FANCY AND FATIGUE--TOIL AND PRIVATION--WE LAND--DANGER OF LIGHTING A
FIRE--A HASTY MEAL INTERRUPTED--ALARM OF INDIANS--MAKING DOWN THE
STREAM--WHITE MEN--A WELCOME MEETING--STARTLING INTELLIGENCE--OBJECT OF
THE EXPEDITION--SUSPICION AGAINST ROCHFORD--JUDGE SHURTLEFF'S OPINION--
LANDING--PREPARING TO ADVANCE--TIM RECEIVES AN APPOINTMENT--THE MARCH
COMMENCED--USEFUL ALLIES--A TRYING JOURNEY--OUR FIRST HALT--THE HUNTING
PARTY--A STRANGE MEETING--"SPOTTED WOLF"--MOVEMENTS OF THE INDIANS--
ANXIETY ABOUT MY FATHER--DOUBTS ABOUT OUR INDIAN FRIEND--A NARROW
ESCAPE--STABBED IN THE HUMMOCK.
I had been paddling on for some time in a half dreamy state, for fatigue
was beginning to tell on me more than on Tim, and I could with
difficulty at times keep my eyes open. Though I managed to move my
paddle mechanically, I was more asleep than awake. All sorts of strange
fancies flitted across my mind, and often I saw objects before me which
had no existence in reality. Now a party of Indians, in their war-paint
and feathers, would appear on the bank, a bright light making them stand
out in bold relief against the forest. Now in imagination I saw a huge
snake wriggling across the water; or a puma would show itself among the
trees, ready to spring upon us as we passed. Often I heard strange
cries and the sound of human voices; then I fancied that I saw a canoe
stealing out from a dark creek, about to intercept us. I tried to exert
myself, but my arms refused to obey my will.
"Arrah now, Mr. Maurice dear, you'd better lie down in the bottom of the
boat an' take a quiet sleep for an hour or two," exclaimed Tim, who
discovered the condition I was in just in time to prevent me letting go
my paddle, which the next instant would probably have fallen from my
grasp.
His voice aroused me. "I can still paddle on," I answered; "though my
arms ache a little, to be sure."
"No, no; just lie down, an' I'll keep the canoe moving," said Tim.
"I've been more accustomed to work than you have, Mr. Maurice, and I can
stand it better. You'll be afther knockin' yourself up altogether; an'
we have many a mile to go yet before we reach Castle Kearney."
I felt, however, that it was food more than rest which I just then
wanted. The pangs of hunger I was enduring convinced me of this. We
had, however, only our live fowls remaining, with a few oranges and some
grain; but the fowls could not be eaten raw, and the grain required to
be pounded and made into cakes before we could swallow it. I therefore
proposed that we should land on the first spot we could find clear of
trees and brushwood, and cook one of the fowls and make some cakes. To
this Tim agreed. Before long, projecting from below the trunk of a
large tree, we discovered a bank composed of roots and driftwood, with
mud washed over them. There was space enough to light a fire, so we at
once landed. While I was engaged in collecting sticks for the fire, Tim
wrung the neck of one of our fowls and quickly plucked it. He then cut
the bird in two and stuck it up before the fire, as the quickest way of
cooking it. We could not afford to be particular. Instead of making
cakes, we put on some of the grain to boil in our pot, for we could not
stop to bruise and bake it. We were aware that it was imprudent even to
light a fire, lest it might attract the notice of any enemies prowling
in the neighbourhood; but our hunger overcame all other considerations,
and we hoped that as we should soon again be moving on there would be no
great risk in what we were doing. I own that I ravenously ate up my
share of the fowl, even before it was cooked through; but having been
put on while still warm, it was less tough than might have been
expected. The boiled grain was far from palatable.
"Sure it will do to fill up any holes which the old hen has left in our
stomachs, and I have a notion there are not a few of them," observed
Tim, as he began to bolt down the hot porridge.
We were thus employed, when Tim exclaimed, "Hist, Mr. Maurice, did you
hear a sound?"
I listened. "Yes; I should fancy that an alligator had popped his head
above the surface, or a tortoise or wild-fowl had jumped into the river
to take a bath."
"Sure I thought it was paddles I heard. Listen again," said Tim.
"Yes, it is paddles; no doubt about the matter," he exclaimed directly
afterwards; and stepping into the canoe he cast off the painter, while
he held her fast to some roots with one hand, adding, "Get in, Mr.
