Rocky Mountains. 81 



man was seen, who would not abandon his decrepid mother, 

 even though she entreated him to fly and save his own life, 

 leaving her, who could at best expect to live but a few days, 

 to the mercy of the savages. The youth, instead of listen- 

 ing to her request, raised her upon his shoulders, and ran 

 towards the stockade, closely pursued by the Indians. They 

 fired several times upon him, and he must have been cut off 

 had not a sally been made in his favor. 



After killing the villagers who had fallen into their 

 hands, the Indians proceeded to attack the lower stockade. 

 The block-house at this work was defended by two men, and 

 several women. On hearing the war cry, this little but deter- 

 mined garrison responded to it in such a manner as to com- 

 municate to the Indians the idea that the block-house con- 

 tained a considerable number of men. They, therefore, pro- 

 ceeded to the attack with caution. In the first onset,* one 

 of the two men received a mortal wound, which made him 

 incapable of further exertion — the other continued to dis- 

 charge the guns at the besiegers, they being loaded and 

 put into his hands by the women. One mode of attack, 

 adopted by the Indians, had nearly prove:' successful. They 

 threw burning torches upon the roof, which was several 

 times on fire, but the women, with admirable presence of 

 mind, and undaunted intrepidity, ascended to the top of the 

 building and extinguished the flames. This scene continu- 

 ed during the entire day, and at evening, when the assail- 

 ants withdrew, a small portion only of the roof remained, 

 so often had the attempt to fire the building been repeated. 

 The loss sustained by the enemy was never correctly as- 

 certained ; it has since been stated by an Indian, that four- 

 teen were killed and several wounded, but many are of opi- 

 nion that two or three only were killed. 



We saw the hero of this affair at the block-house itself, 

 now converted into a dwelling, but he did not appear to be 

 greatly esteemed, having perhaps few qualities except per- 



vol. i. 11 



