noon
After some hours travel I became so exhausted that I stopped to rest , whereat the Mohigans left us , but Shanks bided with me , though urging me to move forward . After a time I got strength to move on . Shanks said the Canadians would come up with us if we did not make fast going of it , and that they would disembowel us or tie us to a tree and burn us as was their usual way , for we could in no wise hope to make head against so large a party . Thus we walked steadily till high noon , when my wretched strength gave out so that I fell down saying I had as leave die there as elsewhere . Shanks followed back on our trail , while I fell into a drouse but was so sore I could not sleep . After a time I heard a shot , and shortly two more , when Shanks came running back to me . He had killed an advancing indian and stopped them for a moment .