, uttering loud shrieks and shouts, expecting to strike terror into
my heart, and make me yield. Two or three were in advance of the rest,
and one especially seemed to be gaining on me. I would not willingly
have taken his life, but too probably, should I not stop his progress,
he would take mine. Having reached a rock, I sprang behind it; then
unslinging my rifle, I stepped out and took steady aim at the advancing
foe, who fell back shot through the body. His fall had the effect of
stopping the others, who lifted him up to ascertain if he were dead,
thus affording me time to reload my rifle, and gain several more yards
in advance. I could thus bring down another enemy, if necessary, at a
distance, and still have my pistol and sword to defend myself in a
closer encounter.

I had not forgotten my two brave friends. I only wished that they had
accompanied me, for we might, on the ground I had now reached, have set
a whole host of our enemies at defiance.

I sprang on among the rocks, almost entirely concealed from the view of
my pursuers. Few of them, fortunately, had firearms, although an
occasional ill-aimed bullet whistled over my head, but I had very little
fear of being struck while among the rocks. My great object was to reach
the tree over the torrent before the Indians came up, because I should
be exposed to view when climbing along the trunk.

I dashed on, and mounting the rock still unobserved, reached the root of
the tree. It would be necessary to use great caution as I approached the
further end, as only the more delicate branches hung over the stream,
and should I venture on one incapable of bearing my weight I should fall
into the torrent, which there went roaring by at a fearful rate. This
very circumstance, however, should I succeed, would secure my safety,
as, even should the Indians discover by what means I had crossed, they
would not venture to follow; or if they did, would most probably fall
into the current and be swept away.

I did not stop to ascertain how far off my pursuers were, but, climbing
up on the trunk, I made my way along it--trusting to the uncertainty of
their aim, should any with muskets see me and fire. My great object was
now to discover a bough on which I could depend. I cast my eye along
one, as far as the light would allow, and selected it; then, like a wild
cat about to spring on its prey, I crawled quickly on. There were
several branches below me, which, should the one I was o