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Page 11
"To see thee, Ta-lah-lo-ko, and thee only, did I come," answered
Has-se. "I learned, after we had been some hours on the journey, that
which affects thee so nearly that I could not leave thee in ignorance
of it and without a warning. What I learned is, that Chitta the Snake
regards thee with a deadly hatred, and has sworn to have thy life."
"Mine!" exclaimed R�n�, in great surprise. "Why does the Snake bear
malice towards me? I have no quarrel with him."
"That I know not, unless he suspects that it was thou who taught me the
trick of wrestling that overthrew him, and thus lost him the position
of Bow-bearer that he so greatly desired to obtain."
"It may be so," said R�n�, musingly, "though how he could learn it I
cannot think, nor why, even if he had knowledge of it, it should be
cause for his wishing my death."
"Ah, Ta-lah-lo-ko, thou dost not know Chitta. His nature is that of
the serpent whose name he bears, and for real or fancied wrongs to
himself his revenge is cruel. Having once conceived a bitter hate
against thee he will have thy life, or risk his own in attempting to
take it."
"In that case," said R�n�, "I am deeply grateful for thy warning, and
will take care that master Chitta does not find me unprepared for him,
in case he seeks me out."
"Now," said Has-se, "I would speak of another matter. I know that you
white men have but little food within the fort, and must soon suffer
for want of it if more is not obtained. There is none left in this
country, but the Alachuas, to whom my people have gone, have an
abundance. If one of thy people would go with me to them, and offer
them things such as thou hast and they have not, in exchange for food,
he could thus obtain a supply for the fort. If many went, the red men
would be afraid; but with one they would talk, and if he were my friend
then would his safety be assured. Wilt thou go with me to this distant
land, Ta-lah-lo-ko?"
"Why," answered R�n�, hardly knowing what to say to this sudden and
unexpected proposal, "thou art a prisoner, Has-se, and dost not even
know if my uncle will release thee. How then dost thou speak with such
confidence of journeying to the land of these Alachuas?"
With a meaning smile Has-se answered:
"Walls and bars may answer to cage men, but they cannot confine a
sunbeam. If thou wilt go with me, then meet me when the light of the
second moon from now touches the waters where Allapatta the great
alligator delivered us from Catsha the tiger. With my life will I
answer for thy safety, and at the next full moon, or soon after it,
thou shalt return to thy people."
R�n� would have talked more of this plan, but just then the door of the
guard-house was opened and the sergeant appeared, saluting, and saying,
"'Tis the hour of sunset, Master De Veaux; the guard is about to be
relieved, and I must request you to retire and leave the prisoner for
the night. Surely you must be tired of talking with such a pig-headed
young savage."
Not caring to exhibit his real feelings towards Has-se before the
sergeant, R�n� bade him good-night very formally, and added, "Mayhap I
will see thee on the morrow; but count not on my coming, for I may not
deem it worth my while to visit thee."
"I should think not," said the sergeant, as he closed the door behind
them and barred it. "A young gentleman such as Master De Veaux can
find but little pleasure in intercourse with such ignorant creatures.
For my part, were I commandant of this fort, I would make slaves of
them all, and kindly persuade them to my will with a lash. They--"
"Hold there!" cried R�n�, as he turned towards the sergeant with
flashing eyes. "An thou speakest another word in such strain of those
who have favored us with naught save kindness, I will report thee to
that same lash of which thou pratest so glibly."
The astonished sergeant muttered something by way of apology, but R�n�,
not waiting to hear it, hurried away to report to his uncle the result
of his mission to the prisoner, and then to his own quarters to think
over the startling proposal made to him by his friend.
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