charge of two guns without effect, and the leveling of a third by
Ramsey, with a coolness and steadiness of nerve and aim which gave
assurance of success. His finger was on the trigger, when Durant himself
threw up the muzzle of the rifle, and sent the ball whizzing through the
air, some ten feet above the heads of the fugitives.

"My revenge must be fuller than that, or not at all," he said. "The ball
would have killed both, and I would not have had that for the world."

He had hardly uttered these words, when the sharp crack of the remaining
Indian's rifle, who had recovered from the blow given him by Hamilton, and
was glad of the opportunity of so speedily avenging it, rung in his ear
with piercing shrillness, and looking in the direction of the flying
couple, Durant saw Hamilton stagger with his burden, and then both fell to
the earth. Instantly the demon was roused within him; every emotion of fear
was swallowed up in his usually cowardly heart by the burning thirst for
revenge which rankled in his bosom; and crying "_Come_!" he rushed to the
spot where the lovers lay, followed by his comrade. Both were wounded, but
neither was dead. Lifting the bleeding Ellen in his arms, he bore her back,
while Ramsey and an Indian did the same by Hamilton. Springing into their
canoes, and bending to the oars with all the strength they could muster,
they were soon far out into the stream, and had just reached a point of
safety, when the pursuing party of whites came up to the water's brink.
Several shots were fired at the canoes without effect, and then the men
tried to force their horses into the river; but by yelling and splashing
the water with their oars by the enemy, the beasts were effectually
frightened, so that no efforts of their riders could induce them to attempt
the unwilling task of swimming across.

Durant could perceive the agony of the father and brother of Ellen, as they
wrung their hands in despair, still vainly striving to urge forward their
stubborn steeds. Feeling perfectly secure, now that the pursuers were
effectually baffled in their designs, he gave orders to cease the
frightening demonstrations, and continue their course. In a few minutes the
Ohio shore was gained, and they soon buried themselves in the deep woods
beyond and were lost to the sight of those on the opposite bank, who
reluctantly turned their faces homeward, and, in deep and mournful silence,
retraced their steps, revolving in their minds w