ironing the fort,
and although for some time they delayed to renew their suspended
assault, yet it was evident they had not given over its contemplated
reduction. They were engaged in making such preparations, as they were
confident would ensure success to their exertions.

Soon after the firing of the preceding day had subsided, a small boat,
proceeding from Fort Pitt to the Falls of Ohio with cannon balls for
the use of the troops there, put to shore at Wheeling; and the man who
had charge of her, although discovered and slightly wounded by the
savages, reached the postern and was admitted to the fort. The boat of
course fell into the hands of the enemy, and they resolved on using
the balls aboard, for the demolition of the fortress. To this end they
procured a log, with a cavity as nearly corresponding with the size
of the ball, as they could; and binding it closely with some chains
taken from a shop hard by, charged it heavily, and pointing it towards
the fort, in imagination beheld its walls tumbling into ruin, and the
garrison bleeding under the strokes and gashes of their tomahawks and
scalping knives. All things being ready, the match was applied.--A
dreadful explosion ensued. Their cannon burst;--its slivers flew in
every direction; and instead of being the cause of ruin to the fort,
was the source of injury only to themselves. Several were killed, many
wounded, and all, dismayed by the event. Recovering from the shock,
they presently returned with redoubled animation to the charge.
Furious from disappointment, exasperated with the unforseen yet fatal
result, they pressed to the assault with the blindness of phrensy.
Still they were received with a fire so constant and deadly, that they
were again forced to retire; and most opportunely for the garrison.

When Lynn gave the alarm that an Indian army was approaching, the fort
having been for some time unoccupied by a garrison, and Col. Zane's
house being used as a magazine, those who retired into the fortress
had to take with them a supply of ammunition for its defence. The
supply of powder, deemed ample at the time, by reason of the long
continuance of the savages, and the repeated [264] endeavors made by
them, to storm the fort was now almost entirely exhausted, a few loads
only, remaining. In this emergency, it became necessary to replenish
their stock, from the abundance of that article in Col. Zane's house.
During the continuance of the last assault, appriz