Planting his heavy knee on Girty's breast, Joe reached for the knife, and swung it high.

Exultantly he cried, mad with lust for the brute's blood.
But the slight delay saved Girty's life.
The knife was knocked from Joe's hand and he leaped erect to find himself confronted by Silvertip.

The chief held a tomahawk with which he had struck the weapon from the young man's grasp, and, to judge from his burning eyes and malignant smile, he meant to brain the now defenseless paleface.
In a single fleeting instant Joe saw that Girty was helpless for the moment, that Silvertip was confident of his revenge, and that the situation called for Wetzel's characteristic advice, "act like lightnin'." Swifter than the thought was the leap he made past Silvertip.

It carried him to a wooden bar which lay on the floor.

Escape was easy, for the door was before him and the Shawnee behind, but Joe did not flee! He seized the bar and rushed at the Indian.