336 IN THE OLD WEST 



dragged the women from the wagons, and others 

 rushed upon the men, who made brave fight in their 

 defense. 



Mary, when she saw her father struck to the 

 ground, sprang with a shrill cry to his assistance ; 

 for at that moment a savage, frightful as red paint 

 could make him, was 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 confusion : in vain 

 the small party of whites struggled against over- 

 powering 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 In- 

 dian 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 de- 

 liberately 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 

 pulled the rope violently, dragged her some yards 

 upon the ground, and then rushed with a yell of 

 vengeance upon his victim. He paused, however, 

 as at that moment a shout as fierce as his own 



