Answer:
The fate of early settlers was uncertain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sequence of questions presented at the end of the first paragraph presented in the question above, aims to show that there are many doubts about the fate of the first settlers. That's because that fate was uncertain, as many bad things could happen in the new world. The colonists were not sure whether they would succeed or even survive in the new world, as many colonists had failed, even if there were examples of successful colonists. The fate was uncertain as the colonists could be successful but could be attacked, starved or infected and the questions at the end of the paragraph show these situations that could or could not happen.