The guard seized the Indian, and were about to put the order into execution, when a man bearing the appearance of a rough mountaineer, sprang forward. "Hold on a bit, general!" were his deliberately uttered words. Then, with the most perfect coolness, he drew his knife and severed the cords which bound the wrists of Fall-leaf. "And who are you?" asked Price in surprise. "Your best friend, of course, general," was the laconic reply. "I doubt it!" "Then you believe I lie, do you?" "Yes!" "Well, I will not lie then. I am your enemy. The reason I called myself your friend was, because I intended to give you good advice!" "Indeed! And what is this good advice?" "Why, general, that you are too far from the main body of your troops with so small an escort. You had better return!" "What do you mean?" asked Price, alarmed. "I'll show you," was the reply. "Here, boys; come on, quick," he shouted, turning toward the dense thicket from which he had emerged. "We are surprised! Fall back!" shrieked Price, as he wheeled his horse. The guard had not waited for this command, but were already rapidly retreating toward the main camp, followed by the aids of Price. The Indian and his rescuer had already mounted a cliff which overlooked the entire ground, and turning he cried: "Look how the cowards run! Ha! ha! ha!" Price heard the words, and the laugh of derision. He commanded a halt, and exclaimed: "It was but a ruse! No troops excepting our own are near us. Follow me--we can yet overtake them. There is but one path leading down the mountain, and one along the ridge. Take the lower one, Rains, with forty men. I will take the upper path, and thus we will cut them off." The order was at once executed, and the different detachments galloped along each mountain road. "There they are!" cried Price, as he reached the highest mountain point, about four miles from his camp. "There is a path to the right of that ledge, which leads to the valley. Quick--intercept them. They are making for that spot." The whole party dashed forward, but were just in time to see the rescuer of Fall-leaf spring from the rock and commence his rapid descent down the rugged pathway. A volley was fired after him, but without effect. "But where is that red-skin?" asked Price. "He is not with that fellow, and I saw him standing upon that rock but a moment since." "He may be concealed in some of the crevices in the ledge," replied one of the party. Search was instantly made. In a few moments one of the aids cried: "He is here! surround the rock--he cannot escape!" Near the summit of the cliff there was a large oak tree, which at one time had been standing erect, but from lack of soil to secure its roots, had gradually settled down until its tops were some thirty or forty feet _below_ its roots. It hung over a frightful precipice of over one hundred feet. Directly below grew a large tree, whose tops reached within fifteen or twenty feet of the declined oak's branches.