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Jacob Hamblin, a narrative of his personal experience, as a frontiersman, missionary to the Indians and explorer, [microform] disclosing interpositions of Providence, severe privations, perilous situations and remarkable escapes. Fifth book of the faith-p - Page 72 |
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Show 70 OUR RETREAT. I told Brother George A. that we must return home to save our lives, for we could not go any farther, as the Navajoes were guarding the pass. " Well," said he, " leave me; it will make but very little difference with me ; it may make much with you. You can-not go very fast if you take me. ' ' We put him in a saddle upon a mule, with Brother Jehiel McConnell behind him, to hold him on. We left our camp kettles over the fire containing our break-fast, untouched, and all our camp outfit that we could possibly do without. The Navajoes who had been guarding our trail beyond the camp, started after us, coming down like a whilwind. Some of our party predicted that in ten minutes there would not be one of us left, but there was no flinching, no wilting in the emergency. I again predicted that there would not be one of us hurt, for so the Spirit whispered to me. The Navajoes came almost within range of our rifles, and then turned suddenly to the right. As they passed, the mule that carried our supplies went after them ; but, to our surprise, it was brought back to us by a friendly Navajoe. We traveled as fast as possible, while the four old gray-headed Navajoe friends guarded our front and rear. They often asked us to leave the dying man, as he was no longer of any use ; that the one who shot him would follow to obtain his scalp, and that if we stopped to bury him they would leave, for our enemies would have his scalp if they had to dig his body up. About sun- down George A. asked me to stop, and said that everything looked dark to him, and he was dying. Our Navajoe friends again said if we stopped they would go on. I said to Brother George A., " It will not do to stop now. ' ' He asked, " Why?" When I told him, he said, " Oh, Well, go on then; but I wish I could die in peace." These were the last words that he said. |