"About a year arter this, Bill an' me were ridin' along, about noon, in a little valley among the mountains, when we came, all of a sudden, on the camp of two trappers.
"'Heaven be praised! there he is!' said ole Bill.
"An', swinging himself from his horse, he strode up to one of the men, who sprang from his blanket, and ejaculated, "'Bill Lawson!' "'Yea, Mountain Tom,' said ole Bill, 'I'm here.

You an' me have got a long reckonin' to settle now.' "The villain at first turned as pale as a skewer; but he seemed to regain his courage, and exclaimed, "'It won't take us long to settle up,' "And, quick as lightnin', he drew his knife, an' made a pass at Bill.
"But he had got the wrong buck by the horn.

The ole man was as quick as he; an', grabbin' hold of his arm, he took the knife away from him as if he had been a baby.
"'Tom,' said he, as he drew his tomahawk from his belt, 'I've followed you all over this country for fifteen years, an', thank Heaven, I've found you at last.' "'Oh, Bill,' shrieked the condemned man, sinkin' on his knees before the ole man, 'I was--' "'Stand up,' said Bill, ketchin' hold of him, an' jerkin' him to his feet.

'You were brave enough when you were killing my wounded father.' "'Oh, Bill--' "'With the tomahawk you killed my father, an' by the tomahawk you shall die.' "'For mercy's sake, Bill,' again shrieked the terrified man, taking hold of a tree for support, 'hear me!' "The tomahawk descended like a streak of light, and the last of the murderers sank at the ole man's feet.

The eighth notch was added to those on the knife, an' the debt was canceled.".