villains were running to and fro making a hideous outcry, and, as we knew
full well, aching to strike us down.

I know that, as for myself, I trembled like a leaf upon an aspen-tree--so
violently that at times I feared the howling wretches would see the
quivering of my limbs, and understand that already was I getting a
foretaste of the death which they would have dealt out but for the
restraining presence of Thayendanega.

It was but natural I should look toward Sergeant Corney, and surely if
there was one man in that clearing who obeyed General Herkimer's command,
it was he! A graven image could not have been more stolid; one would have
said that the uproar everywhere around was as the rippling of waters to
him, and the Indians of less consequence than the dancing shafts of
sunlight flickering amid the leaves when they are stirred by the morning
breeze.

I question if Jacob realized anything of what was going on around him. All
his thoughts were centred upon the one idea of rescuing his father while
there was yet time, and the lad waited eagerly for the conference between
the leaders regarding the prisoner to be begun, heeding the remainder of
the howling gang hardly more than did Sergeant Corney.

Colonel Cox, the cause of all this disturbance, was even more terrified
than I, as could be told by the expression on his face, and the
finger-nails pressed deeply into the palms of his hands that he might
control himself in obedience to orders, while as for the others, I know
not how they deported themselves.

At that instant my world was of small dimensions, consisting of only so