THE BEES AND THE BEAR.
Walter's first feeling was of horror and indignation, mingled with
frank admiration for the cleverness with which Charley had reasoned the
matter out to its logical conclusion.
"You have got a great head on you, old chap," he said, affectionately.
"It certainly seems as though you have hit the nail on the head this
time. I understand, now, why their leader was so anxious to have us
move away. They expect to encounter the Indians somewhere in this
neighborhood and they do not want any witnesses. What shall we do,
Charley?"
"We are in an unpleasant fix," said his chum, musingly. "The only safe
thing to do, I guess, is to take that convict's advice and move away at
once. If we interfere with their plans or even let on that we know
what they are, it will mean fight, with us outnumbered three to one."
"But we can't leave here and let those fiends ambush and murder those
unsuspecting Indians," said Walter indignantly.
"Certainly not," said his chum, heartily. "But we must be prepared to
take some risks. We can't fight that crowd in the open, they are too
many for us. We'll have to outwit them and put the Indians on their
guard without letting the convicts suspect that we have had a finger in
the pie. It would be an easy trick to turn if it were not for that
renegade Indian with them. I guess there isn't anything much that
escapes those black, beady eyes of his."
"You have a plan then?" said Walter eagerly.
"One, such as it is. You see, we are between those fellows over there
and the Everglades. A party of savages coming from the Glades would
have to pass us before coming in rifle range of the convicts' camp.
Now we could halt them here and explain matters, but that would give us
dead away to the enemy."
Walter's face fell. "They would be sure to catch on," he admitted.
Charley pointed far to the south where, half a mile distant, another
long point jutted out through the marsh into the river. "That is the
key to the situation," he declared. "The Seminoles are not expected
until to-morrow, if that man's remarks are true. Well, beginning
to-morrow morning early, one of us will be on that point while daylight
lasts,--Indians do not generally travel at night, and when we sight
them we will signal and warn them, and the convicts will be none the
wiser. The Seminoles are no cowards and we can join them and wipe that
scum of humanity off the face of the earth."
"Splendid," approved Walter enthusiastically. "But let's head for camp
now. The others will be wondering what has become of us."
At the camp a surprise awaited the two boys. The captain was stumping
back and forth near the fire, his usually good-natured face nearly
purple with suppressed anger, while, squatting on his heels before the
fire, sat Indian Charley, his face impassive but his keen beady eyes
watching the irate sailor's slightest movement.
At the sight of the boys, the captain lumbered towards them, waving a
dirty piece of paper. "Read that," he roared, "just brought in by that
copper-faced, shoe-button-eyed son of a sea cook."
It was a piece torn evidently from a paper bag and on it was scrawled
in big, almost undecipherable characters.
"The shootin' an' racket you-alls are doin' air drivin' the 'gators
away. You-alls have got to move. This is our huntin' ground. For
sake of that tobacco, which comes mighty handy, we'll give you-alls
'till to-morrow noon to move peaceable afore we comes down on you,
hands and feet."
"How's that for gall?" demanded the captain, his wrath increasing, but
Charley silenced him with a shake of his head and turned to the
impassive redskin. "Tell your leader, that we are figuring on making a
move to-morrow," he said, courteously. The Seminole's beady orbs met
his in a suspicious glance, then he turned without a word and glided
noiselessly away among the bushes.
Walter and Charley exchanged significant glances. "That means they do
not expect them before to-morrow afternoon," Charley commented.
"Who! expecting who? Don't talk in riddles, lads," exclaimed the
captain, testily, his temper still suffering from the unaccustomed
restraint he had put upon it.
In a few words Charley related his suspicions to him and Chris, and
detailed the plan he and Walter had agreed upon.
The captain's face beamed with unenvious admiration as he gave Charley
a hearty thump on the back that well-nigh drove the breath out of the
lad's body.
