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left margin: Dec.  9.  Jones, and to prevail on him to go to Fort Mellon at the appointed time.  They said they would do so.  We then told them, that we would wait for them, if they would say so, & we would all get into Fort Mellon together.  They did not answer.  We then thought that they did not want us to stay with them any longer, so we concluded to leave them.  We then told Tarskeekee to send a messenger after us the next morning, to tell us the result of their visit to Sam Jones, and we would wait for him at a certain deep creek.  He said, he would or go himself.  We then left them and in going about three miles, Tarskeekee overtook us.  He said Jumper's messenger had just come, requesting him to wait for him, and he thought he could not get in at the appointed time.  I told him that Jumper did not know his situation; for he was under obligation to get in at a certain time; but for him to leave word for Jumper, telling him his situation & certain to get in at the appointed time.  He then said, he would; but said, for us to go strikeout not wait for him nor his messenger, for he could not send nor go himself.  We then parted.  However, we concluded to wait for him on the road.  For this reason we had nothing different to tell Gen Jessup about them. Thought he might march his army under such a view, & destroy what hope we still entertained for them.  At night we staid at Alligator Lake.   left margin: "  10.  On the 10th we went on and crossed the deep creek.  At night,  left margin: "  11.  we stopped near a Lake.  On the 11th we staid at the place.  During the day, we met with six or seven families of the Seminoles as they were passing.  We prevailed on them to stop & wait for Tarskeekee & others, who we were waiting for;  and for them  left margin: "  12.  to go to Fort Mellon.  We all staid together .  On the 12th, the last day of the appointed time, a messenger came from Tarskeekee, overtook us.  He said Tarskeekee & Sam Jones,