set off to their towns, taking with them a horse
which belonged to Hellen.

When they had approached near enough to be distinctly heard, Logan (as
is usual with them after a successful scout,) gave the scalp halloo,
and several warriors came out to meet them, and conducted the
prisoners into the village. Here they passed through the accustomed
ceremony of running the gauntlet; but with far different fortunes.
Robinson, having been previously instructed by Logan (who from the
time he made him his prisoner, manifested a kindly feeling towards
him,) made his way, with but little interruption, to the council
house; but poor Hellen, from the decrepitude of age, and his ignorance
of the fact that it was a place of refuge, was sadly beaten before he
arrived at it; and when he at length came near enough, he was knocked
down with a war club, before he could enter. After he had fallen, they
continued to beat and strike him with such unmerciful severity, that
he would assuredly have fallen a victim to their barbarous usage, but
that Robinson (at some peril for the interference) reached forth his
hand and drew him within the sanctuary. When he had however, recovered
from the effects of the violent beating which he had received, he was
relieved from the apprehension of farther suffering, by being adopted
into an Indian family.

A council was next convoked to resolve on the fate of Robinson; and
then arose in his breast, feelings of the most anxious inquietude.
Logan assured him, that he should not be killed; but the council
appeared determined that he should die, and he was tied to the stake.
Logan then addressed them, and with much vehemence, insisted that
Robinson too should be spared; and had the eloquence displayed on that
occasion been less than Logan is believed to have possessed, [120] it
is by no means wonderful that he appeared to Robinson (as he
afterwards said) the most powerful orator he ever heard. But
commanding as his eloquence might have been, it seems not to have
prevailed with the council; for Logan had to interpose otherwise than
by argument or entreaty, to succeed in the attainment of his object.
Enraged at the pertinacity with which the life of Robinson was sought
to be taken, and reckless of the consequences, he drew the tomahawk
from his belt, and severing the cords which bound the devoted victim
to the stake, led him in triumph, to the cabin of an old squaw, by
whom he was immediately adopted.

After this