There was but one way left in which to throw the Indian off, and this the young solder used without delay. Drawing up his knee he set it against the enemy’s chest and forced it forward, at the same time holding the red man across the back by one hand and by the leg with the other.
The awful pressure thus brought to bear was more than the Indian could stand. Fearful of having his ribs crushed in, he released Henry’s throat. At once the youth threw up the leg he was holding and the red man went spinning over on his back.
By this time other Indians were at hand, and an arrow hit Henry in the fleshy part of the arm. Raising his hunting knife, he struck at one of the newcomers, piercing his shoulder. Then he made a leap up the rock and another to the bushes beyond, and with the swiftness of a wild animal disappeared into the forest.
The blood of the Indian who had been struck was now aroused, as was also the anger of the one who had been thrown down, and the pair made after the young soldier, followed by two other warriors.
Through the forest went pursued and pursuers, until, having run in something of a semicircle, Henry came out on the lake front, at a spot some distance above where the two rowboats had been drawn up. Here he espied an Indian canoe, and, leaping in, began to paddle out into the lake with all speed.
The first intimation he had of the closeness of his enemies was when an arrow flew by the canoe, to land in the water beyond. Other arrows followed, and then came the report of a gun, but he remained untouched.
The Indians were now running along shore, and soon they came upon the two Frenchmen already mentioned in these pages. They belonged to the Canadian militia and their uniforms were such in name only. They had come to the south shore of the lake for information, having been promised a good reward by the Governor-General of Canada if they succeeded in bringing back news of importance.
Under the directions of the Frenchmen four of the Indians set off in one of the rowboats after Henry, who was still paddling westward with all the speed at his command. The red men were ordered to capture the young soldier alive if possible, but if not, to kill him.
It was not long before Henry discovered how the pursuit had been renewed. He had now reached a good-sized inlet and was still some distance from the shore. He turned in with all speed, knowing that a fight of four to one on the water could only end in his defeat.
“If I only had my musket,” he said, half aloud, but the firearm had been left on the ground at the camp, after the first hand-to-hand struggle.