said. "Miss Kearney will,
I trust, be on the look-out for me; and if we can but elude the
vigilance of the old squaws, we shall be with you very soon."

Having mounted the horse we had brought for him, he set off, and was
soon lost to sight. We remained under shelter of the trees; so that,
unless any one approached close to the wood, we ran but little risk of
being discovered. I was very anxious to accompany Rochford; but he
considered that my appearance would excite suspicion, and that it would
be safer to go alone. Though he had not spoken to me of the danger he
incurred, I knew that it was very great; for should he be captured in
his attempt to carry off the young lady, it would be looked upon by
Oceola as an act of treachery, and he would to a certainty be put to
death. His intention was to enter the village as if he had just come
from a hunting expedition, and offer to supply the squaws with venison;
or should he be fortunate enough to shoot a deer on his way, he would
carry it with him, as it would greatly facilitate his proceedings. That
he would do this appeared very unlikely, as the distance was but short:
still a deer might be seen in the hummock, and he was too good a shot,
should he discover one, to let it escape him.

Directly he had gone, we dismounted to allow our horses to feed, and to
drink from a pool which we found close inside the hummock. The time
dragged slowly on; I had to look at my watch several times to satisfy
myself that our friend had not been very much longer absent than we had
expected. Waiting, indeed, is far more trying than when a person is
actively engaged.

"Rochford ought to be here by this time," observed Captain Norton. "I
fear that some accident has happened to him, or that he finds it
impossible to get the young lady away. We shall have the Indians down
upon us if we have to wait much longer."

"What do you say to making a dash on the village, and carrying off my
sister in spite of the squaws or old men?" exclaimed Carlos.

"Sure that would be the finest thing to do, afther all," cried Tim.
"We'll just keep the old Redskins employed while Mr. Rochford or Mr.
Maurice lifts her on her horse and gallops off with her. They're not
likely to have any fire-arms in the place, except maybe a few old
muskets without flints in them, as the warriors will have carried off
all they own to fight the whites."

I thought Tim's proposal worthy of consideration. But Captain Norto