replied with seeming eagerness and frankness.  At night they stopped to camp, one Indian scouting through the woods, while the other kindled a fire by flashing powder in the pan of his rifle.  For supper they had parched corn and pork roasted over the coals; there was then some further talk, and the Indians lay down to sleep, one on each side of the boys.  After a while, supposing that their captives were asleep, and anticipating no trouble from two unarmed boys, one Indian got up and lay down on the other side of the fire, where he was soon snoring heavily.  Then the lads, who had been wide awake, biding their time, whispered to one another, and noiselessly rose.  The elder took one of the guns, silently cocked it, and, pointing it at the head of one Indian, directed the younger boy to take it and pull trigger, while he himself stood over the head of the other Indian with drawn tomahawk.  The one boy then fired, his Indian never moving after receiving the shot, while the other boy struck at the same moment; but the tomahawk went too far back on the neck, and the savage tried to spring to his feet, yelling loudly.  However the boy struck him again and again as he strove to rise, and he fell back and was soon dead.  Then the two boys hurried off through the darkness, fearing lest other Indians might be in the neighborhood.  Not very far away they struck a path which they recognized, and the elder hung up his hat, that they might find the scene of their feat when they came back.  Continuing their course they reached a block-house shortly before daybreak.  On the following day a party of men went out with the elder boy and found the two dead Indians. [Footnote:  De Haas.]

After any Indian stroke the men of the neighborhood would gather under their local militia officers, and, unless the Indians had too long a start, would endeavor to overtake them, and either avenge the slain or rescue the prisoners.  In the more exposed settlements bands of rangers were kept continually patrolling the woods.  Every man of note in the Cumberland country took part in this duty.  In Kentucky the county lieutenants and their subordinates were always on the lookout.  Logan paid especial heed to the protection of the immigrants who came in over the Wilderness Road.  Kenton’s spy company watched the Ohio, and continually crossed it on the track of marauding parties, and, though very often baffled, yet Kenton and his men succeeded again and again in rescuing hapless women and children, or in scattering—­although usually with small loss—­war parties bound against the settlements.

    Feats of an Indian Fighter