siderable satisfaction,
when later in the night he returned with a fourth one. We had no longer
any fears as to the hummock concealing Indians, as they would certainly
have shown themselves long before this. A careful watch, however, was
kept during the night. Some of the party proposed scouring the hummock,
to obtain a larger supply of venison, or any other game we could shoot;
but Captain Norton would not consent to this.

Next morning, having breakfasted on venison, with some wild duck which
the keenest of our sportsmen had killed at sunrise, we recommenced our
march. Spotted Wolf shortly afterwards intimated that if we would
proceed farther west, he might probably obtain information regarding
those of whom we were in search. There were a few lodges of his people,
connected to him by ties of blood, who, being peaceably disposed, had
declined to join Oceola and the other rebel chiefs. "They, of
necessity," he said, "keep themselves well informed of what is going
forward in other parts of the country, that they may make their escape
should the rebels attempt to compel them to join their party."

Carlos doubted the truth of this statement; but Captain Norton appeared
to believe it, or, at all events, allowed Spotted Wolf to think so. If
Oceola had really carried off Juanita, his object, no doubt, would be to
place her somewhere in safety, under the charge of the female members of
his family, so that she would be unable to escape herself, or obtain the
assistance of her friends. He could scarcely have expected that a force
like ours would so soon have been despatched in pursuit. Carlos,
however, persisted in declaring that the Indian chief had had nothing to
do with the matter, and that Rochford alone had, somehow or other,
obtained the means of carrying her off.

We had been marching on for some hours across a pine-barren, with the
sun beating down on our heads, and were anxiously looking out for a
stream or pool at which we could quench our thirst, Carlos and I being
together, when an object was seen moving across the plain towards us.
It was soon made out to be a horse.

"It is riderless," observed Carlos.

"Can it be a wild one?" I asked.

"Not from its movements, I am nearly sure. And see! it has a saddle on
its back," he replied.

Presently another and another appeared, coming from the same direction.
Carlos and I, with several of the men, rushed forward to catch the
animals. Two of those which