60 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF 



between them. Whenever the river is a little high, the 

 water is backed up the creek to the depth of ten or twelve 

 feet. On this hill, opposite the fort, those two Indians 

 showed themselves, fired a shot or two at the fort, and then 

 went off slowly, slapping their hands behind them in token 

 of derision and contempt of those within the fortification. 



" Fired with such an insult, our men commenced run- 

 ning out, and would have all gone, had not the command- 

 ing officer stood in the gate and stopped them ; though not 

 till twenty-four men were running up the steep hill after the 

 Indians, who were to be seen still retreating, as if they 

 did not intend to make battle. When the whites had 

 reached the top of the hill, to their great dismay, they 

 found themselves between two galling fires. They could 

 not cross the creek, if they ran that way. Seeing them- 

 selves pent up by the creek on the east and south, and by 

 tlie river on the west, with three hundred Indians to con- 

 tend against, the only hope left them was to break through 

 the north line of the enemy, and escape down the river to 

 the fort. 



"As they approached the enemy, they made a desperate 

 push through the line, and many fell ; but some escaped 

 unhurt, though they were pursued, and shot as they ran. 

 My father was one of the last three of this brave party. 

 A.S he was running for his life, with a friend of his a little 

 oefore him, he saw his friend fall. As he passed him the 

 wounded man called to him, 'John, don't leave me.' But 

 on he ran, and after that he saw him no more. My father, 

 however, perceived a white man, who had left the settle- 

 ment some years before, and whom he recognised at first 

 sight. This fellow carried a spear, mounted on a handle 

 like that of a pitchfork, and ran before all the Indians. 

 He was close at my father's heels when he arrived at the 

 break of the hill next the fort. There was a large tree 

 lying on the ground, an«^ another small one standing very 



