Part 24 (1/2)
Prowling Indians had been seen frequently in the vicinity of Boonesborough after the arrival of Peleg, and the scout now decided that it would be a good plan for him to turn the tables and with a party invade the country of the Shawnees themselves.
Choosing nineteen men from the little garrison, he led them swiftly and silently as far as Paint Creek on the Sciota. He had come within four miles of the little Indian village, when unexpectedly the band met a party of thirty warriors, who were marching to join the expedition against Boonesborough.
There was no opportunity for retreat or deliberation. Instantly Boone called upon his companions to follow his example and fired upon the astonished warriors.
The Shawnees without attempting to respond, and doubtless unaware of the numbers of their enemies, immediately turned and fled.
The scout now halted his forces and sent two spies to discover what was taking place in the village. The men returned with the information that it had been abandoned.
As soon as this information had been received, Boone summoned his followers and said to them: ”I am convinced from the reports of our friends that a great army of the Indians is now marching against Boonesborough. Our friends are in almost as great danger as are we.
There is nothing left for us except to return and make the best possible time in our march.”
Every one a.s.sented to the suggestion and the return was begun, the men marching day and night, hoping to elude the Indians, who, the scout now believed, were between them and Boonesborough.
It was not long before the returning band discovered the trail of the advancing warriors. Thereupon the leader decided to make a detour and avoid his enemies. All unknown to the Indians, on the sixth day of the returning march the intrepid band pa.s.sed the red men, and on the seventh arrived safely at Boonesborough.
The following day five hundred hideously painted, thoroughly armed Indians appeared at the fort.
The alarm of the little garrison would have been still greater had they known that Duquesne, for whom Fort Pitt was first named, was in command of the entire band. Even Blackfish for the time had resigned his position as leader, preferring to have the skilful Frenchman a.s.sume the command in the attack on the fort. Nor was Captain Duquesne alone, for twelve of his countrymen also were with him to a.s.sist in leading the savages in their attack.
CHAPTER XXII
THE COMING OF BLACKFISH
”Peleg,” said Daniel Boone after the appearance of the enemy in front of the fort, ”I understand now why it was that I was so long a prisoner of the Shawnees.”
Peleg expressed his question without replying in words and the hunter continued: ”If I had not been a captive I never should have known how strong they are nor what their plans might be. And I think, too, that I never should have known what the relation is between the Shawnees and the French.”
”Do you think we can hold this place?” inquired Peleg anxiously.
”We shall do our best, lad, and the result is not altogether in our hands. I have sent messengers all through the settlements asking for reinforcements.”
The conversation was interrupted by the appearance of a messenger from the attacking army--a white man. Before he arrived at the stockade he was hailed by Daniel Boone, who, with Peleg, was standing on one of the bastions.
After a few preliminary words the man said: ”I am instructed by Captain Duquesne to state to you that he has received orders from Governor Hamilton at Detroit to take this fort, but to save the lives of the people, if it is possible so to do.”
Boone gazed down into the face of the speaker, but did not reply.
”I am further instructed by Captain Duquesne,” resumed the messenger, ”to ask you to send nine men from the fort to arrange for a treaty. You can meet the men from our army wherever you desire.”
”I shall report to you as soon as I have consulted my friends,” said Daniel Boone as he and his companion retired to the fort.
When the defenders were a.s.sembled Sam Oliver declared hotly: ”I should never send nine men out to meet the redskins! It is one of their tricks, and not one of the nine will ever come back.”
”I do not feel that way about it,” said Boone. ”I suspect that it may be a trick, as you suggest, but it may help us to put off the beginning of the fight until some of the other settlers for whom we have sent can come to our aid. I favour sending a delegation of nine men to meet a delegation from the Indians, but the place must be within fire from the fort. I do not know how you feel, but for myself I am willing to say that we shall never surrender this place while there is one man left alive to defend it.”
”That's the way we all feel,” said Sam Oliver, who still opposed the proposed meeting.