AMONG THE SEMINOLES. 181 



which grew broad and loud as we summoned unhappy 

 Tom to prepare a repast for the weary aborigines. Re 

 moving from their pony a huge pack, upon which was a 

 tin kettle, which had made the tintinnabulation \ve had 

 heard, they hobbled his feet and sat down. While they 

 were demolishing the huge pile of flapjacks which Jim 

 set before them, I had an opportunity for studying their 

 dress and features. 



&quot;Tiger,&quot; the oldest, was about seventy years old, 

 and had fought in the Seminole war. He was rather 

 above the medium height, broad shouldered, massive 

 arms, and legs like mahogany pillars, worn smooth and 

 polished by many a brush with thicket and brier. His 

 nose and lips indicated a trace of negro blood. His iron- 

 gray hair straggled over a greasy bandana bound about 

 his temples. His broad shoulders were artistically 

 draped in two ragged shirts of &quot;hickory,&quot; or striped 

 homespun, the inner one about a foot longer than the 

 outer, and reaching nearly to his knees. A breech cloth 

 and moccasins completed his attire. Charley Osceola 

 was a young man of twenty, claiming to be a descendant 

 of the famous chief Osceola. Over six feet high, with 

 broad shoulders and finely-shaped limbs, erect and 

 straight, he was my beau ideal of an Indian brave. His 

 eyes were small, black, and keen, his voice was musical, 

 and he spoke in a firm, gentle manner that won my heart 

 at once. His hair was thick, coarse, and black, with the 

 changeable purple of the raven s wing. It was shaved 

 close at the sides, leaving a ridge on the crown, spread 

 ing toward the neck, and hanging in braids over the 

 shoulders. His dress was similar to Tiger s. The 

 pickaninny was hardly worth a description. Each car- 



