“Stop, do not murder him!”—Page [215].
“Will shoot us, will you!” he stormed, as he hurled the rascal to the ground and kicked him heavily. “Will kill us, eh? I’ll show you!” And then he drew up his own gun and aimed it straight at the red man’s head.
“Stop, do not murder him!” shouted Washington.
“But he wanted to murder us,” returned Gist, in astonishment. To him an Indian’s life was of small value.
“True, but we must not kill him in cold blood,” went on the young commander. “Take his gun from him.” And this was done.
When the Indian was allowed to rise he pleaded that it was all a mistake, that the gun had been pointed at a wild beast behind them. This they knew to be a lie, but Washington pretended to believe him. He said they would go into camp, and they did.
“But, sir,” pleaded Gist, when he could get Washington’s ear in private. “He fired at us deliberately. He ought to be shot for it!”
“I know it, Mr. Gist,” was the calm answer. “But I cannot bring myself to take the poor wretch’s life. We will send him off, and let that end it.”
“If you send him off he will bring the whole tribe down on us. He is trying to lead us into their clutches now.”