Indians
would gallop over me, which from their looks I thought they would have
very little scruple in doing.

"On we went for miles and miles, until we reached a large camp of
several hundred warriors. Here a hut was quickly built, which the chief
begged me to occupy; and I was treated with every courtesy, although
there was not even a squaw to attend on me. It was impossible to
escape; and although I was dreadfully frightened, I tried hard to
recover my composure and presence of mind, so that I might be able to
act on an emergency. The chief, who spoke very good English, said he
intended to convey me to the lodges of his tribe, where the squaws would
take care of me and attend to all my wishes, provided I made no attempt
to escape; and that I should remain there until the white men were
driven out of the country and the natives had regained their rights,
when he would claim me as his bride. I thanked him for the honour he
intended me, but entreated that he would in the meantime carry me back
to my father and mother, who would be greatly alarmed at my
disappearance. He answered that it was with regard to my safety that he
had carried me off from the whites, who would ere long be exterminated;
and that he could not bear to see one for whom he had so great an
affection remain to share the fate prepared for them. He paid me all
sorts of absurd compliments, likening me to a lily, an angel, a star,
and I don't know what else; though I scarcely listened to what he said
on that subject. In vain I pleaded, notwithstanding any risk I might
run, to be allowed to return home: he was deaf to all my entreaties. As
I was careful, however, not to say anything to irritate him, he
continued as courteous as at first.

"We set out with a strong escort, and galloped on till nightfall; but
not until the end of the fourth day did we reach the chief's lodges. He
there committed me to the charge of his mother, who had, no doubt, in
her younger days been very handsome. She received me very kindly, and I
had no reason to complain of the way I was treated; in fact, had I been
a princess of their tribe, more attention and respect could not have
been paid me.

"I now first learned that the chief was no other than Oceola, the great
leader of the Indians in the present rebellion. When he visited me I
tried to persuade him to make peace with the whites, and to abandon his
attempt to regain the country; trying to explain to him how hopel