r, which, starting from the
thicket, bounded away with the speed of the wind. Pursuing with equal
pace, the bold hunter dashed into the depths of the forest, watching for
a favorable moment to take the deadly aim. The arrow was on the string,
and about to be raised to fly at his panting victim, when the shrill
war-whoop burst suddenly on his ear. It arrested his step, for a moment,
but not his arm; for the arrow sped as if nothing had occurred to divert
its course, and buried itself in the heart of the flying deer.

Perceiving, at a glance, that a party of the Senecas, the old and deadly
enemies of the Katahbas, were down upon him, and had cut off his retreat
to the river, he held on his course, as before, but with redoubled
speed, intending, if possible, to secure a refuge from his pursuers, in
a cavern about five miles distant. Fleet as the wind, he would have
gained his purpose, if the course had been direct, for there was not a
red man in the wide forests of America, who could outrun Ash-te-o-lah.
Dividing themselves into several parties, and taking different courses
to intercept his flight, his enemies gave instant chase to the fugitive.
One party followed close on his trail, but he was soon lost to their
view. Another struck off northwardly, towards a bend in the West Branch,
where the rapids afforded an opportunity for crossing the stream without
impeding his flight. A third made for a deep cut, or ravine, about a
mile further down, where a fallen tree, extending from bank to bank,
served the purpose of a bridge.

Ash-te-o-lah soon perceived that his enemies were divided, and resolved
that, if they _did_ intercept or overtake him, it should cost them dear.
Halting a little in his flight, and taking to the covert of a tree, he
drew upon the foremost of his pursuers, and laid him dead in the path.
The next in the pursuit, pausing a moment over his fallen brother,
shared the same fate. Knowing, as by instinct, that the other parties
would endeavor to cut him off at the rapids and the bridge, he dashed
forward, in a straight line for the stream, plunged into the water, and
holding his bow aloft, struggled with a powerful arm to reach the other
side. He gained the bank, just as his pursuers made their appearance on
the opposite shore. Turning suddenly upon them, he levelled another
shaft with such unerring aim, that one of their number fell bleeding
into the stream. Another and another, in the act of leaping over the