THE ALARM AND STRATAGEM.
It was late at night; but still Algernon Reynolds sat beside Ella
Barnwell, relating the sad story of his many hair-breadth escapes and
almost intolerable sufferings. A rude sort of light, on a rough table, a
few feet distant, threw its faint gleams over the homely apartment, and
revealed the persons of Isaac and his mother, his wife and her parents,
together with several others, attracted hither by curiosity, grouped
around our hero, and listening to his thrilling narrative with
breathless attention.
"After being sufficiently recovered from my wound and bruises, to
proceed upon my journey, (continued Reynolds, to resume the account
of his adventures since leaving him at Piqua) Girty came to me, and
inquired what I thought of my fate, and how I felt concerning it; to
which I replied, rather briefly, that it was no worse than I had
expected, since knowing into whose hands I had fallen.
"'Perhaps you think to escape?' said he, sneeringly.
"'I have no such hope,' I replied.
"'No, and by ----! you needn't have, either,' rejoined he, with a savage
grin; 'for I'm determined you shall experience the torture to its
fullest extent, if for nothing else than to revenge myself on you for
your insults. I have only one thing to regret; and that is, that you
didn't suffer in place of Younker, who is the only one whose torments I
would I had had no hand in. But you--_you_ I could see tormented
forever, and laugh heartily throughout. But I'll wreak my vengeance on
you yet; I will by ----!' and with these words he left me to the charge
of my guards, with whom he spoke a short time in the Indian
tongue--probably giving them instructions of caution regarding myself.
"It was about mid-day, when, with my arms tightly bound, we set off
for Upper Sandusky, where, as I had previously been informed by Girty,
I was condemned to suffer before the assembled tribes of the different
nations, who would there shortly meet to receive their annual presents
from the British. Our march, very fatiguing to myself, was without
incident worthy of note, until one night we arrived at a small village
on the Scioto river, where one of my guards, who could speak a little
English, informed me resided the celebrated Mingo chief, Logan. A
thought suddenly flashed across my brain. I had often heard of Logan,
as the great and good chief, humane in his principles, and friendly
to the whites--particularly those who were signally unfortunate--and it
occurred to me, that could I gain an interview, I might perhaps prevail
upon him to assist me in making my escape; and accordingly I at once
expressed to my informant my desire of beholding one so celebrated. To
my great delight, he replied that it was in Logan's cabin I was to pass
the night--such being the private orders, as I afterwards learned, of
Black Hoof--who had, it seems, from some cause unknown to myself, formed
the design of saving my life; and had sent by the Indian in question,
a verbal request to Logan, to use all his influence to this effect.
"As we entered the village, we were immediately surrounded by men, women
and children, who stared hard at me, but offered no violence. In a few
minutes we gained Logan's hut, in the door of which I observed standing
an old, noble-looking warrior, with a commanding form, and mild,
benevolent countenance, who proved to be the chief himself. To him one
of my guards now addressed a few words in Indian; and uttering a grunt,
and looking closely at me some seconds, he moved aside, and we all
passed in. Here I soon had a good supper of homminy provided me, whereof
I did not partake lightly, having been from sunrise to sunset without
tasting a morsel of food. Immediately after I had finished my repast,
Logan approached me, and, in tolerable good English, said:
"'White man, where from?'
"I motioned toward the east, and answered:
"'From sunrise--away beyond the big mountains.'
"Logan shook his head sadly, and replied, with a sigh:
"'Ah! so all come. Poor Indian get run over--he no place lay he head.
But how you come all tied so?'
"In answer, I entered into a full explanation of all that had occurred
respecting the proceedings of Girty, from first to last. Logan listened
throughout with great attention, shook his head, and rejoined:
"'Ah! Simon Girty bad man--berry. Me always think so. Me sorry for you.
Me do all me can for you. You shall sleep here. Me promise you nothing.
Me tell you more sometime--to-morrow mebby!'
"With this he rose and left the cottage, and I saw him no more that
night.
"Early in the morning, however, he came to me, and said that I was to
remain at his cabin through the day; that he had laid a plan to effect
my release from death, but not from captivity--the latter not being in
accordance with his principles, nor in his power; that for this purpose
he had despatched two young braves to Upper Sandusky, to speak a word
in my favor; but that I must not be elated with hope, as it was very
doubtful how much they might effect.[21] Notwithstanding his caution to
the contrary, my spirits became exceedingly exhilarated; and grasping
his hand in both mine, I pressed it to my heart in silence; while my
eyes became suffused with tears, and the old chief himself seemed not
a little affected.
"Late the night following, the messengers returned; and on the morning
succeeding, we resumed our journey. In parting from the noble old chief,
he shook my hand cordially, but gave me no intimation of what would
probably be my fate.
