The enemy were instantly alarmed, and dashed at him.  Kenton took to his heels, and was pursued by four horsemen at full speed.  He instantly directed his steps to the thickest part of the wood, and had succeeded, as he thought, in baffling his pursuers, when, just as he was entering the wood, an Indian on horseback galloped up to him with such rapidity as to render flight useless.  The horseman rode up, holding out his hand, and calling out “Brother! brother!” in a tone of great affection.  Kenton observes, that if his gun would have made fire, he would have “brothered” him to his heart’s content, but, being totally unarmed, he called out that he would surrender if they would give him quarter and good treatment.

Promises were cheap with the Indian, who, advancing, with extended hands and a withering grin upon his countenance, which was intended for a smile of courtesy, seized Kenton’s hand and grasped it with violence.  Kenton, not liking the manner of his captor, raised his gun to knock him down, when an Indian, who had followed him closely through the brushwood, sprung upon his back, and pinioned his arms to his side.  The one, who had been grinning so amiably, then raised him by the hair and shook him until his teeth rattled, while the rest of the party coming up, fell upon Kenton with their tongues and ramrods, until he thought they would scold or beat him to death.  They were the owners of the horses which he had carried off, and now took ample revenge for the loss of their property.  At every stroke of their ramrods over his head, they would exclaim in a tone of strong indignation, “Steal Indian hoss! hey!”

Their attention, however, was soon directed to Montgomery, who, having heard the noise attending Kenton’s capture, very gallantly hastened up to his assistance, while Clark prudently took to his heels.  Montgomery halted within gunshot, and appeared busy with the pan of his gun, as if preparing to fire.  Two Indians instantly sprang off in pursuit of him, while the rest attended to Kenton.  In a few minutes Kenton heard the crack of two rifles in quick succession, followed by a halloo, which announced the fate of his friend.  The Indians returned, waving the bloody scalp of Montgomery, and with countenances and gestures which menaced him with a similar fate.

They then proceeded to secure their prisoner by pinioning him with stout sticks, and fastening him with ropes to a tree.  During the operation they cuffed him from time to time with great heartiness, and abused him for a “tief!—­a hoss steal!—­a rascal!”

Kenton remained in this painful position throughout the night, looking forward to certain death, and most probably torture, as soon as he should reach their town.  Their rage against him displayed itself the next morning, in rather a singular manner.