would assuredly be pursued and probably overtaken, when his fate would
be certain. On the other hand, it seemed almost impossible for a single
man to succeed in a conflict with five Indians, even although unarmed
and asleep. He could not hope to deal a blow with his knife so silently
and fatally as to destroy each one of his enemies in turn without
awakening the rest. Their slumbers were proverbially light and restless;
and, if he failed with a single one, he must instantly be overpowered by
the survivors. The knife, therefore, was out of the question.

"After anxious reflection for a few minutes, he formed his plan.
The guns of the Indians were stacked near the fire; their knives and
tomahawks were in sheaths by their sides. The latter he dared not touch
for fear of awakening their owners; but the former he carefully removed,
with the exception of two, and hid them in the woods, where he knew
the Indians would not readily find them. He then returned to the spot
where the Indians were still sleeping, perfectly ignorant of the fate
preparing for them, and, taking a gun in each hand, he rested the
muzzles upon a log within six feet of his victims, and, having taken
deliberate aim at the head of one and the heart of another, he pulled
both triggers at the same moment.

"Both shots were fatal. At the report of the guns the others sprung
to their feet and stared wildly around them. McConnel, who had run
instantly to the spot where the other rifles were hid, hastily seized
one of them and fired at two of his enemies who happened to stand in
a line with each other. The nearest fell dead, being shot through the
centre of the body; the second fell also, bellowing loudly, but quickly
recovering, limped off into the woods as fast as possible. The fifth,
and the only one who remained unhurt, darted off like a deer, with
a yell which announced equal terror and astonishment. McConnel, not