"You rascal!" exclaimed Gist, raising his musket to give the Indian its contents.
"No; that won't do," said Washington to Gist, pushing aside his gun. "We are worse off when you have killed him than we are now." He thought the tribe would avenge his death by killing them.
"The villain deserves a bullet through his heart," shouted Gist, "and I can put one through with good relish."
"Very true," answered Washington with the most astonishing coolness, "but it is not good policy for us to take his life now."
Washington took away the Indian's gun and compelled him to walk ahead. At the first run of water he ordered him to build a camp fire, as if he designed to encamp there for the night. When this was done Gist said to him:
"I suppose you were lost, and fired your gun."
"No, I was not lost," answered the savage, "I know where my cabin is, and it is not far away."
"Well, then," continued Gist, "do you go home, and here is a cake of bread for you, and you must provide meat for us in the morning."
The Indian was glad enough to get away without being pierced by a bullet, and he promised them excellent fare the next morning. It was nine o'clock at night when he left them, taking with him his gun, that Washington returned to him. Gist followed him for quite a distance, to be sure that he was not deceiving them, and then hurried back.