people to America. Early colonists knew little of the new continent, and were fearful for their future. In a trip of such difficulty and uncertainty, there was much to fear. The excerpt shows that even when something promised a bright future, the colonists held unto some fear of tragedy.
2. The fate of early settlers was uncertain.
Because of the limited knowledge colonists had, and the tragedy that had befallen earlier adventurers, new settlers were worried about their prospects in the new country. Disease, Native Americans, bad crops, bad weather and new animals were all very real concerns, which made their fate in the new continent very uncertain.