It happened that the
Frenchman was large and muscular, and Captain Putnam, though himself a
marvel of strength and agility, was not quite his equal, in fact, he
soon found he had "caught a Tartar." His men had not supported him,
while the Indian was hastening to his opponent's assistance, so he
loosed his hold and snapped his musket at the man's breast. It missed
fire, as the rude firearms of that time were often liable to do, and so
Putnam turned and ran for his life, hotly pursued by the irate
Frenchman, followed by the Indian.
There was a grim humor in the situation, for, since his men would not go
to the Frenchman, Captain Putnam was taking the Frenchman to them! They
had to assist him now, whether they wanted to or not, he thought; but as
they sprang up from the grass where they were hidden, the wary Indian
caught sight of them, gave the alarm to his companion, and both darted
off into the forest and escaped. Putnam was mortified as well as
enraged; but after denouncing his men as cowards and unfit for special
service, he sent them back to camp and finally accomplished his object
unassisted.
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