|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 59
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 R�n� 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 R�n� 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 R�n� 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 R�n� 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 R�n� 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 different 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 R�n� 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
R�n�, 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 R�n�, 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?"
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|