In a short time thy hand will be as sound as before it laid hold of Chitta-wewa, the great water-snake." "Tis marvellous!" exclaimed Rene; "and if thou wouldst return with me to France, bringing with thee a few of these samples and thy knowledge of their application, thou wouldst become a great medicine-man and obtain much honor of my people." Has-se only shook his head and smiled at this suggestion; then he said, "For a time thou must lie perfectly quiet, and keep that upon thy hand wet with cool water.

Meantime I will carry out a plan of which I have just conceived the idea.

Near by, from the head of this lagoon, there runs a narrow trail by which a great bend in the stream is cut off, and a point much lower down upon it is reached.

If thou wilt remain here and nurse thy hand, I will cross to the lower stream by this trail; and it may be that I will thus gain more speedy information concerning those whom we follow." Rene at once agreed to this plan, and was soon left alone to nurse his hand and meditate upon his present strange position.

From his savage surroundings his thoughts ran back to the uncle whom he had left in Fort Caroline to battle with sickness, and possibly with starvation and the upbraidings of his own men.