veranda,--where a hammock was accordingly slung for him, so thathe might occupy it whenever he felt disposed.
I forgot to say that Rochford, being introduced to my cousins, at onceentered into conversation, and appeared to be winning his way into theirgood graces. He seemed much pleased when Carlos invited him to CastleKearney.
After the ladies had retired, the gentlemen sat up some time smokingtheir havannahs, the Indian taking part in the conversation.
At last we all turned in to our respective quarters, the judge having,some time before, set us the example. On looking out of the door of theroom I occupied, which opened on to the veranda, I saw the Indian throwhimself into the hammock. In another minute he was apparently fastasleep.
On awaking early the next morning, the first sound I heard was the voiceof black Rose, little Paul's nurse, uttering exclamations of surprise.Presently I heard the judge's voice; and on looking out, I saw themexamining, with puzzled looks, the hammock in which the Indian guest hadslept. One of the ropes had apparently been cut, and the hammock hadcome to the ground.
"Can anything have happened to him? Where can he have gone to?"exclaimed our host. "Hunt about, Rose, and see if you can find himanywhere."
"Me ask Toby," said Rose; "he up early, perhaps he see him."
Toby was the black boy of the establishment, and was a great admirer ofRose.
I heard the judge walking about the veranda. I dressed as rapidly as Icould, and went out to meet him. He presented, it must be confessed, asomewhat curious figure habited in his morning costume, a coloureddressing-gown, with a red night-cap on his head, and spectacles on hisnose, while he looked puzzled and annoyed in the extreme.
"I trust no one has knocked my guest on the head during the night," hesaid. "The Indian has gone--vanished--disappeared! I would not havehad it happen on any account!"
"Perhaps he has only gone to stretch his legs, and will return forbreakfast," I observed.
While we were talking, Rose and Toby appeared together, and reportedthat they could nowhere find the Indian. The judge then sent off Tobyand two or three other black boys to make inquiries through the village.
In a short time they returned, declaring that no one had seen him, andthat if he had gone, he must have taken himself off during the night.
"I fear the worst then," said our host. "He would not have gone awaywithout at least paying his respects to me. These Indians are asceremonious as the courtiers of an emperor."
We were soon joined by the rest of the party in the veranda, andRochford seemed more astonished than any one on hearing what hadhappened. He told us that he had thought of offering to accompany thechief back to his home, that he might have an opportunity of seeingIndian customs and manners.
"Any romantic opinions you might have entertained on the subject wouldquickly have been dispelled," observed the judge. "I would advise you,my friend, to keep out of their way, and live among civilised people."
Rochford, who made no answer, probably considered the judge prejudicedagainst the Redskins.
Our kind host pressed us so warmly to remain another day, that weconsented. He promised that he would arrange for our conveyance back bywater the following morning, when Lejoillie and Rochford agreed toaccompany us.
In the afternoon Captain Norton returned. On hearing of the visit ofthe chief, whose appearance was described to him, he exclaimed--
"Why, he is no other than Powell, or Oceola, as the Indians call him,their great leader, and the most dangerous person in the country. Ibelieve that no Indian bears a more deadly hatred to the Palefaces, ashe calls us, than does that man. Notwithstanding all his promises, Iwould not trust him. So violent was his behaviour while the otherchiefs were making the treaty at Payne's Landing, that General Thompsoncaused him to be seized and carried off in irons, though he managed toslip out of them, and to make his escape. He has since sent word thathe would agree to the treaty; but those who know him best mistrust himmost. What could have induced him to run the risk of coming to thissettlement, I cannot say; probably he supposed no one here wasacquainted with him, and evidently had some object in view."
"At all events, he saved my life when his countrymen were threatening totake it," observed Rochford, stepping forward; "and I am deeply indebtedto him."
"My dear, sir, he may have had an object in saving your life; andknowing you were a British subject, he would not hate you as he doesAmericans. Am I wrong in supposing that you are an Irishman, though Ihave not the pleasure of knowing your name?"
