"
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."
It only deepened Rene's love for his uncle to learn that he was in
trouble, and increased his desire to hasten to him. Thus it was with
the 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's
boats to the shell mound, where the war-party of Alachuas was encamped.
Here the boat was dismissed, and the French admiral was given a place
in the young chief's own canoe. He was highly delighted with this, to
him, novel mode of travelling, and was also greatly interested in the
grim Indian warriors by whom he was surrounded. Their unmistakable
devotion 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 in
this wilderness.
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