That savage who was standing full in the light of the flames fell at the report of his musket, and his neighbor dropped an instant later under my bullet, while on the other side of the fire a sixth man sank down. Then, as never before, did I work with utmost haste to reload my weapon, hoping to get in one more shot before my comrades joined me, and in this was I successful. The seventh Mohawk had been sent to his happy hunting-grounds when Giles and Daniel came up, and we three, peering intently toward those bloodthirsty cowards, who dared not make a move, as if fearing that some supernatural power had stricken their fellows down, loaded our weapons. Then, in a twinkling, we dashed toward the encampment, without any purpose save that of coming hand to hand with those whom we believed were speedily to kill us. When we had arrived just at the edge of the thicket, and in another instant would have come out into the light of the fire, the Indians made their first move, which was to retreat until they gained cover, for the brutes were never known to be willing to stand up in the open against an unseen enemy. “One more shot,” I whispered, hurriedly, and even as the last vanished, two of them fell to the ground dead; but whether the third bullet missed its billet, we could not see. Now, on the instant, came to me a possible plan. There was one chance perhaps in a thousand of its succeeding, and yet, if it didn’t, we were in no worse position than before, for we had come fully expecting to yield up our lives in the hope of giving our comrades a merciful death. “You two shall stand here within the shelter of the trees,” I said, hurriedly, “and fire as rapidly as may be possible whenever you see a target. In the meanwhile I will make my way through the thicket until coming up behind the prisoners, when there is the barest possibility I may be able to sever their bonds.” Then, throwing down the musket and drawing my knife, I made my way outside the circle of light, hidden by the foliage, giving no heed as to preserving silence, and hearing, as I ran, the discharge of a weapon by one of my comrades. My heart beat as if it were like to burst through the flesh, for there had suddenly come into my mind the belief that it was possible we should yet succeed, if not in holding our own lives, in giving liberty to those who had been so near death. Hardly knowing if I walked or ran, giving no heed as to whether there might be any one in my path, I made all speed until, having gained the tree behind which John Coburn was bound, and slashing through the deer-hide thongs with my knife, I whispered, hoarsely: “If it be possible to use your legs now, lad, make all speed to the fort, where Master Bartlett is watching for your coming. In case your limbs are numbed, stand where you are until the blood circulates again, and then make a rush.”