The threatened attack on the fort at Boonesborough did not take place, for Long Knife was afraid to march against the garrison now stationed there. But other settlements were visited, and during that summer and winter eight settlers were killed by the red men. More than two dozen families grew utterly discouraged and sold off their belongings for a song and returned to the East.
It was a dark winter all around—dark for these pioneers who had done so much to make a home for themselves in the wilderness, and doubly dark for the ragged and ill-fed army under General Washington who were doing their best to drive the soldiers of England from American soil.
As the winter passed away the Indians grew bolder, and hardly a week passed that they did not raid some settlement. Sometimes they only drove away the horses and cattle, but often they would kill and scalp every man, woman, and child they could lay their hands upon. The battles were not always one-sided, and twice the Indians were surrounded and fully a score of them were killed or made prisoners.
During those days it was almost impossible to do much around the cabin home. When the boys worked in the garden—for the time to plow was now at hand—they had their firearms close by, ready for use, and when they went to the forest for wood, they always surveyed the locality with care and retreated to the cabin at the first indication of danger.
Inside the cabin it was the same. A rifle stood behind the door loaded all the time, and neither Mrs. Parsons nor the girls thought of going to the spring for a bucket of water unless they were satisfied the coast was clear. Often the various inmates of the cabin would stand watch during the night, fearing a raid or another attempt to burn the home over their heads.
“We can’t stand this very long,” remarked Joe one day. “I’m getting to be as nervous as a cat.”
“I am the same,” answered Harry. “Every sound makes me jump as if a pistol had exploded at my ear.”
“If only father would come home—and your father and the others.”
That was always the way their talk ended—if only the others would return. And it made them heartsick beyond description.
“If it wasn’t for the women folks we could go on a hunt for them,” said Joe. “But it wouldn’t be right to leave them here alone.”