ryan's Station,
during the night succeeding, unscathed.[24]

Throughout the short but severe action at the ravines, Boone maintained
his ground with great coolness and courage, animating his soldiers by
word and deed, until the rout became general, when he found it
necessary, to prevent falling into the hands of the enemy, to have
recourse to immediate flight. As he cast his eyes around him for this
purpose, he saw himself cut off from the ford by the large body of
Indians, through whose lines our hero was even then struggling. At this
moment he heard a groan which attracted his attention; and looking down,
he perceived his son Israel lying on the ground, scarcely five paces
distant, weltering in his blood. With all a father's feelings of
affection and alarm, he instantly sprung from his horse, and, raising
the youth in his arms, darted into the nearest ravine, and made with all
speed for the river. A few of the Indians were herein concealed, who
discharged their rifles at him as he passed, without injury, and then
joined in pursuit. One, a powerful warrior, having outstripped his
companions, was rushing upon the old woodsman with his tomahawk, when
the latter, with backwoods celerity, instantly raised his rifle and shot
him through the body. Finding himself hard pressed, and that his son was
already in the agonies of death, the old hunter strained him for the
last time to his heart, with choking emotion, pressed his lips to those
already growing cold, and then, with a groan of agony, left him to his
fate and the scalping-knife of the savage, while he barely made his own
escape by swimming the river below the bend. To him this was a mournful
day--never to be forgotten--and one that, even long, long years after,
could never be mentioned but with tears.

In this action the brother of Boone was wounded; but in company with
Isaac Younker, and some three or four others, he succeeded in making his
escape.

On the day of the battle, Colonel Logan arrived at Bryan's Station with
a command of four hundred and fifty soldiers. On learning that the
garrison with their reinforcements had gone the day preceding in pursuit
of the Indians, and fearful of some disaster, he resolved on a forced
march to give them assistance as soon as possible. For this purpose he
immediately set forward on their trail; but had advanced only a few
miles, when he met a party of the fugitives returning from the scene of
slaughter. They were alarmed and