THE FLORIDA POCAHONTAS. 109 



tages; the overshadowing palms, with their colossal trunks and 

 spike-leafed crowns ; the solemn circle of chiefs, and the back- 

 ground of women and young boys, formed a picture glowing with 

 the colours of Rubens. 



" Ortez stood in the centre, bound to a stake. He appeared 

 the same man as three years before, when he stood in the self-same 

 place. He wore the same steel shirt, the same fierce look of pride ; 

 and from his ragged arm, the blood, unnoticed, dropped slowly on 

 the ground. 



" The warriors smoked long and silently ; and when they had 

 done, and the pipe had been laid down before the cacique, they 

 spoke their views with the gravity of Roman Fathers. 



"When all had finished, Ortez replied. His words — in the 

 Apalachean tongue — were broken, though his voice was deep and 

 clear. He recounted his deeds, and alluded to his offence in com- 

 parison; but the oldest men shook their heads, for the soldier 

 never gave any reason for his neglect, or told whether he was 

 absent or asleep, or how that shameful fate came to pass. 



"He alluded to his wife, calling her by name, when a step 

 without the ring drew all eyes in that direction. Yahchilane 

 stood in front of her husband, as beautiful as a panther. She 

 tore off from her shoulder an embroidered sash, which is worn by 

 the married women of the tribe to support their infants at their 

 back, and which is the distinguishing badge of the matron among 

 the Apalacheans, and tossing it in the circle, it fell at the feet of 

 her husband. She never said a word, but her steady eye was on 

 the Spaniard, and it did not fail in its effect, for a tremor passed 

 over his frame, so that the links in his mail rattled together ; and 

 all the chiefs and all the tribe knew that Yahchilane renounced 

 her husband. 



" There was no more doubt in the council. Ortez was con- 

 demned to death at daylight, and was led away to confinement. 



" The council fire had burned low in the village, and the few 

 smouldering brands gleamed among the ashes, or sputtered brief 

 jets of flame and smoke, like the smouldering passions that tossed 

 the sleepers strewn around in the open cabins, still dreaming of 

 the stirring events of the day. The sentinels by the fort walked 



