In the Wilds of Florida: A Tale of Warfare and Hunting
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could have doneso. I only wish that he was safe back again here or at Castle Kearney."
I found Lejoillie very busy in obtaining specimens of natural history;but he ran a great risk, in his excursions, of being caught and scalpedby any Indians who might be prowling about. The Roseville militia were,however, always on the alert.
I had nearly stayed out my time at the judge's, when a hunter belongingto the place, who, notwithstanding the unsettled state of the country,continued the pursuit of game, often at long distances from thesettlement, brought word that he had come upon the lately-deserted campof a considerable body of Indians or blacks. He suspected, he said,from the numerous bones of deer and fowl scattered about, that they wereprovided with fire-arms and might have some evil intentions towards thesettlement. He had followed up the trail, and found them againencamped, but had not ventured near enough to ascertain their numbersand character. He advised, therefore, that a party should be sent outto surprise and disperse them, which he was of opinion could easily bedone by surrounding their camp at night. When I heard this account, Iwas almost convinced that the party were those blacks who had placedthemselves under Rochford, and that he, of course, would not permit themto injure the settlers. I did not, however, feel sufficiently certainthat Rochford was with them to allow me to express this opinion; but Ibegged permission to accompany the expedition, which was willinglygranted me. It was not expected to last many days, and I hoped still toget back before I was wanted by my father. The Roseville Rifles,commanded by Captain Seth Nockelles, to whom I was introduced by thejudge, wore as uniform broad-brimmed straw hats and shooting-jackets,with belts round their waists, in which they stuck their bowie-knivesand pistols, while they carried their long rifles slung across theirbacks. We took with us several powerful blood-hounds, such as I havebefore described.
I have already given so many accounts of marches through the country,that I must not fill up my journal with a description either of thescenery or the adventures we met with. At this time a strong force ofregular troops had compelled the Indians to evacuate the eastern part ofthe country, and had, it was supposed, driven the larger numberwestward, so that we did not expect to meet the enemy in anyconsiderable force. We therefore advanced with confidence, though wesent out scouts, as usual, to avoid the risk of being surprised. We hadthus pushed on for four or five days, when one of the scouts broughtword that he saw the smoke of a fire ascending apparently from the midstof a thick wood, which was, in his opinion, very likely to shelter anenemy. It was considered advisable, therefore, to enter cautiously,feeling our way as we advanced. As we got to the borders, the dogs wereloosened and sent in, and we followed knowing that they would give ustimely notice should they come upon an enemy. We had not got far whenwe heard several shots; but no bullets came near us.
"The dogs must have shown themselves, and, depend upon it, those shotswere aimed at them," observed our leader. "Come on, lads! or the rebelswill be making their escape by the other side of the wood, and we shallhave no chance of meeting them."
We accordingly pushed on through the dense foliage, Captain Nockelles, ahardy backwoodsman, leading. Soon I caught sight of a couple of blacks,and a white man with a pistol in his hand standing before them, whiletwo of the blood-hounds lay dead at his feet. The blacks held theirrifles ready for action. On seeing the white man, our captain,refraining from firing as I thought he would do, shouted out--
"Who are you?"
"A friend!" answered the stranger, stepping forward, when what was mysurprise to recognise Rochford, though no longer in hunter's guise, butdressed as he was when staying at Roseville. The blacks had in themeantime lowered their weapons, but showed no inclination to followtheir leader.
"What brought you here, my fine fellow?" exclaimed the militia captain,looking hard at Rochford.
"I was on my way to Roseville, with my two attendants; and if you meanto return there soon, I shall be very glad to accompany you," answeredRochford.
"You cannot expect us to believe that story," cried the captain; "butwhether you do or do not, you and your black fellows must go back withus to Roseville, and we shall then find out who you and they are. Myidea is that they are runaway slaves, and that you are the Britisherwho, it is said, has been encouraging them."
As he said this, he turned round and ordered some of his men to arrestthe blacks, who suddenly sprung back, and disappeared behind a thicket.
