Hamil dismounted, turned and lifted Shiela from her saddle, then walked straight to the Seminole and offered his hand. The Indian grasped it in silence.
"I wish well to Little Tiger, a Seminole and a brave hunter," said Hamil pleasantly.
The red hand and the white hand tightened and fell apart.
A moment later Gray came galloping up with Eudo Stent.
"How are you, Coacochee!" he called out; "glad to see you again! We saw the pine tops blue a mile back."
To which the Seminole replied with composure in terse English. But for Mr. Cardross, when he arrived, there was a shade less reserve in the Indian's greeting, and there was no mistaking the friendship between them.
"Why did you speak to him in his own tongue?" asked Hamil of Shiela as they strolled together toward the palmetto-thatched, open-face camp fronting on Ruffle Lake.
"He takes it as a compliment," she said. "Besides he taught me."
"It's a pretty courtesy," said Hamil, "but you always do everything more graciously than anybody else in the world."
"I am afraid you are biassed."