Fourty-Four Years, or, the Life of a Hunter. Meshach Browning

      "At length news came that the Indians were in the neighborhood. The fort was put in the best condition for defence, and we awaited their approach. But no attack was made. Several days passed by. when it was supposed they had given up the assault. At length two Indians made their appearance on the high hill above the town. This hill runs from north to south, while Wheeling Creek runs from east to west, passes this elevation about a mile north of the town, and then turns south, coursing along the foot of the hill, until it arrives at a point a little south of the fort, where it empties into the river; thus leaving the hill a mile north of the mouth of the creek, with that stream on one side of the hill and the river on the other — with a space of not more than three-quarters of a mile

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      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. As he was running for his life, with a friend of his a little before 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, and another small one standing very

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      near it. Something tripped up my father's feet, and in he fell between the two trees; and as he went down the white Indian made a furious lunge at him. The spear, however, glanced off the log, turned its point upward, and stuck so fast in the standing tree that the white savage could not withdraw it before my father slipped out of his position, escaped unhurt, and reached the fort safely.

      "The man who culled to him for help had had his thigh broken; but he crawled on his hands until he found a hol- low log, in which he hid himself till dark, when he crawled to the fort. A short time after, in came another, with one arm broken; but the balance of the party fell a sacrifice to the savages.

      "Thus fell twenty-one of the best and bravest men of Western Virginia, without even having had a chance to defend themselves. Their death was a great loss to the frontier settlements, as also to the strength of the fort; which in a few days was besieged by the same band. Their previous success emboldening them, the fort was in danger of being captured. Having intercepted a boat loaded with cannon-balls, destined for the use of the garrison, the savages procured a hollow tree, bound it round with ae many chains as they could, drove wedges under the chains, to tighten them as much as possible, loaded it like a can- non, and at a favorable time let go a most tremendous charge of ordnance—such as was never heard of before. The gun bursted, killing several, wounding others, and frightening the rest.

      "But in a little time they renewed their attack on the fort. The ammunition had been divided between tie garrison and Colonel Zane's house. The attack was directed mainly against the latter place; but the assailants were driven back. The powder becoming scarce in the house, it was proposed that some men should run to the fort for a supply; and among the volunteers for that dan-

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      gerous journey was a sister of Colonel Zane's, who said she would go. This, however, was objected to, and the young men insisted on going themselves. But she was firm in her purpose, and replied that the loss of a woman would be less felt than that of a man. And pinning up her dress, to let her feet have fair play in the race, off she went. But the Indians, astonished at the sight, did not fire a single shot at her, and she reached the fort in safety. Soon she had secured plenty of powder in a slim belt round her waist, and off she bounded again for the house. but the enemy, seeing her returning, suspected some mis- chief, and fired a volley of balls after her; all of which missed her, and she reached her destination in safety, with plenty of powder to carry through the siege.

      "The Indians, somewhat discouraged, hung round a while and hunted up a fat cow; and while some were en- gaged at the fort, others killed the animal and roasted it by quarters. They then took turns to go and fill them- selves, while those who were not eating kept up a hot fire on the fort. But when the feast was over, they all marched off in profound silence. In the last onset, a chance ball passed through one of the port-holes just as a man was in the act of firing at the enemy, and, striking him in the forehead, killed him instantly."

      Thus ended Nancy's story of Indian murders upon the whites. She continued, "I think, Browning, that if the Indians were to commence hostilities again, while you were living with us, you would fight for our family, wouldn't you ? "

      "Indeed, Nancy," said I, "no infernal Indian should ever take off that pretty black scalp of yours while life and strength were left in my body sufficient to save you from their cursed hands."

      "I do really believe you would," she replied ; "and father thinks so too: I heard him say so "

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      After this, our leisure time was spent in much plea- santry; and almost every evening I would sing a song, or two, or three, for some of the family, to which the old lady would listen with seeming pleasure. The old gentleman never failed to listen when he was home, and everything was going on as well as I could wish it, till the last month of my time was approaching; when I thought that I could see a change in the old lady—nay, I was sure that her be- havior was entirely different. If we youngsters got by ourselves, singing and telling riddles, she would come and take the girls into the house, and spoil our pastime as often as we would undertake it; and the longer I re- mained the more crabbed she became.

      All the hands were obliged to sleep in the same room, and in addition, those who were at the bear-fight — four- teen in all. Having become jealous of me, on account of the old man's decision in regard to the light, they took every opportunity they could to annoy me, and make my situation as unpleasant as possible. The days and nights being disagreeably warm, we were obliged to sleep on the floor; and, in order to harass me, my enemies would begin a scuffle with each other, in which they would soon include me, and thus I could not get to sleep till late at night. To get rid of that annoyance, I asked Nancy to give me a blanket, with which I would go out to a shed which the joiners used to work in when it rained, take my bear-skin, and pass the night on the shavings.

      In that way I slept finely for a week or two, when one day I was told to saddle a horse for Nancy; and as she was about to start I said, "Nancy, where are you going to ride to ? "

      "I am going to my aunt's, in the country."

      "How long will you be gone ? "

      "Lord knows," said she; " mother says I must stay till she sends for me. But," she added, " I would much rather

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      stay at. home. She will not better herself much by it; for she will have all to attend to, and no one to help her ex- cept