No word was spoken until all were seated and their stone pipes were
well alight, when Rene, standing in their midst, addressed them and
said,
"Wise men of the Alachuas: it is now many moons since thou didst
receive Ta-lah-lo-ko into thy tribe, and open wide thy hearts to him.
In all this time he has been as one with thee in everything. Now he
would go. His own people, the pale-faces who dwell beyond the land of
sunrise, and beyond the great salt-waters, have come again. The heart
of Ta-lah-lo-ko sings for joy within him at the thought of seeing them
once more. The pledge of the Flamingo Feather holds him no longer, for
the old man to whom it was given has passed away. But the singing and
gladness of his heart is turned to sighing and to sadness by the
thought that he may never again see the land of the Alachuas. This may
not be; for if it is possible for him, he will come again from beyond
the great waters. Now he must go to his own people, who have many
wrongs to set right, and must do much fighting before they turn again
towards the sunrise. They call for help from the brave Alachuas.
Ta-lah-lo-ko and his own war-party will hasten to them. When the
fighting is done, they will return; but he must go first to the land of
the pale-faces. Until he comes, the brave and wise Yah-chi-la-ne will
guide your councils, and lead you on the war-path. Ta-lah-lo-ko has
spoken."
As Rene sat down, Yah-chi-la-ne and others sprang to their feet, and
begged him not to leave them.
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