Carrol's skill as a physician was little short of marvellous. He compounded and prepared medicines according to unwritten prescriptions, and used the oddest materials; not alone herbs and roots, but earths and clays were laid under contribution. A few days of this forest doctoring worked wonders in Nelatu, and before a week was over he was able to sit at the back door of the hunter's dwelling, basking himself in the sun. Carrol, who had been in a fever of anxiety greater even than his patient, was in high glee at this. After giving the Indian youth a preparation to allay his thirst, he was on the point of packing up his traps to start upon one of his expeditions, when he saw an individual approaching his cabin from the front. Thinking it was Warren Rody, he called out to him that Nelatu was all right. He was somewhat surprised to perceive that instead of Warren, it was his father. "Good morning, neighbour," said Elias. "Mornin', governor." "How is your Indian patient?" asked he whom Carrol called governor. "I hope he has entirely recovered." "Oh, he's ready now, for the matter of that, to stan' another tussle, and take another thrust. It wasn't much of a wound arter all." "Oh, indeed," said Elias; "I heard from my son Warren that it was a bad one." "Perhaps your son ain't used to sich sights; there's a good deal in that. Would you like to see the Injun? He's outside, at the back." "No, thank you, Carrol; I didn't come to see him, but you. Are you busy?" "Well, not so busy but I kin talk a spell to you, governor, if you wishes it. I war only packin' up a few things ready for a start to-morrow." Saying this, Carrol handed the governor a stool--the furniture of his hut not boasting of a chair. "And so you're off to-morrow, are you?" "Yes, I can't stand this here idle life any longer than I'm obleeged; 'taint my sort. Give me the woods and the savanners." At the very thought of returning to them the backwoodsman smacked his lips. "When did you see Oluski last?" abruptly asked Elias. "It war a fortnight ago, governor, near as my memory sarves me; just arter I'd shot the fattest buck killed this season. Oluski's people war all in a state o' excitement at the time." "Indeed; about what?" "Wal, Oluski's brother, who war chief o' another tribe, died not long 'fore, and his son, Wacora, had succeeded to the chiefship. Oluski was mighty perlite to his nephy, who war on a visit to Oluski's town when I war thar. I expect they'll all be hyar soon. It's about thar time o' comin' to Tampa." "Did you see this Wacora, as you call him?" "I did so, governor," answered Carrol, "and a likely Injun he is." Elias sat for some moments silent, during which time Cris busied himself over his gun. After a time he put the question-- "Is that all you ha' to say, governor?" The governor, as Carrol styled him, started at this abrupt interrogatory.