they reached the bold bluff from the summit of which the two Seminoles
watched their progress that they felt they were safe from the eyes of
the fort, and might strike boldly out into the river. Here, aided by
the full strength of the ebbing tide, they proceeded rapidly on their
way towards its mouth.

Seeing that the canoes which were thus passing beneath them contained,
besides the warriors of the tribe, its women and children, and all of
its movable property, Cat-sha concluded that it was a general movement
of Micco's people towards some distant place; and from the direction
they were taking, he guessed that their destination was the fertile
land of the Alachuas.

"This is thy doing," he said to Chitta, who was regarding in bitter
silence this departure of his people, towards whom he still felt drawn
by old association in spite of what he had so recently done and become.
"This is thy doing, my young Seminole. Thou hast destroyed their store
of food, and thus compelled them to go in search of more. Now let us
follow them, and when we have seen them at a safe distance, we will
bring my brave warriors to the attack of the white men shut up in
yonder gopher hole."

When the departing tribe was nearly out of sight down the river, the
two Seminoles, drawing Chitta's stolen canoe from its hiding-place,
started in pursuit. They so arranged their own movements that they ran
no chance of discovery from those in advance of them, though they were
never far behind. They carefully examined each camping-place of the
moving tribe, to assure themselves that no person was left behind who
might discover them, and they always placed their own little camp so
that it should be entirely concealed from those whom they followed.