He was suffering from some old and unhealed wounds received in a former Indian fight, and he speedily became exhausted.

As he was on the point of sinking, Reynolds suddenly rode up beside him, jumped off his horse, and without asking Patterson whether he would accept, bade him mount the horse and flee.

Patterson did so, and was the last man over the ford.

He escaped unhurt, though the Indians were running alongside and firing at him.

Meanwhile Reynolds, who possessed extraordinary activity, reached the river in safety and swam across.