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Page 8
Meantime the author of all this mischief stopped when he had gained
what he considered a safe distance from the fire, and, concealed by the
friendly shadows of the forest, stood with folded arms and scowling
features gazing at the result of his efforts. At length the light from
the burning building grew so bright that even the shadow in which he
stood began to be illuminated, and he turned to go away. As he did so
he shook his clenched hand towards the burning granary, and muttered,
"The white man and the red man shall both learn to dread the fangs of
the Snake, for thus do I declare war against them both."
As he spoke, a voice beside him, that he instantly recognized as that
of Has-se, exclaimed, "What! is this thy work, Chitta?"
For answer Has-se received a terrible blow, full in the face, that
stretched him, stunned and bleeding, on the ground; and Chitta, saying,
"Lie there, miserable Bow-bearer, I will meet thee again," sprang out
into the forest and disappeared.
When Has-se, aroused by the shouts of the guards and the glare of
light, had rushed from the lodge in which he slept, he had seen a
figure standing between him and the light, and had approached it to
learn the cause of all the excitement. He was just about to speak,
when he recognized Chitta, and heard him utter the words that at once
declared him to be the author of the conflagration and the enemy of his
people and their friends.
Not being able to appreciate the petty spirit of revenge that
influenced the Snake, Has-se gave utterance to his exclamation of
surprise, and in return received the cruel blow for which he was so
little prepared.
When he recovered consciousness he found himself in his father's lodge,
lying on a bed of deer-skins, while his sister, the beautiful Nethla,
was bathing his temples with cold water.
It was now broad daylight, and the great granary, with all its
contents, had been reduced to a heap of smouldering ruins. About the
lodge in which Has-se lay were gathered a great crowd of Indians,
awaiting his return to consciousness, to learn what he knew of the
occurrences of the past few hours, and in what way he had been
connected with them. By the earliest light of day a band of
experienced warriors had tracked his assailant from the spot in which
the young Bow-bearer had been discovered, through the tall grass and
underbrush from which the fugitive had brushed the dew in his flight to
the river's edge. Here one of the canoes that had been drawn up on the
beach was found to be missing, and search parties had been sent both up
and down the river, but as yet they had not returned.
As Has-se slowly recovered consciousness, and opened his eyes, his
sister bent over him and whispered, "Who dealt thee the cruel blow, oh,
my brother?"
Receiving his faint answer, she sprang to her feet, and turning to her
father, who stood near, exclaimed, "'Tis Chitta the Snake who has done
this thing in revenge for our Has-se's success in the games of
yesterday."
From the entrance of the lodge the old chief proclaimed the news, and
all through the great assembly were heard cries of anger against Chitta
the Snake.
The destruction of this winter's supply of food was not only a serious
blow to the Indians, but to the little garrison of Fort Caroline as
well, for Laudonniere had just completed arrangements with Micco for
the purchase of the greater part of it. Only a small quantity of
provisions remained in the fort, and though the forest contained an
abundance of game, and the river teemed with fish, the French soldiers
were not skilled in either hunting or fishing, and had become dependent
upon their Indian neighbors for what they needed of such food. It was
therefore with feelings of surprised alarm that, on the second day
after the burning of the granary, they noticed the absence of all
Indians from the vicinity of the fort. Scouts were sent to the Indian
encampment to discover the cause of this unusual state of affairs, and
they soon returned with the report that the place was wholly deserted,
and that not an Indian was to be found.
Not only had all the visiting Indians disappeared, but also every soul
of Micco's tribe; and, what was more significant, they had taken with
them their lodges and all portable property.
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