y sought to make on the minds of its inmates.

When a sufficiency of water had been provided, and the station placed
in a condition of defence, thirteen men were sent out in the direction
from which the assault was made. They were fired upon by the assailing
party of one hundred, but without receiving any injury; and retired
again within the pallisades. Instantly the savages rushed to the
assault of, what they deemed, the unprotected side of the station,
little doubting their success. A steady, well directed fire, put them
quickly to flight. Some of the more desperate and daring however,
approached near enough to fire the houses, some of which were
consumed; but a favorable wind drove the flames from the mass of the
buildings and the station escaped conflagration.

Disappointed of the expected success of their first stratagem, the
assailants withdrew a short distance, and concealed themselves under
the bank of the creek, to await the arrival of the assistance, which
was generally sent to a besieged fort or station, arranging themselves
in ambushment to intercept its approach.

When the express from Bryant's station reached Lexington, the male
inhabitants had left there to aid in the defence of Holder's
station, which was reported to be attacked. Following on their
route, they overtook them at Boonesborough, and sixteen mounted, and
thirty footmen were immediately detached to aid the inhabitants of
Bryant's station. When this reinforcement came near, the firing had
entirely ceased, no enemy was visible, and they approached in the
confidence that all was well. A sudden discharge of shot from the
savages in ambush, dispelled that hope. The horsemen however, passed
safely by. The cloud of dust produced by the galloping of their
horses, obscured the view and hindered the otherwise deadly aim of
the Indians. The footmen were less fortunate. Two of them were killed,
and four wounded; and but for the luxuriant growth of corn in the
field through which they passed, nearly all must have fallen, before
the overwhelming force of the enemy.

[259] Thus reinforced, the garrison did not for an instant doubt of
safety; while the savages became hopeless of success by force of
arms, and resorted to another expedient to gain possession of the
station. In the twilight of evening, Simon Girty covertly drew near,
and mounting on a stump from which he could be distinctly heard,
demanded the surrender of the place. He told the garrison, th