bank, received the fatal shaft into his heart. Hearing the distant
whoop, which indicated that the other party had reached the bridge,
Ash-te-o-lah waited not for another victim, but bounded away for his
mountain fastness. The little delay which had been necessary to cut off
five of his pursuers, had given an advantage to the other parties, who
were now on the same side of the stream with himself, and gaining upon
his steps. No sooner was this perceived, than the heroic fugitive turned
upon the nearest of them, and, with the same infallible aim, laid him
dead in the path. Still another had fallen before his sure aim, and his
bow was strained for another shot, when one of the other party, who had
made a circuit, and come up behind him unperceived, leaped upon, and
held him pinioned in his powerful grasp. His struggles were terrible;
but he was immediately surrounded, overpowered and disarmed.

Though seven of their number had fallen in this brief chase, the brave
Senecas were so struck with admiration at the wonderful skill and noble
bearing of their captive, that they did not, as usual, instantly avenge
the slain, by taking the life of the slayer; but resolved to take him
along with them, and to lead him in triumph into the midst of the
council of their nation, there to be disposed of by the united voices of
their chiefs.

It was a sad triumph, for they were filled with grief and mortification
for the loss of so many of their brave kindred, all fallen by the hand
of one of the hated Katahbas, and he now completely in their power.
Though stung with shame, and thirsting for a worthy revenge, yet such
was their love of martial virtue, that, during all their long journey
homeward, they treated their haughty captive with far greater respect
and kindness than if he had acted the part of a coward, and suffered
himself to fall into their hands without any attempt at resistance. As
for him, with an unsubdued spirit, and an air of proud superiority, he
marched in the midst of his enemies, as if defying their power, and
scorning the vengeance from which it was impossible to escape. To one
unaccustomed to the modes of Indian warfare, and the code of Indian
etiquette, who might have witnessed that triumphant procession,
Ash-te-o-lah would have appeared the proud and absolute prince,
surrounded by his admiring and subservient life-guard, rather than the
subdued and helpless captive, escorted by his enemies to an ignominious
executi