The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-08-09
TRANSLATED
BY HARRY VAN AMBERG
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

/ rEOn tue udle VI tue uTSL SeIIlenent
of America there was warfare with the
Indians. and during the war Of the
Revolution there was also war with
the British. But by that time the In
dian fighting had retreated westward.
In 1777 Harrodsburg, KY, was sur
lrounded by red men, and the people,
mot daring to go out to hunt for game.
were often in great straits for food.
lThe settlement was protected by one OF
those stockade forts used at that time
lfor keeping Off savages, and when
they were hostile the inhabitants Of
abe place were obliged to keep within
Its inclosure.
During this Indian hostility and con.
sequent lack of food youth of sixteen
made himself invaluable by leaving
the fort before dawn. hunting all day
aud returning after nightfall with the
game he had shot. James Ray was
lthe name Of this brave boy, and he
iafterward became a general officer In
fhe United States army.
One day Ray and a companion were
outside the fort shooting at q mark.
Suddenly Ray heard the report of n
rifle and his friend fell dead. 1t did
mot require process of reasoning for
Ray TO know that the shot had come
from an Indian. Looking about him
he saw the redskin who had killed his
friend and raising his rife was about
TO shoot him when there was a whoop
from another quarter. Then Ray took
TO his heels and ran like deer toward
the fort a few hundred yards distant.
Ray was very quick runner. The
indians could not catch him, but they
followed him with a brisk fire. He
reached the fort without having been
hit. but found the gates closed. Those
within had heard the firing, had shut
themselves in and were too terrified to
open the gates. Ray called upon them
TO let him In, but fearing that II they
did the savages would follow him and
massacre the garrison they refused to
do so.
Ray threw himself fiat on the
ground, stump covering him from
the fire of the enemy. That is, the
indians couldn't hit him. though their
bullets sang in such proximity to his
ears as to make him think that the
next would cut Off one of them. or per-
haps tear strip out of his side or
go through his foot. He was but half
a dozen steps from the fort, within
which he would be safe If he could
only get there.
But this was impossible so long as
the Indians were threatening him.
Near enough to see those In the fort
locking through the loop holes he
talked with them about ways to extri-
cate him from his position. While the
bullets were singing on either side of
him he was conversing with his moth
er. There seemed no way to relieve
him except to open the gates, and by
doing this many lives might be sacri-
feed In an Intellectual attempt to save
one.
There was one in the fort who suf.
fered as much. doubtless far more,
than Ray himself. That was his moth
er. She looked through loophole,
where she could see him lying In his
perilous position, and she could see
each spurt of smoke ms II left nm In.
dian rifle, knowing that It marked the
sending OF bullet to kill her boy.
Dn L,,I
let sing by him and feel the dust sprin.
Killing over him, but saw his danger re.
nected In his mothers face.
Hour after hour passed without any
change In the situation. When II
seemed impossible for him TO lie any
longer In one position and he attempt.
ed TO change II, the consequent expo.
sure OF some portion OF his body would
draw more fire. ndmonshing him to
endure the constrained attitude rather
than risk wound by trying to relieve
II. The ground on each side of him
was torn up In furrows by the bullets
that had been shot through IL. and he
was covered by dust they had thrown
upon him.
Night was coming on and the In
dlans were drawing nearer. When It
became dark there could be nothing to
prevent the savages from coming near
enough TO take him or to shoot him
from position where the stump would
not protect him. For four hours he had
laid In view OF those In the fort, his
mother trying TO encourage him. yet
herself needing encouragement, when
a sudden thought occurred 10 him.
"For heavens sake" he cried, dig
a hole under the cabin wall and take
me in
All wondered why they hadn'i
thought OF the plan before. Pick and
spade were brought. and hole wai
sunk In the ground. Then when It wa,
OF a depth sufficient TO eIcavate under
the wall, a channel was run out to tn,
young hunter and he was drawn with
IN the fort.
Ray had no sooner emerged from tn,
hole than he found himself Rugged II