CHAPTER XIX
THE OLD WORLD ONCE MORE
The moment in which the Chevalier Dominique de Gourges embraced thelong-lost Rene de Veaux, and welcomed him as one who had been dead, buthad again come to life, was one of as sincere pleasure as he had everexperienced. In his destruction of the Spaniards he had been filledwith a fierce joy; for, according to his view, he was performing an actof solemn justice, and rendering the world a service in thus ridding itof those whom he regarded only as murderers and pirates.
It was, however, with far different feelings from these that hewelcomed his young countryman, and he felt that to bear him back toFrance and restore him to the loving old man who had so long mournedhim as dead, would indeed be a triumph worth all the other results ofhis expedition. He was not certain that Rene was disposed to give upthe honors of his present position and return with him to France andcivilization. Therefore, after he had introduced him to his officers,it was with a tone of anxiety that he inquired what the young chiefpurposed to do, now that the fighting was all over, and the services ofhimself and his warriors were not needed.
"I propose to accompany thee to France, where I may once more embracehim whom I hold most dear on earth an thou wilt take me," answeredRene, promptly.
Concealing somewhat his joy at this answer, De Gourges said, "I willtake thee gladly, lad, an thou wilt go with us: but art thou preparedto relinquish thy chieftainship of these Alachuas, and become once morethe plain citizen of a country where such rank is not recognized?"
"I would sooner be the humblest citizen of my own country, and dwellamong those of my own blood, than be a ruler among strangers, eventhough they were the proudest nation of the earth," answered Rene, withflashing eyes and a voice trembling with emotion. "Thou knowest whatit 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 Spanishgalleys, with the same hopelessness of escape wouldst thou not havehailed with gladness the chance of resigning it, upon condition ofregaining thy country?"
"Indeed I would! my dear friend, and thou art right. A man's countryand his own people are dearer to him than all the world besides. I didthee a great wrong in doubting for a moment that thou wouldst notrelinquish all that thou hast gained in this new world, for the sake ofagain rejoining those dear to thee in the old. So now let us away withall speed; and ho, for the Old World once more!"
"Wilt thou, for my sake, delay thy departure for yet two days?" askedRene. "There be certain papers belonging to my uncle Laudonniere whichwere removed by me to a place of safety upon the night of the captureof Fort Caroline. If I can again find and recover them, I doubt notbut they will prove of value to him, and give him cause to welcome myreturn with the greater joy."
"Take thou whatever time is necessary for thy business, and I willawait thy pleasure. If it so please thee I will accompany thee and thysavages to the River of May, and visit once more the ruins of thatstronghold that the Spaniards boasted could not be captured by the halfof France. The ships shall go outside and meet us at the mouth of theriver."
Rene gladly agreed to this proposition, and De Gourges continued:
"As for making greater thy uncle's joy when he again beholds thee, Idoubt if that will be possible; for he will have no eyes nor thoughtssave for thyself. It may be, however, that these same papers willprove of greatest value to him, for he is in sore straits for want ofevidence to make good certain claims. It is not forth-coming, and healleges that it was destroyed by the Spaniards when they captured FortCaroline. Be that as it may, he who should be loaded with honors andriches now suffers obscurity and poverty, and perchance thou art thevery one who will bring him relief."
It only deepened Rene's love for his uncle to learn that he was introuble, and increased his desire to hasten to him. Thus it was withthe greatest impatience that he awaited the coming of the daylight,that should enable them to go in search of the hidden papers.
The next morning Rene and De Gourges were rowed in one of the ship'sboats to the shell mound, where the war-party of Alachuas was encamped.Here the boat was dismissed, and the French admiral was given a placein the young chief's own canoe. He was highly delighted with this, tohim, novel mode of travelling, and was also greatly interested in thegrim Indian warriors by whom he was surrounded. Their unmistakabledevotion to their young chief touched him deeply, and he said to Rene,
"I know not if, after all, thou hast not found thy truest happiness inthis wilderness."
That night they encamped at the foot of the very bluff on which Renehad been captured by the Seminoles. The next morning he and hisnew-found friend, accompanied by Yah-chi-la-ne and E-chee, ascended theriver to the fort which had lately been the scene of such thrillingevents. Now, ruined and deserted, it was destined to be foreverabandoned to its own solitude.
Although it filled Rene with sadness to witness this ruin of what hadonce been a home to him, and in the building of which he had taken suchpride, he had rather see it thus than restored to all its former glory,but remaining in the shadow of the yellow banner of Spain.
Locating as nearly as might be that portion of the ruins beneath whichthe tunnel had penetrated, Rene, and those with him, began a search ofthe river-bank for its entrance. At length they discovered not a slabof bark, such as had formerly covered the entrance, but a block ofstone, of such size that it required their united strength to removeit. It was also of a color so closely resembling the surrounding soilthat, had they not been looking for some such thing, and been aware ofalmost the exact spot in which to search, they would not have noticedit.
