ajesty's name, to surrender the fort,
I requested two days consideration, which was granted.

It was now a critical period with us.--We were a small number in the
garrison.--A powerful army before our walls, whose appearance proclaimed
inevitable death, fearfully painted, and marking their footsteps with
desolation. Death was preferable to captivity; and if taken by storm,
we must inevitably be devoted to destruction. In this situation
we concluded to maintain our garrison, if possible. We immediately
proceeded to collect what we could of our horses, and other cattle, and
bring them through the posterns into the fort: And in the evening of
the ninth, I returned answer, that we were determined to defend our
fort while a man was living--Now, said I to their commander, who stood
attentively hearing my sentiments, We laugh at all your formidable
preparations: But thank you for giving us notice and time to provide for
our defence. Your efforts will not prevail; for our gates shall for ever
deny you admittance.--Whether this answer affected their courage, or
not, I cannot tell; but, contrary to our expectations, they formed
a scheme to deceive us, declaring it was their orders, from Governor
Hamilton, to take us captives, and not to destroy us; but if nine of
us would come out, and treat with them, they would immediatly withdraw
their forces from our walls, and return home peaceably. This sounded
grateful in our ears; and we agreed to the proposal.

We held the treaty within sixty yards of the garrison, on purpose to
divert them from a breach of honour, as we could not avoid suspicions of
the savages. In this situation the articles were formally agreed to,
and signed; and the Indians told us it was customary with them, on such
occasions, for two Indians to shake hands with every white-man in the
treaty, as an evidence of entire friendship. We agreed to this also,
but were soon convinced their policy was to take us prisoners.--They
immediately grappled us; but, although surrounded by hundreds of
savages, we extricated ourselves from them, and escaped all safe into
the garrison, except one that was wounded, through a heavy fire from
their army. They immediately attacked us on every side, and a constant
heavy fire ensued between us day and night for the space of nine days.

In this time the enemy began to undermine our fort, which was situated
sixty yards from Kentucke river. They began at the water-mark and
proceeded in the b