Maurice, get in; the sooner we are away from this the better. The
Redskins--for sure it must be them--will make towards the fire, and, if
they haven't yet seen us, they'll be puzzled to know where we have gone
to."
Seizing my gun, which lay on the ground by my side, for from force of
habit I had carried it with me when I had landed, I stepped carefully
back into the canoe. Immediately I had taken my seat, Tim shoved her
off as far out into the stream as he could, then grasping his paddle,
began to ply it with might and main.
"Stop!" I whispered, after we had got a little distance. "In what
direction did you fancy you heard the sounds? It appears to me that
they are coming up the river instead of down."
"Sure, you're right, Mr. Maurice," answered Tim, who had ceased
paddling. "I see the canoe too, an' a big one she is; she's full of
savages. We may get over to the shadow of the opposite bank, an'
they'll not perceive us. Use the paddle gently though, so as to make as
little noise as possible."
While working away as he advised, I kept my eye down the stream, looking
out for the canoe, which Tim fancied he had seen. Before long I also
perceived it; indeed, it looked so high out of the water that I was
convinced it was of much larger size than the ordinary Indian canoes.
It was being directed towards the fire which we had left only a few
minutes before; those on board being naturally anxious to see who were
encamped there.
We had got over by this time to the opposite shore, and, as far as I
could judge, had escaped observation; so that we could easily, by
keeping under the shadow of the trees, paddle down the stream. But as I
again looked towards the boat, I was convinced that she was of large
size, and full of white men.
Remaining perfectly quiet, before long we heard their voices. There was
no doubt that they were whites; perhaps our friends coming to look for
us. Tim was at length satisfied that I was right. We forthwith paddled
back. To prevent any one mistaking us for Indians, and sending a chance
shot at us, I hailed, "Who are you, friends?"
"Why, that must be Maurice! Hurrah! he's not lost, then," I heard a
voice exclaim, which I recognised as that of Carlos; and directly
afterwards Lejoillie shouted out--
"Glad to see you alive. Come here!"
We were soon alongside; and Tim making the canoe fast, he and I stepped
on board the boat. We found that she was a long, large craft pulling
ten oars, and holding between thirty and forty men, all well-armed.
Among them were three blacks, two of whom I had seen at the judge's; and
I remembered the intense admiration they had shown for Rochford, when in
their presence he had expressed his liberal opinions, such as they were
very unlikely ever before to have heard.
The first person who grasped my hand was my father.
"Maurice, my boy, thank Heaven you have come back," he said. "I was
very anxious about you, as were all your friends; for we were afraid
that you had fallen into the hands of those rascally Redskins, and that
they had treated you and Tim as they have so many other white people."
I briefly told him how I had lost my way, and was found by Tim; how we
had at length reached the river, and obtaining a canoe, got down thus
far homewards. I mentioned also our having seen an Indian, who had
pursued us along the bank for some distance. I then, turning to
Lejoillie and Carlos, inquired how they had made their escape.
Lejoillie replied that, having searched in vain for us, they had reached
the stream, and fortunately discovered a canoe, as we had done. Just as
they were about to push off, a band of Indians had pursued them; and
this had naturally given rise to the supposition that we had been cut
off by the Redskins. Having a supply of ammunition, they had been able
to obtain as much food as they required; and there being three people to
paddle the canoe, they had come down the river more rapidly than we had
been able to do, moving on night and day, one of them only sleeping at a
time.
"Then were you coming to look for Tim and me?" I asked.
"No," answered Carlos; "we thought you must either have made your way
long ago to one of the forts, or been captured and killed by the
Indians. When I got back, I found those at home in a fearful state of
grief and anxiety about Juanita. She has disappeared, and been carried
off by some one. Suspicion strongly turns against that fellow Rochford,
who came with Lejoillie to our house. She and Rita, and two black
servants, had ridden out a short distance only from Castle Kearney, when
Juanita suddenly exclaimed that she would canter on ahead of them.
