tree, on which De Gourges placed the following inscription in imitation of Melendez:

"I do not hang these people as Spaniards, nor as the spawn of infidels, but as traitors, robbers, and murderers."

The detestable example of Melendez was not sufficient excuse for such horrible retaliation, especially when we consider that most of the guilty escaped, and nearly all on whom the wrath of De Gourges was visited were innocent of the blood of the Huguenots. De Gourges was no more than a pirate, for he was not legally entitled to sail on the coast of Florida, much less to make such reprisals; but in those days the morals of nations and individuals were lax. Spain had acquired immense treasures in the New World, had grown powerful in conquest, and was an object of envy for every European power. Envy is the brother of hate, and piracies against the wealthy Spaniards were considered legitimate enterprises, and many European powers applauded the work of the Frenchmen. must be acknowledged, however, that De Gourges undertook this expedition from very disinterested motives; for before he entered upon it he knew that he had neither men to keep the forts nor money to pay them, and that it was impossible to procure them subsistence even for money.

It

Satisfied with having avenged his slaughtered

countrymen, De Gourges demolished the three forts, placed their artillery on board his own vessels, and prepared to return to Europe. Saturiova urged the French to remain and hold Florida, promising him the aid of all his warriors, but De Gourges knew the Indians would be insufficient against the horde of Spaniards who would be sent against them. The savages loaded the French with the most extravagant praises for an action which was so much in their own manner, but which far exceeded their abilities to perform. Search was made for Hortense, but she could not be found, and as the French were fearful lest a heavy re-enforcement might come from St. Augustine, they set sail on the third of May, and on the sixth of June arrived at Rochelle, having suffered greatly on the voyage from storms and famine.

Before their return, the court of Spain, having received intelligence of the expedition, fitted out a squadron to intercept De Gourges, from which he narrowly escaped. Upon landing, his old friend, the Marshal De Moutluc, highly extolled his valor and conduct, and advised him to go to court.

Fortunately for De Gourges, at this moment the Protestant party was so powerful in France that the government dared not provoke it by inflicting on him any unreasonable severity, and the French in general, Catholic as well as Protestant, approved

what he had done. On the other hand, the friendship of Spain happened at this time to be necessary to the French king and the Catholic part of his government. De Gourges was coldly received at the French court, and was secretly warned to withdraw to avoid the fury of the queen-mother, Catharine de Medici, and the Spaniard faction, who pressed the king to have De Gourges arrested and sent to Madrid to be tried for piracy.

The avenger of the Huguenots fled to Rouen, where he was concealed by the president, De Marigny, and so reduced were his circumstances that he owed his daily life to that magistrate's generosity. This persecution only tended to increase his fame, however, which at last made such an impression on the French king that he restored him to favor. It is said by some that Queen Elizabeth offered him a place in her navy, which he declined. Don Antonio of Portugal offered him command of a fleet he was fitting out to recover the crown of Portugal from PHILIP II. of Spain; but while De Gourges was going to take possession of that honorable commission, he suddenly fell sick, and after a short illness died at Tours.

CHAPTER XIX.

DEFYING THE FATES.

THE morning after the fatal encounter with Gyrot, Francisco Estevan received so much evidence of the success of De Gourges' attack on the forts that he resolved to return to the French with the girl, who was growing more lame every mile they travelled. He asked Hortense if she would not like to go to her people.

"I would," she answered.

She bore up with wonderful fortitude, and had scarcely uttered a murmur, though she suffered continually.

"Do you

think the French will march to St. Augustine?" he asked.

"I do not know."

"I would take you there, but we might only be running into another scene of carnage and danger, of which we have already had enough, so we had better go to the French fleet."

"I think so," she answered.

Hortense was too weak to travel rapidly. Her

feet were sore and her moccasins so worn as to afford but little protection. That evening they met some Indians, who told them of the fall of St. Mattheo and the retreat of the French to their ships. One of the Indians belonged to Saturiova and he gave Francisco a javelin, a bow, some arrows, and, what was of more value, some food.

When the Indians were gone, Francisco said: "Hortense, we must hasten or the French will embark before we overtake them." ""

She made no answer and they journeyed on in silence. At At every mile they met parties of Indians returning from the war, and from them received a full account of the destruction of the forts and the utter annihilation of the Spaniards. From one of the Indians Francisco procured a pair of moccasins for Hortense, whose feet were almost bare. They met a part of Saturiova's warriors, who told them that their chief, with many of his men, had gone to see the French embark and give them their parting blessing.

Despite all his energy and anxiety, with Hortense so lame, Francisco was only able to make three or four miles a day, while the French army was no doubt travelling much faster.

Next morning he came upon two Indians with whom he had been acquainted before his imprisonment, and prevailed on them to make a sort of a