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A great turmoil and confusion arose as the prisoners fled and the Indians pursued。 Paul and Shif'less Sol； full of sympathy and pity for the fugitives and having felt all the time that their turn； too； would come under that dreadful tomahawk； struggled to their feet。 They did not see a form slip noiselessly behind them； but a sharp knife descended once； then twice； and the bands of both fell free。
〃Run！ run！〃 exclaimed the voice of Timmendiquas； low but penetrating。 〃I would save you from this！〃
Amid the darkness and confusion the act of the great Wyandot was not seen by the other Indians and the renegades。 Paul flashed him one look of gratitude； and then he and Shif'less Sol darted away； choosing a course that led them from the crowd in pursuit of the other flying fugitives。
At such a time they might have secured a long lead without being noticed； had it not been for the fierce swarm of old squaws who were first in cruelty that night。 A shrill wild howl arose； and the pointing fingers of the old women showed to the warriors the two in flight。 At the same time several of the squaws darted forward to intercept the fugitives。
〃I hate to hit a woman；〃 breathed Shif'less Sol to Paul； 〃but I'm goin' to do it now。〃
A hideous figure sprang before them。 Sol struck her face with his open hand； and with a shriek she went down。 He leaped over her； although she clawed at his feet as he passed； and ran on； with Paul at his side。 Shots were now fired at him； but they went wild； but Paul； casting a look backward out of the corner of his eye； saw that a real pursuit； silent and deadly； had begun。 Five Mohawk warriors； running swiftly； were only a few hundred yards away。 They carried rifle； tomahawk； and knife； and Paul and Shif'less Sol were unarmed。 Moreover； they were coming fast； spreading out slightly； and the shiftless one； able even at such a time to weigh the case coolly； saw that the odds were against them。 Yet he would not despair。 Anything might happen。 It was night。 There was little organization in the army of the Indians and of their white allies； which was giving itself up to the enjoyment of scalps and torture。 Moreover； he and Paul were； animated by the love of life； which is always stronger than the desire to give death。
Their flight led them in a diagonal line toward the mountains。 Only once did the pursuers give tongue。 Paul tripped over a root； and a triumphant yell came from the Mohawks。 But it merely gave him new life。 He recovered himself in an instant and ran faster。 But it was terribly hard work。 He could hear Shif'less Sol's sobbing breath by his side； and he was sure that his own must have the same sound for his comrade。
〃At any rate one uv 'em is beat；〃 gasped Shif'less Sol。 〃Only four are ban…in' on now。〃
The ground rose a little and became rougher。 The lights from the Indian fires had sunk almost out of sight behind them； and a dense thicket lay before them。 Something stirred in the thicket； and the eyes of Shif'less Sol caught a glimpse of a human shoulder。 His heart sank like a plummet in a pool。 The Indians were ahead of them。 They would be caught； and would be carried back to become the victims of the terrible tomahawk。
The figure in the bushes rose a little higher； the muzzle of a rifle was projected； and flame leaped from the steel tube。
But it was neither Shif'less Sol nor Paul who fell。 They heard a cry behind them； and when Shif'less Sol took a hasty glance backward he saw one of the Mohawks fall。 The three who were left hesitated and stopped。 When a second shot was fired from the bushes and another Mohawk went down； the remaining two fled。
Shif'less Sol understood now； and he rushed into the bushes； dragging Paul after him。 Henry； Tom； and Long Jim rose up to receive them。
〃So you wuz watchin' over us！ 〃exclaimed the shiftless one joyously。 〃It wuz you that clipped off the first Mohawk； an' we didn't even notice the shot。〃
〃Thank God； you were here！〃 exclaimed Paul。 〃You don't know what Sol and I have seen！〃
Overwrought； he fell forward； but his comrades caught him。
CHAPTER XI
THE MELANCHOLY FLIGHT
Paul revived in a few minutes。 They were still lying in the bushes； and when he was able to stand up again； they moved at an angle several hundred yards before they stopped。 One pistol was thrust into Paul's hand and another into that of Shif'less Sol。
Keep those until we can get rifles for you；〃 said Henry。 〃You may need 'em to…night。〃
