The Flamingo Feather

as, and troubled to find that if he went with Has-se, he must do so without permission from his uncle. Nevertheless he felt certain that he, being Has-se's friend, and

n his being absolutely forbidden to leave the fort on any pretence. The lad felt himself to be truly a man, now that he was nearly seventeen ye

ears, and his closely cropped hair showed to advantage his well-formed head. He was tall for his age, his muscles had hardened with constant exercise, and his face, neck, and hands were tanned to a ruddy b

. Simon, the armorer, had made for him a light steel corselet, that he wore over his leathern jacket whenever he went beyond the walls of the fort. Upon all such e

ded to accept it, and, without notifying any person in the fort of his

would be acceptable to the Indians, and during the afternoon he conveyed these to the fo

escape had been effected; but he felt certain that the young Indian would be true to his word, a

t of his indisposition, Réné was able to bid him an affectionate good-night and receive his customar

, but with a beating heart, directly to the main gate of the fort, at which he was challenged by the sentinel on duty

since the escape of the Indian prisoner last night, we have received strictest

te there was the moat beyond, which he could not possibly cross without detection. Seeking the deep shadow of an angle, the boy seated himself on a gun-carriage and

our of ten o'clock. Directly afterwards came the measured tramp of the guard and the clank of their weapons as they made their round for the purpose of relieving the sentinels on duty, and replacing them with fresh men. Réné sat so near th

r, they must have seen him. As it was, he escaped detection, and once more breathed freely as their footsteps sounded fainter and fainter in the distance. After a wh

of a groan came from that direction. As it was repeated, the lad sprang to his feet and walked quietly but rapidly towards the place whence it came.

de Veaux, good Simon. Hearing thy groans, I came to l

its approach, and only a few hours since obtained from good Master Le Moyne physic which, if taken at the outset, prevents much pain. I left it in the smithy near the forge, not deeming the attack so near;

be done in another way. Go thou for the physic, for thou canst more readily place hands upon it than I, and at the same time apparel thyself in garments thicker and more s

it guarded by another, would, he knew, be considered one of the gravest military crimes. Therefore the

edy release from this pain, or else be found here dead ere the post be relieved. Keep thou open keen eyes and ear

Réné's hands, and hurried away as quickly as his pai

the fastenings of the great gate, and swung it open a few inches. This accomplished, he shouldered Simon's heavy p

tly, "Is that

" came th

he gate (which swung to behind him), and with noiseless footsteps fled swiftly across th

é slipped quickly

ed to detect that it had been opened, but the old man spent some minutes looking for the lad in the archway before he became convinced that he was gone. Even then he considered that Réné was only endeavoring

nd thrust it into the end of a cleft branch that he stuck into the ground near the end of the bridge. It was addr

dst forbid the undertaking, out of a tender regard for my youth and inexperience. I go with the Indian lad Has-se, my friend, to the land of the Alachuas, on a quest for provisions for the fort. In case of my success I will return again at the end of a month, or short

th sincerest respect and

DE V

into the dark pine forest. He made his way swiftly down the river-bank towards the appointed place of meeting, where he hoped to find Has-se still waiting for him, thoug

wered from a short distance in advance. In another moment he stood beside his friend, who without a word led him to where a canoe was hidden beneath some overhanging branches. They stepped in, a few strong strokes of the p