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Page 61
When they reached the point at which R�n� had left the books and
papers, they found that, even as he feared, they had been removed, so
that no trace of them remained. R�n� bethought himself, however, of
the small iron box which he had buried in the earth at one side of the
tunnel. After thus burying it he had stopped the place again with
clay, and now he hoped that this box at least might have escaped
discovery. So they prodded the earthen wall of the tunnel for some
distance with their daggers, and at length the point of R�n�'s weapon
struck against metal. Here they dug, and directly he had recovered the
box much rusted, but still sound, in which he felt sure his uncle had
kept his most important papers.
While they had thus obtained all that they could now hope for in this
search, both R�n� and De Gourges were anxious to explore the passage to
its extreme end, and so they continued on through it.
Of a sudden they found themselves in a place that had been so greatly
enlarged beyond the original limits of the tunnel that a score of men
might stand in it. By the light of their uplifted torches they saw,
piled one above another, from floor to roof, on two sides of this
little chamber, a number of chests, both of wood and iron, every one of
which was inscribed with the royal arms of Spain. So heavy were these
that 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, R�n� de Veaux! Here
thou hast unwittingly stumbled upon a treasure-vault of these Spanish
usurers. If I mistake not, there is that contained within these chests
that will place thee on an equality with the wealthiest noble of
France."
"Nay," replied R�n�, "it is not mine, but thine. To the conqueror
belong the spoils. But for thee, these chests and their contents,
whatever be their nature, would still remain with those who placed them
here."
"Not so," answered De Gourges; "I came not in search of spoil, but to
punish these insolent Spaniards for their many cruelties; and besides,
but for thee I should never have dreamed of the existence of this
passage. Thou alone didst possess its secret, and to thee alone
belongs whatever it contains."
"Well," said R�n�, unwilling to discuss the matter further at that
time, "it may be that we are already counting unhatched fowls. Let us
first take measures to remove these chests to the ships and discover
their contents. After that we shall have ample time to define their
ownership ere ever we reach France."
The grave wisdom of this speech, proceeding as it did from one whom he
still regarded as a mere boy amused De Gourges greatly. He, however,
admitted that R�n� was right, and that they were foolish to waste time
in fruitless discussion, that might be better occupied in making good
their escape from a place in which they might at any time be attacked
by 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 removed
to them, though the labor of so doing was so great that it occupied the
remainder of the day. By sunset it had been accomplished; and
everything was in readiness for their final departure from the River of
May and the New World.
As the tide turned and flowed outward to the sea, the white sails of
the ships were loosened, and they were made ready to go out over the
bar with it. Then came an affecting scene of farewell between the
Alachuas, who were to be left behind, and their chief. One by one the
stern warriors came forward and kissed his hand, while he had for each
some kind word that would long be cherished in the memory of him to
whom it was spoken. He had loaded their canoes with all that they
could contain of presents, furnished by the generosity of De Gourges,
for themselves, and to be taken to that distant western country in
which he had left so many friends.
So long as he remained in their sight R�n� retained his costume as an
Indian chief, and in his hair gleamed the Flamingo Feather.
At length the anchors were lifted, and the stately ships moved slowly
down the broad river. As they drew away from the canoes in which, with
heavy hearts and sad faces, the motionless Indians watched the receding
form of their beloved young chief, of a sudden the banners of France
were flung to the breeze from each masthead, and a tremendous roar of
artillery gave voice to his final adieu.
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