the approach of any onewho might be following him. He hurried on, notwithstanding the weightof the animal and holding his rifle in his hand, looking back every nowand then as if he did not feel himself secure from pursuit.
"Who comes there?" shouted the sentry.
"A friend," was the reply. "Open the gate, and let me in. I wish tosee your commanding officer."
I hurried down to tell Captain Norton, who ordered the gate to beopened.
As the hunter advanced, what was my surprise to recognise our friendRochford. The gate was opened, and the hunter entered. Throwing downthe deer, he advanced with outstretched hand to meet Captain Norton.Though he was much disguised by his hunter's dress, his sun-burnedfeatures, and a huge moustache, as I watched him I felt sure that I wasnot mistaken.
"What brings you here?" asked Captain Norton.
"I come to give you warning that you may at any moment be attacked by astrong body of Indians. Don't you know me?" asked the hunter.
"What--Rochford!" exclaimed the captain, grasping his hand. "I am trulyglad to see you. Your coming thus at once proves that you are innocentof the grave charge brought against you."
"I am certainly innocent of any intention of acting wrongly, though Iconfess that I have allowed myself to be deceived in the character ofthose it was my honest desire to assist. I cannot, however, at presententer into particulars, nor tell you how I obtained the information Ipossess. It must be sufficient for you to know that I heard of yourhaving occupied this fort, and also that you are very likely to be hardpressed for want of provisions. I therefore resolved to come and putyou on your guard, and, if possible, not to appear empty-handed. I wasfortunate enough to kill this deer at no great distance from the fort,as I was making my way towards it. Tell me, of what am I accused,besides having gone away to acquaint myself with the Redskin natives ofthe country?"
"You are accused of carrying off my sister Juanita; and I, for one,believe that you had a hand in the matter, whatever you may say to thecontrary!" exclaimed Carlos, stepping forward and making a threateninggesture at Rochford.
"What is that you say?" exclaimed Rochford, with a look of unfeignedastonishment, while deep emotion was visible in his countenance. "On myword of honour, I am guiltless of any such act; and I say so,notwithstanding the language you use, young sir. When was your sistercarried off; and how came it that those who should have protected herwere not more careful?"
My father, not allowing Carlos to reply, gave the particulars toRochford.
"I was at the time far away south," he answered. "Had I been in theneighbourhood, I should probably have heard of the occurrence from theIndians, who had treated me with courtesy and confidence. It is onlysince they have been guilty of many acts of atrocity that I haveseparated myself from them. I told them that I would remain theirfriend, and do my utmost to defend and advance their cause, if theywould act justly, and if resolved on war, would carry it on according tothe customs of the civilised nations of the earth. But when I foundthat they had begun to massacre the unarmed and defenceless people, andhad scalped those they had slain in fight, I told them that I could nolonger remain their friend. To do them justice, they replied that I wasat liberty to act as I judged right; and far from attempting to injureme, they allowed me to go wherever I chose."
"I fully believe your account, Mr. Rochford; and I hope my nephew willapologise for his hasty words, or I will do so for him," answered myfather.
Carlos turned aside, muttering something which I did not overhear.Rochford, however, took no further notice of what Carlos had said, andseemed satisfied with the welcome which the rest of the party, includingLejoillie, gave him. We had, however, but little time for conversation.As a large body of the enemy was approaching the fort, it was necessaryat once to make preparations for their reception. The captain addresseda few words of encouragement to the garrison, telling them what he hadheard, and urging them to hold out bravely, expressing his confidencethat we should drive back the Indians, however numerous they might be.Ammunition was then served out, and each man went to his station toawait the attack, which, from the intelligence brought by Rochford, webelieved might at any moment be commenced.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
THE LULL BEFORE THE STORM--ADVANCING TO THE ATTACK--THE ENGAGEMENT--WORKFOR MARKSMEN--TIM'S SHOT--A CAPTURE--ROCHFORD UNDERTAKES A PERILOUSENTERPRISE--A HUNTING EXPEDITION--OUR SUCCESS--WE GO BACK TO THE FORT--SPOTTED WOLF JOINS THE PARTY--ENCAMPED FOR THE NIGHT--LEJOILLIE NODSDURING HIS WATCH--AN ADVENTURE--THE INDIAN DISAPPEARS WITH OUR HORSE--SUPPLYING THE GARRISON WITH PROVISIONS--CARLOS'S SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED--THE PARTING--REDUCED TO EXTREMITY--PREPARATIONS FOR RETREAT--THE WOUNDEDSOLDIER--DEATH OF THE TROOPER--THE MARCH COMMENCED.
