Like a drop of water falling on burning charcoal, this little incident happily cooled the ardor of the two young women who had already become excited at the sight of the handsome transport.

When the column debouched on the esplanade, as we have described, a salvo of artillery saluted their arrival. The prisoners entered the inclosure prepared, uncovering their heads and kneeling. Soon after appeared a procession of monks, preceding a dais under which the Bishop of Rennes piously advanced-having been called upon to bless the departure of the adventurers.

The prelate mounted the steps of the altar, and said mass, which was heard with profound attention. Never was a ceremony more majestic, or more imposing, when in presence of this vast multitude, of this tranquil sea, of which the limits were lost in the azure of the celestial vault, the old gray-haired man in a voice, sympathetic and solemn, implored the divine assistance for the success of the enterprise, the audience feeling themselves moved even to tears.

The highwaymen themselves bowed the head, as Clovis had done in former times at the command of St. Remie.

William de la Roche, the pilot, and several sailors communicated, and received the consecrated host at the hand of the venerable prelate.

An observer remarked that not only did the equerry, John de Ganay, not take any part in the service, but also that he did not assist at the mass.

It is useless to conceal any longer, what my sagacious reader has already divined. Viscount de Ganay had em

braced the doctrines of the reformed religion. If he did not dare to avow his faith at this epoch, when the abjuration of Henry IV. had fallen like an anathema on the Calvinists, John remained faithful to the doctrines of his convictions, and secretly conformed to the rites which he could not practice in public. It was easy for him to retire where there was such a multitude.

Mass being over, the embarkment proceeded.

The two ships Castor and Erable were moored at some hundreds of yards from the shore. In less than twenty minutes the passengers were transferred on board.

A discharge of cannon gave the signal for departure. On the Castor were William de la Roche-Gommard, Governor-General of Canada; John Viscount de Ganay, his equerry; Alexis Chedotel, pilot-lockman; Guyonne, the fisherwoman, and a considerable number of future colonists.

EVEN at the present day, wonderful as are the improvements made in the art of navigation, it is not without a sort of indefinable dread that we undertake a voyage across the Ocean; although the enormous and magnificent ships which literally furrow the seas offer almost as much security and accommodation as our houses and chateaux. What gigantic progress navigation has made during four centuries! What a difference between these immense vessels which are constructed at present, and those which then ventured intrepidly in search of unknown lands! When one remembers that it was with three vessels, of which two were without decks, and of which the third was one of only two hundred tons burden, that Columbus sailed from Palos the 1st of August, 1492, to discover America the 12th of October of the same year; when one bears in mind that it was with two miserable schooners of sixty tons burden that Cartier crossed the Atlantic, to be the first to explore the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Labra

dor, Newfoundland, etc.; when we bear in mind that it was with two vessels nearly similar, that the successors of these great men have achieved the discovery of the New World, how much does our admiration increase for the immortal regenerators of America!

The Castor, which bore William de la Roche and the greater part of the heroes to Acadia, was so small that a cotemporary affirms that from the cords of the gunwale one could dip his hands into the sea. The capacity of the Castor was estimated at a hundred tons. For the rest, the vessel was handsome, solid at bottom, a fast sailor, and bearing her masts proudly, firm as steel, flexible as whalebone. She contained a hold, a steerage, and two cabins. The hold contained the provisions and munitions of war. In the steerage were packed the transports. The forward cabin had for a host the Marquis William de la Roche, the Viscount de Ganay, the pilot-lockman, Alexis Chetodel, and some others. The cabin of the prow was occupied by the sailors.

When she left the harbor of St. Malo, the Castor had on board ninety-two men, including the Governor-General of Canada, his staff, and some cadets from noble families.

Several transports had obtained permission from the marquis to remain on deck, in order to contemplate as long as possible the shores of that beautiful France, which they quitted, perhaps, forever. The others had descended to the steerage, so that they should not interrupt the movements of the sailors.

All, however, would have wished to enjoy the privilege accorded only to a few, for however vicious was their na

ture, however coarse their appetites, however hardened by the fluctuations of fortune, they were profoundly grieved by the thought of this tedious voyage so far from their country.

It is said that the love of place is a prejudice; but, oh, let us admit that it is a magnificent one, superior, in our opinion, to the most noble affections.

And the proof is that a man sometimes leaves his parents without regret; that he parts with his wife and children without remorse; that he will resist the storms of adversity as the rock does the fury of the tempest; that the loss of his property, of persons that are dear to him, does not afflict him; but that he will grieve and sob like a woman if he is forced to bid an eternal adieu to his country.

Guyonne inscribed under the name of Yvon, number 40, enjoyed the advantage accorded only to a small number of her companions.

Standing at the foot of the mainmast, she saw the shores of her adored Brittany fading gradually like a mist, whilst the sun shed its golden rays on the harbor of St. Malo, and the propitious wind filled the sails of the Castor.

Who could tell what were the thoughts of Guoynne? for, from time to time, a silent tear coursed along her cheek, and her head drooped sadly on her breast.

Noble girl, had she calculated too much on her courage, and already reproached herself with her heroic sacrifice? No; Guyonne was as strong in mind as she was in body; the perils of her situation did not frighten her; the fate reserved for herself gave her but little anxiety; but she