The Flamingo Feather

ntly down the broad river, the former related to his companion all the particulars of his leaving the fort, and the delays that h

y success at the outset is proof to me tha

was not at all certain that he was acting rightly; but he d

ave deemed it impossible, and am not a little concerned to find Fort

for some minutes

but I may not now, though at another time my tongue may be loosed. For the present I am bound

ce in him; but he knew his friend's character too well to press the subject furt

ayou, that wound, with innumerable turnings, amid vast limitless expanses of salt-marsh. This stream led into o

places myriads of water-fowl and strange birds, that flew away with harsh notes of alarm. These were answered from the distant forest by

re until sunrise. After hauling the canoe well up out of the water, he led the way to a small hut, thatched with palmetto-leaves, that stood half-way up the side of the mound.

, he found Has-se standing smiling beside him, and saw that the sun had already risen. Running down to the beach, he bathed his fac

rched corn and several gourds of fresh water had been brought along, and upon this simple fare he had expected to break his fast. Now, in addition to t

cleaned them, wrapped them in fresh, damp leaves, raked aside a portion of the fire that he had kindl

t and carry to the fire. To cook them he had simply placed the entire bunch on the coals, where

eral nests among the tall marsh grass. They also had been roast

d knew not what to make of it. When he asked Has-se what it was, the latter

young palm-tree, and with us Indians it takes the place of bread when

bbage-palm, roasted in its own husk, and to

former high tide. This he wanted for both his fish and his eggs. Then the two boys sat down to their feast, and ate and laug

then they crossed a wide sheet of open water, and entered the mouth of a wild, dark river that flowed into it from the west. The rest of that day and most of the next was occupied in the ascent of this river, which e

canoes. At each of these places he found the ashes and charred sticks that denoted recent camp-fires, and each time after making such a di

ed. "Thy looks betoken a worriment of s

said, more as if thinking aloud than in answer to Réné's question, "Others

reason for th

remains of several small but recent camp-fires on opposite sides of the river from theirs, and around them I find the traces of

hy band left behind like thyself. Or may not one of them be of thy tribe

follow, they could have done so long since. Their fires burned at the same time with those of my people, and they have visited Micco's camps before the ashes of h

arge a band, and for what purpose

the prize of a scalp--a thing they could only gain by a cowardly attack upon one defenceless, for they dare not seek it in open fight. Or it may be that one of

ed, and for some time he remained silent. Finally

s of whom thou dost spe

e been driven out of my tribe and other tribes on the north. They have gradually increased in numbers, until now they

guely as having conceived an enmity unjust

Ta-lah-lo-ko. I speak of Chitta the S

o encounter him, and he ventures to i

with the Snake will be a sad one for us," answered Has-se, who, though as bra

a dark swamp. The little stream connected a series of stagnant pools or bayous, and just as they came into the open water of one of these they caught a g

a band of outlaws, composed of those who, for some good reason, had fled or been driven