"Maulins Rochford," said my friend, bowing to the captain; "may I askyours?"
"Roger Norton, of the United States army. I am familiar with your name,having some relatives of the same in the old country. May I ask if youbelong to the Rochfords of Killmallan?"
"Mr. Rochford of Killmallan is my uncle," answered Maulins.
"Then we may hail each other as cousins," said Captain Norton, puttingout his hand. "We Americans are always glad to meet with relatives fromthe other side of the Atlantic. I shall be truly glad if, after youhave seen something of the country, you make up your mind to remain withus."
Rochford, who was warm-hearted in the extreme, cordially shook hiscousin's hand. Of course they each had numerous questions to ask andanswer.
The remainder of the day was happily spent, in spite of the judge'sanxiety as to what had become of his Indian guest. Captain Norton,however, assured him that he was confident the chief had gone off of hisown accord some time during the night, fearing that it might bediscovered who he was, and that he might again be made prisoner.
The young captain would gladly have accompanied us to Castle Kearney,but his duties prevented him from doing so. He undertook, however, tocome over in the course of a few days, and to bring our ponies, with asufficient escort. He expressed himself very glad that we had arrangedto return by water.
Our friend Lejoillie had not been idle, but had been constantly employedin searching for objects of natural history, of which he found no lackeven in the judge's garden. He had been watching, with great attention,the nest of a humming-bird, which he had discovered a short distancefrom the house, and invited me to come and see it. No parents could bemore attentive to the wants of their young than were those bright littlegems, the smallest of the feathered tribe. They were constantly flyinghither and thither, bringing insects too minute even to be seen, whichthey put into the gaping beaks of their young ones, each scarcely largerthan a humble-bee. As we were looking, we saw a spider, one of thelargest I had ever seen, crawl up the branch to which the nest wasattached. Slowly and cautiously it made its way upward, with the fellintent, I felt sure, of seizing the young birds, and perhaps the parentsalso, in its embrace.
"Stay," whispered Lejoillie, holding my arm, "it is a question I havelong desired to have settled, whether these spiders really do feed onbirds."
"But there is no doubt about it!" I exclaimed, trembling for the fateof the beautiful little creatures.
"It is not yet an accomplished fact," answered Lejoillie; "the creaturemay have some other object in view. Overcome your humanity this oncefor the sake of science;" and he held me back.
On crawled the horrid monster. The hen-bird sat on the nest with openbeak, while the cock fluttered with wings expanded just above thecreature's claws, endeavouring to attract its attention, or to seize oneof the claws in its beak, which at times I thought its parental feelingswould induce it to do. All its efforts were in vain. The monster,knowing its power, crawled on, and putting in its claws, seized one ofthe young birds, which in an instant it applied to its mouth.
I could bear it no longer. "You are satisfied of the fact," I cried;and rushing forward with a stick, I struck the hideous creature to theground.
"Not that it kills the older birds as well as the young," saidLejoillie, somewhat vexed at my proceeding.
"It would have done so, depend upon it. Pray enter the fact in yournote-book."
He did so, fully satisfied, I believe, and
really not sorry that I hadsaved the humming-birds, or, as he called them, the "fly-birds," fromdestruction.
The next morning a large boat, having a gay-coloured awning, with sixrowers, provided by the judge, was in readiness to carry us up theriver. Captain Norton escorted the ladies on board. It took us verymuch less time to proceed by water, even though the current was againstus, than to have come by land.
We found my uncle greatly recovered. He expressed his pleasure atseeing our friends Rochford and Lejoillie, and begged that they wouldremain at Castle Kearney as long as they felt disposed to honour himwith their society. They expressed their admiration of the house andeverything about it, including my fair cousins, who certainly did theirbest to entertain them.
In consequence of the rumours which had reached my uncle
In the Wilds of Florida: A Tale of Warfare and Hunting Page 10