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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 [unclear] 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 [unclear] muderer, 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 [unclear] sacrifice his country, and that his self [unclear].

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