The hope of
concealing their trail from such pursuers was not to be indulged, and for
his companion to escape by flight he knew to be impossible. There was no
time to lose. In such emergencies, with an Indian, thought takes the
character of instinct. The fugitives stood at the foot of a sapling, whose
top was completely concealed by masses of leaves, which belonged to the
under-brush that clustered around its trunk. Into this tree he assisted
Submission to ascend, and then, without explaining his own views, he
instantly left the spot, rendering his own trail as broad and perceptible
as possible, by beating down the bushes as he passed.
The expedient of the faithful Narragansett was completely successful.
Before he had got a hundred yards from the place, he saw the foremost of
the hostile Indians hunting like blood-hounds on his footsteps. His
movement was slow, until he saw that, having his person in view, all of
the pursuers had passed the tree. Then, the arrow parting from the bow was
scarce swifter than his flight.
The pursuit now partook of all the exciting incidents and ingenious
expedients of an Indian chase.
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