He quietly drew
the corner of his light robe over a shoulder, and was about to resume his
seat on the stone from which he had but a minute before arisen, when his
companion again urged him to fly.
"The enemies of a chief must not say that he led his friend into a trap,
and that when his leg was fast he ran away himself, like a lucky fox. If
my brother stays to be killed, Conanchet will be found near him."
"Heathen, heathen!" returned the other, moved nearly to tears by the
loyalty of his guide; "many a Christian man might take lessons from thy
faith. Lead on--I will follow, at the utmost of my speed."
The Narragansett sprung into the brook, and took its downward course--a
direction opposite to that which Philip had chosen. There was wisdom in
this expedient, for though their pursuers might see that the water was
troubled, there was no certainty as to the direction of the fugitives.
Conanchet had foreseen this little advantage, and, with the instinctive
readiness of his people, he did not fail to make it of service. Metacom
had been influenced by the course taken by his warriors, who had retired
under shelter of the rocks.
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