Off they started—
Stand by each other!—stick to your trees!—and load and fire as fast as you can—that’ll do—off with you—
You’ll see to the women-folks, I hope—
Off with you, Sir.
Off we go—but I say!—(looking back over his shoulder and bawling as he ran)—what are we to do when we hear the bell?
Dodge your way in—tree by tree—man by man—
Hourra for you—hourra for Josh—hourra for Joshua!—
Before five minutes were over, the savages were in check, the people reassured, the remnant of poor Clark’s party safe, and the whole force of the settlement so judiciously distributed, that they were able to maintain the fight, until their powder and ball were exhausted, with more than treble their number; and after it grew dark, to retire into the fort with all their women, their children, their aged and their sick. It was no such place of security however as they thought; for the Indians after they had fired the village and burnt every house in it, finding the powder exhausted, laid siege to the fort by undermining the walls and shooting lighted arrows into the wood-work. From that moment there was nothing to hope for; and the preacher who knew that if the place were carried by assault, every living creature within the four walls would be put to death, and that there would be no escape for the women or the babes, the aged or the sick, if they did not immediately surrender, drew the principal man of the fort aside (major Davis) and assuring him of what he foresaw would be the issue, advised a capitulation.
A capitulation Sir, after the work of this day? said the Major. What will become of you? you have killed a chief and two or three warriors, and how can you hope to be forgiven, if they once get you in their power.
Leave that to me—I know their language—I will try to pass for one of the tribe—