fferent feelings from these that he
welcomed his young countryman, and he felt that to bear him back to
France and restore him to the loving old man who had so long mourned
him as dead, would indeed be a triumph worth all the other results of
his expedition. He was not certain that Rene was disposed to give up
the honors of his present position and return with him to France and
civilization. Therefore, after he had introduced him to his officers,
it was with a tone of anxiety that he inquired what the young chief
purposed to do, now that the fighting was all over, and the services of
himself and his warriors were not needed.

"I propose to accompany thee to France, where I may once more embrace
him whom I hold most dear on earth an thou wilt take me," answered
Rene, promptly.

Concealing somewhat his joy at this answer, De Gourges said, "I will
take thee gladly, lad, an thou wilt go with us: but art thou prepared
to relinquish thy chieftainship of these Alachuas, and become once more
the plain citizen of a country where such rank is not recognized?"

"I would sooner be the humblest citizen of my own country, and dwell
among those of my own blood, than be a ruler among strangers, even
though they were the proudest nation of the earth," answered Rene, with
flashing eyes and a voice trembling with emotion. "Thou knowest what
it is to have a country; but dost thou know what it is to lose it,
without the hope of ever regaining it?"

"Ay, that do I. Did I not tell thee I had served in Spanish galleys?"

"And hadst thou served on a Spanish throne instead of in Spanish
galleys, with the same hopelessness of escape wouldst thou not have
hailed with gladness the chance of resigning it, upon condition of
regaining thy country?"

"Indeed I would! my dear friend, and thou art right. A man's country
and his own people are dearer to him than all the world besides. I did
thee a great wrong in doubting for a moment that thou wouldst not
relinquish all that thou hast gained in this new world, for the sake of
again rejoining those dear to thee in the old. So now let us away with
all speed; and ho, for the Old World once more!"

"Wilt thou, for my sake, delay thy departure for yet two days?" asked
Rene. "There be certain papers belonging to my uncle Laudonniere which
were removed by me to a place of safety upon the night of the capture
of Fort Caroline. If I can again find and recover them, I doubt not
but they will prove