o the settlement on Bear's Creek. While on
their way thither, they were attacked by a body of Indians, and defeated
with considerable loss. These are all the details of this action we have
been able to find. Colonel Floyd collected twenty-five men to pursue
the Indians, but in spite of all his caution, fell into an ambuscade,
which was estimated to consist of two hundred warriors. Half of Colonel
Floyd's men were killed, and the survivors supposed that they had slain
nine or ten of the Indians. This, however, is not probable; either the
number of the Indians engaged, or their loss, is much exaggerated.
Colonel Floyd himself had a narrow escape, being dismounted; he would
have been made prisoner, but for the gallant conduct of Captain Wells,
who gave him his horse, the colonel being exhausted, and ran by his
side, to support him in the saddle. These officers had formerly been
enemies, but the magnanimous behavior of Wells on this occasion, made
them steadfast friends.

"As if every month," says Marshall, "was to furnish its distinguishing
incident--in May, Samuel McAfee and another had set out from James
McAfee's Station for a plantation at a small distance, and when advanced
about one-fourth of a mile they were fired on; the man fell--McAfee
wheeled and ran toward the fort; in fifteen steps he met an Indian--they
each halt and present their guns, with muzzles almost touching--at the
same instant they each pull trigger, McAfee's gun makes clear fire, the
Indian's flashes in the pan--and he falls: McAfee continues his retreat,
but the alarm being given, he meets his brothers, Robert and James--the
first, though cautioned, ran along the path to see the dead Indian, by
this time several Indians had gained the path between him and the fort.
All his agility and dexterity was now put to the test--he flies from
tree to tree, still aiming to get to the fort, but is pursued by an
Indian; he throws himself over a fence, a hundred and fifty yards from
the fort, and the Indian takes a tree--Robert, sheltered by the fence,
was soon prepared for him, and while he puts his face by the side of the
tree to look for his object, McAfee fires his rifle at it, and lodged
the ball in his mouth--in this he finds his death, and McAfee escapes
to the fort."

In the mean time, James McAfee was in a situation of equal hazard and
perplexity. Five Indians, lying in ambush, fired at, but missed him; he
flies to a tree for safety, and instantly recei