Evidently gratified at the impression the mere mention of his name produced upon his prisoner, Cat-sha continued: 

“For many days have I watched the place of the pale-faces from beyond the great waters.  I hate them, and would gladly drive them back into the sea whence they came.  It was to learn their strength and discover in what manner they might be most successfully attacked that I came to this place.  Thy people, at their feasting and dancing, have I also seen, and I had thought to do with my own hand the deed accomplished by thee last night.  Since thou hast relieved me of that labor, I am inclined favorably towards thee, and will spare thy life upon condition that thou renounce forever thy own people and become one of my band.”

“Become a Seminole!” exclaimed Chitta, in a tone expressive of dislike and contempt.  He had never thought, even amid his wildest schemes for obtaining revenge upon those whom he considered his enemies, to make one of this band of outcasts.

“Un-cah” (yes), answered Cat-sha, fiercely, angered by the tone of the other; “and why not?  Art thou not already an outlaw and a runaway from thy people?  Having thus left them forever, to whom else canst thou turn save to the brave and warlike Seminoles?  Besides, if thou dost not join us, I will kill thee where thou liest, and none shall ever know thy fate.  We Seminoles know but two kinds of men, those who are of us and those who are against us.”

Thus Chitta had no choice left him between making one of the band of outlaws whose name was a term of reproach among all good Indians, and meeting with a cruel death, from which he shrank.  After a moment’s silence he made up his mind, and said, “So be it then, Cat-sha.  From this hour call me Chitta the Seminole.  From this hour the wisdom of the serpent shall be for them with whom he thus joins his fortunes, and henceforth his fangs shall be held ready for all who are their enemies.”

Cat-sha’s dark face was again lighted by a cruel smile of triumph as he listened to these words, for he knew that one of China’s nature would be a valuable addition to his band.  He released his new recruit, helped him to his feet, embraced him, and said,

“Chitta the Seminole, I welcome thee gladly to our number.  The time will come when we shall have increased to a great and powerful tribe, and when the name given us by our enemies shall be honored of all men.  Let us go.”

CHAPTER VIII

ON THE TRAIL

Cat-sha, the Seminole chief, rejoiced greatly at having gained to his band so promising a young warrior as Chitta, who had so incurred the enmity of both the white men and his own people as to be obliged to fly from them for his life.