With the fleetness of thought now commenced a race that
had ostensibly for its object the recovery of the lost
ball; and in which, he who had driven it with such
resistless force outstripped them all. Their course lay
between the two lines of squaws; and scarcely had the
head of the bounding Indians reached the opposite extremity
of those lines, when the women suddenly threw back their
blankets, and disclosed each a short gun and a tomahawk.
To throw away their hurdles and seize upon these, was
the work of an instant. Already, in imagination, was the
fort their own; and, such was the peculiar exultation of
the black and turbaned warrior, when he felt the planks
of the drawbridge bending beneath his feet, all the
ferocious joy of his soul was pealed forth in the terrible
cry which, rapidly succeeded by that of the other Indians,
had resounded so fearfully through the council-room. What
their disappointment was, when, on gaining the interior,
they found the garrison prepared for their reception,
has already been shown.

"Secure that traitor, men!" exclaimed the governor,
advancing into the square, and pointing to the black
warrior, whose quick eye was now glancing on every side,
to discover some assailable point in the formidable
defences of the troops.

A laugh of scorn and derision escaped the lips of the
warrior. "Is there a man--are there any ten men, even
with Governor de Haldimar at their head, who will be bold