192 



FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF 



when, without knowing whether it was off or on, I clenched 

 my fist and struck him in the head. He would have fallen 

 had not his friends held him up. I repeated the blow, and 

 he fell hack ; but they caught him again ; when I gave 

 him a third and last blow, fair on the temple, and he fell 

 hack stunned. 



poinding myself failing, and expecting that they would 

 set a fresh man on me, and knowing that I could stand it 

 no longer, as I had been beaten incessantly for at least 

 half an hour, I wheeled round, and attempted to leave thfi 

 ground. 



I heard them say, " Follow him, Shannon ; for you can 

 whip him." 



But he replied, " If you want any more fighting done, 

 you may do it yourselves." 



This was the best news I ever heard ; for I could do no 

 more, though they did not know it. I called him whipped, 

 and hurrying to my horse, I mounted him, with not a 

 stitch of clothes on, except my pants and the coat I had 

 left across his back ; my waistcoat and shirt lying in scat- 

 tered fragments all over the battle-ground. 



It was getting dark when I rode up to a friend's house, 

 ten miles distant ; till when, I did not feel my hurts. But 

 when I went to get off" my horse, I was not able to do so 

 without help. I could not hold a knife to cut my food, 

 which had to be all cut for me ; and it was three weeks 

 before I could wear a hat ; my head being so swollen and 

 Bore from the beating I had received. 



This happened about the middle of November, and I 

 was not able to carry a stick of firewood till the first of 

 May following ; as I had three ribs broken, besides being 

 badly beaten about the body also. Lest the news of my 

 being so ill should reach my enemies, I took a friend with 

 me, and went to the hunting-ground, where I staid a week ; 

 meanwhile causing the report to be circulated that I was 



