He threw his tomahawk with a force that drove the blade into the tree within an inch of Ichabod's head, almost to the handle. Ichabod, during the whole process, surveyed Deersfoot with a smile. As the hatchet struck the tree, he exclaimed:
"Well done, Deersfoot. That's almost as good as a bullet from a rifle in practised hand, could have done it. You've got an expert hand, any way, for that kind of we'pon."
A murmur of admiration broke from the Indians at this specimen of Ichabod's coolness. Another Seneca stepped forward, and had just raised his hatchet in the act to throw, when a loud yell in the opposite direction attracted the attention of the Senecas. In a moment, two of their number, who had been stationed as lookouts in that direction, were seen advancing towards the crowd, accompanied by two whites. The reader will at once recognize in these strangers, the attorney and his worthy companion, the bailiff. The latter, however, had been disarmed; and although they were not bound, their faces showed signs of indignation at what they, no doubt, supposed to be uncivil treatment. As they approached the crowd of Indians, Bagsley cried out,
"Will anybody be civil enough to show me the ringleader of this disorderly assembly?"
Panther stepped forward. "If the pale-faces wish to see the chief of the Senecas, he is here."
"I am happy to make your acquaintance, sir," said Bagsley. "I have the honor to be a member of the legal profession—an attorney-at-law, sir, and this gentleman who accompanies me is a deputy sheriff, sir—one who, at this moment, bears in his own person, all the dignity and authority of sheriff of the county of Tryon, in whose bailiwick you now are."
"Ugh!" ejaculated Panther; and the emphatic exclamation was answered by the whole crowd of Senecas.
"Our business here, sir, is to arrest one Ichabod Jenkins, upon a capias ad respondendum, at the suit of Samuel Parsons, for £25, 7s. 6d. I have been given to understand that he is in your custody, or that you know his whereabouts."
Panther made a gesture towards the tree where Ichabod was confined. Bagsley, whose view in that direction had been interrupted by the body of Indians who stood between him and the tree, now discovered the unfortunate debtor.
"I am much obliged to you, gentlemen," said he, "for having detained him until our arrival. I presume it was done as a matter of accommodation to us, as you probably had heard of our coming. Although you have made the arrest without color of law, and ex colore officii, and also without process, yet I will undertake to defend you, should he be malicious enough to bring his suit for assault and battery and false imprisonment. And, further, as you have behaved so properly in this matter, I shall feel disposed to compromise amicably with you a cause of action for the same offence, in which I have been retained by Mr. Barton. Mr. Rogers, you will do your duty."