owly in advance of
his pursuers, he handed him his, and calmly surrendered himself to
his fate.

Captain Mason had been twice wounded, and was then so enfeebled by the
loss of blood, and faint from fatigue that he almost despaired of ever
reaching the fort; yet he pressed forward with all his powers. He was
sensible that the Indian was near him, and expecting every instant,
that the tomahawk would sever his skull, he for a while forgot that
his gun was yet charged. The recollection of this, inspiring him with
fresh hopes, he wheeled to fire at his pursuer, but found him so close
that he could not bring his gun to bear on him. Having greatly the
advantage of ground, he thrust him back with his hand. The uplifted
tomahawk descended to the earth with force; and before the Indian
could so far regain his footing as to hurl the fatal weapon from his
grasp, or rush forward to close in deadly struggle with his
antagonist, the ball from Captain Mason's gun had done its errand, and
the savage fell lifeless to the earth. Captain Mason was able to
proceed only a few paces farther; but concealing himself by the side
of a large fallen tree, he remained unobserved while the Indians
continued about the fort.

The shrieks of Captain Mason's men, and the discharge of the guns,
induced Capt. Ogal to advance with his twelve scouts, to their relief.
Being some distance in the rear of his men, the Indians, in closing
round them, fortunately left him without the circle, and he concealed
himself amid some briers in the corner of the fence; where he lay
until the next day. The same fate awaited his men, which had befallen
Capt. Mason's. Of the twenty six who were led out by these two
officers, only three escaped death, and two of these were badly
wounded: a striking evidence of the fact, that the ambuscade was
judiciously planned, and the expectations of its success, well
founded.[8]

While these things were doing, the inhabitants of the village were
busily employed in removing to the fort and preparing for its
defense. A single glance at the situation of the parties led on by
Mason and Ogal, convinced them of the overwhelming force of the [163]
Indians, and the impossibility of maintaining an open contest with
them. And so quick had been the happening of the events which have
been narrated, that the gates of the fort were scarcely closed, before
the Indian army appeared under its walls, with a view to its reduction
by storm.[9] But before