e been
experienced by the most of men, in captivity to the Indians; but when
he found such great preparations making for an attack on the place
which contained all that he held most dear, his love of family, his
attachment to the village reared under his superintending hand, and to
its inhabitants protected by his fostering care, determined him to
attempt an immediate escape. Early on the morning of the 16th of June,
he went forth as usual to hunt. He had secreted as much food as would
serve him for one meal, and with this scanty supply, he resolved on
finding his way home. On the 20th, having travelled a distance of one
hundred and sixty miles, crossed the Ohio and other rivers, and with
no sustenance, save what he had taken with him from Chillicothe, he
arrived at Boonesborough. The fort was quickly repaired, and every
preparation made to enable it to withstand a siege.

In a few days after, another, of those who had been taken prisoners at
the Blue Licks, escaped, and brought intelligence that in consequence
of the flight of Boone, the Indians had agreed to postpone their
meditated irruption, for three weeks.[11] This intelligence determined
Boone to invade the Indian country, and at the head of only ten men
he went forth on an expedition against Paint creek town. Near to this
place, he met with a party of Indians going to join the main army,
then on its march to Boonesborough, whom he attacked and dispersed
without sustaining any loss on his part. The enemy had one killed and
two severely wounded in this skirmish; and lost their horses and
baggage. On their return, they passed the Indian army on the 6th of
August, and on the next day entered Boonesborough.[12]

On the 8th of August, the Indian army, consisting of four hundred and
fifty men, and commanded by Capt. Du Quesne, eleven other Frenchmen,
and their own chiefs, appeared before the Fort and demanded its
surrender.[13] In order to gain time, Boone requested two days'
consideration, and at the expiration of that period, returned for
answer, that the garrison had resolved on defending it, while one
individual remained alive within its walls.

Capt. Du Quesne then made known, that he was charged by Gov.
Hamilton, to make prisoners of the garrison, but not to treat them
harshly; and that if nine of their principal men would come out,
and negotiate a treaty, based on a renunciation of allegiance to
the United States, and on a renewal of their fealty to the king,