however, he tried to induce his subordinate chiefs to follow his
example. At length a place of meeting was appointed, and Omatla, with
those he had won over, appeared. The treaty was spread out on a table
before him; he advanced and signed it; but scarcely had he done so than
a bullet from Oceola's rifle pierced his bosom. It was the signal to
the rest of the hostile chiefs to fire, and he fell, six more shots
having struck him. Oceola and his warriors, springing on their steeds,
fled towards the desert, leaving the parchment behind them. It was
carried to Washington as a proof that the property had been legally
purchased. He who kills a chief, unless forthwith slain, becomes
himself leader of the tribe. All the Seminoles, immediately gathering
round the standard of Oceola, hailed him as their leader. For six years
did the brave chief set our troops at defiance. All sorts of stratagems
were employed to capture him, but cunning as he was brave, he avoided
them. It was resolved at length to make a last effort; and an officer,
whose name I will not mention, undertook to capture Oceola by a
stratagem which it is impossible otherwise than to condemn. The chief
received notice that the Government were willing to enter into a fair
and honourable treaty with him and his people. He too was anxious to
terminate the unequal contest. Addressing his chiefs, he expressed his
willingness to go forward alone and meet those who had so long proved
his relentless foes. To this proposal his friends would not consent;
but they finally agreed that he, with four of his principal chiefs and
two hundred warriors as a body-guard, should meet the Government agent,
Oceola advanced with a flag of truce at the end of a long spear--the
only weapon among all the band. Seeing the number of troops in front,
he hesitated, when the agent observing this, advanced also, holding a
flag of truce. Oceola, to show his confidence in the honour of his
former foes, dashed forward, his unarmed followers pressing after him.
On either side were thick woods. Suddenly from among them appeared
strong bodies of soldiers. Oceola and his party were surrounded. He
was dragged from his horse, and he and all his attendants made
prisoners. In vain he protested, as indeed did every soldier, that such
treachery was unwarrantable. The prize had been obtained. The
interests of the public required that Oceola and his chiefs should
remain prisoners. Fetters wer