rable distances from each other.
Day after day the boy studied the faces of his captors attentively, but
among them all he found only one that betrayed the faintest evidence of
pity for his forlorn condition. Even his expression was only one of
somewhat less ferocity than that of the others, and poor Rene imagined
that it was owing to his youth, for this Indian was but a mere lad of
even less years than himself. In fact he was the young Indian from
Seloy who had been captured by the Seminoles on the same day with Rene.
Having unexpectedly obtained three instead of two white prisoners, and
being in need of recruits, Cat-sha had offered to spare this lad's life
and set him at liberty if he would become a Seminole and a member of
their band. This the young Indian, whose name was E-chee (the Deer),
had professed himself as willing to do, though he secretly determined
to make his escape at the very first opportunity.
He had at once recognized Rene, though he was careful not to betray the
fact, and was very glad that the white lad showed no sign of ever
having seen him. Only by an occasional pitying glance, when he could
give it undetected by the others, did he attempt to convey his friendly
feelings to the young prisoner. When it came his turn to stand guard
over the captives, he treated them with greater harshness than any of
the Seminoles, in order to allay any suspicion that might be
entertained of his faithfulness. But always he watched for an
opportunity to communicate with Rene, and make known to him that he was
a friend.
At length such an opportunity offered itself. They had entered the
great swamp, and even Rene, from the bottom of the canoe, seeing the
tall cypresses meet overhead, began to suspect where they were. During
a portion of an intensely dark night E-chee kept watch over the
prisoners. While the guard whom he relieved was there to note the
action, he gave each of the three captives a kick with his moccasined
foot. This, while it did not hurt them, expressed to the Seminole a
degree of contempt that satisfied him that the new recruit hated the
white men as cordially as he himself.
When he had departed and all was quiet, E-chee approached the place
where Rene lay bound to a tree, and lying down close beside him, he
whispered, "Ta-lah-lo-ko."
Rene had fallen asleep, but he was instantly awakened by the sound of
this familiar name, even though it was only whispered. Without moving,
he wai
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