For a time the Seminole tribe led a wandering life.
The varying successes or defeats of the protracted contest entailed upon them both vigilance and activity.
It was, therefore, only occasionally that the cousins were enabled to visit the town in which their people permanently resided.
Sansuta had now seldom any relapses of her fits of violent madness.
She was silent and melancholy, and wandered about wrapped in her own bewildered thoughts.
Alice, although a prisoner, was suffered to come and go as it pleased her.
Nelatu"s love for the pale-faced maiden made no progress.
A wan smile was all the reward the Indian youth received for his patient devotion.
He felt that his pa.s.sion was hopeless, but still he nursed it.
To Sansuta, Alice indeed proved a guardian angel.
At first the Indian girl repelled the tender solicitude expressed by the white maiden, and with an alarmed look seemed to dread even her voice.
In time, however, won by the magic of kindness, she sought the company of the captive, and in her presence seemed happy.
Often they would stroll away from the town, and in some quiet spot pa.s.s hours together--Alice in silent thought, Sansuta in such childish employment as stringing beads, or making baskets with the flowers and tendrils of the wild vine.
A favourite haunt with them both was the old fort.
Amongst its ruins they would seat themselves in silence, each busy with her own thoughts.
And thus was their time tranquilly pa.s.sed, while war was raging around them.
But the first storm of conflict had been pa.s.sed, and was succeeded by a temporary calm.
The pale-faces had abandoned the smaller settlements and detached plantations, and in the neighbouring towns awaited the arrival of the Government troops on their way to prosecute the campaign throughout the whole peninsula.
The Indians had sought their respective rendezvous, there to mature plans for a more perfect organisation.
Nelatu and Wacora had returned home, for such was the t.i.tle Wacora now gave to the place where Oluski"s tribe had their permanent residence.
The exigencies of the contest had compelled the withdrawal of his own warriors from his father"s town, and the two tribes, Oluski and his own, had become fused into one powerful community.
The chief"s views towards his captive had undergone a marked change.
He no longer wished to harm her, and had she demanded from him her liberty, he would have granted it freely.
Of what use is liberty to the homeless?
Alice Rody had become careless of her freedom--nay, in a manner, preferred her captivity to the uncertainty of an unknown future, where no kindred awaited her return, no friend stood expectant to receive her.
A sense of security--almost contentment--had stolen into her heart.
Time had done much to a.s.suage the terrible sorrow from which she had suffered.
It was a wonderful transformation to the once high-spirited girl who had shown such energy and fort.i.tude in the midst of danger.
So thought the young chief, Wacora.
To Nelatu it was a negative happiness. She had not energy to chide his ardent devotion, but submitted to it pa.s.sively, without bestowing the slightest encouragement.
One lovely afternoon Sansuta, conducted by Alice, strolled to the ruined fort.
Arrived there, Sansuta proceeded to embroider a pouch she had commenced to make.
Alice, seated on a fragment of stone, watched her companion"s trivial employment.
As the Indian girl nestled close to the pale-faced maiden, she seemed on the point of fainting.
She had grown thinner during the last few weeks, and her hollow cheeks were tinted with a hectic flush.
"Rest your head on my lap, Sansuta."
As Alice spoke, she gently caught the poor girl in her arms.
"I am tired, oh, so tired!" said Sansuta.
"You must not walk so far as this another time. We must seek some place nearer to the town."
The Indian girl did not appear to heed her, but commenced singing softly to herself.
She paused abruptly in her song, and looked up into her companion"s face.
"Last night I dreamed I was in another land, walking along a footpath.
It was strewn with lovely flowers. On both sides were beautiful creeping plants, over which bright b.u.t.terflies sailed. There were two birds--such birds--their plumage of silver and gold. I heard music.
Was it the land of the Great Spirit? Do you think it was?"
"Who knows? it might have been!"
"There I met my father. Not stern as our warriors are, but sad and weeping. Why did he weep?"
Alice was silent. Her own tears hindered her from making answer to the artless question.
"When I saw him weeping, I, too, wept, and kissed him. He spoke kindly to me; but why did he weep?"
Still no answer from her listening companion.
"Then I dreamt--no, I cannot remember what else I dreamt--yet there was some one else there. I seemed to know his face, too; but a great storm arose, and all became dark, and I grew frightened. What was that?"
"Alas! Sansuta, I cannot read my own dreams, far less yours."