He too had questions to ask, and now learned for the first time of his
uncle's escape to the two small ships left by Admiral Ribault. With
Laudonniere had also escaped the good Le Moyne and Simon the armorer.
They had waited for him until forced to give over all hope of ever
seeing him again, and had then sailed sadly away.
When Rene produced the little iron casket that he had recovered from
its hiding-place within the tunnel, Laudonniere joyfully seized it. He
cried out that it contained that which would restore him to honor and
wealth, and blessed his nephew for thus bringing him that which was
more precious than life itself.
The great riches that Rene had brought with him from the New World
enabled him to restore to all its former glory the old chateau in which
he was born, and which, of all places on earth, he held most dear.
Here, for many years, he dwelt in happiness and contentment. At times
he would be seized with a great longing to revisit the beautiful land
in that far-away country beyond the western sea where lived the
Alachuas. At such times he would close his eyes and fancy that he
could again hear their musical voices calling him "Ta-lah-lo-ko," their
white chief.
That he did revisit them, at least once before he died, is proved by
existing manuscript; but he is not supposed ever to have resumed his
position as their chief.
For many generations his descendants preserved among their most valued
treasures, and may possibly retain even to this day, the exquisitely
embroidered costume of an Indian chieftain.
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