LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 281 



One jumped upon old Brand, pulled him back as he 

 was rising in the stirrup, and drew his bow upon him 

 at the same moment. In an instant the old backwoods- 

 man pulled a pistol from his belt, and, putting the 

 muzzle to the Indian's heart, shot him dead. Another 

 Indian, floiirshing his war-club, laid the old man at his 

 feet ; whilst some dragged the women from the wag- 

 gons, and others rushed upon the men, who made brave 

 fight in their defence. 



Mary, when she saw her father struck to the ground, 

 sprang with a shrill ciy to his assistance ; for at that 

 moment a savage, frightful as red paint could make him, 

 standing over his prostrate body, brandishing a 

 glittering knife in the air, preparatory to thrusting it 

 into the old man's breast For the rest, all was con- 

 fusion : in vain the small party of whites struggled 

 a - a i nst overpowering numbers. Their rifles cracked 

 but once, and they were quickly disarmed ; whilst the 

 shrieks of the women and children, and the loud yells 

 of the Indians, added to the scene of horror and con- 

 fusion. As Mary flew to her father's side, an Indian 

 threw his lasso at her, the noose falling over her 

 shoulders, and, jerking it tight, he uttered a delighted 

 yell as the poor girl was thrown back violently to the 

 ground. As she fell, another deliberately shot an arrow 

 at her body, whilst the one who had thrown the lasso 

 rushed forward, his scalp-knife flashing in his hand, to 

 seize the bloody trophy of his savage deed. The girl 

 rose to her knees, and looked wildly towards the spot 

 where her father lay bathed in blood ; but the Indian 



