But when, instead of an
impotent and unmanly struggle for existence, he found that his friend
had forborne, with the customary and dignified submission of an Indian
warrior, until an opportunity had offered to escape, and that he had
then manifested the spirit and decision of the most gifted brave, his
gratification became nearly too powerful to be concealed. In the midst
of the wailing and commotion, which succeeded the death of Weucha and
the escape of the captive, he placed himself nigh the persons of his
white associates, with a determination of interfering, at every
hazard, should the fury of the savages take that direction. The
appearance of the hostile band spared him, however, so desperate and
probably so fruitless an effort, and left him to pursue his
observations, and to mature his plans more at leisure.
He particularly remarked that, while by far the greater part of the
women, and all the children, together with the effects of the party,
were hurried to the rear, probably with an order to secrete themselves
in some of the adjacent woods, the tent of Mahtoree himself was left
standing, and its contents undisturbed.
Pages:
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701