Page:Four interesting tales.pdf/4

4 an instant retreat, but was accused of cowardice by Potts, who insisted that the noise was caused by buffaloes ; and they proceeded on. In a few minutes afterwards their doubts were removed, by a party of Indians making their appearance on both sides of the creek, to the amount of five or six hundred, who beckoned them to come ashore. As retreat was now impossible, Colter turned the head of the canoe ; and, at the moment of its touching, an Indian seized the rifle belonging to Potts ; but Colter, who is a remarkably strong man, immediately retook it, and handed it to Potts, who remained in the canoe, and, on receiving it, pushed off into the river. He had scarcely quitted the shore, when an arrow was shot at him, and he cried out, “Colter, I am wounded !” Colter remonstrated with him on he folly of attempting to escape, and urged him to come ashore. Instead of complying, he instantly levelled his riffle at the Indian, and shot him dead on the spot. This conduct, situated as he was, may appear to have been an act of madness, but it was the effect of sudden but sound reasoning; for, if taken alive, he must have expected to be tortured to death, according to their custom. He was instantly pierced with arrows so numerous, that, to use Colter’s words, “he was made a riddle of." They now seized Colter, stript him entirely naked, and began to consult on the manner in which he should he put to death. They were at first inclined to set him up as a mark to shoot at, but the chief interfered, and, seizing him by the shoulder, asked him if he could run fast? Colter, who had been some time among the Kee-katso or Crow Indians, had in a considerable degree acquired the Blackfoot language, and was also well acquainted with Indian customs ; he knew that he had now to run for his life, with the dreadful odds of five or six hundred against him, and those armed Indians; he therefore