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Page 79
"Late the night following, the messengers returned; and on the morning
succeeding, we resumed our journey. In parting from the noble old chief,
he shook my hand cordially, but gave me no intimation of what would
probably be my fate.
"When within sight of Upper Sandusky, crowds of warriors, women and
children came out to meet us, and, seeing me, set up many a hideous
yell, until I again became alarmed for my safety, and fearful that Logan
had not succeeded in his magnanimous design. This impression was the
more strongly confirmed, shortly after, by one of my guides informing me
that I must again run the gauntlet. Accordingly every preparation being
speedily effected, I started upon the course; but possessing more
strength and activity than before, and a better knowledge of what I had
to perform, I succeeded in breaking through the lines, and reaching the
council house unharmed. Here I was safe for the present; or until, as I
was informed, my fate should once more be decided by a grand council.
"The council in question was speedily convened; and on the opening
thereof, a British agent, one Captain Druyer, made his appearance,
and requested permission to address the assemblage, which was readily
granted. He spoke rapidly, for a few minutes, with great vehemence; and
though I understood not a word he uttered, yet something whispered me it
was in my favor; for I observed that the glances directed towards me,
were milder far than those on my previous trial.
"To sum up briefly, it seems that Logan had despatched his messengers to
Druyer, urging him to exert all his influence in obtaining my reprieve;
and to effect this humane design, the latter had begun by stating to
the Indians that their great white father, of whom he was an humble
representative, was at war with the Long Knives; that nothing would
please him better, than to hear of his red children having sacrificed
all their enemies; but that in war, policy was ofttimes more effectual
than personal revenge in accomplishing their destruction; and that he
doubted not, if the prisoner present were put in his possession and
taken to Detroit, that the great white chiefs of his own nation would
there be able to extort from him such valuable information as would
make the final conquest of the Long Knives comparatively easy. To this
proposition, which was received rather coldly, he had added, that for
this privilege he was willing to pay a fair recompense; and that so soon
as all the information necessary had been gleaned from the prisoner, he
should, if thought advisable, again be returned to them, to be put to
death or not, as they might see proper. To this arrangement, all having
at last consented, the gallant Captain advanced to me, shook my hand,
and said that my life was for the present safe, and that I was to
accompany him to Detroit, where I would be treated as a prisoner of war.
"It is impossible to describe my feelings, on hearing this joyful
intelligence; therefore I shall leave you to imagine them, aided as you
will be by your own experience under similar circumstances. And now let
me close my long narrative as briefly as possible; for the hour is
already late, and I must rise betimes on the morrow to join this
expedition against the savages."
"Surely, Algernon," exclaimed Ella, with pale features, "you are not
going to leave us again so soon?"
"Where duty calls, Ella, there is my place; and if I fall in honorable
action, in defence of my country and friends, perchance my life may
atone for matters whereof _you_ are not ignorant."
Ella buried her face in her hands, to conceal her emotion; and Algernon,
with an effort at composure, again proceeded.
"At Detroit I experienced kind treatment, as a prisoner of war; but
still it was captivity, and I longed for freedom. Many, many an hour
did I employ in planning my escape; yet month upon month rolled on, and
still I remained in durance. At last startling rumors reached me, that
the Indians of the different tribes were banding together, to march upon
the frontiers and depopulate the country; and remembering the savage
threat of Girty, I doubted not he was the instigator, and would be
leader of the expedition; and I determined, at all hazards, if such a
thing were in the province of possibility, to effect my escape, and give
the country warning of the impending danger. To be brief, I succeeded,
as my presence here tells for itself; but no one knows, save myself, and
He who knows all things, the misery I suffered from fatigue, lack of
food, and the fear of again being captured by some roving band of
savages--the which I shall detail, perhaps, should my life be spared me,
at some future period, but not at the present.
"I swam the Ohio, a short distance above the Falls, and made my way,
to the best of my judgment, directly towards Boonesborough, where I
arrived, a few days since, in a state of complete exhaustion. The noble
old hunter received me warmly; from whose lips I heard, with thrilling
emotion, the particulars of the pursuit, headed by himself, and the
rescue of two of my dearest friends, their present abode, as also many
startling events that had transpired during my absence; and in return,
I communicated to him the alarming intelligence which I have before
alluded to. So soon as I felt myself sufficiently strong for the
journey, I left Boonesborough for Bryan's Station, and here I am, and
thus my tale."
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