CHAPTER IX.
THE BEES AND THE BEAR.
Walter's first feeling was of horror and indignation, mingled withfrank admiration for the cleverness with which Charley had reasoned thematter out to its logical conclusion.
"You have got a great head on you, old chap," he said, affectionately."It certainly seems as though you have hit the nail on the head thistime. I understand, now, why their leader was so anxious to have usmove away. They expect to encounter the Indians somewhere in thisneighborhood and they do not want any witnesses. What shall we do,Charley?"
"We are in an unpleasant fix," said his chum, musingly. "The only safething to do, I guess, is to take that convict's advice and move away atonce. If we interfere with their plans or even let on that we knowwhat they are, it will mean fight, with us outnumbered three to one."
"But we can't leave here and let those fiends ambush and murder thoseunsuspecting Indians," said Walter indignantly.
"Certainly not," said his chum, heartily. "But we must be prepared totake some risks. We can't fight that crowd in the open, they are toomany for us. We'll have to outwit them and put the Indians on theirguard without letting the convicts suspect that we have had a finger inthe pie. It would be an easy trick to turn if it were not for thatrenegade Indian with them. I guess there isn't anything much thatescapes those black, beady eyes of his."
"You have a plan then?" said Walter eagerly.
"One, such as it is. You see, we are between those fellows over thereand the Everglades. A party of savages coming from the Glades wouldhave to pass us before coming in rifle range of the convicts' camp.Now we could halt them here and explain matters, but that would give usdead away to the enemy."
Walter's face fell. "They would be sure to catch on," he admitted.
Charley pointed far to the south where, half a mile distant, anotherlong point jutted out through the marsh into the river. "That is thekey to the situation," he declared. "The Seminoles are not expecteduntil to-morrow, if that man's remarks are true. Well, beginningto-morrow morning early, one of us will be on that point while daylightlasts,--Indians do not generally travel at night, and when we sightthem we will signal and warn them, and the convicts will be none thewiser. The Seminoles are no cowards and we can join them and wipe thatscum of humanity off the face of the earth."
"Splendid," approved Walter enthusiastically. "But let's head for campnow. The others will be wondering what has become of us."
At the camp a surprise awaited the two boys. The captain was stumpingback and forth near the fire, his usually good-natured face nearlypurple with suppressed anger, while, squatting on his heels before thefire, sat Indian Charley, his face impassive but his keen beady eyeswatching the irate sailor's slightest movement.
At the sight of the boys, the captain lumbered towards them, waving adirty piece of paper. "Read that," he roared, "just brought in by thatcopper-faced, shoe-button-eyed son of a sea cook."
It was a piece torn evidently from a paper bag and on it was scrawledin big, almost undecipherable characters.
"The shootin' an' racket you-alls are doin' air drivin' the 'gatorsaway. You-alls have got to move. This is our huntin' ground. Forsake of that tobacco, which comes mighty handy, we'll give you-alls'till to-morrow noon to move peaceable afore we comes down on you,hands and feet."
"How's that for gall?" demanded the captain, his wrath increasing, butCharley silenced him with a shake of his head and turned to theimpassive redskin. "Tell your leader, that we are figuring on making amove to-morrow," he said, courteously. The Seminole's beady orbs methis in a suspicious glance, then he turned without a word and glidednoiselessly away among the bushes.
Walter and Charley exchanged significant glances. "That means they donot expect them before to-morrow afternoon," Charley commented.
"Who! expecting who? Don't talk in riddles, lads," exclaimed thecaptain, testily, his temper still suffering from the unaccustomedrestraint he had put upon it.
In a few words Charley related his suspicions to him and Chris, anddetailed the plan he and Walter had agreed upon.
The captain's face beamed with unenvious admiration as he gave Charleya hearty thump on the back that well-nigh drove the breath out of thelad's body.
