Then Rene told E-chee of the land of the Alachuas, and described to him
how he might reach it. This done, he asked the young Indian to reach a
hand into the breast of his doublet, where, within its lining, he would
find a feather with a slender chain and pin attached to it. This, on
account of his bonds, he could not get at with his own hands.
When E-chee had secured the feather, which was the very Flamingo
Feather given to Rene by Has-se, Rene told him to guard it with his
life; and, if he succeeded in escaping from the Seminoles, to convey it
with all speed to the land of the Alachuas. There he was to present it
to any of Micco's tribe, but in particular to one named Has-se the
Bow-bearer, if he could discover him. He was to tell them of the sad
plight of the prisoners, and beg of them to send a party to their
rescue.
Hardly had he finished these instructions when the snapping of a twig
near by caused E-chee to spring to his feet and pour out a torrent of
abuse upon Rene, at the same time giving him a kick that drew from the
prostrate lad an exclamation of pain. It was quite as much a groan of
despair; for he could not understand the action of the young Indian,
and imagined him to be a vile traitor who had only gained his
confidence in order to betray it.
Directly, however, he heard the voice of Cat-sha demanding of E-chee
why he thus abused the prisoners. To this the young Indian made answer
that he had discovered that this one, who was the most troublesome of
the three, had nearly succeeded in loosening his bonds.
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