In the Wilds of Florida: A Tale of Warfare and Hunting

Thedrawbridge is raised and the portcullis closed, so that a thievingRedskin would find it a hard matter to make his way in. From what Ihear, it is not unlikely that before long they'll be trying to drive thewhites out of the country."

  "I heard very differently at supper," I observed. "My uncle issatisfied they are peaceably disposed, and that there will be no moretrouble about them."

  "That's because he gets his knowledge from the whites, Mr. Maurice. Thenigger boys know more of what's going on than they do."

  After breakfast next morning we set out on our expedition. Carlos hadprovided me with a pony like those he and his sisters rode. We wereaccompanied by Toby, a black boy, who went to hold the horses and makehimself useful in any other way, and by Tim, who carried a rifle. Itook mine, and Carlos said that he never went out without a brace ofpistols and a fowling-piece.

  The ground in the immediate neighbourhood of Castle Kearney was part ofmy uncle's property, and was well cultivated; but we very soon got intothe primeval forests, where the woodman's axe had been employed only incutting a path along which baggage animals could proceed in single file.The trees were mostly live-oak or pine, amid which grew magnolias andlaurels. The ground was very uneven, though from the river it lookedlevel. We had to cross what is called a hummock, which was in reality adepression, but not low enough to be swampy. Here grew hugecabbage-palms, cotton-trees, and scarlet maples, with a denseundergrowth of sumach, hydrangeas, azaleas, and many other shrubs; whilefrom the branches hung in profusion wild-vines, convolvuli of manycolours, and numerous other parasites. The path was so narrow, thatalthough we had previously contrived to ride two abreast, we were nowobliged to allow one to go before the other. Rita, with whom I had beenriding, whipping on her pony, dashed forward, exclaiming,--"I am in mynative land; it is my duty to show you the way, Maurice."

  Several trees had fallen over the path, which was exceedingly rough.Her little mustang leaped them, however, with wonderful activity, andmine followed. She had got some distance ahead, when suddenly I heardher utter a cry; her pony stopped short; I saw her clasp her hands as ifparalysed with fear. She had cause for alarm. Not five paces off,crawling along the top of a bank, was a huge puma, apparently about tospring upon her. In another instant the monster might have seized herin its paws and carried her into the jungle, where none of us could havefollowed. I shouted to try and frighten the brute, and endeavoured inthe meantime to unsling my rifle; but my pony, alarmed, endeavoured toturn round, and I was compelled to handle my rein to make him goforward: indeed, it would have been difficult to fire without a fearfulrisk of injuring my cousin. While I was endeavouring to make my horsemove forward, and at the same time to unsling my rifle, expecting everymoment to see the puma make its fatal spring, I heard a shot, and theanimal, leaping into the air, fell over dead close to the pony's feet.On looking round, I saw that it was a stranger on horseback who hadfired the shot.

  I made my way up to Rita's side, for I thought she would have fallen,but she quickly recovered herself.

  "I was in a dreadful fright, Maurice," she said; "but you saved me fromthe creature's claws by your timely shot."

  "No, it was that person out there," I said, pointing to the stranger,who now, leaping over the fallen trunks, joined us close to where thepuma lay.

  He bowed politely to Rita, and I now saw by his uniform that he was amilitary officer. Of course, I thanked him, as did my cousin. On therest of the party coming up, they joined us in expressing our gratitude.

  He laughed as he answered, "I should have been glad to have killed thebeast at all events, so pray don't thank me. Let me ask where you aregoing. I don't think it prudent for ladies to be riding through thecountry without a large escort."

  On hearing that we were going to the judge's, he advised us to hastenon, saying that he was going in the same direction, and would be happyto accompany us. He introduced himself as Captain Norton, and told usthat he had received information that a band of Indians was in theneighbourhood, and that he was about to collect a party of volunteers todefend the settlement should they exhibit any hostile intentions.Hearing this, I proposed to Carlos to return; but he was of opinion thatas we had already performed three-fourths of the distance, we shouldproceed to the settlement, observing that there were plenty of people todefend Castle Kearney, that a sharp look-out was always kept there, andthat it was very improbable that the Indians, even if they were intenton mischief, would venture to attack it.

