"Don't think of that now. Tell me what has happened? I heard your cry, and hastened to your assistance." "Not Nelatu's cry," responded the Indian, with a faint blush of pride suffusing his face. "Nelatu is the son of a chief. He knows how to die without showing himself a woman. It was Red Wolf who cried out." "Red Wolf!" "Yes; Red Wolf is a coward--a squaw; 'twas he who cried out." "He will never cry out again. Look there!" said Warren, pointing to the lifeless corpse that lay near. Nelatu had not yet seen it. Unconscious of what had transpired, he believed that Red Wolf, supposing him dead, had gone away from the spot. Warren explained. Still more gratefully did the Indian youth gaze upon the face of his preserver. "You had an encounter with Red Wolf? I can see that, of course; it was he who gave you this wound?" "Yes, but I had first defeated him. I had him on the ground in my power. I could have taken his life. It was then that, like a coward, he called for help." "And after?" "I pitied and let him rise. I expected him to leave me, and go back to the village. He feared that I might speak of his defeat to our tribe, and for this he determined that my tongue should be for ever silent. I was not thinking of it when he thrust me from behind. You know the rest." "And why the quarrel?" "He spoke wicked words of my sister, Sansuta." "Sansuta!" exclaimed Warren, a strange smile overshadowing his features. "Yes; and of you." "The dog; then he doubly deserved death. And from _me_!" he added, in a tone not loud enough for Nelatu to hear, "what a lucky chance." As he said this he spurned the body with his foot. Then turning to the Indian, he asked-- "Do you think you could walk a little, Nelatu?" The brandy had by this time produced an effect. Its potent spirit supplied the loss of blood, and Nelatu felt his strength returning to him. "I will try," said the wounded youth. "Nelatu's hour has not yet come. He must not die till he has paid his debt to Warren." "Then lean on me. My canoe is close by. Once in it you can rest at your ease." Nelatu nodded consent. Warren assisted him to rise, and, half carrying, half supporting, conducted him to the canoe. Carefully helping him aboard, he shoved the craft from the shore, and turned its prow in the direction of the white settlement. The moon, that had become again obscured, once more burst through the black clouds, lighting up the fronds of the feathery palms that flung their shadows far over the pellucid waves. The concert of the nocturnal forest, for a time stayed by the report of the rifle, burst out anew as the boat glided silently out of sight. CHAPTER TWO. THE SETTLEMENT. The site of the settlement to which the canoe was being directed merits description. It was upon the northern shore of Tampa Bay. The soil that had been cleared was rich in crops of cotton, indigo, sugar, with oranges, and the ordinary staples of food.