Suddenly he bent forward as though to see my features, and at the same instant the Sagamore seized him and jerked his head under water.
But he could not hold him, for the fellow was oiled, and floundered up in the same instant.

No doubt the water he had swallowed kept the yell safe in his throat, but his hatchet was out and high-swung as the Sagamore grasped his wrist, holding his arm in the air.

Then, holding him so, the Mohican passed his knife through the man's heart, striking with swiftness incredible again and again; and as his victim collapsed, he eased him down into the water, turned him over, and took his shoulders between his knees.
"God!" I whispered.

"Don't wait for that!" But the Siwanois warrior was not to be denied; and in a second or two the wet scalp flapped at his belt.
Rolling over and over with the current, the limp body slipped down stream and disappeared into deeper shadows.

We waded swiftly toward our own shore, crawled across the gravel, drew on our clothing, and stole up into the woods above.
"They'll know it by sunrise," I said.