e of
these savage enemies of ours. It was in the very summer solstice of the
year of violence; a time when he who took the sword was like to perish
with the sword; and we thought of little save that Margery and her
handmaiden were in deadliest peril, and that these Indians had five
horses which we must have.

And as for my own part in the fray, when I recognized in the
five-feathered chieftain of the three that copper-hued imp of Satan who
had been the merciless master of ceremonies at the torturing of my poor
black Tomas, the decent meed of mercy which even a seasoned soldier may
cherish died within me, and I made sure the steel would find its mark.

So, when Uncanoola drew forth his tobacco pipe and made the three doomed
ones sit with him in the path to smoke the peace-whiff all around, we
picked out each his man and smote to slay. The scythe-like sweep of
Jennifer's mighty claymore left the five-feathered chieftain the shorter
by a head in the same pulse-beat that the Ferara scanted a second of the
breath to yell with; though now I recall it, the gurgling death-cry of
the poor wretch with the steel in his throat was more terrible to hear
than any war-whoop. As for the old borderer, he was more deliberate.
Being fair behind and within arm's reach of his man, he seized him by
the scalp-lock, bent the head backward across his knee--but, faugh!
these are the merest butcher details, and I would spare you--and myself,
as well.

While yet this most merciless deed was a-doing, the Catawba bounded to
his feet and made sure of the horses which were rearing and snorting
with affright. That done, he must needs gloat, Indian-wise, over his
fallen adversary, turning the headless body with his foot and gibing at
it.

"Wah! Call hisself the Great Bear, hey? Heap lie; heap no bear; heap
nothing, now. Papoose bear no let hisself be trap' that way. No smoke
peace-pipe--"

But now Ephraim Yeates, standing ear a-cock and motionless, like some
grim old statue done in leather, cut him short with a sudden, "Hist,
will ye!" and a twinkling instant later we had other work to do.

"Onto the hosses with this here Injun-meat, ez quick ez the loving
Lord'll let ye!" was the sharp command. "There's a whole clanjamfrey o'
the varmints a-coming down the trace, and I reckon ez how we'd better
scratch gravel immejitly, _if_ not sooner!"

XXVI

WE TAKE THE CHARRED STICK FOR A GUIDE

Luckily for us the new danger was approaching from