“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 of value to him, and give him cause to welcome my return with the greater joy.”

“Take thou whatever time is necessary for thy business, and I will await thy pleasure.  If it so please thee I will accompany thee and thy savages to the River of May, and visit once more the ruins of that stronghold that the Spaniards boasted could not be captured by the half of France.  The ships shall go outside and meet us at the mouth of the river.”

Rene gladly agreed to this proposition, and De Gourges continued: 

“As for making greater thy uncle’s joy when he again beholds thee, I doubt if that will be possible; for he will have no eyes nor thoughts save for thyself.  It may be, however, that these same papers will prove of greatest value to him, for he is in sore straits for want of evidence to make good certain claims.  It is not forth-coming, and he alleges that it was destroyed by the Spaniards when they captured Fort Caroline.  Be that as it may, he who should be loaded with honors and riches now suffers obscurity and poverty, and perchance thou art the very one who will bring him relief.”