at they had a letter for Colonel Boone from Governor Hamilton,
of Detroit. Upon hearing this, it was thought best that Boone and Smith
should go out and meet them, and hear what they had to say.

Fifty yards from the fort they were met by three chiefs, who received
them very cordially, and led them to the spot where they were to hold the
parley. Here they were seated upon a panther's skin, while the Indians
held branches over their heads to protect them from the sun. The chiefs
then commenced talking in a friendly way, and some of their warriors now
came forward, grounded their arms, and shook hands with them. Then the
letter of General Hamilton was read; he invited them to surrender and
come at once to Detroit where they should be treated with all kindness.
Smith objected to this proposal, declaring that it was impossible for
them, at this time, to move their women and children; but the Indians had
an answer ready: they had brought forty horses with them, they said,
expressly to help them in removing. After a long and friendly talk, the
white men returned to the fort, for the purpose, as they said, of
considering the proposal. They now informed the settlers that the Indians
had no cannon, and advised them never to think of surrendering. Every man
thought the advice good.

The Indians now sent in another flag, and asked what treaty the whites
were ready to make. Boone, who had suspected treachery all the time, at
once sent a reply, that if they wished to make a treaty, the place for
making it, must be within sixty yards of the fort. This displeased them
at first, but at last, they consented. He then stationed some of his men,
with their guns, in one angle of the fort, with orders to fire if it
became necessary, and, with Smith, started out to meet them. After a long
talk with thirty chiefs, terms were agreed upon, and the treaty was ready
to be signed; the chiefs now said that it was customary with them, on
such occasions, for the Indians to shake hands with every white man who
signed the treaty, as a token of the warmest friendship. Boone and Smith
agreed to this, and the shaking of hands commenced; presently, they found
themselves seized in the crowd--the Indians were dragging them off; a
fire from the fort now levelled the savages who grasped them; the rest
were in confusion, and, in the confusion, Boone and Smith escaped and
rushed into the fort. In the struggle Boone was wounded, though not
dangerously. It was a na