clump of bushes, where she lay
till the moon cleared the tree tops and sent a broad stream of light
over the bosom of the river. Then, unfastening her boat, she stepped a
few paces into the water to get into it. But, as she reached the canoe,
she trod on something cold and soft, and stooping down discovered, to
her horror, that it was a human body. The pale moonlight streamed on the
face of a dead Indian, not long killed, it was evident, for the body had
not become stiff. The young woman recoiled at first, but uttered no
scream, for the instinct of self-preservation taught her that it might
be dangerous. She went round the corpse, which must have been there when
she landed, stepped into her bark, and reached the mouth of Grave Creek,
without further adventure, early the next morning.

In the ensuing summer, one morning while kindling the fire, blowing the
coals on her knees, she heard steps in the apartment, and, turning
round, saw a very tall Indian standing close to her. He shook his
tomahawk at her threateningly, at the same time motioning her to keep
silence. He then looked around the cabin in search of plunder. Seeing
her brother's rifle hanging on hooks over the fireplace, he seized it
and went out. Rebecca showed no fear while he was present; but,
immediately on his departure, left the cabin and hid herself in the
standing corn till her brother came home.

Her second marriage was performed with a simplicity characteristic of
the times. A traveling preacher, who chanced to come into the
settlement, performed the ceremony at short notice, the bridegroom
presenting himself in his hunting-dress, and the bride in short-gown and
petticoat of homespun, the common wear of the country.

This Rebecca Williams afterwards became famous among the borderers of
Ohio River for her medical skill, and the cure of dangerous wounds. She
was with Elizabeth Zane at the siege of Fort Henry, at Wheeling, and
there exercised the healing art for the benefit of the wounded soldiers.
In 1777, the depredations and massacres of the Indians became so
frequent that the settlement at Grave Creek was broken up. It was in a
dangerous locality, being on the frontier, and lower down the river than
any other.

* * * * *

In December, 1777, when the British army was in possession of
Philadelphia, and the Americans in winter quarters at Valley Forge,
Major Tallmadge was stationed for some time between the two armies