SE--AN ANGRY MEETING--THE
EXPLANATION--IN THE WRONG--PREPARING FOR THE ATTACK.

The night passed quietly away, notwithstanding the very natural
apprehension we had entertained that the Indians my father had seen
would attack us. One circumstance, however, caused us considerable
astonishment and anxiety. In spite of the vigilant watch supposed to
have been kept, two of our black companions had disappeared; and we
could find no trail to indicate in what direction they had gone, nor how
they could have managed to get out of the camp without being observed.
No one, however, recollected exactly when they were last seen; and it
was generally believed they had gone off in the evening, when the party
had set out to search for my father. Could they have had any
communication with the Redskins hovering about our camp? This was not
considered probable. It occurred to me, however, that they might have
known of the blacks who had treated us so hospitably, and that they had
gone off under the idea that they could reach them, or some other party
of negro runaways, several of whom had long been living among the
impenetrable jungles of the south. It was generally supposed, however,
that the Indians, knowing the strength of our party, would not dare to
interfere with us, and that we might be able to recover the body of the
poor fellow who had been murdered. Captain Norton, however, would not
allow search to be made for it, as the risk, he considered, would be far
greater than any advantage to be gained. We therefore marched forward,
as on the previous day.

"There's one of our number gone," observed Carlos gloomily; "how many
more will be lost before we return home?"

We had grave suspicions of Spotted Wolf. When asked whether he knew
anything of the Indians who had been seen by my father in the hummock,
he declared that they must have been some who had followed him when he
was making his escape, but that he was not aware that they had reached
the hummock.

"That may or may not be the case," observed Carlos; "but I would advise
Captain Norton to keep a look-out on the fellow's movements. I suspect
his object is rather to betray us than to render us assistance."

The Indian, however, seemed perfectly at ease, and as far as his
knowledge of English would allow, conversed freely with every one. He
was asked if he knew whereabouts Oceola was to be found. He replied
that he was ignorant of that chief's movements, but he ackno