This very cautious officer of the guard then went to the marquee of the colonel, and addressed him: "Here is another of those Seminoles, sir, who says he has despatches for you. What shall I do with him?"
The colonel came out, and eyed me scrutinizingly.
"Have you brought despatches for me?" he inquired.
"I have, sir."
"From where?"
"From Tampa Bay, sir."
"He came from the Seminoles, colonel," interposed the officer of the guard.
"You are mistaken again, sir," I said, giving him the look of a Crow in the midst of a battle; for I was not yet hireling enough not to feel aggravated at being called by implication a liar.
"Let me see your despatches," said the colonel.
I handed him the documents; he took them, and passed into his tent.
This did not suit me. I resolved to return instantly. I had not been treated with common civility; no inquiries had been made about my appetite; I was not even invited to alight from my horse. I had neither eaten nor slept since I left Tampa Bay. I was on the point of turning my horse's head, secretly resolving that these were the last despatches I would bear in that direction, when the colonel called—
"Captain Beckwourth, alight! alight, sir, and come into my quarters. Orderly, have Captain Beckwourth's horse taken immediate care of. You must be hungry, captain."
"What I need most now is sleep," I said; "let me have a little repose, and then I shall feel refreshed, and will not refuse to sit down to a meal."
The colonel bowed assent, and, raising a canvas door, pointed out to me a place for repose, at the same time promising me I should not be disturbed. When I awoke, I presented myself, and was regaled with a good substantial supper. This recruited me, and I was again fit for service.
The colonel made many inquiries of my past service. Major Bryant had made very favourable mention of me in his despatches, which seemed to have inspired quite an interest in
