There being no further need for concealment, I hurried forward, followed
by Tim, when Rochford and his companion rapidly advanced to meet us.

"Where have you been?" I exclaimed. "We feared that you had met with
some accident, and we have been hunting for you all the morning."

"I am sorry to have caused you and my other friends any anxiety, but I
could not help myself," he answered. "While chasing a deer which I had
wounded, I was made prisoner by a band of natives, who dragged me off,
and were about, I feared, to put me to death, supposing that I was a
settler, when my companion here, who is a chief of importance among
them, made his appearance. On my explaining who I was, and my object in
coming to Florida, he at once set me at liberty, and treated me with the
greatest kindness. As he appeared anxious to see the settlement, I
induced him to accompany me to Roseville, having pledged myself for his
safety."

"No one would wish to interfere with him," I observed. "I feel very
sure he will meet with a friendly reception."

To my surprise, the Indian chief, turning to me, said, in perfectly good
English--

"I know that I can rely on the honour of an Irishman. My sole object in
entering the settlement is to assure the white inhabitants that my
countrymen desire peace, and that they need be under no apprehension of
an attack from us. All we wish is to retain our hunting-grounds, and to
cultivate our lands unmolested."

While we were speaking, Carlos and the two other men came up, when
Rochford's companion repeating what he had said to me, they invited him
to accompany us back to the settlement. On our way I inquired of
Rochford what could have caused our scout to suppose that a band of
Indians was approaching.

"He must have seen my new friend's followers in the distance," he
answered. "They set out to accompany him, but returned by his
directions to a wood a short distance from this. There are a couple of
hundred of them, fine-looking fellows, all well-armed, and evidently
devoted to him. It proves, I think, his friendly disposition; for, were
he ill disposed, they might pounce down on the settlement at any moment,
and destroy it before the inhabitants could have time to defend
themselves."

"Then he does not altogether rely on your safe-conduct; for he knows
well that should the inhabitants of Roseville attempt to detain him he
would quickly be rescued by his followers," I remarked.

Lejoillie sh