Part 27 (1/2)

The experiences which many already had had with the Indians of the border confirmed the impression made by the words of the last speaker.

Even the younger men, who were eager to sally forth and attack the young warriors that were making such a commotion, were held back by the suggestion.

”We cannot protect ourselves very long in the fort,” said one of the men when the defenders had been divided into two bands.

”Why not?” inquired another.

”Because we have no water. There is not enough water in the fort to last us thirty hours.”

”What can we do?” inquired one of the older men after a tense silence had followed the statement of the speaker. ”If we go down to the spring the Indians will pick us off, every one.”

”Send the women,” suggested another. ”They go to the spring every morning. The Indians may not think we have any suspicion of what they are planning to do. If the women and girls go to the spring for water just as they usually do the Indians will not fire at them. They will want to save all their bullets for their attack on this side when our men have been drawn out to chase the savages who are yelling now on the other side.”

”It seems cowardly,” said another man ”to ask the women to go down to the spring when we know it would be sure death for us to go.”

”It will not be sure death for the women, and my opinion is that not one of them will be harmed,” said the first speaker positively. ”At all events we can ask them to go and let them say whether they will or not.”

When the proposition was made to the women there were some who made replies not unlike those which their male defenders had suggested in the council. Some of them said: ”If the men were afraid that they might be shot, why should they ask the women to go in their place?” Then it was explained just why the request was made. Immediately some of the bolder women and girls, taking their buckets, opened the gates and started toward the spring, which was only a short distance from the fort.

Frightened, the women undoubtedly were, and with good reason. But with unbroken lines they continued on their way to the spring. One by one they knelt and filled their buckets and then joined the line which was returning to the fort.

When the matrons and maids had arrived within a few yards of the open gate their terror became so overpowering that they all began to run for the shelter. Many a dusky face had been seen on the borders of the forest, but not a shot was fired at the bold girls and the women of Bryant's Station when they brought the water from the spring to the inmates of the fort.

”Now is our time,” said one of the men, after the return of the women.

”We ought to do two things: First we must get some one out of the fort to carry word to Boone of the trouble we are having.”

”And second?” inquired one of the company.

”We must send out some of the younger men to attack that decoy party.”

”That's right,” suggested one of the young men eagerly. ”We must go out and make all the noise we can. Then all the other men here in the fort can be ready for Girty when he comes, and I know he will come.”

”I will carry the message to Boone,” volunteered one of the younger men named Bell. It was arranged that he should depart with the young men who were to attack the decoy party, and then instead of returning to the fort he should make a dash into the forest and try to make his way to Boonesborough as speedily as possible.

The men in the fort were all serious when they saw thirteen of their younger companions depart from the fort through the gate which opened toward the place where the decoy party had been seen.

”Do not chase the varmints too far,” charged one of the watching men.

No response was given to the warning, and as soon as the hardy, young settlers had departed the gate was closed and the remaining men, c.o.c.king their guns, took their positions to await the result of the expected attack as soon as it should be unmasked.

It was not long before the report of rifles was heard from the distant road, and gradually the sound indicated that the men were being decoyed farther and farther from the fort.

”Girty will order an attack on us soon, now that the boys have made so much noise,” suggested one of the waiting defenders.

Scarcely had the man spoken when Simon Girty, springing from the forest at the head of five hundred of his painted warriors, rushed upon the western gate of the fort. It was plain that they were trying to force their way over the undefended palisade.

The men of the Station had been carefully arranged in small divisions; and at the word from their leaders they fired upon the approaching warriors. The determination of the white men and their anxiety for their wives and children served to steady the nerve of every man and make of him a sharpshooter.

The consternation of Girty's army cannot be described. Startled by the unexpected resistance and beholding their comrades falling on every side of them, with wild cries of anger and dismay the painted braves scattered, and in confusion all ran back into the sheltering forest.