"When within sight of Upper Sandusky, crowds of warriors, women and
children came out to meet us, and, seeing me, set up many a hideous
yell, until I again became alarmed for my safety, and fearful that Logan
had not succeeded in his magnanimous design. This impression was the
more strongly confirmed, shortly after, by one of my guides informing me
that I must again run the gauntlet. Accordingly every preparation being
speedily effected, I started upon the course; but possessing more
strength and activity than before, and a better knowledge of what I had
to perform, I succeeded in breaking through the lines, and reaching the
council house unharmed. Here I was safe for the present; or until, as I
was informed, my fate should once more be decided by a grand council.
"The council in question was speedily convened; and on the opening
thereof, a British agent, one Captain Druyer, made his appearance,
and requested permission to address the assemblage, which was readily
granted. He spoke rapidly, for a few minutes, with great vehemence; and
though I understood not a word he uttered, yet something whispered me it
was in my favor; for I observed that the glances directed towards me,
were milder far than those on my previous trial.
"To sum up briefly, it seems that Logan had despatched his messengers to
Druyer, urging him to exert all his influence in obtaining my reprieve;
and to effect this humane design, the latter had begun by stating to
the Indians that their great white father, of whom he was an humble
representative, was at war with the Long Knives; that nothing would
please him better, than to hear of his red children having sacrificed
all their enemies; but that in war, policy was ofttimes more effectual
than personal revenge in accomplishing their destruction; and that he
doubted not, if the prisoner present were put in his possession and
taken to Detroit, that the great white chiefs of his own nation would
there be able to extort from him such valuable information as would
make the final conquest of the Long Knives comparatively easy. To this
proposition, which was received rather coldly, he had added, that for
this privilege he was willing to pay a fair recompense; and that so soon
as all the information necessary had been gleaned from the prisoner, he
should, if thought advisable, again be returned to them, to be put to
death or not, as they might see proper. To this arrangement, all having
at last consented, the gallant Captain advanced to me, shook my hand,
and said that my life was for the present safe, and that I was to
accompany him to Detroit, where I would be treated as a prisoner of war.
"It is impossible to describe my feelings, on hearing this joyful
intelligence; therefore I shall leave you to imagine them, aided as you
will be by your own experience under similar circumstances. And now let
me close my long narrative as briefly as possible; for the hour is
already late, and I must rise betimes on the morrow to join this
expedition against the savages."
"Surely, Algernon," exclaimed Ella, with pale features, "you are not
going to leave us again so soon?"
"Where duty calls, Ella, there is my place; and if I fall in honorable
action, in defence of my country and friends, perchance my life may
atone for matters whereof _you_ are not ignorant."
Ella buried her face in her hands, to conceal her emotion; and Algernon,
with an effort at composure, again proceeded.
"At Detroit I experienced kind treatment, as a prisoner of war; but
still it was captivity, and I longed for freedom. Many, many an hour
did I employ in planning my escape; yet month upon month rolled on, and
still I remained in durance. At last startling rumors reached me, that
the Indians of the different tribes were banding together, to march upon
the frontiers and depopulate the country; and remembering the savage
threat of Girty, I doubted not he was the instigator, and would be
leader of the expedition; and I determined, at all hazards, if such a
thing were in the province of possibility, to effect my escape, and give
the country warning of the impending danger. To be brief, I succeeded,
as my presence here tells for itself; but no one knows, save myself, and
He who knows all things, the misery I suffered from fatigue, lack of
food, and the fear of again being captured by some roving band of
savages--the which I shall detail, perhaps, should my life be spared me,
at some future period, but not at the present.
"I swam the Ohio, a short distance above the Falls, and made my way,
to the best of my judgment, directly towards Boonesborough, where I
arrived, a few days since, in a state of complete exhaustion. The noble
old hunter received me warmly; from whose lips I heard, with thrilling
emotion, the particulars of the pursuit, headed by himself, and the
rescue of two of my dearest friends, their present abode, as also many
startling events that had transpired during my absence; and in return,
I communicated to him the alarming intelligence which I have before
alluded to. So soon as I felt myself sufficiently strong for the
journey, I left Boonesborough for Bryan's Station, and here I am, and
thus my tale."
"And a mighty tough time you've had on't Mr. Reynolds, for sartin, and
no mistake," rejoined Mrs. Younker, with a sigh, wiping her eyes. "Ah!
me--poor Ben!--poor Ben!--I'm a widder now in arnest. Well, the Lord's
will be done. The good Book says, 'The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh
away, blessed be the name of the Lord;' and them good words, my children
and friends, must be our consolation."
But little more was said; for each of the party felt oppressed with a
weight of sadness, at the thought of the many mournful events a year had
brought forth; and as the hour was late, each and all presently betook
themselves to rest.
