738

Our Western Border.

asked him what made him look so sorry. Choat answered, because he could not help it, as he kept thinking of his wife and children and how they would get along without him. The Indian looked around and said, "I have a squaw and two children, and I would be sorry, too, if I were taken prisoner and carried away from them." He then arose, and, putting his hand on Choat's head, said, " Choat, you shall not stay away from them. I will let you go; but I will not turn you out alone for fear other Indians may catch you; I will go with you." This he actually did, accompanying him as far as the Muskingum, and there left him, telling him to go home to his family.

On one of Brickell's annual visits to the Rapids he saw Jane Dick, one of his own neighbors. She suddenly became missing, and great but unavailing search was made for her. He learned afterwards, that her husband had hired Alexander McKee's black cook to steal her away, which he did by taking her aboard a small vessel in a canoe and headed her up in an empty hogshead, where she remained until a day after the vessel sailed. The cook told Brickell it was part of the plan to steal him away also, but that he was watched so close they dare not venture it. At this time, indeed, the lad, who appears to have been a great favorite, was watched very closely. They would not let him sleep alone, or even go to draw water.

In June, 1794, two Indians and a boy, besides himself, started out on a hunt. They had been out about two months, and, on returning, found all the towns evacuated. Next morning an Indian runner came down the river giving the alarm whoop, and they were told to run for their lives as the whites were coming. "We scattered," says Brickell, "like a flock of partridges, leaving our breakfast cooking on the fire. The Kentucky riflemen saw our smoke and just missed me as I passeu them through the corn. They took the whole of our two months' work, jerk, skins and all."

"Two or three days after we arrived at the Rapids, Wayne's snies came right into our camp boldly and fired on the Indians. Their names were Miller, McClellan, May, Wells, Mahaffy, and another whose name I forget. Miller was wounded ; May was chased to the smooth, rocky bed of the river, where his horse fell and he was made prisoner. They knew him, as he had formerly been a prisoner and ran away, and took hNn back to camp. They said, ' We know you   you speak Indian language   you not content to live with us ; to-morrow we take you to that burr-oak; we will tie you up, make a mark on your breast, and will try what Indian can shoot nearest.' This they did, riddling his body with bullets.   Thus ended poor May."

Next day was Wayne's battle of Fallen Timbers.   Brickell was out