From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 81
though neither of them suggested the idea to the other.
"But let us encamp here," continued Washington, "for I need rest."
"I will carry your gun, and that will relieve you," said the Indian, a suggestion that strengthened suspicions
already awakened.
"No; I prefer to carry my own gun," replied Washington; "you will do your part if you carry my pack."
"But it is not safe to encamp here," the Indian added, "for Ottawa Indians hunt in these woods, and they will
scalp an Englishman wherever they find him. But if you will go to my cabin you are safe."
"And where is your cabin?" inquired Gist.
"So near that we could hear a gun if fired there now," the Indian replied.
Although strongly suspicious of his designs, both followed him for a distance, steering in a more northerly
direction. Gist grew uneasy, and stopping, said, "I will go no farther."
"A whoop could be heard at my cabin now," the Indian insisted. "We shall soon be there."
They traveled two miles farther, when Washington remarked:
"I shall stop at the next place we find water, and you must stop, too," addressing the Indian. This was said in a
decisive manner. In a few moments they emerged from the woods into a long meadow. The Indian was three
or four rods in advance of them. Suddenly stopping and turning about, the treacherous savage aimed his gun at
Gist, and fired.
"Are you shot?" cried Washington, rushing forward to his companion. "Are you shot?"
"No; but it is what I feared from the time we employed the rascal to guide us," answered Gist. The shot
missed.
The Indian ran behind a large white oak, Washington and Gist following after him. Approaching the tree, they
discovered that he was reloading his gun.
"You rascal!" exclaimed Gist, raising his musket to give the Indian its contents.
"No; that won't do," said Washington to Gist, pushing aside his gun. "We are worse off when you have killed
him than we are now." He thought the tribe would avenge his death by killing them.
"The villain deserves a bullet through his heart," shouted Gist, "and I can put one through with good relish."
"Very true," answered Washington with the most astonishing coolness, "but it is not good policy for us to take
his life now."
Washington took away the Indian's gun and compelled him to walk ahead. At the first run of water he ordered
him to build a camp fire, as if he designed to encamp there for the night. When this was done Gist said to him:
"I suppose you were lost, and fired your gun."
"No, I was not lost," answered the savage, "I know where my cabin is, and it is not far away."