The substitution of this slab of stone for the one of bark proved thatothers had meddled with the passage since Rene last passed through it,and also that these others were white men, probably Spaniards.Nevertheless, though he greatly feared that the search would provefruitless, for those who had discovered the passage must also havefound its contents, Rene determined to keep on and explore it to theend.
Lighting their way with torches, and with Rene in the lead, the partyentered the tunnel. De Gourges lamented that he had not known of itsexistence sooner, in which case he would have used it as a mine, inwhich to place powder and blow the walls of the fort about the ears ofthe Spaniards.
When they reached the point at which Rene had left the books andpapers, they found that, even as he feared, they had been removed, sothat no trace of them remained. Rene bethought himself, however, ofthe small iron box which he had buried in the earth at one side of thetunnel. After thus burying it he had stopped the place again withclay, and now he hoped that this box at least might have escapeddiscovery. So they prodded the earthen wall of the tunnel for somedistance with their daggers, and at length the point of Rene's weaponstruck against metal. Here they dug, and directly he had recovered thebox much rusted, but still sound, in which he felt sure his uncle hadkept his most important papers.
While they had thus obtained all that they could now hope for in thissearch, both Rene and De Gourges were anxious to explore the passage toits extreme end, and so they continued on through it.
Of a sudden they found themselves in a place that had been so greatlyenlarged beyond the original limits of the tunnel that a score of menmight stand in it. By the light of their uplifted torches they saw,piled one above another, from floor to roof, on two sides of thislittle chamber, a number of chests, both of wood and iron, every one ofwhich was inscribed with the royal arms of Spain. So heavy were thesethat two strong men could not lift one of them.
Instantly recognizing their character, De Gourges exclaimed,
"As I am a knight of France, thou art in luck, Rene de Veaux! Herethou hast unwittingly stumbled upon a treasure-vault of these Spanishusurers. If I mistake not, there is that contained within these cheststhat will place thee on an equality with the wealthiest noble ofFrance."
&nbs
p; "Nay," replied Rene, "it is not mine, but thine. To the conquerorbelong the spoils. But for thee, these chests and their contents,whatever be their nature, would still remain with those who placed themhere."
"Not so," answered De Gourges; "I came not in search of spoil, but topunish these insolent Spaniards for their many cruelties; and besides,but for thee I should never have dreamed of the existence of thispassage. Thou alone didst possess its secret, and to thee alonebelongs whatever it contains."
"Well," said Rene, unwilling to discuss the matter further at thattime, "it may be that we are already counting unhatched fowls. Let usfirst take measures to remove these chests to the ships and discovertheir contents. After that we shall have ample time to define theirownership ere ever we reach France."
The grave wisdom of this speech, proceeding as it did from one whom hestill regarded as a mere boy amused De Gourges greatly. He, however,admitted that Rene was right, and that they were foolish to waste timein fruitless discussion, that might be better occupied in making goodtheir escape from a place in which they might at any time be attackedby the Spaniards from San Augustin.
By an unusually high tide the ships had been enabled to cross the bar,and now lay inside the mouth of the river. So the coffers were removedto them, though the labor of so doing was so great that it occupied theremainder of the day. By sunset it had been accomplished; andeverything was in readiness for their final departure from the River ofMay and the New World.
As the tide turned and flowed outward to the sea, the white sails ofthe ships were loosened, and they were made ready to go out over thebar with it. Then came an affecting scene of farewell between theAlachuas, who were to be left behind, and their chief. One by one thestern warriors came forward and kissed his hand, while he had for eachsome kind word that would long be cherished in the memory of him towhom it was spoken. He had loaded their canoes with all that theycould contain of presents, furnished by the generosity of De Gourges,for themselves, and to be taken to that distant western country inwhich he had left so many friends.
So long as he remained in their sight Rene retained his costume as anIndian chief, and in his hair gleamed the Flamingo Feather.
At length the anchors were lifted, and the stately ships moved slowlydown the broad river. As they drew away from the canoes in which, withheavy hearts and sad faces, the motionless Indians watched the recedingform of their beloved young chief, of a sudden the banners of Francewere flung to the breeze from each masthead, and a tremendous roar ofartillery gave voice to his final adieu.
Long after the ships had crossed the bar and left the coast, Rene,still in his Indian dress, stood alone, his feelings respected by thoseabout him. With a swelling heart he watched the shores on which he hadsuffered and enjoyed so much, and where his boyhood had been left, anda noble manhood gained. As it finally disappeared in the gatheringdarkness, he slowly turned and descended into the admiral's cabin.When he again appeared he was at first unrecognized, for his Indiancostume had been exchanged for that of civilization, and the FlamingoFeather was no longer to be seen in his hair.
The opening of the Spanish treasure-chests found in the undergroundpassage revealed their contents to be of astounding value, consistingof jewels, gold coin, massive silver plate, and weapons of curiousdesign and great worth.
