Here the old man was interrupted by Girty, who forced himself between the two and separated them.  Younker being the first selected to run the gauntlet, was immediately unbound, and stripped to the skin,[13] preparatory to the race.  The assemblage now formed themselves into two lines, facing each other, only a few feet apart, and extending the distance of a hundred yards, terminating near the council-house, which stood in the center of the village.  Through these lines, the old man was informed by Girty, he must run; while the savages on either side, armed with clubs, were at liberty to inflict as many blows upon him as they could in passing; and therefore it would stand him in hand to reach the other extremity as soon as possible.

“I’m an old man, Simon Girty,” said Younker, in reply, “and can’t run as I once could—­so you needn’t reckon on my gitting through alive.”

“But, by ——! you must get through alive, or else not at all; for we can’t spare you quite so soon, as we want you to try the pleasures of the stake,” answered the renegade, with a laugh.

“God’s will be done—­not yourn nor mine!” rejoined Younker, solemnly.  “But tell me, Simon Girty, as the only favor I’ll ever ask o’ ye—­war my wife and Ella rescued?”

“Why,” said Girty, “if it will do you any good to know it, I will tell you they were; but I will add, for your particular benefit, that they will again be in my power; for I will excite every tribe of the Six Nations to the war path; and then, woe to the pioneers of Kentucky!—­for desolation, rapine and blood shall mark our trail, until the race become extinct.  I have sworn, and will fulfill it.  But come—­all is ready.”

“For the first o’ your information, I thank you,” returned Younker; “for the last on’t, I’ll only say, thar’s a power above ye.  I’m ready—­lead on!”

Girty now conducted the old man to the lines; and having cautioned the savages, in a loud voice, to beware of taking his life, gave the signal for him to start.  Instantly Younker darted forward, and with such speed, that the nearest Indians neglected to strike until he had passed them, by which means he gained some six or eight paces without receiving a blow; but now they fell hard and fast upon him, accompanied with screams and yells of the most diabolical nature; and ere he had gone thirty yards, he began to stagger, when a heavy stroke on the head laid him senseless on the earth.  In a moment the renegade, who had kept him company outside, burst through the lines, just in time to ward off the blow of a powerful warrior, aimed at the skull of Younker, which, without doubt, would have been fatal.

“Fool!” cried Girty, fiercely, to the Indian.  “Did I not tell you his life must be spared for the stake?”

The savage drew himself up with dignity, and walked away without reply; while the renegade, examining the bruises of the fallen man for a moment or two, ordered him to be taken to the council-house, and, if possible, restored to consciousness.  He then returned to Algernon, who had been left standing a sad spectator of the whole proceedings, and said, in a gruff voice: