Holding Clara before him as a
shield, through which the bullets of his enemies must
pass before they could attain him, he impelled his gigantic
form with a backward movement towards the opposite bank,
which he rapidly ascended; and, still fronting his enemies,
commenced his flight in that manner with a speed which
(considering the additional weight of the drenched garments
of both) was inconceivable. The course taken by him was
not through the town, but circuitously across the common
until he arrived on that immediate line whence, as we
have before stated, the bridge was distinctly visible
from the rampart; on which, nearly the whole of the
remaining troops, in defiance of the presence of their
austere chief, were now eagerly assembled, watching, with
unspeakable interest, the progress of the chase.
Desperate as were the exertions of Wacousta, who evidently
continued this mode of flight from a conviction that the
instant his person was left exposed the fire-arms of his
pursuers would be brought to bear upon him, the two
officers in front, animated by the most extraordinary
exertions, were rapidly gaining upon him.
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