Tom Quick's Indian Exploits
     Tom was one day wandering through the woods without his rifle, which was very unusual for him, when he encountered a young Indian who was armed. Tom spoke to him in a friendly manner, and they were soon on good terms.  “Brother Indian,” said Tom, “would you like to see Tom Quick?”  The young savage intimated that he felt a strong desire to do so, and Tom agreed to show him the Indian slayer.  After a long walk which terminated at the brink of a high ledge, Tom told his companion to wait a few moments and he would show him the person he desired to see.  Tom went to the edge of the precipice and peered over to the highway below.  Here he watched intently for a few minutes, and then suggested to the Indian to take his place.  The Indian cocked his rifle and hastily advanced to Tom's side.  “Where is he?” eagerly demanded the red man.  “There,” said Tom, pointing so that the Indian would project his head and shoulders over the brink in his desire to shoot the enemy of his race. “Further, a little further,” whispered Tom.  The Indian hung as far over the precipice as he could without losing his equilibrium.  Tom quickly slipped around, and grasping the shoulders of the savage from behind, shouted-”Shoot me! shoot me, would you!” and with those words he hurled the Indian over the precipice, where he was dashed to pieces among the rocks.
     Two Indians once surprised Tom in his sleep.  They bound him securely, and after plundering the cabin in which they found him, set out for their own country by way of the Delaware.  One savage, with Tom's chattels upon his shoulders, walked in advance; Tom came next, with his arms securely tied behind him; and the remaining savage, with his rifle and that of his companion, brought up the rear.  One of these rifles was kept cocked in readiness to shoot Tom if he attempted to escape.  Their route led them over a high ledge of rocks, where they were obliged to take a very dangerous path far up on the cliff.  At times the path was very narrow, and at one point lay directly on the brow of the precipice.  When they reached the narrowest and most dangerous part of the path, Tom feigned to be very dizzy, and refused to proceed further, although the blows of the Indian fell thick and fast upon his shoulders.  He leaned against the bank on the upper side, and shuddered when he cast his eyes toward the river.  The savage next attempted to push him along, when by an adroit movement Tom got between him and the precipice, and the next instant with a loud “ugh-whoop,” the savage was making an air-line descent towards the river.  He fell fifty feet or more and lodged in the fork of a sycamore, where he hung helpless, and roaring lustily for his brother savage to come and help him out.  The rifles fell into the river.  Tom relied on his heels for safety, and ran pinioned as he was with astonishing celerity for home, which he reached without further incident.
     Tom was in the habit of concealing in the woods the guns he had taken from the murdered Indians; and this circumstance on one occasion was the means of saving his life.  Two Indians had captured him, and were taking him off by the Grassy Brook route.  His arms were pinioned with deer-skin thongs.  It commenced to rain, and Tom was gratified to find that the moisture caused the thongs to stretch, and ultimately they became so loose that he could, when he chose, free his hands.  He was very careful to conceal this fact from the savages.  Near the path they were pursuing was a very large chestnut tree; and in the side of the tree furthest from the path was a large hollow space.  In this trunk Tom had shortly before concealed several guns, a flask of powder, and some bullets.  When they reached this tree Tom expressed a great desire to go to it, and gave such a good reason therefor that he was allowed to go.  The Indians both stood by with guns ready aimed, to guard against any attempt on his part at escape.  Once behind the tree which concealed his movements, he loaded two of the guns with inconceivable rapidity, and fired upon one of the savages, who fell dead.  His companion attempted to get behind the nearest tree, but he never reached it.  
     Tom was too quick for him and he shared the fate of his comrade.
     Tom Quick was often the guest of  Joim Showers, in the town of Lumberland. On one occasion Quick and three or four other white hunters had sought the shelter of Showers's bark roof, when a savage entered and asked to stay all night.  He was told he might lodge there.  After spending the evening pleasantly, chatting around the ample fireplace, the party wrapped themselves in their blankets and lay down upon the floor.  All were soon asleep except Tom Quick, who remained awake for a sinister purpose.  When the deep breathing of his companions announced that they were unconscious, Tom got up and cautiously secured his gun.  In a few minutes the hunters were aroused by an explosion, and found the savage dead in their midst.  After the fatal shot was given, Tom immediately left for the woods.  As the Indians were then the almost exclusive occupants of that part of the country, and would avenge their brother if they knew the whites were responsible for his death, his murder was concealed for many years.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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