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Page 78
"'Perhaps you think to escape?' said he, sneeringly.
"'I have no such hope,' I replied.
"'No, and by ----! you needn't have, either,' rejoined he, with a savage
grin; 'for I'm determined you shall experience the torture to its
fullest extent, if for nothing else than to revenge myself on you for
your insults. I have only one thing to regret; and that is, that you
didn't suffer in place of Younker, who is the only one whose torments I
would I had had no hand in. But you--_you_ I could see tormented
forever, and laugh heartily throughout. But I'll wreak my vengeance on
you yet; I will by ----!' and with these words he left me to the charge
of my guards, with whom he spoke a short time in the Indian
tongue--probably giving them instructions of caution regarding myself.
"It was about mid-day, when, with my arms tightly bound, we set off
for Upper Sandusky, where, as I had previously been informed by Girty,
I was condemned to suffer before the assembled tribes of the different
nations, who would there shortly meet to receive their annual presents
from the British. Our march, very fatiguing to myself, was without
incident worthy of note, until one night we arrived at a small village
on the Scioto river, where one of my guards, who could speak a little
English, informed me resided the celebrated Mingo chief, Logan. A
thought suddenly flashed across my brain. I had often heard of Logan,
as the great and good chief, humane in his principles, and friendly
to the whites--particularly those who were signally unfortunate--and it
occurred to me, that could I gain an interview, I might perhaps prevail
upon him to assist me in making my escape; and accordingly I at once
expressed to my informant my desire of beholding one so celebrated. To
my great delight, he replied that it was in Logan's cabin I was to pass
the night--such being the private orders, as I afterwards learned, of
Black Hoof--who had, it seems, from some cause unknown to myself, formed
the design of saving my life; and had sent by the Indian in question,
a verbal request to Logan, to use all his influence to this effect.
"As we entered the village, we were immediately surrounded by men, women
and children, who stared hard at me, but offered no violence. In a few
minutes we gained Logan's hut, in the door of which I observed standing
an old, noble-looking warrior, with a commanding form, and mild,
benevolent countenance, who proved to be the chief himself. To him one
of my guards now addressed a few words in Indian; and uttering a grunt,
and looking closely at me some seconds, he moved aside, and we all
passed in. Here I soon had a good supper of homminy provided me, whereof
I did not partake lightly, having been from sunrise to sunset without
tasting a morsel of food. Immediately after I had finished my repast,
Logan approached me, and, in tolerable good English, said:
"'White man, where from?'
"I motioned toward the east, and answered:
"'From sunrise--away beyond the big mountains.'
"Logan shook his head sadly, and replied, with a sigh:
"'Ah! so all come. Poor Indian get run over--he no place lay he head.
But how you come all tied so?'
"In answer, I entered into a full explanation of all that had occurred
respecting the proceedings of Girty, from first to last. Logan listened
throughout with great attention, shook his head, and rejoined:
"'Ah! Simon Girty bad man--berry. Me always think so. Me sorry for you.
Me do all me can for you. You shall sleep here. Me promise you nothing.
Me tell you more sometime--to-morrow mebby!'
"With this he rose and left the cottage, and I saw him no more that
night.
"Early in the morning, however, he came to me, and said that I was to
remain at his cabin through the day; that he had laid a plan to effect
my release from death, but not from captivity--the latter not being in
accordance with his principles, nor in his power; that for this purpose
he had despatched two young braves to Upper Sandusky, to speak a word
in my favor; but that I must not be elated with hope, as it was very
doubtful how much they might effect.[21] Notwithstanding his caution to
the contrary, my spirits became exceedingly exhilarated; and grasping
his hand in both mine, I pressed it to my heart in silence; while my
eyes became suffused with tears, and the old chief himself seemed not
a little affected.
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