Colonel Calloway, the intimate friend of Boone, had joined him in the course of the spring, at the fort, which had received, by the consent of all, the name of Boonesborough.  He had two daughters.  Captain Boone had a daughter also, and the three were companions; and, if we may take the portraits of the rustic time, patterns of youthful bloom and loveliness.  It cannot be doubted that they were inexpressibly dear to their parents.  These girls, at the close of a beautiful summer day, the 14th of July, were tempted imprudently to wander into the woods at no great distance from their habitations, to gather flowers with which to adorn their rustic fire-places.  They were suddenly surrounded by half a dozen Indians.  Their shrieks and efforts to flee were alike unavailing.  They were dragged rapidly beyond the power of making themselves heard.  As soon as they were deemed to be beyond the danger of rescue, they were treated with the utmost indulgence and decorum.

This forbearance, of a race that we are accustomed to call savages, was by no means accidental, or peculiar to this case.  While in battle, they are unsparing and unrelenting as tigers—­while, after the fury of its excitement is past, they will exult with frantic and demoniac joy in the cries of their victims expiring at a slow fire—­while they dash the tomahawk with merciless indifference into the cloven skulls of mothers and infants, they are universally seen to treat captive women with a decorous forbearance.  This strange trait, so little in keeping with other parts of their character, has been attributed by some to their want of the sensibilities and passions of our race.  The true solution is, the force of their habits.  Honor, as they estimate it, is, with them, the most sacred and inviolable of all laws.  The decorum of forbearance towards women in their power has been incorporated with their code as the peculiar honor of a warrior.  It is usually kept sacred and inviolate.  Instances are not wanting where they have shown themselves the most ardent lovers of their captives, and, we may add, most successful in gaining their voluntary affection in return.  Enough such examples are recorded, were other proofs wanting, to redeem their forbearance from the negative character resulting from the want of passions.

The captors of these young ladies, having reached the main body of their people, about a dozen in number, made all the provision in their power for the comfort of their fair captives.  They served them with their best provisions, and by signs and looks that could not be mistaken, attempted to soothe their agonies, and quiet their apprehensions and fears.  The parents at the garrison, having waited in vain for the return of their gay and beloved daughters to prepare their supper, and in torments of suspense that may easily be imagined, until the evening, became aware that they were either lost or made captives.  They sallied forth in search of them, and scoured the woods