"Tell those fellows to stop," cried the captain to Rochford.
"They are free agents, and I cannot interfere with their movements,"answered the latter.
"What should you say if we were to hang you on the next tree forrefusing?" exclaimed the captain. "Call them back, I say, or take theconsequences."
"Even though I wished to do so, I have no right to exercise anyinfluence over them. If you hang me you will be guilty of murder. I amperfectly ready to go with you, and will give you my word of honour thatI will do so without attempting to escape," replied our friend calmly.
The captain, notwithstanding what Rochford had said, became moreviolent; and fearing that he would proceed to extremities, I thought ittime to interfere, so stepping forward, I said--
"I know this gentleman, and I am very sure that he has no intention ofcommitting any illegal act. Judge Shurtleff is also well acquaintedwith him; as is Captain Norton, to whom he is related."
"All very fine, Mr. Kearney; but people don't go about the country witha troop of blacks at their heels without intending mischief. If hewon't order those negroes to give themselves up, we must try and catchthem. If we can't do so, it will have a very ugly look for him."
But the blacks were active and cunning, and knew the country, which wasmore than their pursuers did. The latter, after a long chase, came backdeclaring that not a nigger could they find, and swearing at the troublewhich had been given them.
So angry were they with Rochford, that had I not energeticallyinterfered, it would have gone hard with him. I at length, however,persuaded the captain to carry him before Judge Shurtleff. The partyindeed were anxious to get out of the wood as soon as possible, for wehad already gone further in pursuit of the supposed rebels than wasintended; and as no other camp could be found in the neighbourhoodbesides the small one lately formed by Rochford and his attendants, ourleader was pretty well satisfied that it would be useless to continuethe search. In spite of my representations, he treated Rochford as aprisoner, making him march between two armed men, who were ordered toshoot him should he attempt to run away. When we halted at night,greatly to my indignation, they lashed his arms behind him, so that hecould neither sit nor lie down with any comfort.
Rochford bore this ill-treatment without complaint. "Thus end all myschemes for the amelioration of the red and black races of this haplesscountry," he said to me, as I was sitting near him, which I was allowedto do. "I found them very different, I confess, to what I expected.With some noble qualities, the Indians are savage in the extreme; andthe blacks must be educated before they are fit to take care ofthemselves. I have, however, more hope of them than I have of theIndians."
I was not sorry to hear Rochford say this, as I trusted that he wouldnow be induced to abandon his wild schemes, and turn his attention to amore profitable employment of his time.
Captain Nockelles, who was exceedingly vexed at the escape of theblacks, refused, notwithstanding my representations, to set my friend atliberty. I undertook to be answerable for his making no attempt toescape; but all I could say had no effect, and Rochford was kept withhis arms pinioned, unless when two men were standing by him with loadedrifles in their hands. Our journey was therefore a far from pleasantone. Rochford found it very disagreeable; and I felt greatly annoyed atthe way he was treated; but as I should have been accused of mutiny hadI made any further attempt to get him released, I was obliged, as hewas, to submit. He begged me not to make myself unhappy about him.
"It will be over in a few days," he remarked; "and I trust I shall beable to exonerate myself fro
m the absurd charges which may be broughtagainst me. The very fact that I had assumed a civilised costume,proves that I was about to return to the settlement. Had I beencaptured dressed as a hunter, at the head of a party of blacks orIndians, my conduct might have been open to suspicion."
I was very glad when at last the buildings of Roseville appeared insight; though somewhat annoyed when Captain Nockelles ordered me toremain with the main body, while he took his prisoner, under charge of aguard, before Judge Shurtleff. I begged to go likewise, urging thatthere was no possible reason why I should remain behind, when I had noteven a command in the regiment. At last, not having the face longer torefuse me, he consented, and I followed the party which had gone onbefore.
Our old friend was seated in his judicial chair, at a small table, withpen, ink, and paper before him. I arrived