“Take me off! Save me!” Knight hysterically called out.
The canoe swerved in to the bank and out of sight.
“I’m a white man! Save me!” he repeated. As he received no response he cried again and again to the same effect.
“Who are you?” asked a curious voice behind him.
He turned in frantic haste and beheld the man, his rifle across his left arm. The man had landed and mounted the bank and gained the rear of the fugitive’s position without being heard.
In a recital that was almost incoherent Knight told his story. The man relaxed and rested the butt of his rifle on the ground. As Knight ceased talking the other squatted on his heels and checked off.
“You’re Virginny. Catched at the Big Sandy station. White man, named Bryant, was fetched in and got hisself killed. You busted loose. Injuns chasing you. That right?”
“Yes, yes. And we must be going. Set me across, will you?”
“You forgot to say what band of Injuns was it,” prompted the man.