Coleola sprung toward him with a cry of joy.
Now the devil’s work would begin.
Kate Blount noted this, and threw a look at her lover—a look which he understood, for he returned a slight nod, and Nehonesto also proclaimed himself ready to help, so soon as he was set at liberty.
The eyes of the Indians were fastened upon Coleola now, and the gripe of Kate’s captor had suddenly, and to no little degree, relaxed.
The brave girl saw the opportunity, and seized it with a determination worthy the bravest of her sex.
With no cry she sprung from the Delaware’s arms, snatching his scalping-knife from his girdle as she executed the movement.
The savage with a shriek started forward; but suddenly he was hurled backward by the young scout, whose bonds Kate had severed at a single stroke.
All now was confusion!
Coleola uttered a wild yell and darted toward the trader’s daughter; but all at once a dark object shot upward from the floor of the cavern, and, despite her struggles, she found herself in the grip of Nehonesto. He tore the twin snakes from her neck, and before they could bury their fangs in his tawny arm, he hurled them into the fire, where they hissed like demons in the agonies of death.
The savage who had guarded our heroine received a death blow at the hands of the youthful scout, and another of Coleola’s red followers dropped at the Yellow Bloodhound’s imprisoned feet, wounded to the bitter end.