ith several
stalwart warriors, to again make him prisoner. For the first time since
the commencement of the battle, he felt his heart sink. To be taken
alive was a thousand times worse than death, and escape seemed
impossible. However, there was no time for consideration; another moment
might be fatal; his foes were upon him; it was now or never. Luckily he
was mounted on a fiery steed--which had thus far escaped a scratch--and
had one undischarged pistol in his holster. This he drew forth as his
last hope; and, tightening the rein, wheeled his horse and spurred down
upon his enemies with tremendous velocity.

"I have you now, by ----!" cried the renegade.

As he spoke, he sprung forward to grasp the bridle of Algernon's horse;
but stumbled and fell, and the beast passed over him, unfortunately
though without doing him any injury.

But Algernon had not yet got clear of his enemies; for on the fall of
Girty, he found himself surrounded by a host of savages, whooping and
yelling frightfully, and his direct course to the river cut off by a
body of more than a hundred. There was only one point, and that a few
yards to his left, where there appeared a possibility of his breaking
through their lines. In the twinkling of an eye, and while his horse was
yet under full headway, his decision was made. Rushing his steed hard to
the right, in order to deceive his foes, he suddenly wheeled him again
to the left; and the side of the beast striking against some three
or four of the Indians, who were on the point of seizing his rein,
staggered them back upon their companions, creating no little confusion.
Taking advantage of this, our hero, with the speed of a flying arrow,
bore down upon the weakest point; where, after shooting down a powerful
savage, who had succeeded in grasping his bridle and was on the point of
tomahawking his horse, he passed their lines, amid a volley of rifle
balls, which cut his clothes in several places, but left himself and
steed unharmed.

The worst of the danger now seemed over; but still his road ahead was
beset with Indians, who were killing and scalping all that fell in their
power; and behind him were the infuriated renegade and his party now in
hot pursuit. His steed, however, was strong and fleet, and he put him to
his wind; by which means he not only distanced those behind him, but
passed one or two parties in front unharmed. About half way between the
ravines and the river, he overtook Major Mc