stened to Ahneota's descriptions of Indian methods in
battle and knew they would have scouts out. He believed the main body
would simply cross the stream and lie in wait for the troops and
attack them crossing so as to throw them into confusion. They would,
however, send men to reconnoitre the main body of the troops, and
these scouts, assigned to a task similar to his, were the ones he must
avoid, a difficult thing to do, as will be readily understood.

Rodney made his way with extreme caution until he caught a glimpse of
an Indian stealthily advancing toward the main body of troops; then,
believing that Indian would be the only one sent from that quarter and
having eluded the redskin, he went hastily forward to the creek,
crossing it at a narrow place fully half a mile above where the
savages had crossed.

Making his way down toward the ambush was nerve-racking work, but
finally the boy was rewarded by discovering a sentinel on guard.

The Indians were waiting just where he had supposed. Now to get back
without meeting the scout he had passed! At last the feat was
accomplished without a glimpse of a savage on the way. On his arrival
he found the troops getting ready to advance, for another scout, sent
out at the same time as he, had returned with the report that he found
no Indians and that they must have fled.

"Well, they are there," exclaimed Rodney, and he told what he had
seen.

"The youngster's got redskins on the brain, I calc'late," drawled one
fellow, at which the boy got very red in the face.

Captain Morgan here appeared, saying, "You're back at last. What d'ye
see?"

When the boy described what he had done Morgan promptly said, "You did
your duty, my boy," and proceeded to act on the information. A guard
was posted to make sure the savages did not recross and make an
attack, for it was found they were in considerable force.

After several days, during which skirmishes were fought and the
Indians beaten, the savages sued for peace and were asked to give
hostages.

Rodney did not believe they wanted peace. They had been too angry to
be satisfied with no worse defeat than this. His opinion proved
correct and, the troops being short of provisions, a retreat began,
everything belonging to the savages being first destroyed even to the
corn, of which the troops took for their own use all they could carry.
In fact, before they got back to Wheeling, they were obliged to live
on one ear per day to each s