rifle-barrels only showed where they had sheltered themselves from the
fire of the whites. They no longer doubted the point from which their
danger threatened, and a genuine strategic Indian fight now commenced.

Had the captive, who was now literally between two fires, done nothing
but merely fall upon her face, her situation could not have been
improved in the least thereby. But the nature of the ground near her
was such that, by lying perfectly motionless, the bullets of the
Shawnees could not strike her, unless they could gain a position nearer
to the hunters. As matters stood, she was safe only so long as her
captors could be kept from changing their places.

This was manifest to both the whites and the Indians; and while the
latter were now actuated by the desire to slay the girl, the efforts of
the former were turned toward her salvation. It was further evident
that the Shawnees were aware that they were now opposed to the Riflemen
of the Miami, and were nothing loth for a trial of skill. The loss of
one of their number was such a matter of course, that it operated only
as an incentive for exertion and skill upon their part.

A portion of the dress of the girl, as she lay upon the ground, could
be seen by several of the Indians, and they fired numerous shots at it.
Finding this accomplished nothing, they resorted to a far more
dangerous expedient--that of shooting away enough earth in front of her
to allow the free passage of one of their bullets to her body. It will
be seen that great skill was required to do this, but the expertness of
the Shawnee marksmen was equal to the task. They commenced their work
by sending a ball so as to strike the earth immediately before her, and
a few inches below the surface. The instant this was done, another
fired his bullet directly after, with such skill that it varied but the
fraction of an inch from following directly in its path. The force with
which these balls were discharged was such that the twelfth one would
most assuredly take the life of the girl.

None knew this better than Lewis Dernor, who, in the same trumpet-like
tone that had characterized his former command, called out:

"Young gal, clean away the dirt in front of you and hide yourself
better, or the imps will riddle you."

It required no more incentive to do this, and she used her hands with
such vigor that a few moments accomplished all she could wish. The
ground, being soft and moist, favored her, an