The tunnel had been discovered during the building of a house for theSpanish commandant of the fort upon the site of that formerly occupiedby Laudonniere, and he had conceived the idea of constructing within ithis treasure-vault. The books and papers concealed there by Rene hadbeen taken forth and burned with great rejoicing; for they weresupposed to be filled with heretic magic and sorceries. Upon thesudden capture of the fort by De Gourges there had been no time toremove the treasure from its underground chamber, and the few Spaniardswho escaped and fled to San Augustin had left it, hoping to return andrecover it when the French should have departed.
After much discussion concerning it, De Gourges consented to accept ofit an amount sufficient to recompense him for the sum expended infitting out his expedition. It was, however, decreed by him and thosewith him that the balance belonged to Rene de Veaux, and to none other.
Thus the lad, who had never in all his adventurous career dreamed ofacquiring worldly riches, neared his native land possessed of wealth sogreat that it might be envied of princes.
The homeward voyage was quick and prosperous, and unmarked by incidentsave their pursuit by a great Spanish fleet which they encountered inthe Bay of Biscay. This danger was escaped by their superior speed andseamanship, and at length Rene de Veaux saw the spires and roofs ofthat same seaport from which he had sailed for the New World, incompany with his Uncle Laudonniere, nearly four years before.
Tidings of their return, and some rumors of the brave doings of DeGourges and those who sailed with him, had preceded them. So, as thethree ships sailed into the harbor with banners flying, sailsglistening like white clouds in the bright sunlight, and strains ofmartial music issuing from them, the bells of the little town rang amerry peal of welcome, and the quay was thronged with people in holidayattire, eager to learn of their voyage to the New World.
A triumphal procession and fetes of various kinds had been arranged togive honor to the victors; but Rene de Veaux was too anxious to reachhis uncle and be the first to take to him the tidings of his own safereturn, to care for these things. So he eluded those who would havemade a hero of him, and, travelling by post, made all speed towardsParis.
In the same little unpretentious dwelling in which he had first greetedhis nephew years before, the old soldier, Rene de Laudonniere, sat onechill autumn evening, musing beside a small fire. His surroundingswere poor, and his fine face was haggard and careworn. As he sat, inhis loneliness, his thoughts were in the New World, and with the bravelad whom he had lost there.
His musings were interrupted by the entrance of an old servant, who wasnone other than that Francois who served the family of De Veaux for somany years, and who had now joined his poor fortunes with those of theold chevalier. As he quietly opened the door, he announced:
"There is one without who would have speech with thee, but he refusesto give his name."
"What manner of person is he?"
"As well as I may judge, he is young, tall, dark, and has the air ofbeing from foreign parts."
"Well, show him in. His presence will at least divert my mind fromsorrowful thoughts."
With a quick, firm tread, a young man entered the room and stood for amoment silently regarding Laudonniere. The light from the fire was notsufficient to disclose his features, and the other had no suspicion ofwho he was. At the same time he felt strangely moved by the youngman's presence, and also remained silent, waiting for him to speak.
"Uncle."
The old man started at the word, and leaned eagerly forward.
"Uncle, dost thou not know thy Rene?"
"My Rene! Rene de Veaux? He is dead in the New World," criedLaudonniere, trembling with excitement.
"No, my uncle! my father! thy Rene is not dead in the New World. He isalive in the Old World, and has come to be thy comfort and support fromthis time forth."
In all France there was not such a happy household as that modestdwelling contained that night. Old Francois was called in to share thejoy of his master, and until daylight did the two old men sit andlisten with breathless interest to the strange history of him who hadcome back to them as one risen from the grave. Every now and then theyrose to embrace him, and then resumed their seats, only to devour himwith their eyes and ply him with questions.
He too had questions to ask, and now learned for the first time of hisuncle's escape to the two small ships left by Admiral Ribault. WithLaudonniere had also escaped the good Le Moyne and Simon the armorer.They had waited for him until forced to give over all hope of everseeing him again, and had then sailed sadly away.
When Rene produced the little iron casket that he had recovered fromits hiding-place within the tunnel
, Laudonniere joyfully seized it. Hecried out that it contained that which would restore him to honor andwealth, and blessed his nephew for thus bringing him that which wasmore precious than life itself.
The great riches that Rene had brought with him from the New Worldenabled him to restore to all its former glory the old chateau in whichhe was born, and which, of all places on earth, he held most dear.Here, for many years, he dwelt in happiness and contentment. At timeshe would be seized with a great longing to revisit the beautiful landin that far-away country beyond the western sea where lived theAlachuas. At such times he would close his eyes and fancy that hecould again hear their musical voices calling him "Ta-lah-lo-ko," theirwhite chief.
That he did revisit them, at least once before he died, is proved byexisting manuscript; but he is not supposed ever to have resumed hisposition as their chief.
For many generations his descendants preserved among their most valuedtreasures, and may possibly retain even to this day, the exquisitelyembroidered costume of an Indian chieftain. To it was attached, by agolden chain and pin, a curious scarlet feather, which was supposed tobe that of a flamingo.
THE END
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends