In the Current of the Revolution 173 



gainsaid. Some of his feats were cold-blooded 

 murders, as when he killed an Indian who came in 

 to treat with General Harmar, under pledge of safe 

 conduct; one of his brothers slew in like fashion a 

 chief who came to see Colonel Brodhead. But the 

 frontiersmen loved him, for his mere presence was 

 a protection, so great was the terror he inspired 

 among the red men. His hardihood and address 

 were only equaled by his daring and courage. He 

 was literally a man without fear ; in his few days of 

 peace his chief amusements were wrestling, foot- 

 racing, and shooting at a mark. He was a dandy, 

 too, after the fashion of the backwoods, especially 

 proud of his name of long hair, which, when he let 

 it down, hung to his knees. He often hunted alone 

 in the Indian country, a hundred miles beyond the 

 Ohio. As he dared not light a bright fire on these 

 trips, he would, on cold nights, make a small coal- 

 pit, and cower over it, drawing his blanket over his 

 head, when, to use his own words, he soon became 

 as hot as in a "stove room." Once he surprised 

 four Indians sleeping in their camp ; falling on them 

 he killed three. Another time, when pursued by the 

 same number of foes, he loaded his rifle as he ran, 

 and killed in succession the three foremost, whereat 

 the other fled. In all, he took over thirty scalps of 

 warriors, thus killing more Indians than were slain 

 by either one of the two large armies of Braddock 

 and St. Clair during their disastrous campaigns. 

 Wetzel's frame, like his heart, was of steel. But 

 his temper was too sullen and unruly for him ever 