They crouched down in the thicket and looked back toward the Indian camp。 The warriors whom they had repulsed were not returning with help； and； for the moment； they seemed to have no enemy to fear； yet they could still see through the woods the faint lights of the Indian camps； and to Paul； at least； came the echoes of distant cries that told of things not to be written。
〃We saw you captured； and we heard Sol's warning cry；〃 said Henry。 〃 There was nothing to do but run。 Then we hid and waited a chance for rescue。〃
〃It would never have come if it had not been for Timmendiquas；〃 said Paul。
〃Timmendiquas！〃 exclaimed Henry。
〃Yes； Timmendiquas；〃 said Paul； and then be told the story of 〃The Bloody Rock；〃 and how； in the turmoil and excitement attending the flight of the last four； Timmendiquas had cut the bonds of Shif'less Sol and himself。
〃I think the mind o' White Lightnin'； Injun ez he is；〃 said Shif'less Sol； 〃jest naterally turned aginst so much slaughter an' torture o' prisoners。〃
〃I'm sure you're right；〃 said Henry。
〃'Pears strange to me；〃 said Long Jim Hart； 〃that Timmendiquas was made an Injun。 He's jest the kind uv man who ought to be white； an' he'd be pow'ful useful； too。 I don't jest eggzactly understan' it。〃
〃He has certainly saved the lives of at least three of us；〃 said Henry。 〃I hope we will get a chance to pay him back in full。〃
〃But he's the only one；〃 said Shif'less Sol； thinking of all that he had seen that night。 〃The Iroquois an' the white men that's allied with 'em won't ever get any mercy from me； ef any uv 'em happen to come under my thumb。 I don't think the like o' this day an' night wuz ever done on this continent afore。 I'm for revenge； I am； like that place where the Bible says； 'an eye for an eye； an' a tooth for a tooth；' an' I'm goin' to stay in this part o' the country till we git it！〃
It was seldom that Shif'less Sol spoke with so much passion and energy。
〃We're all going to stay with you； Sol；〃 said Henry。 We're needed here。 I think we ought to circle about the fort； slip in if we can； and fight with the defense。〃
〃Yes； we'll do that；〃 said Shif'less Sol； 〃but the Wyoming fort can't ever hold out。 Thar ain't a hundred men left in it fit to fight； an' thar are more than than a thousand howlin' devils outside ready to attack it。 Thar may be worse to come than anything we've yet seen。〃
〃Still； we'll go in an' help；〃 said Henry。 〃Sol； when you an' Paul have rested a little longer we'll make a big loop around in the woods； and come up to the fort on the other side。〃
They were in full accord； and after an hour in the bushes； where they lay completely hidden； recovering their vitality and energy； they undertook to reach the fort and cabins inclosed by the palisades。 Paul was still weak from shock； but Shif'less Sol had fully recovered。 Neither bad weapons； but they were sure that the want could be supplied soon。 They curved around toward the west； intending to approach the fort from the other side； but they did not wholly lose sight of the fires； and they heard now and then the triumphant war whoop。 The victors were still engaged in the pleasant task of burning the prisoners to death。 Little did the five； seeing and feeling only their part of it there in the dark woods； dream that the deeds of this day and night would soon shock the whole civilized world； and remain； for generations； a crowning act of infamy。 But they certainly felt it deeply enough； and in each heart burned a fierce desire for revenge upon the Iroquois。
It was almost midnight when they secured entrance into the fort； which was filled with grief and wailing。 That afternoon more than one hundred and fifty women within those walls had been made widows； and six hundred children had been made orphans。 But few men fit to bear arms were left for its defense； and it was certain that the allied British and Indian army would easily take it on the morrow。 A demand for its surrender in the name of King George III of England had already been made； and； sitting at a little rough table in the cabin of Thomas Bennett； the room lighted only by a single tallow wick； Colonel Butler and Colonel Dennison were writing an agreement that the fort be surrendered the next day； with what it should contain。 But Colonel Butler put his wife on a horse and escaped with her over the mountains。
Stragglers； evading the tomahawk in the darkness； were coming in； only to be surrendered the next day； others were pouring forth in a stream； seeking the shelter of the mountains and the forest； preferring any dangers that might be found there to the mercies of the victors。
When Shif'less Sol learned that the fort was to be given up； be said：
〃It looks ez