"He was old and feeble, and had lost much of his natural cunning. He
knew me, and trusted me; so without speaking, he took his hunting knife
from his belt, cut the cords, and I was free.
"I took the hatchet that he gave me to cut some branches for a fire, and
went to work very meekly, with my head down.
"I dared not speak to Mary, for fear he might see me, for his eyes were
fixed on me every moment. I baked his corn cake in the ashes, and gave
it to him. By this time it was dark, but the light from our fire shone
far out into the woods.
"I noticed Red Feather did not watch me so closely, and his eyes would
now and then shut, for he was very tired.
"He leaned forward to light his pipe in the ashes, when instantly,
almost without thinking, I seized the hatchet, and struck him with all
my might.
"With a loud scream, I plunged into the woods toward home. Turning an
instant, I saw Mary spring up, totter, and fall. With another sharp
report came a twinge of pain in my side. Suddenly I fell, and in the
darkness of the woods, they passed on, leaving me stunned and nearly
dead.
"I will not tell you now, my dear Robbie, how I was cared for, and who
brought home little Mary and laid her to rest under the elm, beside
mother--but the bullet that struck me then, I still carry in my side,
and shall as long as I live.
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