ch the Indian lad had
promised to await his coming, he uttered the cry of Hup-pe the great
owl, which was the signal Has-se had taught him. To his joy it was
immediately answered from a short distance in advance. In another
moment he stood beside his friend, who without a word led him to where
a canoe was hidden beneath some overhanging branches. They stepped
in, a few strong strokes of the paddles shot them clear of the creek,
the bow of their craft was turned down-stream, and ere a word had been
spoken between them, they were gliding swiftly down the glassy moonlit
surface of the great river towards its mouth.

CHAPTER VI

THE JOURNEY IN SEARCH OF FOOD

As the paddles flashed brightly in the moonshine, and the light craft
in which Rene and Has-se were seated moved swiftly and silently down
the broad river, the former related to his companion all the
particulars of his leaving the fort, and the delays that had detained
him past their appointed time of meeting. As he concluded his story,
Has-se, who until then had remained silent, said,

"Thou hast done well, Ta-lah-lo-ko, and thy success at the outset is
proof to me that the Great Spirit favors our undertaking."

Rene was not so convinced of this as his companion, for he was not at
all certain that he was acting rightly; but he did not seek to disturb
the other's confidence, and only said,

"Now tell me of thy escape, Has-se; for I must confess that I would
have deemed it impossible, and am not a little concerned to find Fort
Caroline such a sieve as thy easy leave-taking would seem to prove it."

Has-se was silent for some minutes, and then he said,

"I would have no secrets from thee, my brother, and would gladly tell
thee that thou askest; but I may not now, though at another time my
tongue may be loosed. For the present I am bound not to reveal that
which must needs be known were the manner of my escape described to
thee."

Rene felt somewhat hurt at this answer, which seemed to imply a want of
confidence in him; but he knew his friend's character too well to press
the subject further, and so, smothering his curiosity, he turned the
conversation to other things.

After they had travelled for several miles down the river, Has-se
turned the bow of the canoe into a sluggish bayou, that wound, with
innumerable turnings, amid vast limitless expanses of salt-marsh. This
stream led into others that formed such a maze that it seemed to Rene
impos