ter of your own tribe? Osceolo!"

"By the moccasins of my grandfather! You here? How? When? No matter.
The brother of the Sun Maid rejoices. Never a friend so convenient.
Run around to the edge of the wharf. There must be talk between us,
and at once."

He pushed his little boat close under the shadow of the pier that had
long since been deserted of those who had come down to watch, as Kitty
had done, the sailing of the northern-bound schooner. There was none
to hear them, yet Osceolo chose to muffle his tones and to make
himself mysterious. In truth, he was fleeing from justice, having been
mixed up in a raid upon a settler's homestead a few miles back; in
which, fortunately, there had been no bloodshed, though a deal of
thieving and other dirty work which would make it uncomfortable for
the young warrior should he be caught just then. The story he was
prepared to tell was true as far as it went; and the Sun Maid was too
innocent to suspect guile in others. She thought he was referring to
the prize money when he spoke of quite other matters; and after the
briefest inquiry and answer as to what had befallen either since their
parting at doomed Muck-otey-pokee, he concluded:

"Now, Sister-Of-My-Heart, Blood-Daughter-Of-My-Chief, you must help
me. You must give me, or lend me, a horse; and you must bring me food.
Then I will ride to fetch you back Wahneenah."

"Oh! You know where she is? Can you do it and not be taken?"

"Is not the Brother of the Sun Maid now become a mighty warrior?"

"You--you don't look so very mighty," returned the girl, truthfully.

Osceolo frowned. "That is as one sees. Fetch me the horse and the
meat, if you would have your Other Mother restored."

"I will. I will!" she cried, and ran back to the Fort. She went first
to the kitchen, and begged a meal "for a stranger that's just come,"
and the food was given her without question. Strangers were always
coming to be fed; herself, also, no longer ago than the last evening.

From the kitchen to the stables, where a bright thought came to her.
She would lead the Tempest to Osceolo, and herself ride the Snowbird.
Together they would go to find Wahneenah.

"The black gelding?" asked the soldier of whom she sought assistance.
"The hostler can maybe tell you. But I think the Black Partridge rode
away on him before daybreak."

"The Black Partridge! Oh! I had forgotten him in my trouble about
Gaspar. Did any harm come to him, sir?"

"No. What ha