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Chapter 11
Withthefirstintimationthatitwaswithintheirreach,thewholebandsprangupontheirfeetasoneman;givingutterancetotheirrageinthemostfranticcries,theyrushedupontheirprisonersinabodywithdrawnknivesandupliftedtomahawks.Heywardthrewhimselfbetweenthesistersandtheforemost,whomhegrappledwithadesperatestrengththatforamomentcheckedhisviolence.ThisunexpectedresistancegaveMaguatimetointerpose,andwithrapidenunciationandanimatedgesture,hedrewtheattentionofthebandagaintohimself.Inthatlanguageheknewsowellhowtoassume,hedivertedhiscomradesfromtheirinstantpurpose,andinvitedthemtoprolongthemiseryoftheirvictims.Hisproposalwasreceivedwithacclamations,andexecutedwiththeswiftnessofthought.
TwopowerfulwarriorscastthemselvesonHeyward,whileanotherwasoccupiedinsecuringthelessactivesinging-master.Neitherofthecaptives,however,submittedwithoutadesperatethoughfruitlessstruggle.EvenDavidhurledhisassailanttotheearth;norwasHeywardsecureduntilthevictoryoverhiscompanionenabledtheIndianstodirecttheirunitedforcetothatobject.Hewasthenboundandfastenedtothebodyofthesapling,onwhosebranchesMaguahadactedthepantomimeofthefallingHuron.Whentheyoungsoldierregainedhisrecollection,hehadthepainfulcertaintybeforehiseyesthatacommonfatewasintendedforthewholeparty.
