perplexity. Five Indians, lying in ambush, fired at, but missed him; he
flies to a tree for safety, and instantly received a fire from three or
four Indians on the other side--the bullets knock the dust about his
feet, but do him no injury; he abandons the tree and makes good his
retreat to the fort. One white man and two Indians were killed. Such
were the incidents of Indian warfare--and such the fortunate escape of
the brothers.

Other events occurred in rapid succession--the Indians appear in
all directions, and with horrid yells and menacing gestures commence
a fire on the fort. It was returned with spirit; the women cast the
bullets--the men discharged them at the enemy. This action lasted about
two hours; the Indians then withdrew. The firing had been heard, and the
neighborhood roused for the fight. Major McGary, with some of his men,
and others from other stations, to the number of forty, appeared on the
ground soon after the Indians had retreated, and determined on pursuing
them. This was accordingly done with promptitude and celerity. At the
distance of a mile the enemy were overtaken, attacked, and defeated,
They fled--were pursued for several miles--and completely routed. Six
or seven Indians were seen dead, and others wounded. One Kentuckian was
killed in the action; another mortally wounded, who died after a few
days. Before the Indians entirely withdrew from the fort, they killed
all the cattle they saw, without making any use of them.

From this time McAfee's Station was never more attacked, although it
remained for several years an exposed frontier. Nor should the remark be
omitted, that for the residue of the year, there were fewer incidents
of a hostile nature than usual.

Fort Jefferson, which had been established on the Mississippi, about