ght
but their watch-coats, and with no other baggage but a small
portmanteau containing their food and Major Washington's important
papers, they now made rapid headway, and soon left their friends far
behind. The next day, they came upon an Indian village called
Murdering Town; a name of evil omen, given it, perhaps, from its
having been the scene of some bloody Indian massacre. What befell them
here, I will tell you, as nearly as I can remember, in Mr. Gist's own
words:--

"We rose early in the morning, and set out at seven o'clock,
and got to Murdering Town, on the south-east fork of Beaver
Creek. Here we met with an Indian whom I thought I had seen at
Joncaire's, at Venango, when on our journey up to the French
fort. This fellow called me by my Indian name, and pretended to
be glad to see me. He asked us several questions; as, how we
came to travel on foot, when we left Venango, where we parted
with our horses, and when they would be there. Major Washington
insisted on travelling by the nearest way to the forks of the
Alleghany. We asked the Indian if he could go with us, and show
us the nearest way. The Indian seemed very glad and ready to go
with us; upon which we set out, and the Indian took the Major's
pack. We travelled very brisk for eight or ten miles; when the
Major's feet grew sore, and he very weary, and the Indian
steered too much north-eastwardly. The Major desired to encamp;
upon which the Indian asked to carry his gun, but he refused;
and then the Indian grew churlish, and pressed us to keep on,
telling us there were Ottawa Indians in those woods, and they
would scalp us if we lay out; but go to his cabin, and we would
be safe.

"I thought very ill of the fellow, but did not care to let the
Major know I mistrusted him. But he soon mistrusted him as much
as I did. The Indian said he could hear a gun from his cabin,
and steered us northwardly. We grew uneasy, and then he said
two whoops might be heard from his cabin. We went two miles
further. Then the Major said he would stay at the next water,
and we desired the Indian to stop at the next water; but,
before we came to the water, we came to a clear meadow. It was
very light, and snow was on the ground. The Indian made a stop,
and turned about. The Major saw him point his gun towards us,
and he fire