Meantime, the preparations of the garrison for the morrow had been going
forward in every part of the station; lights were moving to and fro; and
all within the cabins, and on the common, was bustle and activity. At
last the sounds gradually ceased, the lights went out one by one, and
all finally became tranquil for the night.
About an hour before day-break, the sleepers began to rouse themselves,
and all was soon again in commotion. Horses were led forth, saddled,
returned and fed, and every thing got in readiness to throw open the
gates and march forth so soon as it should become sufficiently light for
the purpose.
At last came the exciting moment of all. Some were standing in groups,
and weeping bitterly at the thought of parting, perhaps for the last
time, with their fathers, husbands and sons; some were running to and
fro with anxious messages; some were clasping each other to their
hearts, in agonizing silence, and praying in secret that the Great Ruler
of all might preserve and happily restore them again to the idols of
their affections; some had mounted their noble steeds, or were leading
them forth for the purpose--and all was in Babel-like confusion.
"Farewell, my friends," said Algernon, as he stood in the door of Mrs.
Younker's cottage, grasping one after another the proffered hands of
its weeping inmates, among whom was the wife and mother-in-law of
Isaac. "Farewell, dearest Ella; we may never meet again on earth.
Farewell--farewell!" and pressing her hand to his lips, he rushed
forth with a heaving heart, not daring to trust himself longer in her
presence.
Isaac and his father-in-law followed the example of Reynolds, moved away
with weeping eyes, and all were quickly in their saddles.
A few minutes later the roll was called, and the order given by the
commanding officer to form in double file and throw open the eastern
gate. Scarcely were the words uttered, when there arose a series of
terrific Indian yells, accompanied by a volley of firearms, and every
face became blanched with surprise and dismay, and looked from one to
the other in astonishment.
"By heavens!" cried a voice; "our fighting 'll be at home, I reckon,
judging by the specimen before us."
Dismounting from their horses, the garrison, together with many of the
women and children, now rushed to the southern pickets, where, through
loop-holes and crevices, they beheld, only a few rods distant, about
a hundred savages, running to and fro, jumping up and down, whooping,
yelling, screeching and firing at the station, accompanied with all
the wild, fantastic gestures of loosened madmen.
"Thar's not more nor a hundred o' the varmints, any how," cried Isaac;
"and I reckon as how we can jest lick them, and no mistake. Hurray for
a fight."
"Hurray for a fight!" echoed a dozen voices, as they rushed back to
remount their horses.
"Hold!" cried the deep voice of Father Albach. "Hold! lads; don't do
things rash! Them Indians wouldn't be dancing and sky-larking round that
way, ef thar warn't some object in it, you may depend on."
"And that's my opinion too," answered another gray-headed veteran. "The
fact is, they're only a decoy party, sent our thar from the main body,
jest to draw us out, so that the others can rush on and make an easy
conquest on't. I tell you, friends, thar's no mistaking it; we're
surrounded by a tremendous body o' the red heathen, and we're likely to
have warm work on't. I've lived in the woods all my life, and I know the
nater of the painted varmints as well as I know my own. Ef them war all
thar war on 'em, we'd have seen very different proceedings, I assure
you."
"But what's to be done?" cried several voices in consternation.
"I would suggest that we send immediately to Lexington for a
reinforcement," spoke up Reynolds, in reply.
"Who'll volunteer to go with me on the dangerous mission?" cried a young
man, by the name of Bell.
"I will!" instantly responded another, called Tomlinson.
"Brave lads!" returned Father Albach. "You'll be doing us and your
country a service, which we at least will ever gratefully remember. I'd
advise your leaving by the western gate, riding round the station, and
keeping away to the right, and you'll maybe pass them without trouble.
But ef you go, now's your only chance."
As he spoke, the young men in question sprung forward to their horses,
and immediately quitted the fort, amid cheers for their gallantry and
courage, and prayers for their safety and success.
A council of the leading men was now speedily convened to deliberate
upon the best means of insuring the safety of themselves, their wives,
and children.
"They'll no doubt attack us on the western side," said Father Albach,
"where the pallisades are somewhat out o' kilter; and it's my opinion,
that we'd better repair them as soon as possible, and station the main
part of the garrison thar, ready to receive 'em with a military salute,
while we send out a few o' our young men to fire on them as is in sight,
to deceive the others; for I believe with neighbor Nickolson, here, that
thar's a large party in ambush close by."
"Ay, and doubtless led by the renegade," said Reynolds; "as I presume
this Indian army is the same whose approach I have foretold. Thank God!"
added he, with energy and emotion, as his mind reverted to Ella, "that
they came as they did; for an hour later, and they would have found the
fort defenceless, when all within would have been food for the tomahawk
and scalping knife."
He shuddered at the thought, and placed his hand to his eyes.
"Indeed, it seems like a direct Providence in our favor," rejoined
another.