Before they could advise her not to go, she was off, and was soon hidden
from sight. They rode forward, expecting her every instant to reappear;
but when they reached a more open part of the forest, she was nowhere
visible. Nor could they discover any traces of her horse's hoofs--
probably because they did not look for them in the right place. I think
that I should have found them had I been there. In vain they shouted
and galloped about in all directions. From that day to this nothing has
been heard of her. There can be no doubt, however, that she must have
been carried off, as Rita is confident she would not have gone of her
own accord. But whether Rochford or Indians are guilty of the deed is
still a matter of doubt. I decidedly believe that Rochford has had a
hand in it. I never felt very cordial towards him from the first,
though you seemed to fancy him a very fine fellow, with his wild notions
of getting freedom for the blacks, and giving the Redskins their rights;
but I believe there's nothing he would stick at. Uncle Michael and
Captain Norton blame themselves greatly. They and my father lost no
time in organising a plan for recovering my poor sister, and punishing
Rochford, or any one else who may be found guilty. They took Judge
Shurtleff into their counsels: he stuck out, however, to the last that
Rochford was innocent; and told them that he had information that a band
of Indians had been in the neighbourhood, and had retreated up the left
bank of the river. He advised that one party should proceed in this
direction by water, and then landing, proceed west--so as to prevent the
Indians making their way farther south--to reunite with another party
moving west, of which my father was to take charge. They were then to
come down south, so as to be able to follow up the marauders should they
turn back again, or try to escape westward."
Carlos gave further explanations of the proposed plan of proceedings. I
at once became as eager as any one to carry them out; though a short
time before I had felt so wearied that I could scarcely use my paddle, I
now declared that I was ready to begin the march as soon as it was
settled we should land. I found that the point fixed upon was only a
mile or two farther up the river. Had we been a little later we should
probably have missed our friends altogether. The boat did not stop at
the place where we had lighted our fire, which was allowed to continue
burning, to assist in deceiving any Indians who might be in the
neighbourhood. From the reports we had heard, we were well aware that
those we were likely to meet with would prove unfriendly, if not open
enemies, and that we should have to be cautious in our proceedings.
For some time I was kept awake by having to talk and listen to my
friends; but at length my head began to nod.
"Just lean back, and make yourself comfortable," said my father.
I followed his advice, and was soon fast asleep. I was awakened by
feeling the boat run against the bank, and I found that we were about to
land. Dawn had just broken, and I could see the dark outlines of the
trees on the opposite side of the river against the brightening sky. A
crew of four hands were left in the boat, and charged to navigate her
back to Castle Kearney. They were provided with arms, and were directed
to allow no Indian canoe to come alongside on any pretext whatever. I
found that we now mustered thirty-six men, including Tim and myself. It
was, after all, but a small party should we encounter any large band of
Indians, who were not likely to attack us unless far superior to us in
force. Still, we possessed good rifles and plenty of ammunition, so
that we considered ourselves a match for three times our own number of
natives, many of whom were likely to be armed only with bows and arrows,
or should they have guns, with those of an inferior character. Twenty
of our party were soldiers under Captain Norton's command, the others
were volunteers. We had a few of my uncle's people, and the rest came
from Roseville. As the Indians would probably not have expected so many
white men to come up the river, we had hopes of taking them by surprise.
Captain Norton, my father, and Tim were the only old soldiers among us;
for even the regulars had had no experience of warfare. Tim, therefore,
found himself raised to the rank of third in command, the scouts being
placed under his orders--an honourable though dangerous appointment.
We remained only sufficient time to enable the men to eat what may be
called a breakfast, to strap on their knapsacks, and get themselves into
marching trim, when the order to advance was given; and Tim and his
scouts, six of the most active men, went ahead, having received
instructions never to get beyond hailing distance of each other, or get
too much in advance to be prevented from falling back quickly on the
main body. After going some distance, we marched across a pine-barren,
with a marsh on our left, over which Indians could scarcely make their
way, while here and there on our right were hummocks, thick bottoms in
which a whole army of natives might have concealed themselves. Our
friends, I should have said, had brought half-a-dozen of the large
blood-hounds I have before described, which were used for hunting
ocelots and other fierce game, as well as for searching out runaway
negroes. These were likely to prove of the greatest service in
exploring the hummocks, as they would quickly give tongue on discovering
any lurking enemies. We felt pretty sure, therefore, that we had no
foes on our right, or that we had left any behind us. Our great object,
however, was to find some Indians who could give us information either
of Juanita or Rochford; whether they were together, or whether either
one or the other had been seen. From what I had heard of the Indians, I
had very little hope of success.
We marched on all day, frequently, however, in consequence of the nature
of the ground, making but slow progress. We could carry, of course, but
a small quantity of provisions, chiefly flour, coffee, pepper, and salt,
so that we depended on our guns for supplying ourselves with game. It
might have been better had we been able to be independent of hunting, as
we ran a risk of being separated, and falling into the hands of our
enemies, should any be on the watch to cut us off.
