o
so if his own people suspect that he has allied himself to their foes.
The daughter of the Paleface chief is alive, and living in the lodges of
our great chief Oceola, where she was brought some time back. It is
said that he desires to wed the damsel, but that she has refused to
become his bride, and that he is unable to compel her."

"So far what you tell us is satisfactory," observed Captain Norton.
"Can you conduct a party to the lodges of your chief, so that the
damsel, should she desire it, may return to her home?"

"The undertaking would be difficult and dangerous," observed the Indian.
"Still, if the white chief wills it, Black Hawk will go; but it would
be certain destruction to all those who might form the party, should
Oceola discover the attempt made to carry off his intended bride."

Rochford had been an attentive listener to this conversation, of which I
give only a few particulars as they were interpreted to me. He had been
sufficiently long with the Indians to understand the greater part of the
conversation.

"If Miss Kearney be held captive in the lodges of the Seminole chief, I
will undertake to bear any message to her which her uncle or brother
desires to send, and endeavour, should she be willing to accompany me,
to escort her to her family," he said. "I have the means of
communicating with the Indians in all parts of the country; and in spite
of dangers and difficulties, I am sanguine of success."

"But should the Indians find out that you have communicated with us,
they will look upon you as an enemy to their cause, and will probably
detain you, if they do not take your life," observed my father.
"Anxious as I am to recover my niece, I think it right to point out to
you the danger you incur."

"I have considered all the difficulties, Captain Kearney, and I count
them as nothing compared to the object to be attained," answered
Rochford. "I would set out this very day, but I think it is of
importance to know whether our late assailants have taken their
departure; for should I fall into their hands, they might detain me
until Black Hawk was delivered up to them; or, should they think him
killed, they might take my life in revenge for his in spite of Oceola's
safe-conduct. Besides, I am very sure that you require a larger supply
of provisions than you now possess; and as none of your party can with
prudence venture far from the fort, I propose spending a day in hunting.
I have a sufficient