All my education and the habits of my life tended to unfit me for a
contest and a scene like this. But I was not governed by the soul which
usually regulates my conduct. I had imbibed, from the unparalleled
events which had lately happened, a spirit vengeful, unrelenting, and
ferocious. There was now an interval for flight. Throwing my weapons away, I might
gain the thicket in a moment. I had no ammunition, nor would time be
afforded me to reload my piece. My antagonist would render my poniard
and my speed of no use to me. Should he miss me as I fled, the girl
would remain to expiate, by her agonies and death, the fate of his
companions. These thoughts passed through my mind in a shorter time than is demanded
to express them. They yielded to an expedient suggested by the sight of
the gun that had been raised to destroy the girl, and which now lay upon
the ground. I am not large of bone, but am not deficient in agility and
strength. All that remained to me of these qualities was now exerted;
and, dropping my own piece, I leaped upon the bank, and flew to seize my
prize. It was not till I snatched it from the ground, that the propriety of
regaining my former post rushed upon my apprehension. He that was still
posted in the hovel would mark me through the seams of the wall, and
render my destruction sure. I once more ran towards the bank, with the
intention to throw myself below it. All this was performed in an
instant; but my vigilant foe was aware of his advantage, and fired
through an opening between the logs. The bullet grazed my cheek, and
produced a benumbing sensation that made me instantly fall to the earth. Though bereaved of strength, and fraught with the belief that I had
received a mortal wound, my caution was not remitted. I loosened not my
grasp of the gun, and the posture into which I accidentally fell enabled
me to keep an eye upon the house and a hand upon the trigger. Perceiving
my condition, the savage rushed from his covert in order to complete his
work; but at three steps from the threshold he received my bullet in his
breast. The uplifted tomahawk fell from his hand, and, uttering a loud
shriek, he fell upon the body of his companion. His cries struck upon my
heart, and I wished that his better fortune had cast this evil from him
upon me. Thus I have told thee a bloody and disastrous tale. When thou reflectest
on the mildness of my habits, my antipathy to scenes of violence and
bloodshed, my unacquaintance with the use of fire-arms and the motives
of a soldier, thou wilt scarcely allow credit to my story. That one
rushing into these dangers, unfurnished with stratagems or weapons,
disheartened and enfeebled by hardships and pain, should subdue four
antagonists trained from their infancy to the artifices and exertions of
Indian warfare, will seem the vision of fancy, rather than the lesson of
truth. I lifted my head from the ground and pondered upon this scene. The
magnitude of this exploit made me question its reality. By attending to
my own sensations, I discovered that I had received no wound, or, at
least, none of which there was reason to complain. The blood flowed
plentifully from my cheek, but the injury was superficial. It was
otherwise with my antagonists. The last that had fallen now ceased to
groan. Their huge limbs, inured to combat and _war-worn_, were useless
to their own defence, and to the injury of others. The destruction that I witnessed was vast. Three beings, full of energy
and heroism, endowed with minds strenuous and lofty, poured out their
lives before me. I was the instrument of their destruction. This scene
of carnage and blood was laid by me. To this havoc and horror was I led
by such rapid footsteps! My anguish was mingled with astonishment. In spite of the force and
uniformity with which my senses were impressed by external objects, the
transition I had undergone was so wild and inexplicable; all that I had
performed, all that I had witnessed since my egress from the pit, were
so contradictory to precedent events, that I still clung to the belief
that my thoughts were confused by delirium. From these reveries I was at
length recalled by the groans of the girl, who lay near me on the
ground. I went to her and endeavoured to console her. I found that, while lying
in the bed, she had received a blow upon the side, which was still
productive of acute pain. She was unable to rise or to walk, and it was
plain that one or more of her ribs had been fractured by the blow. I knew not what means to devise for our mutual relief. It was possible
that the nearest dwelling was many leagues distant. I knew not in what
direction to go in order to find it, and my strength would not suffice
to carry my wounded companion thither in my arms. There was no expedient
but to remain in this field of blood till the morning. I had scarcely formed this resolution before the report of a musket was
heard at a small distance. At the same moment, I distinctly heard the
whistling of a bullet near me. I now remembered that, of the five
Indians whom I saw in the cavern, I was acquainted with the destiny only
of four. The fifth might be still alive, and fortune might reserve for
him the task of avenging his companions. His steps might now be tending
hither in search of them. The musket belonging to him who was shot upon the threshold was still
charged. It was discreet to make all the provision in my power against
danger. I possessed myself of this gun, and, seating myself on the
ground, looked carefully on all sides, to descry the approach of the
enemy. I listened with breathless eagerness. Presently voices were heard. They ascended from that part of the thicket
from which my view was intercepted by the cottage. These voices had
something in them that bespoke them to belong to friends and countrymen. As yet I was unable to distinguish words. Presently my eye was attracted to one quarter, by a sound as of feet
trampling down bushes. Several heads were seen moving in succession, and
at length the whole person was conspicuous. One after another leaped
over a kind of mound which bordered the field, and made towards the spot
where I sat. This band was composed of ten or twelve persons, with each
a gun upon his shoulder. Their guise, the moment it was perceived,
dissipated all my apprehensions. They came within the distance of a few paces before they discovered me. One stopped, and, bespeaking the attention of his followers, called to
know who was there. I answered that I was a friend, who entreated their
assistance. I shall not paint their astonishment when, on coming nearer,
they beheld me surrounded by the arms and dead bodies of my enemies. I sat upon the ground, supporting my head with my left hand, and resting
on my knee the stock of a heavy musket. My countenance was wan and
haggard, my neck and bosom were dyed in blood, and my limbs, almost
stripped by the brambles of their slender covering, were lacerated by a
thousand wounds.