HOW WE CONQUERED HALLECK TUSTENUGGEE. 227 



A messenger was sent from Warm Springs to convey the tidings 

 of the capture to Colonel Worth, who was entertaining Tustenuggee 

 and his family at Fort King. The rider came fast through swamp 

 and woods, for his life would be little worth should the day's pro- 

 ceeding be known to Tustenuggee, or any outlying Indian, before 

 he reached a secure shelter. He approached the fort at a moment 

 when the commander was sounding his Indian guest upon the 

 ever-recurring subject of their emigration. The officers were seated 

 in front of their quarters, within the palisades the Indian chiefs 

 stood before, and the idlers of the camp were gathered around 

 listening to " the talk." 



" A horseman is coming from the south," called out the Doctor, 

 relieving his pockets of one hand to shade his eyes. 



" Come as ef he was sent," remarked Mike. 



The sentry challenged, and the rider came in with his report 

 through the open gateway in the palisades and up to the doorway 

 where Colonel Worth was sitting, and delivered his missive. Tus- 

 tenuggee stood before him in his Roman attitude until the despatch 

 was read, and watched the while the countenance of the colonel, 

 but the hard-bearded face gave no sign. 



The rider dismounted and stripped his saddle. A brief order 

 was given by the colonel to the orderly who stood behind him, and 

 the Indian chief resumed his talk. 



" My heart and the hearts of my chiefs are white, not from fear, 

 but in love. You sent me the flag of the five fingers (white flag, 

 with white and red hands clasped). I know you want friendship. 

 I trust you. Tustenuggee is here. Listen, white man ; what he 

 says is true — listen, Great Spirit; what he says is true. His 

 answers are the answers of his people. He is chief of the chiefs." 



The colonel — " The chief has spoken like a brave man, and his 

 words in council are like his deeds in battle. We all honour him, 

 for he will listen to reason. He has lost many men in the wars, 

 and the rest are weary. But the white soldiers still come, and will 

 come on for ever. The white man has many soldiers, and many 

 weapons, and much ammunition. It is not good for the red man 

 to fight against him, for he will waste away, no matter how brave. 

 The white man has offered his red brothers lands in Arkansas 



