he tale of woe. He had ran
upwards of eighty miles, naked except his shirt, and without food; his
body nearly exhausted by fatigue, anxiety and hunger, and his limbs
greviously lacerated with briers and brush. Captain Stuart, fearing
lest the success of the Indians might induce them to push immediately
for the settlements, thought proper to return and prepare for that
event.

In a few weeks after this another party of Indians came to the
settlement on Muddy creek, and as if a certain fatality attended the
Kelly's, they alone fell victims to the incursion. As the daughter of
Walter Kelly was walking with her uncle (who had conducted the family
from the Kenhawa) some distance from the house, which had been
converted into a temporary fort, and in which they lived, they were
discovered and fired upon; the latter was killed and scalped, and the
former being overtaken in her flight, was carried into captivity.

After the murder of Brown, and the taking of Hellen and Robinson, the
inhabitants on the Monongahela and its upper branches, alarmed for
their safety, retired into forts. But in the ensuing September, as
Josiah Pricket and Mrs. Susan Ox, who had left Pricket's fort for the
purpose of driving up their cows, were returning in the evening they
were way laid by a party of Indians, who had been drawn to the path by
the tinkling of the cowbell. Pricket was killed and scalped, and Mrs.
Ox taken prisoner.

[123] It was in the course of this season, that Lewis Wetsel[2] first
gave promise of that daring and discretion, which were so fully
developed in his maturer years, and which rendered him among the most
fortunate and successful of Indian combatants. When about fourteen
years old, he and his brother Jacob, (still younger) were discovered
some distance from the house, by a party of Indians, who had been
prowling through the settlements on the Ohio river, with the
expectation of fortunately meeting with some opportunity of taking
scalps or making prisoners. As the boys were at some distance from
them, and in a situation too open to admit of their being approached
without perceiving those who should advance towards them, the Indians
determined on shooting the larger one, lest his greater activity might
enable him to escape. A shot was accordingly discharged at him, which,
partially taking effect and removing a portion of his breast bone, so
far deprived him of his wonted powers, that he was easily overtaken;
and both he and