|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 28
The river contained great numbers of alligators, of which, when they
went into camp, the Indians killed many, for the sake of the valuable
oil that was to be extracted from the fat embedded in the joints of
their tails.
On the second day after R�n� and Has-se joined them the tribe reached
the land of the Alachuas, a people speaking the same language with
themselves, and bound to them by closest ties of friendship. It was a
land of broad savannas, studded with groves of magnolia and oak trees,
and abounding in springs of the purest water. The clear streams
running from these great springs teemed with the finest fish, and the
country watered by them was overrun with game of every variety. It was
indeed a land of plenty, and from its peace-loving and hospitable
dwellers the visitors from the far East received a warm welcome.
On the very day of their arrival they selected the site for the camp,
which they expected to occupy for some months. It was in the midst of
a grand oak grove, surrounding a crystal spring; and before sunset the
slightly built lodges had sprung up as though by magic among its trees,
the sparks from the camp-fires gleamed like myriads of fire-flies among
the moss-hung branches, and the tribe was at home.
R�n� de Veaux, as became his rank, was invited to occupy the lodge of
Micco the chief, in which he shared the bear-skin couch of his friend
the chief's son and Bow-bearer. Here, during the week that his wound
took to heal completely, he rested as happily as though the world
contained no cares or anxieties. He spent most of this time in adding
to his knowledge of the Indian language, with which, with Has-se and
the beautiful Nethla as teachers, he quickly became familiar. Thanks
to the glowing descriptions of the power and glory of the white men
given by his friends, R�n� found himself treated with distinguished
consideration by the Alachuas, who regarded him with the greatest
interest and curiosity. He was always spoken of by them as the young
white chief, and his slightest wishes were gratified as soon as he made
them known.
At the end of a week R�n� felt sufficiently strong and well to set
about accomplishing the mission that had brought him to this pleasant
country. Accordingly he sought an interview with the Alachua chief,
and displayed before him the trinkets contained in the package that he
had so carefully brought with him from Fort Caroline. As the chief
gazed with delight and amazement at what he regarded as a most
wonderful treasure, but what in reality was only a lot of knives,
hatchets, mirrors, and fish-hooks, R�n� explained to him the distress
of the white men in Fort Caroline, caused by the destruction of their
winter's supply of provisions. He then said that if the chief would,
out of the abundance of the Alachuas, give him twelve canoe-loads of
corn, and send warriors enough to conduct them in safety to the white
man's fort on the great river of the East, he would give him the
package of trinkets there displayed, and would promise, in the name of
his uncle the great white chief, a package of equal size and value for
each canoe-load of provisions delivered at the fort. He also pledged
his word that the Alachua warriors who should escort the provisions
should be kindly treated by the white men in Fort Caroline, and should
be allowed to return at once to their own country.
After taking a day to consider this proposal, and to consult with his
wise men concerning it, the Alachua chief agreed to accept it, and
greatly to R�n�'s delight the gathering together of the twelve
canoe-loads of corn was at once begun. No difficulty was experienced
in procuring an escort for them, for all the young Alachua warriors who
had not attended the Feast of Ripe Corn were anxious to visit Fort
Caroline, and see for themselves the white men, and the great
"thunder-bows," as the Indians named the cannon that stood in its
embrasures.
Thus, within two weeks of the time of his arrival in the land of the
Alachuas, R�n� was ready to set forth on his return to Fort Caroline.
With him were to go his friend Has-se, who had obtained a reluctant
consent from Micco his father to take the journey, and fifty young
Alachua warriors, under command of Yah-chi-la-ne, Has-se's
brother-in-law.
The white lad had made many pleasant friendships among these simple
people, and it was with feelings of sadness that he bade farewell to
the beautiful Nethla, the grave and stately Micco, the good chief of
the Alachuas, and many others who had been kind to him, and whom he
feared he might never see again.
The little fleet of twenty canoes, twelve of which were heavily laden
with corn, started on their long journey at daybreak of a still, cool
morning, in the presence of the entire population of Micco's camp, and
a great number of the Alachuas who had collected to see them off. In
the leading canoe were R�n�, Has-se, Yah-chi-la-ne, and a young warrior
named Oli-catara (the Bear's Paw). As it shot from the bank, the
entire assembly of Indians on shore shouted,
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|