unlight to them, and that in losing him they would be buried in
darkness.

These appeals stirred his feelings deeply, but could not alter his
fixed purpose; and when they saw that he was determined to leave them,
they opposed him no longer, but only begged of him that he would
speedily return.

So Rene de Veaux, at the head of his own war-party of picked Alachua
braves, set forth once more on the same journey that he had now made so
many times, and under such different circumstances.

As the canoe which bore him shot out from the shore into the middle of
the river, and was headed up against the current, there arose from the
multitude collected on the bank a mighty cry of lamentation for the
young chief who was departing from them. For answer Rene, standing up
so that all might see him, took the Flamingo Feather that was entwined
in his hair, waved it above his head, and replaced it. This was a sign
that, though he was leaving them, he would return again, and by it they
were greatly comforted.

Once started, the party moved with the greatest speed, those who plied
the paddles being frequently relieved by fresh men, and never before
had Rene accomplished the journey so quickly. At its various stages he
received many reminders of former passages over the same waters, and of
the brave and loyal Has-se who had accompanied him on most of them.
Here was the point where his loving and beloved friend had so
peacefully breathed his last, and there, at the edge of the great
swamp, the place where Chitta had met with his self-inflicted
punishment. Now they passed the mouth of the little lagoon, from the
head of which the trail led away through the dark mazes of the swamp to
the Seminole island, rising from its slimy waters; and soon they were
gliding swiftly down with the current of that other river, that flowed
eastward to the coast.

Finally they passed its last bend, and the leading canoe, in which Rene
sat, shot out into the open waters of the sound. As it did so the
heart of the white chief gave a great leap within him, and for a moment
a mist swam before his eyes. He had not expected to find his
countrymen before passing the vast salt-marshes and reaching the River
of May; but, to his astonishment, he had already come upon them.
Within a mile of him lay three tall ships, riding gracefully at their
anchors, and from their mast-heads floated proudly in the light of the
setting sun the lily banner of France.

They