140 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



a splendid gondola conveying the governor, who had 

 come out to give them the more honourable reception. 

 The Dutchman's speech was polite in the extreme. 

 " "Welcome, gentlemen, welcome all of you ; forget, 

 if possible, your misfortunes. I shall do everything 

 in my power to efface them from your memories. 

 We are all happy to see you ; the whole colony, and 

 myself in particular, are at your command." The 

 speech was worthy of Amadis de Gaul himself. But 

 wherever the honest Dutchman learned the tone, it 

 had the better distinction of being followed up by 

 active good-nature. 



The colonists went hand in hand with their honest 

 governor in hospitality, the town was illuminated, 

 the garrison and the colonial militia were under arms, 

 and the fugitives landed under the universal dis- 

 charge of musketry and cannon from the town and 

 the ships All was huzzaing, embracing, and feasting. 

 They were lodged in the governor's house, and from 

 that time invited in all directions; carried from 

 estate to estate, and feted, fed, embraced, and con- 

 gratulated everywhere. The governor made no 

 troublesome inquiries. His guests were still ruined 

 merchants, and he was merely exercising the common 

 civilities due to everybody. But in the midst of 

 this incurious life of pleasantness, news came from 

 Cayenne. A vessel arrived with a letter from the 

 governor, in the following terms. After stating the 

 escape of the exiles : "If those gentlemen have not 



