Eagerly seizing the feather, Has-se exclaimed, “It comes from Ta-lah-lo-ko, the young white chief!  Where is he, and in what danger?”

Then, while all present listened with the closest attention, E-chee told of the destruction of Seloy and the capture of Fort Caroline by the Spaniards; of his own capture, and that of Rene de Veaux and two other white men, by the Seminoles; of his escape, and of the terrible fate now awaiting those still in the hands of the outlaws.

When he had finished, Has-se, who had followed the story with breathless attention and flashing eyes, turned to the chief and said,

“My father, this pledge I would redeem with life itself, for he who sends it is my best beloved friend and brother.”

“And if he still lives, and it can be accomplished, he shall yet be saved,” answered the old chief, promptly, with the fire of a young warrior blazing in his eyes.  Then of E-chee he asked, “Dost thou know the trail back to this den of wolves? and is thy strength sufficient to allow of thy immediate departure to guide a party of my warriors to it?”

“As the wounded deer knows the trail marked by his own blood, so know I it; and if my strength should fail, hatred of these Seminoles would take its place and still bear me on,” was the answer.

“It is well spoken,” said the old chief.  Then turning to Yah-chi-la-ne, his son-in-law, he said, “Take thou twenty picked braves, my eagle, and with them find out this hiding-place of Seminoles.  If Ta-lah-lo-ko still lives, effect his rescue, and that of the other prisoners, and return with them.  I send no more with thee, for fear that with a stronger party thy hot blood would lead thee to attack this nest of swamp foxes.  Such a measure could only result in failure; for if it be situated as this young man describes, not the whole force of our tribe, together with that of thy brave Alachuas, could prevail against it.  Therefore the rescue must be effected by cunning and not by mere valor; but take thou careful note of the locality, and bring again word to me.  If there is any chance of success in attacking it, we will then send forth a war-party that shall blot from existence this plague-spot.”

Gladly did the brave Yah-chi-la-ne set about the execution of this order; and within an hour he and his war-party of twenty picked braves, of whom Has-se was the first chosen, were ready to start on their dangerous mission.

During that hour E-chee, who was to be their guide, had bathed in the life-giving waters of the spring and eaten a hearty meal; so that he now felt like a new man, and equal to any amount of fresh hardships and fatigue.

In the darkness of the early night the little party entered their canoes, and with lusty strokes of the paddles started swiftly up the narrow river towards the terrible swamp, and the more terrible scenes that it concealed.

E-chee occupied the foremost canoe with Yah-chi-la-ne and Has-se; and as they sped onward he told them at greater length than before of the tragic events of the past few days, and of the captivity of Ta-lah-lo-ko.