Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/406

 General ObJervatioKs on

of the Indians : and this cool-headed brave warrior did not deviate froin their rough leflbns of martial virtue, but acted his part fo well, as to fur- prife and forely vex his numerous enemies. For, when they were taking him unpinioned, in their wild parade, to the place of torture, which Jay near to a river, he fuddenly darned down thofe who flood in his way, fprung off, and plunged into the water, fwimming underneath like an otter, only rifing to take breath till he made the oppofite fhore. He now afcended the fteep bank ; but though he had good reafon to be in a hurry, as many of the enemy were in the water, and others running every way, like blood-hounds, in purfuit of him, and the bullets flying around him, from the time he took to the river, yet his heart did not allow him to leave them abruptly, without taking leave in a forma} manner, in return for the extraordinary favours they had done, and in tended to do him. He firft turned his backfide toward them, and flapped it with his hand, then moving round, he put up the fhrill war whoo whoop, as his laft falute, till fome more convenient opportunity offered, and darted off in the manner of a beaft broke loofe from its torturing enemies. He continued his fpeed fo as to run by about midnight of the fame day, as far as his eager purfuers were two days in reaching. There he retted, till he happily difcovered five of thofe Indians, who had purfued him he lay hid a little way off their camp, till they were found aQeep. Every circumftance of his fituation occurred to him, and infpired him wkh heroifm. He was naked, torn, and hungry, and his enraged enemies were come up with him. But there was now every thing to relieve his wants, and a fair opportunity to fave his life, and get great honour, and fweet revenge, by cutting them off. Refolution, a convenient fpot, and fudden furprize^ would effect the main object of all his wifhes and hopes. He accord ingly creeped towards them, took one of their tomohawks, and killed them all on the fpot. He then chopped them to pieces, in as horrid a manner, as favage fury could excite, both through national and perfonal refent- ment, he dripped off their fcalps, clothed himfelf, took a choice gun, and. as much ammunition and provifions as he could well carry in a running march. He fet off afrefli with a light heart, and did not deep for feveraJ iucceflive nights, only when he reclined as ufual a little before day, with his back to a tree. As it were by inftinct, when he found he was free from the purfuing enemy, he made directly to the very place where he had killed feven of his enemies, and was taken by them for the fiery torture,

He

�� �