An unusual silence appeared to reign in the woods surrounding the fort;even the birds, whose notes were wont to be heard, were silent. The sunhad already risen above the tops of the trees, and shone down withintense force into the confined space which enclosed us. Not a breathof air stirred the leaves. It seemed as if all nature had gone tosleep. The sentries paced up and down on the platforms, watching oneither side, for it was impossible to say on which the Indians wouldmake their threatened attack. I asked Rochford if he did not think,after all, that they had changed their minds, and would not venturenear.
"I am very sure that they have not," he answered. "They know that youare but ill supplied with provisions and ammunition; besides which, theyhave vowed that they will drive all the Palefaces into the sea, andtheir late success in destroying a large detachment has encouraged themto continue their efforts to liberate their country. I acknowledge thatthey are vain, for they are ignorant of the vast resources we possess,and fancy that the power of the whites is represented by the fewhundreds of troops which they have seen. It would have been moremerciful if the United States Government had sent an overwhelming force,which would have rendered resistance impossible. But even had ten timesas many troops as are at present in Florida been employed, they couldhave proceeded but slowly in a country covered in all directions withimpenetrable thickets and swamps; and unless good roads are cut, the warwill not be brought to a close for many a year to come. Meantime, bothwhite men and natives will suffer cruelly. The great object should beto show the Indians that the whites must conquer at last, and that iswhat I have endeavoured to do; but the Redskins declare that the countryis their own, that they have right on their side, and that the Palefaceswill be the first to get tired."
While we were speaking, one of the men on guard shouted, "Here theycome!"
On springing on to the platform, we could see a large body of men, someon foot, others on horseback; besides which, we could make out many moreemerging from a wood to the north-west. They halted, apparentlysurprised at our numbers, as they saw the heads of our men appearingabove the stockade; for, with the exception of the sentries, all hadhurried over to the side towards which they were approaching. The enemywere deceived in another way, by supposing that we should only fire downupon them over the stockade, whereas the lower portion under theplatform was well loopholed. After holding a short consultation, duringwhich not a sound reached our ears, they again advanced, led on by theirchiefs, uttering the most fearful yells and shrieks. I had often heardof the Indian war-whoop, but I little knew, until now, the extraordinarypower of which the human voice is capable when excited by rage and thedesire to inspire terror into the hearts of enemies. I confess that Ishould have been not a little alarmed had I not known what effect ourbullets would soon produce on the advancing foe.
"Shout as ye like, ye yelpin' savages," cried Tim, who was standing nearme; "it won't make one of us wink an eye, an' we'll soon send ye to therightabout when you get within range of our rifles."
A few of the chiefs now dashed forward, flourishing their spears, butquickly retreated behind the warriors on foot, who advanced rapidlytowards the fort. Captain Norton, as they approached, ordered us all tojump down from the platform and take our posts at the loopholes, whencewe could pour a deadly fire on
the ranks of the Indians, while weourselves would be under cover. No sooner was the order given to firethan we began blazing away. The enemy, little expecting the receptionthey met with, had fancied they could get close up to the foot of thestockade, and climb over without opposition.
Our men had been ordered not to throw a shot away. They fully carriedout their instructions. At the very first discharge fully a dozenIndians were either killed or wounded. Staggered by this warm receptionthey halted, when again their chiefs cried out to them to advance, whichthey did after discharging a shower of bullets and arrows. The formercame pinging against the thick posts which formed the stockade; thelatter flew over our heads and fell into the fort, without, however,injuring any one. Half of the garrison only had fired; the remainder atonce took their places, while the first