the cattle, became
alarmed by their screams, and taking down his gun, was proceeding to
learn the cause of it, when he was met at the door by an Indian, who
caught hold of the gun, forced it from his grasp, and shot him with
it. Bush fell across the threshold, and the savage drew his knife to
scalp him. Mrs. Bush ran to the assistance of her husband, and with an
axe, aimed a blow at the Indian with such force that it fastened
itself in his shoulder, and when he jumped back his exertion pulled
the handle from her hand. She then drew her husband into the house and
secured the door.

In this time other of the savages had come up, and after endeavoring
in vain to force open the door, they commenced shooting through it.
Fortunately Mrs. Bush remained unhurt, although eleven bullets passed
through her frock and some of [294] them just grazing the skin. One of
the savages observing an aperture between the logs, thrust the muzzle
of his gun thro' it. With another axe Mrs. Bush struck on the barrel
so as to make it ring, and, the savage on drawing it back, exclaimed
"_Dern you._" Still they were endeavoring to force an entrance into
the house, until they heard what they believed to be a party of whites
coming to its relief. It was Adam Bush, who living close by and
hearing the screams of the children and the firing of the gun, had set
off to learn what had given rise to them, and taking with him his
dogs, the noise made by them in crossing the creek alarmed the
savages, and caused them to retreat, taking off the two children as
prisoners. A company of men were soon collected and went in pursuit of
the Indians; but were unable to surprise them and regain the
prisoners. They however, came so nearly upon them, on the Little
Kenhawa,[15] that they were forced to fly precipitately, leaving the
plunder and seven horses which they had taken from the settlement:
these were retaken and brought back.

In May, as John McIntire and his wife were returning from a visit,
they passed through the yard of Uriah Ashcraft; and in a small space
of time after, Mr. Ashcraft, startled by the sudden growling and
springing up of one of his dogs, stepped quickly to the door to see
what had aroused him. He had hardly reached the door, when he espied
an Indian on the outside with his gun presented. Closing and making
fast the door, he ascended the stairs that he might the better fire
upon the unwelcome intruder; and after snapping three several times,