,242 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



young -warrior, struck him to the earth with his huge fist, 

 and then threw himself into the neighboring forest, not 

 though without being seen and pursued; twenty or thirty 

 warriors followed him, and so close were they upon his heels 

 at the start, that their rifle balls showered like hail about 

 him. 



The swiftness of Indian runners has passed into a proverb, 

 but they had a man before them more swift and tireless than 

 they. He gained so much upon them that by the time they 

 reached the Miami, which was ten miles distant, there were 

 only three warriors who seemed to be continuing the chase. 



Harrod swam the river without hesitation ; as he reached 

 the opposite bank they came up, and fired at him as he climbed 

 the bank ; the river was wide here, and the balls fell short. 

 He now took a tree upon the edge of the forest, and removing 

 the water-proof cover of deer's bladder from the lock of his 

 rifle, prepared for them, should they attempt to cross the 

 river. The Indians hesitated a moment, for it had now been 

 some time full daylight, and they seemed to have some appre- 

 hension that he might make a stand, but hearing at this in- 

 stant the coming yells of those who had fallen behind, they 

 replied, and plunged into the stream. 



Harrod waited until they were more than half across, when 

 at the crack of his rifle, the foremost sank; the other two 

 paused, then turned to go back, but before they could get out 

 of range, he wounded a second desperately, who gave himself 

 up to the current and was swept down. The third, by a 

 series of rapid dives, like the manoeuvres of a wounded wild 

 duck, succeeded in baffling the aim of Harrod, even, and got 

 out of range. 



Harrod heard the furious howl of the main body of his out- 

 witted pursuers, who had reached the river as he was making 

 oflF again through the forest; the chase was not continued 

 further. 



What adds not a little to the dramatic interest of this ad- 



