As he knew
that he would not be permitted on any account to pass the guard at the
end of the trail, he conceived a plan that would draw the sentinel from
his post for a few moments, and as soon as darkness came on proceeded
to put it into execution.
He simply procured a billet of heavy water-soaked wood, that would sink
like a stone, and carried it, undiscovered, to a thicket on the edge of
the island near the end of the trail. There he flung his Seminole
head-dress of feathers upon the ground, chanted a few notes of a
death-song, cried out that he was thus about to rejoin his own people,
and threw the billet of wood into the dark waters, where, with a loud
splash, it instantly sank from sight. Then he crept noiselessly from
the spot, and when the sentinel reached the thicket he had gained the
unguarded trail, and, without waiting to listen to the comments upon
his supposed suicide, made off with all speed. He had happily
succeeded in retaining his footing upon the uncertain pathway, and in
safely reaching the spot at the head of the lagoon where the Seminole
canoes were hidden. Taking possession of one of these, he had
travelled night and day towards the land of the Alachuas, guided by the
directions given him by Rene.
Has-se and Yah-chi-la-ne listened attentively to this tale, and at its
conclusion commended E-chee highly for the skill and bravery with which
he had effected his escape and made his way to their encampment.
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