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Eli Hicks had followed in the footsteps of his father, William Hicks: that all the riches he had obtained were the spoils of his betrayed county, which he was trying even then to sell to the white men; and he seemed to infer that the riches of Eli Hicks were consequently fair game for any Indian. He insinuated that in killing Eli Hicks, so far from being looked on as a murderer, he ought to be honoured as a patriot; and he said he considered John Ridge as a much guiltier man than he; for he had only sacrificed one man and that in self defense and John Ridge would fain sacrifice his country, and that for his self aggrandizement.

But now both the Swimmer and the Duck were outlawed and they were obliged to skulk through solitary places and live as they could. Ridge & his party may have heard of the Swimmer's [confessions?]; but whether they had, or otherwise, they were aware of his and his brother's politics: and not only the Ridge's, but their cousin Stand Watie and another of their party, Teesataysky, were on the alert to give them up to the executioner. When Swimmer heard that Teesataysky was against