We had now to cross an extensive tract of prairie land, which covers a
large portion of the interior of the country north of the Everglades. I
have already described its unpleasant character. The sun struck down on
our heads with intense force, there being few trees to afford us shade.
Our legs were torn by the sharp teeth of the palmetto; and the only
water we could obtain was from stagnant pools fringed with tall
saw-grass, through which it was difficult to penetrate to get to the
water, such as it was. Sometimes, after a great deal of trouble, and at
the risk of being snapped up by an alligator, we found the water
brackish and utterly undrinkable. Occasionally we came upon
pine-islands, slight sandy elevations above the prairie covered by tall
pine-trees. We here got the benefit of shade, but no water was to be
obtained near them. We had one advantage, however, in crossing the
prairie: no enemies in any number could find concealment to burst out
suddenly upon us, as we knew they might well do where the country was
thickly wooded. While crossing the prairie we saw no four-footed game,
nor even any of the wild cattle which we had expected to find there.
The opinion was that they had been driven off by the Indians.
We had made but slow progress; for owing to those abominable
saw-palmetto roots, we could seldom march more than two miles an hour.
At length, darkness approaching, we were compelled to camp on a
pine-island. It was the best spot we could select, as we could hold it,
should we be attacked during the night, against any number of Indians.
We had, however, to content ourselves with but a short allowance of
water, which we had brought from the last pool. We had, however, killed
several ducks and plovers, and three large snowy herons, which the men
ate in spite of their rank taste. We, of course, placed sentries on the
watch, and sent out several scouts, accompanied by blood-hounds, who, we
knew, would not fail to discover any Indians lurking in the
neighbourhood. The most experienced backwoodsman of our party had
examined the ground as we came along in search of Indian trails, but
none of recent date had been perceived. We were aware, however, that
the natives might, if they were so disposed, easily pass us on their way
to the south, where, among the impenetrable woods of the Everglades,
they might set us at defiance. Our great object, therefore, was to find
an Indian who, either from a friendly disposition towards the whites, or
from being ready to receive a bribe, would act as our guide, and bring
us information as to where those we were in search of were to be found.
As my father, Captain Norton, Lejoillie, Carlos, and I sat round our
camp-fire eating our frugal supper, we anxiously discussed the
probabilities of recovering Juanita. Carlos spoke very strongly on the
subject. He regretted that he had not been at home when his sister
disappeared, as he would, he declared, have collected every man capable
of bearing arms in the neighbourhood, and at once proceeded with a
strong force in pursuit. He still adhered to the belief that Rochford
had carried her off, aided by a strong band of Indians.
"We shall hear of him before long acting as Powell's lieutenant, or
perhaps raised to the chief command himself!" he exclaimed.
"I do not think that," observed Lejoillie. "He is very enthusiastic,
and considers that the Indians have been ill-treated; but I do not
believe that he would wish them to resort to force to enable them to
obtain their rights. He spoke of going among them only for the purpose
of giving them good advice, or trying to induce them to adopt the
customs of civilisation."
I corroborated what Lejoillie said, as did my father. Captain Norton
expressed the hope that we were right, though he had not had sufficient
intercourse with his cousin to judge of his opinions.
I need not say I was very glad to roll myself in my blanket as soon as
supper was over, and to fall fast asleep. I should, I believe, have
slept on far into the next day, had I not been aroused by my father, who
handed me a mug of coffee, some wild duck, and corn-cake for breakfast.
Directly afterwards, the march was resumed. We were unable to obtain
any game during the first part of the day, and were truly glad when, in
the afternoon, we came in sight of the thickly-growing trees of an
extensive hummock. As it was important to obtain food, the men were
halted at some distance from its border, while my father, Lejoillie, and
I, with Tim and three or four of the best shots of the party, made our
way as best we could amid the dense brushwood, in the hopes of getting a
shot at some deer or any other game which might be taking shelter there.
Pushing on through hydrangeas and azaleas, with lofty cabbage-palms,
cotton, cedar, and other trees above our heads, festooned with
wild-vines, convolvuli, air-plants, and numberless other creepers, Tim
and I, who were ahead, at length saw before us a small pool.
