, to ascertain whether the
Indians, as he supposed was the case, had really gone in that direction.
It was truly hunting under difficulties. Should any Indians be near,
the sound of our shots would reach them, and it would be no easy matter
to conceal ourselves from their keen eyes, which would discover the
trail we could not avoid making. However, we had not waited long, when
a fine stag, followed by two does, came walking leisurely along, little
suspecting the fate awaiting them. Tim fired, and knocked over the
stag, while I killed one of the does. The other was bounding off, when
Tim brought her down with his second barrel.

Delighted at our success, we rushed out, eager to secure our prey,
forgetting altogether the possibility that enemies might be in the
neighbourhood. We were busily employed in clearing out the inside of
the deer, so that we might the more easily carry them, when I heard a
sound among the trees a little distance off. Both Tim and I, having
reloaded our rifles, retreated behind the bushes from which we had
emerged, and knelt down, ready to defend ourselves against any enemy who
might appear. Our minds were soon relieved, however, as we saw Rochford
step out from the brushwood. He looked somewhat astonished at seeing
the three deer on the ground, and greeted us heartily, as we presented
ourselves, on our success. He was satisfied, he told us, that we might
continue our hunting, as he had discovered the Indian trail leading due
north, and had no doubt that the party had been summoned by Oceola to
proceed in that direction. Having packed up the venison so that we
might carry it, we secured it to the boughs of a tree, and continued our
search for more deer. We were fortunate enough to kill three or four
others in the course of the morning.

As it was necessary to convey the venison to the fort without delay, we
set off, each loaded with as much as he could carry, intending to return
with a horse and a couple of men for the remainder. Our arrival was
hailed with infinite satisfaction by our friends, and Lejoillie and
another man volunteered at once to accompany us. Spotted Wolf, seeing
us about to set off, begged that he might also go. As he had come into
our camp voluntarily, it was difficult to refuse him without showing
that we suspected his honesty. On perceiving that Captain Norton
hesitated, he declared that he was as willing to remain as to go; but he
thought that he might be of s