ochford, in a few words, told us that he had arranged everything for
Juanita's escape; and would have carried her off the previous night had
he not been captured by Spotted Wolf and his followers, who were
conveying him to Oceola's camp to accuse him of treachery, when we fell
in with them. He added that he had still hopes of success, as Juanita
would be on the watch for him; and that, if we could manage to distance
the Indians--who were not likely to hurry themselves without their
leader--we might reach the Indian village, place Juanita on horseback,
and reach either Fort King or some other place of safety before any
pursuers could overtake us.

Wrong as it was in Carlos to kill the Indian, who was at the time
virtually a prisoner, yet we gained an advantage by the act; for his
followers would probably abandon the pursuit of us, as they could not
carry him along with them, and they would not venture to leave him
unprotected behind. We, at all events, on looking back, could see
nothing of them, and therefore stopped to breathe our horses, and thus
enable them to put on fresh speed should it become necessary.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

ROCHFORD ENTERS THE INDIAN VILLAGE--WAITING IN THE WOOD--DOUBTFUL OF
SUCCESS--AN ANXIOUS HALF-HOUR--PROPOSED ASSAULT--READY FOR ACTION--THE
RESCUE--AN ANGRY SCENE--THE RETREAT--DANGERS ON THE WAY--JUANITA'S
EXPERIENCE--ARRIVAL AT THE FORT--CONDITION OF MY FATHER--A FRESH
EXPEDITION--ROCHFORD DECLINES TO JOIN OUR PARTY--BLACK HAWK TO GO WITH
US--INDIAN TRAILS DISCOVERED--SCOUTING--CARLOS MISSING--AN INDIAN'S
REVENGE--A FOREST-GRAVE--A STARTLING INTERRUPTION--THE TIMELY
REINFORCEMENTS--DEATH OF MY UNCLE--RESULT OF THE ENGAGEMENT--THE FATE OF
BLACK HAWK.

Once more we were galloping in the direction of Oceola's lodges. The
warriors of the various tribes throughout the country had been summoned
round the standard of their chief, so that the district through which we
passed appeared perfectly destitute of inhabitants; not a red man did we
meet to interfere with us. We thus hoped that having distanced the
followers of Spotted Wolf, we might get Juanita off without having to
encounter an enemy. Rochford knew the country perfectly, having
frequently hunted over the whole of it for several months together; and
he was able unerringly to guide us in the direction we wished to go. At
last Rochford pulled up on the borders of a hummock. "Remain here with
the horses, ready to start at any moment," he