"Hist, Mr. Maurice!" he whispered; "I jist caught sight of something
moving. We must creep up carefully. Maybe it's a painter, or an
ocelot, or, what would be better, a deer; an' if we can escape the
creature windin' us, we may git up near enough to have a fair shot, for
it won't be you or I that'll be afther missin'."
I followed his advice, eager to obtain the game, and trusting none of
our party would approach incautiously. In the meantime, by creeping
slowly on, we at length came close to the pool, which was almost filled
up with grass and water-lilies. Lifting up our heads, to our infinite
satisfaction, we saw a doe and her young one standing in the water, into
which they had evidently gone to drink. At the same moment a heron,
with a loud cry, rose from the sedgy banks; and the deer, as if its note
had been one of warning, turned her head towards where we were.
"Fire at the mother," I whispered to Tim; "I'll take the fawn."
We pulled our triggers, and almost at the same moment a third shot was
heard at a distance; a bullet splashing the water close to where the
deer stood, but hitting neither of the animals.
Both deer fell, however, struggling in the water. We rushed forward to
secure our prey. Having put them out of suffering, I carried the fawn
to a dry spot, and Tim followed with the deer, which was as much as he
could well stagger under. While we were looking about for a long pole
by which we might suspend the animals, so as to carry them with greater
ease to the camp, we heard a rustling sound made by some person or
animal approaching. We, of course, had both reloaded our rifles, but
fully expected to see one of our party, attracted to the spot by our
shots. Our surprise, therefore, was great to see instead, standing
close to us, an Indian in the usual light hunting costume worn by his
people, composed of skins embroidered in the ordinary fashion. His
face, however, was painted in a way which gave him a far from
prepossessing expression.
"Who are you, Mr. Redface?" asked Tim, instinctively handling his rifle
ready for action.
"A friend!" answered the Indian. "You come kill my deer. What you want
here?"
"Arrah, sure, do you call it your deer?" asked Tim. "A deer in this
country belongs to the man who kills it, I've a notion; and it was not
your bullet which brought either of the animals to the ground. Mr.
Maurice here kilt one, and I the other; an' your bit of lead tumbled
into the water, a foot away at least from either of them. Sure, if
ye'll be afther lookin' for it, you'll find it in the mud."
"Ugh!" ejaculated the Indian, who saw that he was not likely to get much
change out of Tim, and knew from the distance he had fired that his aim
was uncertain. "Where are your people?"
"Come along, and you shall see," said Tim; "they'll be glad to have a
talk with you about some matters, and you'll find it to your advantage
to tell them what you know."
The Indian understood probably only a part of what Tim said, but
nodding, he said, "Spotted Wolf will go with you."
"Oh, is that your name? Come along, then, Mr. Spotted Wolf; we'll take
care no harm happens to you."
The Indian laughed scornfully, as if he considered that he could take
very good care of himself; and as by this time we had hung the deer to
the pole, Tim told him we were ready to move. "I'll trouble ye,
however, Mr. Spotted Wolf, to lead on ahead; you know the way out of
this hummock, maybe, better than we do. An' see that you lead us right,
if ye please."
He then turned to me, and in a lower voice said,--"It's as well to keep
this sort of gentleman in front, or maybe he'll be afther shootin' one
of us, an' stickin' his scalping-knife into the other."
The Indian, no ways displeased by the evident want of confidence placed
in him, led the way, and managed to pick out a path with fewer
obstructions than the one by which we had entered the hummock. As we
came in sight of the camp he hesitated for a moment, perhaps surprised
at seeing many more people than he might have expected. It is possible
that he would have been welcomed by half-a-dozen rifle shots had we not
appeared close behind him. Our friends were highly pleased at seeing
the game which we brought. Just then Lejoillie arrived, bringing three
fat gobblers, some smaller birds, and a racoon, which he and the men
attending him had shot. My father, who had only one companion, had not
yet returned. I could not help fearing that he might have fallen in
with some other Indians, who might not have behaved in so pacific a
manner as Spotted Wolf. I at once took the Indian up to Captain Norton,
who rose to receive him, and being well accustomed to the habits of the
Redskins, desired him to be seated on the ground near the camp-fire.
The fact that Spotted Wolf spoke English showed that he had had frequent
intercourse with the white men.
Captain Norton at once began questioning him as to whether he was alone,
or had few or many companions.
