Conanchet was soon hunted from his cover,
and obliged to trust his person in the more open parts of the forest.
Miles of hill and ravine, of plain, of rocks, of morass and stream, were
crossed, and still the trained warrior held on his way, unbroken in spirit
and scarce wearied in limb. The merit of a savage, in such an employment,
rests more on his bottom than on his speed. The three or four Colonists,
who had been sent with the party of amicable Indians to intercept those
who might attempt to escape down the stream, were early thrown out; and
the struggle was now entirely between the fugitive and men equally
practised in limb and ingenious in expedient.
The Pequots had a great advantage in their number. The frequent doublings
of the fugitive kept the chase within the circle of a mile, and as each of
his enemies tired, there were always fresh pursuers to take his plate. In
such a contest, the result could not be questionable. After more than two
hours of powerful exertion, the foot of Conanchet began to fail, and his
speed very sensibly to flag.
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