From time to time rumors were brought to these Indians of the terrible
cruelties practised by the Spaniards upon such natives of the country
as fell into their hands. For this reason the tribe into which Rene
had been adopted returned not to their own lands in the far east, but
remained in the land of the Alachuas. With these people they became so
closely united by ties of kinship and mutual interest that after a
while no distinctions were drawn between them. Thus, upon the death of
the Alachua chief, the good Micco was chosen to succeed him; and from
that time he ruled over the united tribes. Among his wise men and
principal advisers, those upon whom he relied the most were
Yah-chi-la-ne and Rene de Veaux.
At the time of Has-se's death, Micco's tribe and the Alachuas had
determined to be no longer annoyed by the neighborhood of the Seminole
outlaws, and had despatched a powerful war-party against them. When,
however, this party reached the island village in the depths of the
great swamp, they found it deserted. By some means the Seminoles had
obtained a knowledge of their coming, and had fled from that part of
the country. The Alachuas destroyed their village, and from that time
for more than a year they were heard of no more, save by rumor, which
located them among the savages of the far south.
Upon a certain occasion, after he had been for many months a member of
the tribe, Rene led a hunting-party, who sought to secure a large
number of alligators, to the edge of the great swamp.
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