236 The Winning of the West 



good birth and bringing up, and adventurous tem- 

 per, he followed the hazardous profession of a back- 

 woods surveyor. With chain and compass, as well 

 as axe and rifle, he penetrated the far places of the 

 wilderness, the lonely, dangerous regions where 

 every weak man inevitably succumbed to the mani- 

 fold perils encountered, but where the strong and 

 far-seeing were able to lay the foundations of fame 

 and fortune. He possessed high daring, unflinch- 

 ing courage, passions which he could not control, 

 and a frame fitted to stand any strain of fatigue or 

 hardship. He was a square-built thick-set man, 

 with high broad forehead, sandy hair, and unquail- 

 ing blue eyes that looked out from under heavy, 

 shaggy brows. 28 



Clark had taken part with Cresap in his assault 

 upon the second party of Shawnees. On the follow- 

 ing day the whole band of whites prepared to march 

 off and attack Logan's camp at Yellow Creek, some 

 fifty miles distant. After going some miles they be- 

 gan to feel ashamed of their mission ; calling a halt, 

 they discussed the fact that the camp they were pre- 

 paring to attack, consisted exclusively of friendly 

 Indians, and mainly of women and children; and 

 forthwith abandoned their proposed trip and re- 

 turned home. They were true borderers brave, 

 self-reliant, loyal to their friends, and good-hearted 

 when their worst instincts were not suddenly 



28 Military Journal of Major Ebenezer Denny, with an in- 

 troductory memoir by William H. Denny (Publication of the 

 Hist. Soc. of Penn.). Phil., 1860, p. 216. 