  Captain Norton agreed with Carlos; and as Rita had now recovered fromher fright, we continued our course as before.

  Getting clear of the hummock, we were now in more open ground. In ashort time a hut came in sight, then another and another, and we foundthat we were in the suburbs of Roseville. The huts varied in character,though most were of the roughest description. Some were built of logsplaced horizontally one upon another, others were frame erectionscovered with boards; very few were of a more substantial character. Atlast several edifices of superior architectural pretensions, having twostories and broad verandas on all the sides, and surrounded by gardensand orchards, came into view.

  Captain Norton parted from us at the outskirts of the settlement, sayingthat he should have to call officially on the judge, and hoped to hearthat Miss Kearney had not suffered any ill effects from the alarm shehad experienced.

  "You need be under no apprehensions on that score, captain," said Rita,laughing; "I am quite myself again, though none the less grateful to youfor having saved me from the claws of that hideous creature."

  The judge was pacing up and down the broad veranda surrounding hishouse, while little Paul, with a hobby-horse between his legs, wastrotting about, watched over by black Rosa. The judge waved his handwhile he shouted indoors to his wife, "Marian, Marian, here come ourfriends from Castle Kearney." Then taking hold of Master Paul's hand,he ordered Rosa to call the boys to look after the horses.

  Mrs. Shurtleff quickly made her appearance, and she and her husbandgreeted the young ladies as they ran up the steps, and gave Carlos andme a cordial welcome. When the judge heard of Rita's narrow escape, heexclaimed--

  "We must have a broad road cut through that hummock. It will not besafe to traverse until that's done. We are all deeply indebted toCaptain Norton for his timely shot, and I shall be happy to make hisacquaintance if he comes here."

  We inquired for Rochford and Lejoillie.

  "They went away at daybreak into the forest--the one bent onslaughtering game, the other on collecting objects of natural history.A clever fellow is that Frenchman, and I have begged him to remain hereas long as he can find subjects for scientific research," he answered.

  When we told him the object of Captain Norton's visit to Roseville, helaughed, and replied--

  "I don't believe the Indians will venture near the place; they know toowell the effect of our fellows' rifles. Since I came home, I find thata treaty has been entered into with them. The meeting took place atPayne's Landing, on the Ocklawaha River, and they have agreed, in thecourse of a few months, to move westward across the Mississippi, wherethe Creeks and Cherokees are also about to migrate; so that we shall, ina short time, I hope, see the end of all these Indian troubles."

  We found that the judge had business to attend to, and Carlos suggestedthat we should take a stroll through the settlement. We had got somelittle distance, when my companion pointed out, with a laugh, the chiefinn of the place, in front of which, nailed to a tree, hung the sign of"The General Washington." It was a weather-boarded shanty, fixed up inan open space between several trees, which the builder had not thoughtit worth while to cut down. From the boughs hung several cages full ofbirds, while a number of hideous little mongrel dogs ran about, attendedby a black boy, who sat on the steps, apparently having nothing else todo than to scratch his woolly pate. As we approached, Captain Nortonrode up, and calling to the boy, directed him to summon his master.

  "What you want him for, massa cap'n?" asked the black.

  "I tell you to
call him," answered the captain.

  "Him fast 'sleep in him hammock now. No want to be 'sturbed."

  "Go and call him, whether he is asleep or awake," said the captain,getting angry.

  Just then a person, who I had no doubt was "mine host," appeared at thedoor, though as unlike my notion of what a landlord should be aspossible.

  "Wal, cap'n, what do you want?" he asked.

  "I am sent to require you, and all able-bodied men to turn out armed,for the defence of the country, and of this settlement in particular,against the Redskins, who, we have information, are approaching theplace with the intention of attacking it."

  "I guess though we'll soon put them to the right about," answered minehost. "Won't you step in