Until nearly noon they were hemmed in by the monotonous salt-marshes; then they crossed a wide sheet of open water, and entered the mouth of a wild, dark river that flowed into it from the west.

The rest of that day and most of the next was occupied in the ascent of this river, which ever grew darker and narrower as they neared its source.

They worked incessantly at the paddles, and made such speed that Has-se said they must certainly overtake his people before they reached the land of the Alachuas.
Several times during these two days he ran the canoe ashore at places that his keen vision noted as having been the landing-places of other canoes.

At each of these places he found the ashes and charred sticks that denoted recent camp-fires, and each time after making such a discovery he returned to Rene with a puzzled and thoughtful expression on his face.

His companion noticed this, and finally inquired the cause.
"What troubles thee, my Has-se ?" he asked.