288 WILD SPORTS m the south. 



" Thar aren't but one home for him now ; but what's 

 to be done with his darter ?" 



" Take her with us," said the Doctor. 



" Where shall we take ourselves to ?" I asked. 



No one answered, and each looked at Mike as the 

 surest adviser. The hunter sat himself down on the sand 

 cross-legged, in the Indian fashion, and, after a pause, 

 said : 



"It's clair we aren't wanted hereabout, and it's mighty 

 onsafe for the young woman. Thar has been a risin' of 

 the Injins everywhere, and the only safe place for a 

 crowd as big as our own is in the boats. The Injins 

 wun't fight us by day ; it's only when they ketch us on 

 the sly, fur they know they aren't a matcn for honest 

 folks, no how. Ef it warn't fur this ere young woman, 

 and Rose, and the boys, we might lay around and rub 

 out some of those varmints, and like enough get back 

 some of the people they stole from the house. But it's a 

 mighty onsafe game to play, with a handful of niggers 

 to bother one, and I reckon we'd best make tracks." 



" But where shall we turn to ?" asked the Doctor, 

 looking around him. 



"Well, ef we go north, it aren't a great way to 

 Lorenzo's clearing, but I kind o' think Lorenzo has lost 

 his hayar night 'fore last, with the rest on 'em. The 

 surest place would be Tampa Bay; thar we'd have the 

 Fort, and from thar Lou Jackson could pass up to where 

 she would." 



*' Poor girl ! poor girl !" said the^ Doctor. " What ia 



