"Soc, ould b'y," cried Barney, "thot wur th' bist job ye iver did, an' Oi'm proud av yez! Ye'll niver lose anything by thot thrick, ayther."
"Not much!" roared the little professor, wiping his eyes. "Man, give me your hand!"
Then the Seminole had his hand shaken in a manner and with a heartiness that astonished him greatly.
"That was nothing," he declared, "Socato hates the snake vine—fight it any time. Don't make so much row."
When all had been told and the party had recovered from the excitement into which they had been thrown, Barney announced that breakfast was waiting.
Elsie, for all of her happiness at meeting Frank, was so troubled about her father that she could eat very little.
Socato ate hastily, and then announced that he would go out and see what he could do about rescuing Captain Bellwood.
Barney wished to go with the Seminole, but Socato declared that he could do much better alone, and hurriedly departed.
Then Frank did his best to cheer Elsie, telling her that everything was sure to come out all right, as the Indian could be trusted to outwit the desperadoes and rescue the captain.
Seeing Frank and Elsie much together, Barney drew the professor aside, and whispered: