Even men as practised as those
present, in the horrible inventions of Indian cruelty, turned sickening
away from a spectacle that war calculated to chill the blood of all who
had not become callous to human affliction. Content made a sign to cover
the miserable remnants of mortality, and hid his face, with a shudder.
It is not necessary to dwell on the scene that followed. Meek Wolfe
availed himself of this unexpected event, to press his plan on the
attention of the commanding officer of the settlement, who was certainly
far better disposed to listen to his proposals, than before this palpable
evidence of the ruthless character of their enemies was presented to his
view. Still Content listened with reluctance, nor was it without the
intention of exercising an ulterior discretion in the case, that he
finally consented to give orders for the departure of a body of men, with
the approach of the morning light. As much of the discourse was managed
with those half-intelligible allusions that distinguished men of their
habits, it is probable that every individual present had his own
particular views of the subject: though it is certain, one and all
faithfully believed that he was solely influenced by a justifiable regard
to his temporal interest, which was in some degree rendered still more
praiseworthy by a reference to the service of his Divine Master.
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