But Colonel Butler
put his wife on a horse and escaped with her over the mountains.
Stragglers, evading the tomahawk in the darkness, were coming in,
only to be surrendered the next day; others were pouring forth in
a stream, seeking the shelter of the mountains and the forest,
preferring any dangers that might be found there to the mercies
of the victors.
When Shif'less Sol learned that the fort was to be given up, be
said:
"It looks ez ef we had escaped from the Iroquois jest in time to
beg 'em to take us back."
"I reckon I ain't goin' to stay 'roun' here while things are
bein' surrendered," said Long Jim Hart.
"I'll do my surrenderin' to Iroquois when they've got my hands
an' feet tied, an' six or seven uv 'em are settin' on my back,"
said Tom Ross.
"We'll leave as soon as we can get arms for Sol and Paul," said
Henry. "Of course it would be foolish of us to stay here and be
captured again. Besides, we'll be needed badly enough by the
women and children that are going."
Good weapons were easily obtained in the fort. It was far better
to let Sol and Paul have them than to leave them for the Indians.
They were able to select two fine rifles of the Kentucky pattern,
long and slender barreled, a tomahawk and knife for each, and
also excellent double-barreled pistols.
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