He declared that he was alone; that he had separated from his
countrymen, as he did not approve of their making war on the Palefaces,
who, he knew, must conquer at last. At the same time, while making this
acknowledgment, he described the army of Oceola as very large,
consisting of numerous warriors, well-armed, and with abundance of
ammunition.
Captain Norton inquired if he knew where they were. He replied that
they were now some distance away to the west, waiting for reinforcements
from the Cherokees and Creeks. Whether Spotted Wolf was giving a true
account or not, it was impossible to ascertain. He was consistent in
all he said, and maintained a calm and unembarrassed manner. I was
little accustomed to the countenances of Indians, who looked to me very
nearly all alike, but I certainly did not admire the expression of that
of Spotted Wolf; and I found that Carlos had formed a bad opinion of
him. He sat on in the ordinary inelegant position which Indians
maintain round a council fire, deliberately smoking a pipe of tobacco
which the captain had presented to him.
Captain Norton had hitherto said nothing about Juanita or Rochford. He
hoped apparently that, should the Indian know anything of them, he would
himself introduce the subject. At last he was obliged to ask Spotted
Wolf whether he had seen a Paleface girl and a young man in company with
the Indians, either together, or separately, or had heard of them.
"I have not seen any Palefaces such as you describe, nor have I heard of
them," answered Spotted Wolf positively; or, at all events, he gave us
to understand as much, for I cannot exactly describe the language in
which he spoke.
"Can you, however, serve us by learning whether such persons as I
mention are in this part of the country?" asked Captain Norton. "Though
you may not have heard of them, your friends may, and you can bring us
the information we require."
The Indian, resting his chin on his hand, appeared to consider what had
been said. He then replied that he would, if it were the wish of his
Paleface brother, endeavour to gain tidings of the girl, although, as
there were many of his people who looked upon him as an enemy, he might
have great difficulty in accomplishing his object.
"Spotted Wolf will do his best, and look for his reward," answered
Captain Norton; "we can expect no more."
The Indian gave the usual "Ugh," signifying that he fully understood
what was required of him.
I had been all the time on the look-out for the return of my father.
The sun had just set, and darkness was rapidly coming on. I went
outside the camp in the direction whence I thought he would appear.
Nowhere was he to be seen. I resolved, therefore, to go in search of
him. Carlos and Lejoillie agreed to go also, and several others
volunteered to accompany us. Captain Norton said that he would be glad
to go, but he could not venture to leave the camp. He told me that
although Spotted Wolf might be a very honest fellow, he would have a
strict watch kept upon him; and, in case any other Indians should
appear, he would not allow them to enter the camp.
On this occasion we took two of the dogs, which had been kept tied up
until now, lest they should disturb the game in the hummock. They ran
on before us with their noses to the ground, clearly understanding what
was required of them. They were well acquainted with my father, and the
man who had accompanied him, so that we had no fear of their attacking
them. On they went towards the western end of the hummock. Instead of
rushing into it, as we expected, they kept along the edge. Presently we
heard them give tongue, and hurrying forward, we saw a person issuing
from the thick brushwood, accompanied by the two dogs. On getting
nearer to him, I discovered, to my joy, that he was my father. He
seemed more than usually agitated, and when I inquired the cause, he
told me that he had been separated from his companion, whom, after some
time, he had found dead on the ground, stabbed apparently, but not
scalped, so that he was in doubt whether an Indian had done the deed.
Anxious, however, about his own safety, he was endeavouring to make his
way out of the hummock, when he caught sight, in the distance, of
several figures moving among the trees, which, though indistinctly seen,
he was convinced were those of Indians. He concealed himself at once,
and had reason to believe that he was not detected, but had been unable
to make his way out, until the hounds had found him, not being aware how
close he was to the edge of the hummock. How he had escaped from the
Redskins it was difficult to say. Some of the party proposed at once to
go in search of the body of the murdered man; but though we might
possibly have found it, with the assistance of the dogs, in daylight, it
would have been almost impossible to do so in the dark. We therefore
agreed to return to the camp, and made the best of our way back, where
the news we brought created no little sensation. Some suspected that
Spotted Wolf was not altogether unacquainted with the circumstance.
Carlos declared that he should not be surprised had the Indian himself
killed the man; but on comparing the time we had met him with that when
my father believed the murder to have been committed, we decided that
Spotted Wolf must be acquitted of the charge.
In consequence of what had occurred, a double watch was set, and all
sentinels were charged to keep wide awake, so that during the night we
might not be taken by surprise.