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Page 19
Evidently gratified at the impression the mere mention of his name
produced upon his prisoner, Cat-sha continued:
"For many days have I watched the place of the pale-faces from beyond
the great waters. I hate them, and would gladly drive them back into
the sea whence they came. It was to learn their strength and discover
in what manner they might be most successfully attacked that I came to
this place. Thy people, at their feasting and dancing, have I also
seen, and I had thought to do with my own hand the deed accomplished by
thee last night. Since thou hast relieved me of that labor, I am
inclined favorably towards thee, and will spare thy life upon condition
that thou renounce forever thy own people and become one of my band."
"Become a Seminole!" exclaimed Chitta, in a tone expressive of dislike
and contempt. He had never thought, even amid his wildest schemes for
obtaining revenge upon those whom he considered his enemies, to make
one of this band of outcasts.
"Un-cah" (yes), answered Cat-sha, fiercely, angered by the tone of the
other; "and why not? Art thou not already an outlaw and a runaway from
thy people? Having thus left them forever, to whom else canst thou
turn save to the brave and warlike Seminoles? Besides, if thou dost
not join us, I will kill thee where thou liest, and none shall ever
know thy fate. We Seminoles know but two kinds of men, those who are
of us and those who are against us."
Thus Chitta had no choice left him between making one of the band of
outlaws whose name was a term of reproach among all good Indians, and
meeting with a cruel death, from which he shrank. After a moment's
silence he made up his mind, and said, "So be it then, Cat-sha. From
this hour call me Chitta the Seminole. From this hour the wisdom of
the serpent shall be for them with whom he thus joins his fortunes, and
henceforth his fangs shall be held ready for all who are their enemies."
Cat-sha's dark face was again lighted by a cruel smile of triumph as he
listened to these words, for he knew that one of China's nature would
be a valuable addition to his band. He released his new recruit,
helped him to his feet, embraced him, and said,
"Chitta the Seminole, I welcome thee gladly to our number. The time
will come when we shall have increased to a great and powerful tribe,
and when the name given us by our enemies shall be honored of all men.
Let us go."
CHAPTER VIII
ON THE TRAIL
Cat-sha, the Seminole chief, rejoiced greatly at having gained to his
band so promising a young warrior as Chitta, who had so incurred the
enmity of both the white men and his own people as to be obliged to fly
from them for his life.
After eating together a meal of dried venison that the elder produced
from his wallet, the two Seminoles sat, concealed behind a thick
cluster of cactus, watching the river for any signs of pursuit, and
forming plans for future action. Cat-sha told Chitta that he had left
his band in their most inaccessible stronghold among the bayous and
deep morasses of the great Okeefenokee Swamp. He also said that, were
it not for the presence of so large a number of friendly Indians in the
immediate vicinity of Fort Caroline, he should bring his warriors to
attack it; for he had decided that the chances were in favor of his
success in so doing.
"Ha!" exclaimed Chitta, interrupting his chief at this point, "I may,
in that case, be of service to thee, though I am as yet untried in
battle." Then he told Cat-sha a secret that was known to but few of
his people, and which he himself had only discovered by accident. It
was the same that Has-se had declined to confide to R�n� when the
latter questioned him as to the manner of his escape from the fort, and
it was indeed a secret of the utmost value to enemies of the white men.
Cat-sha listened attentively, and when Chitta had finished he
exclaimed, "Well done, my young brave! Thy serpent's wisdom is already
proving of value to us. What thou hast just told me makes clear our
plan of attack upon this nest of pale-faces, and removes one of the
chief difficulties in our way. Having this information, I regard the
fort and all that it contains as already in our power. We have only to
bide our time. Well may the white man tremble; for ere many days the
tiger, guided by the serpent, will spring at his throat."
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