A first book in American history with European beginnings . ly the. guide, who was only fifteen pacesahead, turned and fired. Are you shot? shouted Washington. No, answered Gist. Together they rushed on the Indian before he couldreload. Gist wished to kill him, but Washington wouldnot listen to that. If you will not have him killed, wemust get away and then travel all night, urged Gist inlow tones. He will surely follow our tracks as soon as itis light, and we must have a good start. So, pretending that they thought the Indians shot anaccident, the two men let him go; and, when sure he wasout
A first book in American history with European beginnings . ly the. guide, who was only fifteen pacesahead, turned and fired. Are you shot? shouted Washington. No, answered Gist. Together they rushed on the Indian before he couldreload. Gist wished to kill him, but Washington wouldnot listen to that. If you will not have him killed, wemust get away and then travel all night, urged Gist inlow tones. He will surely follow our tracks as soon as itis light, and we must have a good start. So, pretending that they thought the Indians shot anaccident, the two men let him go; and, when sure he wasout of hearing, they crept away in the opposite that night and all the next day they hurried on, withno sleep and with sore and bleeding feet. At last they reached the Allegheny River, which was223 A FIRST BOOK IN AMERICAN HISTORY full of floating ice. A whole day was spent in building araft on which to cross. They pushed off. The currentwas swift, and before the raft was halfway across theriver it was being jammed on every side by cakes of n Climbing out of the Frozen Stream. Every moment they expected that it would be forcedunder, and that they would perish. Struggling to keepa clear space for the raft with a long pole, Washingtonwas all at once jerked into the water. It was by themerest chance that he was able to catch hold of one ofthe logs and so pull himself back on the raft. 224 WASHINGTON BEFORE THE REVOLUTION There seemed no hope of reaching either shore now;so when the current carried them near an island, bothWashington and Gist jumped into the freezing water andswam for the land. Gist had all his fingers and some ofhis toes frozen. By morning the ice in the river was solid,and it was comparatively easy to reach the mainland. A few days later Washington arrived at Williamsburgand gave to Governor Dinwiddie the letter that he hadcarried so carefully on his long and dangerous journey. As usual, Washington had kept a journal of the trip;and this, too, he
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