Then both boys sat down on the bench, and Réné questioned Has-se
regarding the sudden departure of the Indians, and why he was there
alone.

Has-se replied that while he had no secrets that all men might not
know, he would have died rather than answer the questions of those who
held him a prisoner, and as such commanded him to speak. To his friend
Ta-lah-lo-ko he would, however, talk freely and with a straight tongue.
He said that after the destruction of the storehouse containing their
supply of provisions for many months, Micco, their chief, had decided
that it would be best for his people to remove to the land of the
Alachus, their friends, who had provisions in plenty, and remain there
until the next season of corn planting. He caused their departure to
be made secretly, for fear that the white men would seek to detain them
as hunters for the fort, if they learned of the intended movement, and
he wished to avoid any shadow of trouble between his people and their
white brothers.

"He had undoubtedly the right to act as seemed to him best," said Réné;
"but why didst not thou accompany thy people, and what brings thee here
to the fort?"

"To see thee, Ta-lah-lo-ko, and thee only, did I come," answered
Has-se. "I learned, after we had been some hours on the journey, that
which affects thee so nearly that I could not leave thee in ignorance
of it and without a warning. What I learned is, that Chitta the Snake
regards thee with a deadly hatred, and has sworn to have thy life."

"Mine!" exclaimed Réné, in great surprise. "Why does the Snake bear
malice towards me? I have no quarrel with him."