"His name I know not," replied the other; "but certain things concerning him I do know. He, more than any other, caused this war between the Iste-chatte and the white man. He broke up the home of the Pachecos and sold the mother and brother of Nita into slavery, as he would now sell her. He stole and sold into slavery the wife of Osceola."
"The scoundrel!" exclaimed Boyd.
"When my white brother was shot down at the battle of the Withlacoochee, the bullet came from behind, and from the rifle of this man."
"What!"
"When the home of my white brother was attacked by white men, painted to look like the Iste-chatte, this man was leader of the band. He it was who took the white maiden, thy sister, captive and left her to perish in the forest."
"Good Heavens, man! Do you know what you are talking about? Can all this be true?"
"The tongue of Coacoochee is straight. He would not lie to his white brother."
"Yes, but may you not be mistaken? I did not know I had an enemy in the world, who would thus injure me. Who can it be?"
"What I have said is true. Does my brother remember talking with a man under a tree the day before the white soldiers reached the ferry of the Withlacoochee, and speaking scornful words to him?"
"Yes, though I don't see how you could know of that. I inquired about him and found out his name, which proved to be the same as that of the last overseer on my plantation. I had heard bad accounts of the man, and had him discharged before taking possession."