of the fort upon its capture by the
Spaniards, and had reached the forest unharmed.

There they had fallen into the hands of these Seminoles who had not
fled from this part of the country upon the return of the French, as
the latter had supposed, but had lingered in the hope of capturing any
white men who might incautiously stray beyond the protecting walls.
They desired to capture these that their tortures might form part of
the festivities with which they proposed to celebrate their return to
their stronghold in the great swamp, and to which the rest of the band,
bearing the plunder taken from Fort Caroline after it was abandoned,
had already gone. The Seminoles, rejoicing greatly over the fortune
that had thrown three victims thus easily into their hands, were now on
their way to their canoes, which they had hidden near the foot of this
high bluff.

Directing the others to proceed to where the canoes lay, Cat-sha,
accompanied by Chitta, ascended the eminence for the purpose of taking
a sweeping view of the river and the surrounding country. As they
gained the summit Rene's moanings warned them of his presence.
Stealing to the spot where he lay with the noiseless footfalls of wild
beasts, the two Indians stood for a moment gloating over the
unconscious lad. They fully realized the value of this unexpected and
welcome prize, for both of them recognized the young white chief the
moment their eyes lighted upon him. In another minute the poor lad had
awakened with a wild cry of terror, to find himself bound hand and
foot, and lying at the mercy of those whom he knew to be his bitterest
and most unrelenting enemies.

CHAPTER XV

RENE IN THE HANDS OF HIS ENEMIES

Well might Rene de Veaux feel that he had fallen into evil hands, as,
upon awakening from his troubled slumber, he found himself bound hand
and foot, and gazed into the cruel face of Chitta, lighted by a
triumphant but sneering smile. Nor did he gain any comfort by turning
his eyes to the sullen countenance of the huge Cat-sha. Neither pity
nor mercy was expressed in the slightest degree by either of the
Seminoles. Chitta thought of the revenge he was to enjoy for his
humiliating overthrow during the games at the Feast of Ripe Corn, which
he fully believed he owed to the white lad. Cat-sha knew that Rene had
led the attack upon his band at the shell mound, and regarded him as a
brave enemy whom he should take an exquisite delight in torturing.