"But thar's one thing you've overlooked, in your proposition, Albach,"
said the old veteran called Nickolson. "Ef the seige be protracted, what
are we to do for water?"
Each face of the company blanched, and turned toward the speaker with a
startled look. It was a question of the most grave importance, and all
felt it to be so. The spring was without the pallisades, as we have
previously mentioned, on the northwestern side of the station. The path
to it was through a rank growth of tall weeds, wherein the main body of
the Indians was supposed to be concealed--so that, should the garrison
venture forth in that direction, they would in all probability be cut
off, and the fort fall into the possession of the enemy. This of course
was not to be thought of. But what was to be done? To be without water
in a protected siege, was a dangerous and painful alternative. In this
agitating dilemma, one of the council suddenly exclaimed:
"I have it!--I have it!" All looked at the speaker in breathless
expectation. "I have it!" continued he joyfully. "The women!--the
women!"
"The women!" echoed several voices at once.
"Ay! you know they're in the habit of going for water--and this the
savages know too--and ef they venture forth by themselves, as usual, the
wily scoundrels will be deceived for once--for they won't mistrust thar
hiding place is known; and as thar object is to carry the fort by
stratagem, they won't unmask till they hear firing on t'other side."
"Good!--good!" exclaimed several voices; and forthwith the council
proceeded to summon all the women of the station, and make known their
plan for procuring a supply of water.
Not a little consternation was expressed in the faces of the latter,
when informed of the perilous undertaking required of them.
"What! go right straight in among the Injen warmints--them male
critters?" cried an old maid, holding up her hands in horror.
"Do you think we're invisible, and they can't see us?" said a second.
"Or bullet proof?" added a third.
"Or that our scalps arn't worth as much as yourn?" rejoined a fourth.
"Or of so little account you arn't afeared to lose us?" put in a fifth.
"We don't think any thing o' the kind," returned the spokesman on the
part of the council; "but we do think, as I before explained, that you
can go and come in safety; and that ef we don't have a supply o' water,
we're likely to perish any how, and might as well throw open the gates
and be butchered at once."
This last brief speech produced the desired effect, and a few words from
Mrs. Younker completely carried the day.
"Is this here a time," she cried, with enthusiasm, her eyes flashing as
she spoke, "to be hanging back, till the all important moment's gone by,
and then choke to death for want o'water? What's our lives any more'n
the men's, that we should be so orful skeered about a few ripscallious,
painted varmints, as arn't o' no account, no how? Han't I bin amongst
'em once?--and didn't the Lord preserve me?--and shall I doubt His
protection now, when a hundred lives is at stake? No! no! I'm not
skeered; and I'll go, too, ef I has to go alone. Who'll follow me?"
"I will!" cried one.
"And I!" said a second.
"We'll all go!" exclaimed several voices.
Dispersing in every direction, each flew to her own cabin, and seizing
upon a bucket, hurried to the rear gate, where, all being assembled,
they were at once given exit.[20]
Perhaps in the whole annals of history, a more singular proceeding than
this--of men allowing their wives and daughters to deliberately put
themselves into the power of a ferocious, blood-thirsty enemy, and women
with nerve and courage to dare all so bravely--can not be found. But
these were times of stern necessity, when each individual--man, woman
or child--was called upon to dare and do that which would surprise and
startle their descendants. Still it must not be supposed that they, on
either side, were without fears, and those of the most alarming kind.
Many a palpitating heart moved over the ground to the spring, and many
a pale face was reflected in its placid waters; while many a courageous
soul within the fort trembled at the thought of the venture, and what
might be its result, as they had never done before--even with death
staring them in the face--and as they probably would never do again.
Each party, however, knew the step taken to be a serious alternative;
and the women believed that on their caution and presence of mind, their
own lives, and those of their fathers, husbands, and children were
depending; and in consequence of this, they assumed an indifference and
gaiety the most foreign to their present feelings. As for Algernon,
we leave the task to lovers of imagining his feelings, when he saw the
lovely Ella depart with the rest. It was indeed a most anxious time
for all; but the stratagem succeeded to a charm; and, to use the words
of a historian on the subject, "Although their steps became quicker
and quicker on their return, and, when near the gate of the fort,
degenerated into a rather unmilitary celerity, attended with some
little crowding in passing the aperture, yet not more than one-fifth of
the water was spilled, and the eyes of the youngest had not dilated to
more than double their ordinary size."
[Footnote 20: In both the foregoing and subsequent details, we have
followed history to the letter.]
[Footnote 21: The reader, familiar with the history of the early
pioneers of Kentucky, will doubtless observe a similarity between the
account given by Reynolds of his escape from captivity, and that of Gen.
Simon Kenton, as narrated by his biographer, Col. John McDonald.]