They received him with formidable exclamations, but Barbicane escaped an ovation by shutting himself up in his room at the Franklin Hotel and refusing to see any one.
The next day, October 23rd, small horses of Spanish race, full of fire and vigour, pawed the ground under his windows.

But, instead of four, there were fifty, with their riders.

Barbicane went down accompanied by his three companions, who were at first astonished to find themselves in the midst of such a cavalcade.

He remarked besides that each horseman carried a carbine slung across his shoulders and pistols in his holsters.

The reason for such a display of force was immediately given him by a young Floridian, who said to him-- "Sir, the Seminoles are there." "What Seminoles ?" "Savages who frequent the prairies, and we deemed it prudent to give you an escort." "Pooh!" exclaimed J.T.Maston as he mounted his steed.
"It is well to be on the safe side," answered the Floridian.
"Gentlemen," replied Barbicane, "I thank you for your attention, and now let us be off." The little troop set out immediately, and disappeared in a cloud of dust.