"Reasoned out plain an' fair as day," he exclaimed, "I reckon you'vehit it right plum center first shot, lad. You bet we'll be on thewatch to warn them poor Indians, an' if there's any fightin' we'll sho'help to rid this country of them ornary, low-down, murderin',cut-throats. It's a great head you've got for young shoulders,Charley. You've reasoned it out like a detective and made your planslike a general."
Charley blushed with pleasure. "It looks logical and I hope it willwork out all right," he said, secretly pleased at the tribute to hismental powers. But, as a great detective or general sometimes does,Charley had passed over the simple, vital, obvious point that was themost important of all and from its omission, destined to be farreaching and terrible to hunters, Indians and convicts.
"There's nothing special to do this morning," said Walter, "so let usmake a trip to that point and pick out a good place for our lookout."
"Judging from their actions and their note, our neighbors don't intendto make a move against us until to-morrow, so I guess it will be safefor all of us to go," said Charley. "We will take the guns and make akind of all day hunting trip."
"Den, I spect dis nigger's got to rustle around an' fix up some lunch,"said Chris, his face falling. "Golly, I spect you-alls going to bepowerful hungry nigh noon."
"No, this is going to be a holiday for all of us," declared Walter withboyish enthusiasm. "For one day let's all be just like the Indians,get our food with out guns and not even take a frying-pan with us."
To Chris' great delight the others gave ready assent to the plan. Thehorses were watered and staked in fresh spots, and, with guns overshoulders, our party followed their point in to shore, then struck offsouthward along the margin of the marsh toward the distant point,destined to be Point Lookout.
They found it much like their own point, but somewhat more heavilywooded.
"Here's the very place for our lookout," exclaimed Walter, pausingbeside a clump of great oaks. "See, it couldn't be better if it hadbeen made to order. This knoll commands a good view of the marshes andriver towards the Everglades, while those trees will hide the watcherfrom our point, and of course from the convicts' camp. I have got abig, red, bandanna handkerchief which we can use as a flag. When theone on watch sees the Indians coming, he can fasten it to that deadsapling further out. That will be a signal to those in camp to getready for a hot time."
"Bravo," said the captain approvingly. "You have got the right courselogged out to a point by the compass. Steer as you are going, lad, andyou'll have stored in your head as well packed and sorted a cargo asgood as Charley's here."
"Or me, or me, Massa Captain," chimed in Chris. "Golly, I reckonyou-alls don't know what a smart nigger I is when I gets de chance."
"We are all wonders, in our own minds," laughed Charley. "We have gota chance to show our smartness right now. I, for one, am gettingmighty hungry and we haven't bagged anything for dinner yet."
"We are for the woods, then," cried Walter, "on, noble leader. Shallwe separate or go together?"
"We must stick together, provided you will try to keep that mouth ofyours closed and quit guying me," Charley retorted. "If not, I shallfeel it my duty to take you across my knee and give you a goodspanking."
Walter checked the ready sally which was on his tongue's end, for theyhad been moving on while talking and Charley was now leading them intothe dense forest where silence was absolutely necessary if they hopedto secure any game.
For some time they picked their way carefully through the forest,warily avoiding dry twigs, and maintaining an absolute silence. Butalthough they saw numerous signs of game, both large and small, not aglimpse of even a rabbit or squirrel rewarded their eager watchfulness.
At last wh
en all were beginning to get a bit discouraged, Charleycalled a halt. "Now, all of you listen hard as you can for a fewminutes and then tell me what you hear," he said.
For a full minute his companions listened intently, then the captaingave an exclamation of disgust. "Can't hear anything out of theusual," he declared.
"Once or twice I thought I heard something, but I guess it was only myimagination," said Walter.
"And you, Chris?" inquired Charley of the little darky, whose face worea puzzled expression.
"Golly, dis nigger hear something powerful plain but he can't just makeit out. Don't sound like anything he ever heard, afore. Now hitsounds like a big dog growling an' then again hit sounds like onewhinin'."
"Your ears are pretty good, Chris," Charley commented. "I guess we'llfollow up that sound for a little while."