"Reasoned out plain an' fair as day," he exclaimed, "I reckon you've
hit it right plum center first shot, lad. You bet we'll be on the
watch to warn them poor Indians, an' if there's any fightin' we'll sho'
help to rid this country of them ornary, low-down, murderin',
cut-throats. It's a great head you've got for young shoulders,
Charley. You've reasoned it out like a detective and made your plans
like a general."
Charley blushed with pleasure. "It looks logical and I hope it will
work out all right," he said, secretly pleased at the tribute to his
mental powers. But, as a great detective or general sometimes does,
Charley had passed over the simple, vital, obvious point that was the
most important of all and from its omission, destined to be far
reaching and terrible to hunters, Indians and convicts.
"There's nothing special to do this morning," said Walter, "so let us
make a trip to that point and pick out a good place for our lookout."
"Judging from their actions and their note, our neighbors don't intend
to make a move against us until to-morrow, so I guess it will be safe
for all of us to go," said Charley. "We will take the guns and make a
kind of all day hunting trip."
"Den, I spect dis nigger's got to rustle around an' fix up some lunch,"
said Chris, his face falling. "Golly, I spect you-alls going to be
powerful hungry nigh noon."
"No, this is going to be a holiday for all of us," declared Walter with
boyish enthusiasm. "For one day let's all be just like the Indians,
get our food with out guns and not even take a frying-pan with us."
To Chris' great delight the others gave ready assent to the plan. The
horses were watered and staked in fresh spots, and, with guns over
shoulders, our party followed their point in to shore, then struck off
southward along the margin of the marsh toward the distant point,
destined to be Point Lookout.
They found it much like their own point, but somewhat more heavily
wooded.
"Here's the very place for our lookout," exclaimed Walter, pausing
beside a clump of great oaks. "See, it couldn't be better if it had
been made to order. This knoll commands a good view of the marshes and
river towards the Everglades, while those trees will hide the watcher
from our point, and of course from the convicts' camp. I have got a
big, red, bandanna handkerchief which we can use as a flag. When the
one on watch sees the Indians coming, he can fasten it to that dead
sapling further out. That will be a signal to those in camp to get
ready for a hot time."
"Bravo," said the captain approvingly. "You have got the right course
logged out to a point by the compass. Steer as you are going, lad, and
you'll have stored in your head as well packed and sorted a cargo as
good as Charley's here."
"Or me, or me, Massa Captain," chimed in Chris. "Golly, I reckon
you-alls don't know what a smart nigger I is when I gets de chance."
"We are all wonders, in our own minds," laughed Charley. "We have got
a chance to show our smartness right now. I, for one, am getting
mighty hungry and we haven't bagged anything for dinner yet."
"We are for the woods, then," cried Walter, "on, noble leader. Shall
we separate or go together?"
"We must stick together, provided you will try to keep that mouth of
yours closed and quit guying me," Charley retorted. "If not, I shall
feel it my duty to take you across my knee and give you a good
spanking."
Walter checked the ready sally which was on his tongue's end, for they
had been moving on while talking and Charley was now leading them into
the dense forest where silence was absolutely necessary if they hoped
to secure any game.
For some time they picked their way carefully through the forest,
warily avoiding dry twigs, and maintaining an absolute silence. But
although they saw numerous signs of game, both large and small, not a
glimpse of even a rabbit or squirrel rewarded their eager watchfulness.
At last when all were beginning to get a bit discouraged, Charley
called a halt. "Now, all of you listen hard as you can for a few
minutes and then tell me what you hear," he said.
For a full minute his companions listened intently, then the captain
gave an exclamation of disgust. "Can't hear anything out of the
usual," he declared.
"Once or twice I thought I heard something, but I guess it was only my
imagination," said Walter.
"And you, Chris?" inquired Charley of the little darky, whose face wore
a puzzled expression.
"Golly, dis nigger hear something powerful plain but he can't just make
it out. Don't sound like anything he ever heard, afore. Now hit
sounds like a big dog growling an' then again hit sounds like one
whinin'."
"Your ears are pretty good, Chris," Charley commented. "I guess we'll
follow up that sound for a little while."