an expedition of small boats, and had carried these works,
one after another, by assault.

Having thus effected a landing, and being joined by a large body of
Indians, who had joyfully hailed him as a deliverer from Spanish
cruelties, he had marched to the attack of Fort San Mateo, by which
name Fort Caroline was now called.

Through a series of blunders on the part of its Spanish commandant he
had been able to capture this fort with comparative ease. By the aid
of powder and fire the walls of all these forts had been levelled with
the ground, and their total destruction effected.

Having thus accomplished the main objects of his expedition, De Gourges
had regained his ships, and sailed still farther northward, to the deep
harbor in which Rene had discovered him, and in which he was now
preparing for the homeward voyage.

"This," he said, in conclusion, "brings my narrative to the present
date, and my expedition to the place in which I am granted the great
blessing of a meeting with thee, my noble countryman, who art become at
the same time a noble savage."

Then in his turn Rene gave an account of his experiences at the
overthrow of Fort Caroline, his capture by the Seminoles, his rescue
from them, and his subsequent life and rise to power among the
Alachuas. To all of this De Gourges listened with breathless
attention; and when Rene had finished, he exclaimed,

"No knight of olden time had ever adventures more thrilling than these
of thine, and greatly do I envy thee thy brave record."

After this exchange of experiences the two emerged from the admiral's
cabin, where they had been so long closeted as to excite the liveliest
curiosity of those on deck. When Rene was made known to the officers
of De Gourges' command, he was most joyfully welcomed by them, as one
of whom they had heard brave things, and who was most worthy to command
their respect and esteem.

CHAPTER XIX

THE OLD WORLD ONCE MORE

The moment in which the Chevalier Dominique de Gourges embraced the
long-lost Rene de Veaux, and welcomed him as one who had been dead, but
had again come to life, was one of as sincere pleasure as he had ever
experienced. In his destruction of the Spaniards he had been filled
with a fierce joy; for, according to his view, he was performing an act
of solemn justice, and rendering the world a service in thus ridding it
of those whom he regarded only as murderers and pirates.

It was, however, with far di