no! I'm not
skeered; and I'll go, too, ef I has to go alone. Who'll follow me?"

"I will!" cried one.

"And I!" said a second.

"We'll all go!" exclaimed several voices.

Dispersing in every direction, each flew to her own cabin, and seizing
upon a bucket, hurried to the rear gate, where, all being assembled,
they were at once given exit.[20]

Perhaps in the whole annals of history, a more singular proceeding than
this--of men allowing their wives and daughters to deliberately put
themselves into the power of a ferocious, blood-thirsty enemy, and women
with nerve and courage to dare all so bravely--can not be found. But
these were times of stern necessity, when each individual--man, woman
or child--was called upon to dare and do that which would surprise and
startle their descendants. Still it must not be supposed that they, on
either side, were without fears, and those of the most alarming kind.
Many a palpitating heart moved over the ground to the spring, and many
a pale face was reflected in its placid waters; while many a courageous
soul within the fort trembled at the thought of the venture, and what
might be its result, as they had never done before--even with death
staring them in the face--and as they probably would never do again.
Each party, however, knew the step taken to be a serious alternative;
and the women believed that on their caution and presence of mind, their
own lives, and those of their fathers, husbands, and children were
depending; and in consequence of this, they assumed an indifference and
gaiety the most foreign to their present feelings. As for Algernon,
we leave the task to lovers of imagining his feelings, when he saw the
lovely Ella depart with the rest. It was indeed a most anxious time
for all; but the stratagem succeeded to a charm; and, to use the words
of a historian on the subject, "Although their steps became quicker
and quicker on their return, and, when near the gate of the fort,
degenerated into a rather unmilitary celerity, attended with some
little crowding in passing the aperture, yet not more than one-fifth of
the water was spilled, and the eyes of the youngest had not dilated to
more than double their ordinary size."

[Footnote 20: In both the foregoing and subsequent details, we have
followed history to the letter.]

[Footnote 21: The reader, familiar with the history of the early
pioneers of Kentucky, will doubtless observe a similarity between the
account giv