But the stern decree had gone forth that "the Indians should prepare to emigrate West and _join the Creeks;_" and the necessary preparations were hurried forward both in the Military and Civil Departments of Government. The Exiles and Seminoles saw clearly the terrible alternative to which they were soon to be driven, and they turned their attention to active preparations for the conflict. Their crops were carefully secured; their cattle driven far into the interior; and their women and children removed from the frontier to places of safety. They omitted no opportunity of securing powder and lead; and while associating with the white people, they manifested a bold contempt and dislike for them, which gave gloomy forebodings of the future. CHAPTER VII. COMMENCEMENT OF THE SECOND SEMINOLE WAR. The number of Exiles in Florida--Spanish Maroons--Seminole Slaves--Osceola--His Parentage--His Character--His Wife--Her Parentage and sad Fate--Imprisonment of Osceola--His Release--He swears Vengeance against Mr. Thompson--Decree of General Council--Fate of Charley E. Mathler--Osceola and followers seek the life of Thompson--Lay in wait near Fort King--Fate of Mr. Thompson and Lieut. Smith--Of the Sutler and his Clerks--General Clinch orders Major Dade to Fort King--The Major seeks a faithful Guide--Engages the Services of Louis, a Slave--His Learning and Character--He meditates the Massacre of Dade and his men--Councils with the Exiles--Arranges the plan of Massacre, and informs them of the time--Exiles and Indians rendezvous in Wahoo Swamp--Dade's Approach--The preparation--The Massacre--Osceola and Louis--The Exiles and Indians again meet in the Swamp for the night--Digression--Incidents. The number of Exiles at the commencement of the Second Seminole War, has been variously estimated. Probably their whole number, including women and children, was not less than twelve hundred. To these may be added the slaves belonging to the Seminoles, estimated at two hundred, making a population of fourteen hundred blacks. Most of the slaves lived with the Exiles, separate and apart from their masters, paying a certain quantity of vegetables annually, for the partial freedom which they enjoyed. There were many half-breeds, however, some of whom resided with the Indians, and others were located with the Exiles.