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, Rene 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 Rene, "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 Rene, 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 Rene 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