"Well, Jake, I've brought you your man!" called out Habakkuk, in a voice tremulous with triumph and fear.
"You have done well," replied Golcher, as soon as he could recover his breath; "you have done better than I expected."
"It's all right now, then, ain't it—that is, with me?"
"Certainly; you've earned your freedom and can go. These Injins won't hurt you."
Golcher made a wave of his hand to the warriors grouped around and uttered an exclamation that insured immunity to the eccentric New Englander.
The latter wheeled about and walked straight toward the woods where his friends were awaiting him.
One of the most difficult things for a brave man to do is to stride deliberately off, without decreasing or augmenting his gait, when he has every reason to believe that someone is taking careful aim at him, and that if he doesn't get beyond range in a brief while he is certain to be punctured.
The expectation of receiving a bullet from the rear will make the chills creep over the most courageous person, and give an impetus to his gait like the actual prick of a bayonet.
Habakkuk McEwen walked only a dozen steps when he was so impressed by the situation, that he forgot his identity. With a howl he sprang several feet from the ground and dashed off at the top of his speed into the woods, muttering:
"I'll be hanged if I can stand it; I believe every Injin squattin' there was taking aim at me."