rrow escape for both of them.

There was no more chance for deception now; the Indians were
disappointed, and the whites were provoked at their treachery. A brisk
firing now commenced on both sides; Duquesne harangued the Indians and
urged them on, while the whites shouted from the fort, upbraided them as
treacherous cowards, and defied them. The attack was furious, the firing
was kept up till dark, and many an Indian fell that day before
Boonesborough. The whites, sheltered by their pickets, made easy havoc
among them.

When night came, the exasperated Indians crawled under the pickets and
began to throw burning materials into the fort, hoping to set all on
fire; but in this they were disappointed--there were ample supplies of
water inside, and the fire was put out as fast as it fell.

The next day the firing was resumed, and day after day it continued, the
Indians failing to make any impression. They were too far from the
fort--the first day's work had taught them not to come near. At last they
formed a wiser plan for doing mischief. Boonesborough, as you will
remember, was only sixty yards from the river, and they determined, by
the advice of the Frenchman, to let the water in and force the settlers
out. In the night, they commenced the work of digging a trench under
ground, from the river. In the morning Boone looked out upon the river,
and perceiving that it was muddy, instantly guessed the cause. He
immediately set his men to the work of cutting a trench inside the fort,
to cross the subterranean passage of the Indians. The savages saw what
was doing, for Boone's men were constantly shovelling dirt over the
pickets, but they persevered earnestly in their design. At last, however,
they were forced to stop, for the dirt caved in as fast as they dug;
disappointed in this, they now summoned the station once more to a
treaty. But Boone laughed at them. "Do you suppose," said he, "we would
pretend to treat with such treacherous wretches? Fire on, you only waste
your powder; the gates shall never be opened to you while there is a man
of us living." Taking his advice, they commenced their firing again; at
last, on the ninth day of the siege, wearied with their fruitless labor,
they killed all the cattle they could find, raised a yell, and departed.
This was a terrible siege for the Indians; it is said that they lost two
hundred men; Boone counted thirty-seven chief warriors; while the whites,
defended by their pickets,