"
A great turmoil and confusion arose as the prisoners fled and the
Indians pursued. Paul and Shif'less Sol; full of sympathy and
pity for the fugitives and having felt all the time that their
turn, too, would come under that dreadful tomahawk, struggled to
their feet. They did not see a form slip noiselessly behind
them, but a sharp knife descended once, then twice, and the bands
of both fell free.
"Run! run!" exclaimed the voice of Timmendiquas, low but
penetrating. "I would save you from this!"
Amid the darkness and confusion the act of the great Wyandot was
not seen by the other Indians and the renegades. Paul flashed
him one look of gratitude, and then he and Shif'less Sol darted
away, choosing a course that led them from the crowd in pursuit
of the other flying fugitives.
At such a time they might have secured a long lead without being
noticed, had it not been for the fierce swarm of old squaws who
were first in cruelty that night. A shrill wild howl arose, and
the pointing fingers of the old women showed to the warriors the
two in flight. At the same time several of the squaws darted
forward to intercept the fugitives.
"I hate to hit a woman," breathed Shif'less Sol to Paul, "but I'm
goin' to do it now.
Pages:
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221