WE ARE SURPRISED BY THE INDIANS WHILE LEAVING THE HOUSE--BARTLE'S
ADVICE--I AM PERSUADED TO ESCAPE ALONE--AN EXCITING PURSUIT--FOOD AND
REST--MY JOURNEY RESUMED--AMONG THE MOUNTAINS--MY ANXIETY ABOUT MY
FRIENDS--A WEARY DAY--AN INDIAN IN SIGHT--FRIEND OR ENEMY?--A
RECOGNITION--WINNEMAK AND HIS BRAVES--I AM KINDLY TREATED--NO NEWS OF
UNCLE JEFF--A SPY--WE START IN PURSUIT OF HIM--THE SPY OVERTAKEN--A
DEADLY COMBAT--WINNEMAK OVERCOMES PIOMINGO--IS HE DEAD?--MY
INTERCESSION--ON THE WAY FOR WINNEMAK'S CAMP.
The furious rush made by Uncle Jeff had, as he expected, so distracted
the attention of our numerous enemies surrounding the house, that they
did not at first notice Bartle, Gideon, and me. We were thus able to
get to some distance from the house, and had hopes of escaping
altogether unobserved, when the party who had been concealed in the mill
caught sight of us, and uttering a loud war-whoop, rushed out expecting
to take our scalps. Bartle and Gideon shot down with their pistols two
of our assailants; and I cut down a third, who had sprung before us to
stop our progress. Others soon came on, but we managed to keep them at
bay, although it was too probable that ere long we should be
overwhelmed, as others were coming up from all directions to join the
fight. But so well did my companions wield their swords, that they for
some time kept the enemy back.
"Now, lad," cried Bartle to me, "now is your time; run for it, and you
will get off free! Gideon and I will manage these fellows; never fear,
we will look after ourselves."