rown eyes
held a merry twinkle, but at the same time there was an expression of
pride and fixed purpose in his face that well became it.

At this time he wore a small plumed cap, a leathern jacket,
knee-breeches, stockings of stout yarn, and short boots, the legs of
which fitted closely to his ankles. Simon, the armorer, had made for
him a light steel corselet, that he wore over his leathern jacket
whenever he went beyond the walls of the fort. Upon all such
excursions he was armed with his well-tried cross-bow (for which he
carried a score of steel-tipped bolts) and a small, but keen-edged,
dagger that hung at his belt.

After considering Has-se's proposal all the morning, Rene finally
decided to accept it, and, without notifying any person in the fort of
his intention, to accompany the young Indian to the land of the
Alachuas.

In accordance with this plan he gathered together a number of trinkets,
such as he knew would be acceptable to the Indians, and during the
afternoon he conveyed these to the forest beyond the fort, where he
bound them into a compact package and carefully hid them.

Rene could not account, any more than the others, for Has-se's
disappearance, nor imagine how his escape had been effected; but he
felt certain that the young Indian would be true to his word, and await
his coming at the appointed place of meeting when the moon rose above
the pine-tree tops.

As it would not rise until nearly ten o'clock that evening, and as his
uncle retired early on account of his indisposition, Rene was able to
bid him an affectionate good-night and receive his customary blessing
without arousing any suspicion of his intended departure in the breast
of the old soldier.

Leaving his own quarters about nine o'clock, with his cross-bow over
his shoulder, Rene walked with an unconcerned air, but with a beating
heart, directly to the main gate of the fort, at which he was
challenged by the sentinel on duty there. Rene gave the countersign,
and was recognized by the soldier, who, however, firmly refused to
allow him to pass.

He said, "I am sorry to be obliged to interrupt thy walk, Master De
Veaux; but since the escape of the Indian prisoner last night, we have
received strictest orders not to allow a living soul to pass the gates
between sunset and sunrise."

Thus turned back at the very outset of his adventure, Rene knew not
what to do. Should he attempt to scale the walls, he might be shot
while so d