The Savages Plan Tom Quick's Capture
At last, exasperated beyond measure at the death of so many of their braves, three Indians banded together and pledged themselves they would not return until Tom's death or capture was effected. They lay in ambush all one season at one of Tom's favorite hunting-grounds; but their intended victim not making his appearance, the approach of the next season of flowers they resumed their station and watching. A white man was one day observed coming up the river in a canoe. The Indians presently made out it was not the one for whom they were watching, but a Tory for whom they entertained a friendship. This Tory was, however, an intense hater of Tom, and had more than once threatened to kill him. From him the warriors learned that Tom was at Handsome Eddy, to which point they resolved to go, and he governed by circumstances.
There they learned that Tom was living with one of his friends, and that he was in the habit of going into the woods every night after a cow, and that a bell was on the cow. The next day the three Indians went to the place where the cow was pastured, and secreted themselves. Towards evening they took the bell from the cow and drove the animal back into the woods. They then took their station near Tom's residence where they could observe what was going on without being themselves seen, and commenced ringing the bell.
Just before sundown Tom started for the cow, rifle in hand as usual. As soon as he heard the bell it occurred to him that its ring was unusual. This admonished him to caution; and instead of proceeding directly toward the sound, he took a wide circuit, during which he encountered the cow. He now carefully crept forward and came up in the rear of the Indians, whose attention was absorbed in the direction of the house, where they momentarily expected Tom to show himself. As Tom approached from behind he saw that one of the Indians had the bell, while the other two held their arms in readiness for the conflict. He determined to attack all three. He passed cautiously from tree to tree, so as to bring them within range, with a view to kill two at the first shot. Before he got into position he unfortunately stepped on a dry twig, which snapped under his foot. Instantly the bell stopped ringing, and the Indians turned toward him with their rifles cocked; but he had dodged behind a large hemlock which screened him from view. They saw nothing but the cow which was quietly grazing and walking towards them. Supposing her to have been the cause of their alarm, they again commenced ringing and watching. Tom then left the shelter of the friendly hemlock and reached his objective point. He took deliberate aim, and the two armed savages were killed or disabled, and the bell-ringer wounded, but not sufficiently to prevent his escape. But in his hurry he forgot to take his rifle.
The Indians were more exasperated than ever when they learned the fate of the two braves. They organized a band of fifteen or twenty others, and determined to spare no efforts to capture or slay Tom. Having found his retreat, and a storm of rain accompanied by a dense fog favoring their purpose, the Indians were enabled to surround the cabin of which he was the solitary occupant, before he was aware of their presence.
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