256 The Winning of the West 



The ford was choked with a struggling mass of 

 horsemen and footmen, fleeing whites and following 

 Indians. Netherland and his companions opened a 

 brisk fire upon the latter, forcing them to withdraw 

 for a moment and let the remainder of the fugitives 

 cross in safety. Then the flight began again. The 

 check that had been given the Indians allowed the 

 whites time to recover heart and breath. Retreat- 

 ing in groups or singly through the forest, with 

 their weapons reloaded, their speed of foot and 

 woodcraft enabled such as had crossed the river 

 to escape without further serious loss. 



Boone was among the last to leave the field. His 

 son Israel was slain, and he himself was cut off 

 from the river; but turning abruptly to one side, 

 he broke through the ranks of the pursuers, outran 

 them, swam the river, and returned unharmed to 

 Bryan's Station. 



Among the men in the battle were Capt. Robejt 

 Patterson and young Aaron Reynolds. When the 

 retreat began Patterson could not get a horse. He 

 was suffering from some old and unhealed wounds 

 received in a former Indian fight, and he speedily 

 became exhausted. As he was on the point of sink- 

 ing, Reynolds suddenly rode up beside him, jumped 

 off his horse, and without asking Patterson whether 

 he would accept, bade him mount the horse and flee. 

 Patterson did so, and was the last man over the ford. 

 He escaped unhurt, though the Indians were run- 

 ning alongside and firing at him. Meanwhile Rey- 

 nolds, who possessed extraordinary activity, reached 



