d a weary time to the
lonely lad before the messenger who had gone to Paris with a letter
telling his uncle of his sad position could return. When at length he
came again, bringing a kind message that bade him come immediately to
Paris and be a son to his equally lonely uncle, Rene lost no time in
obeying.

He travelled like a young prince, riding a spirited steed, and followed
by a party of servants, mounted and armed to protect him against robbers
and other perils of the way. Behind him rode old Francois, who had been
his father's valet and was now his sole friend and protector. The big
tears rolled down the boy's cheeks as he turned for a last look at his
home; but as it was shut from view by the trees of the park surrounding
it, he brushed them away resolutely, and turning to his companion, said,

"Thou hast seen the last of my tears, Francois, and with them goes my
boyhood; for hereafter I am to be a man, and men know not how to weep."

"Well spoken, my young master," replied the old servant, greatly pleased
at the brave words of the lad. "Thou art already a man in feeling, and
thine Uncle Laudonniere will presently make thee one in fact, if the
tales that come to us of his valorous deeds be true, and there is naught
to disprove them."

"Tell me of him, Francois; for though he is my only uncle, I have but
little knowledge of him or his deeds. Of what nature are they?"

"Well, then, he is a mighty navigator, and 'tis but little more than a
year since he returned from the New World, whither he sailed in company
with his Excellency Admiral Jean Ribault. He brings strange tales of
those wonderful lands beyond the sea, and rumor has it that he is shortly
to set forth again for them with a noble company, who will establish
there a sanctuary for our blessed Protestant faith."

The boy's interest was thoroughly aroused by this, and he plied the old
servant with questions concerning his uncle and the New World. Francois
answered these to the best of his ability, and even drew largely upon his
imagination to aid his glowing descriptions of those distant lands of
which the men of that day held such vague knowledge.

With such talk they beguiled much of the tedious journey, that occupied a
week ere it was ended and they entered Paris. Here they were finally set
down before a modest dwelling near the King's palace, in which
Laudonniere was lodged.

Upon meeting his nephew, the chevalier embraced him warmly, and