56 
STRATEGY. 
dog seemed furious with rage at her presence 
there, and came rushing toward her. After ad- 
vancing a few feet, the man paused and raised his 
gun and aimed it at her. Her time to die seemed 
to have come, but with that desperate coolness 
that is sometimes given to the human soul when 
it feels that only perfect presence of mind can 
avert instant death, she reasoned, “ He can’t sup- 
pose I’m alone, and he will not run the risk of 
being shot by my companions, unless he thinks I 
have something he very much wants. My safest 
way is to let him see I am not afraid , and am 
going off about my affairs, and have only an old 
shot-gun about me,” and she picked up her squir- 
rel and turned down the creek toward camp as 
coolly, to all appearances, as though an infuriated 
dog and loaded rifle were not approaching her, 
taking pains only to walk so far out from the brush 
that she could beAvell seen. 
Three times she was aware the man paused and 
took aim at her, but for some reason changed his^ 
purpose and did not fire ; then he turned and 
recalled his dog. 
Trembling, but collected, she reached camp 
and recited her adventure. Her escape seemed 
hardly less than miraculous. Mr. Maxwell 
deemed their safety demanded immediate flight. 
There were doubtless other Indians in the fort, 
and they would be out soon to see what enemy 
