effort against them, now while they were feeble, and had scarcely gained foot-hold on the soil, if they ever intended to regain possession of their ancient, rich, and rightful domain; assuring them, that as things now went on, they would soon have no hunting grounds worth retaining, no blankets with which to clothe their naked backs, or whisky to warm and cheer their desolate hearts.  They were advised to descend the Miami, cross the Ohio, ascend the Licking, paddling their canoes to the immediate vicinity of Bryant’s station, which he counselled them to attack.

Forthwith, the mass of biped wolves raised their murderous yell, as they started for their canoes on the Miami.  Girty, in his ruffled shirt and soldier coat, stalked at their head, silently feeding upon his prowess and grandeur.

The station against which they were destined, inclosed forty cabins.  They arrived before it on the fifteenth of August, in the night.  The inhabitants were advertised of their arrival in the morning, by being fired upon as they opened the gates.  The time of their arrival was apparently providential.  In two hours most of the efficient male inmates of the station were to have marched to the aid of two other stations, which were reported to have been attacked.  This place would thus have been left completely defenceless.  As soon as the garrison saw themselves besieged, they found means to despatch one of their number to Lexington, to announce the assault and crave aid.  Sixteen mounted men, and thirty-one on foot, were immediately despatched to their assistance.

The number of the assailants amounted to at least six hundred.  In conformity with the common modes of their warfare, they attempted to gain the place by stratagem.  The great body concealed themselves among high weeds, on the opposite side of the station, within pistol shot of the spring which supplied it with water.  A detachment of a hundred commenced a false attack on the south-east angle, with a view to draw the whole attention of the garrison to that point.  They hoped that while the chief force of the station crowded there, the opposite point would be left defenceless.  In this instance they reckoned without their host.  The people penetrated their deception, and instead of returning their fire, commenced what had been imprudently neglected, the repairing their palisades, and putting the station in a better condition of defence.  The tall and luxuriant strammony weeds instructed these wary backwoodsmen to suspect that a host of their tawny foe lay hid beneath their sheltering foliage, lurking for a chance to fire upon them, as they should come forth for water.