68 The Winning of the West 



Bonham, just before the retreat began, was shot 

 through both hips, so that he could not walk. Young 

 Van Cleve got him a horse, on which he was with 

 difficulty mounted ; then, as the flight began, Bonham 

 bade Van Cleve look to his safety, as he was on foot, 

 and the two separated. Bonham rode until the pur- 

 suit had almost ceased; then, weak and crippled, he 

 was thrown off his horse and slain. Meanwhile 

 Van Cleve ran steadily on foot. By the time he 

 had gone two miles most of the mounted men had 

 passed him. A boy, on the point of falling from 

 exhaustion, now begged his help; and the kind- 

 hearted backwoodsman seized the lad and pulled 

 him along nearly two miles further, when he him- 

 self became so worn-out that he nearly fell. There 

 were still two horses in the rear, one carrying three 

 men, and one two; and behind the latter Van Cleve, 

 summoning his strength, threw the boy, who es- 

 caped. Nor did Van Cleve's pity for his fellows 

 cease with this; for he stopped to tie his handker- 

 chief around the knee of a wounded man. His 

 violent exertions gave him a cramp in both thighs, 

 so that he could barely walk; and in consequence 

 the strong and active passed him until he was within 

 a hundred yards of the rear, where the Indians were 

 tomahawking the old and wounded men. So close 

 were they that for a moment his heart sunk in de- 

 spair; but he threw off his shoes, the touch of the 

 cold ground seemed to revive him, and he again 

 began to trot forward. He got around a bend in 

 the road, passing half a dozen other fugitives; and 



