Excepting the memory of one short hour, Fort King had for me no pleasant
reminiscences. There had been some new arrivals in my absence, but none
of them worthy of companionship. They only rendered quarters more
crowded, and accommodation more difficult to obtain. The sutlers and
the blacklegs were rapidly making their fortunes; and these, with the
quartermaster, the commissary [Note 1], and the "beef-contractor,"
appeared to be the only prosperous men about the place.
The "beau" was still chief aide-de-camp, gaily caparisoned as ever; but
of him I had almost ceased to think.
It was not long before I was ordered upon duty--almost the moment after
my arrival--and that, as usual, of a disagreeable kind. Before I had
time to obtain a moment's rest after the long ride--even before I could
wash the road-dust from my skin--I was summoned to the head-quarters of
the commander-in-chief.
What could he want with me, in such hot haste? Was it about the duels?
Were these old scores going to be reckoned up?
Not without some apprehension did I betake myself into the presence of
the general.
It proved however, to be nothing concerning the past; though, when I
learned the duty I was to perform, I half regretted that it was not a
reprimand.
I found the agent closeted with the commander-in-chief. They had
designed another interview with Omatla and "Black Dirt." I was merely
wanted as an interpreter.
The object of this fresh interview with the chiefs was stated in my
hearing. It was to arrange a plan for concerted action between the
troops and the friendly Indians, who were to act as our allies against
their own countrymen; the latter--as was now known by certain
information--being collected in large force in the "Cove of the
Ouithlacoochee." Their actual position was still unknown; but that, it
was confidently hoped, would be discovered by the aid of the friendly
chiefs, and their spies, who were constantly on the run.
The meeting had been already pre-arranged. The chiefs--who, as already
stated, had gone to Fort Brooke, and were there living under protection
of the garrison--were to make a secret journey, and meet the agent and
general at an appointed place--the old ground, the hommock by the pond.
The meeting had been fixed for that very night--as soon as it should be
dark enough to hide the approach of both tempters and traitors.
It was dark enough almost the moment the sun went down--for the moon was
in her third quarter, and would not be in the sky until after sunset.
Shortly after twilight, therefore, we three proceeded to the spot--the
general, the agent, and the interpreter, just as we had done on the
former occasion.
The chiefs were not there, and this caused a little surprise. By the
noted punctuality with which an Indian keeps his assignation, it was
expected they would have been on the ground, for the hour appointed had
arrived.
"What is detaining them? What can be detaining them?" mutually inquired
the commissioner and general.
Scarcely an instant passed till the answer came. It came from afar, and
in a singular utterance; but it could be no other than a reply to the
question--so both my companions conjectured.
Borne upon the night-breeze was the sound of strife--the sharp cracking
of rifles and pistols; and distinctly heard above all, the shrill
_Yo-ho-ehee_.
The sounds were distant--away amid the far woods; but they were
sufficiently distinct to admit of the interpretation, that a
life-and-death struggle was going on between two parties of men.
It could be no feint, no false alarm to draw the soldiers from the fort,
or terrify the sentinel on his post. There was an earnestness in the
wild treble of those shrill cries, that convinced the listener that
human blood was being spilled.
My companions were busy with conjectures. I saw that neither possessed
a high degree of courage, for that is not necessary to become a general.
In my warlike experience, I have seen more than one hiding behind a
tree or piece of a wall. One, indeed, who was afterwards elected the
chief of twenty millions of people, I have seen skulking in a ditch to
screen himself from a stray shot, while his lost brigade, half a mile in
the advance, was gallantly fighting under the guidance of a
sub-lieutenant.
But why should I speak of these things here? The world is full of such
heroes.
"It is they, by --," exclaimed the commissioner. "They have been
waylaid; they are attacked by the others; that rascal Powell for a
thousand!"
"It is extremely probable," replied the other, who seemed to have a
somewhat steadier nerve, and spoke more coolly. "Yes, it must be.
There are no troops in that direction; no whites either--not a man. It
must therefore be an affair among the Indians themselves; and what else
than attack upon the friendly chiefs? You are right, Thompson; it is as
you say."
"If so, general, it will be of no use our remaining here. If they have
waylaid Omatla, they will of course have superior numbers, and he must
fall. We need not expect him."
"No; he is not likely to come, neither he nor Lusta. As you say, it is
idle for us to remain here. I think we may as well return to the fort."
There was a moment's hesitation, during which I fancied both generals
were debating in their own minds whether it would be _graceful_ thus to
give up their errand and purpose.
"If they should come,"--continued the soldier.
"General," said I, taking the liberty to interrupt him, "if you desire
it, I will remain upon the ground for a while, and see. If they should
come," I added, in continuation of the broken sentence, "I can proceed
to the fort, and give you notice."
I could not have made a proposition more agreeable to the two. It was
instantly accepted, and the brace of official heroes moved away, leaving
me to myself.
It was not long ere I had cause to regret my generous rashness. My late
companions could scarcely have reached the fort when the sounds of the
strife suddenly ceased, and I heard the _caha-queene_--the Seminole
shout of triumph. I was still listening to its wild intonations, when
half-a-dozen men--dark-bodied men--rushed out of the bushes, and
surrounded me where I stood.
Despite the poor light the stars afforded, I could see shining blades,
guns, pistols, and tomahawks. The weapons were too near my eyes to be
mistaken for the fire-flies that had been glittering around my head,
besides, the clink of steel was in my ears.
My assailants made no outcry, perhaps because they were too near the
fort; and my own shouts were soon suppressed by a blow that levelled me
to the earth, depriving me as well of consciousness as of speech.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note 1. In the United States army, these two offices are quite
distinct. A "commissary" caters only for the inner man; a
quartermaster's duty is to shelter, clothe, arm, and equip. A wise
regulation.