Lewis Wetzel. 17 



. Ardent and unwearied was the pursuit, by the youthful huntsmen;, 

 the one, excited to recover his lost mistress, the other, to assist his new 

 friend, and to take revenge for the slaughter of his countrymen — 

 slaughter and revenge being the daily business of the borderers at this 

 portentous period.* Wetzel followed the trail with the unerring saga- 

 city of a blood hound ; and just at dusk traced the fugitives to a noted 

 war path, nearly opposite to the mouth of Captina Creek, emptying 

 into the Ohio, which, much to their disappointment, they found the 

 Indians had crossed, by forming a raft of logs and brush, their usual 

 manner when at a distance from their villages. By examining care- 

 fully the appearances on the opposite shore, they soon discovered the 

 fire of the Indian camp in a hollow way, a few rods from the river. 

 Lest the noise of constructing a raft should alarm the Indians, and give 

 notice of the pursuit, the two hardy adventurers determined to swim 

 the stream a few rods below. This they easily accomplished, being 

 both of them excellent swimmers ; fastening their clothes and am- 

 munition in a bundle on the tops of their heads, with their rifles 

 resting on the left hip, they reached the opposite shore in safety : 

 after carefully examining their arms, and putting every article of at- 

 tack or defense in its proper place, they crawled very cautiously to 

 a position which gave them a fair view of their enemies, who, think- 

 ing themselves safe from pursuit, were carelessly reposing around 

 their fire, thoughtless of the fate that awaited them. They instantly 

 discovered the young woman, apparently unhurt, but making much 

 moaning and lamentation, while the white man was trying to pacify 

 and console her with the promise of kind usage, and an adoption 

 into the tribe. The young man, hardly able to restrain his rage, 

 was for firing and rushing instantly upon them. Wetzel, more cau- 

 tious, told him to wait until day light appeared, when they could 

 make the attack with a better chance of success, and of also killing 

 the whole party, but if they attacked in the dark, a part of them 

 would certainly escape. 



As soon as day light dawned, the Indians arose and prepared to 

 depart. The young man selecting the white renegado, and Wetzel 

 an Indian, they both fired at the same time, each killing his man. 

 The young man rushed forward knife in hand, to reheve the young 

 woman, while Wetzel reloaded his gun and pushed in pursuit of the two 

 survivinglndians, who had taken to the woods, until they could ascer- 



* Between 1782 and 1784. 



Vol. XXXI.— No. 1. 3 



