and around which had grown up a small
village of about twenty-five log houses.

A band of Indians, under the leadership of one Simon Girty, was supplied
by the English with muskets and ammunition, and sent against the fort.
This Girty was a white man, who, when a boy, had been captured by
Indians, and brought up by them. He had joined their tribes, and was a
ferocious and bloodthirsty leader of savage bands.

When the settlers at Wheeling heard that Simon Girty and his Indians
were advancing on the town, they left their homes and hastened into the
fort. Scarcely had they done so when the savages made their appearance.

The defenders of the fort knew that a desperate fight must now take
place, and there seemed little probability that they would be able to
hold out against their assailants. They had only forty two fighting men,
including old men and boys, while the Indian force numbered about five
hundred.

What was worse they had but a small amount of gunpowder. A keg
containing the main supply had been left by accident in one of the
village houses. This misfortune, as you will soon see, brought about the
brave action of a young girl.

After several encounters with the savages, which took place in the
village, the defenders withdrew to the fort. Then a number of Indians
advanced with loud yells, firing as they came. The fire was returned
by the defenders, each of whom had picked out his man, and taken deadly
aim. Most of the attacking party were killed, and the whole body of
Indians fell back into the near-by woods, and there awaited a more
favorable opportunity to renew hostilities.

The men in the fort now discovered, to their great dismay, that their
gunpowder was nearly gone. What was to be done? Unless they could get
another supply, they would not be able to hold the fort, and they and
their women and children would either be massacred or carried into
captivity.

Colonel Shepherd, who was in command, explained to the settlers exactly
how matters stood. He also told them of the forgotten keg of powder
which was in a house standing about sixty yards from the gate of the
fort.

It was plain to all that if any man should attempt to procure the keg,
he would almost surely be shot by the lurking Indians. In spite of this
three or four young men volunteered to go on the dangerous mission.

Colonel Shepherd replied that he could not spare three or four strong
men, as there were already too few for the defense. On