that
very Wakatomica, the Black Fish town where he had suffered tortures.
Long before this he had become Simon Kenton; he had learned that he was
no murderer, after all; he had met his one-time rival, Leitchman, and
they had "made up."

[1] See "Boys' Book of Indian Warriors."

CHAPTER VI

THE SCRAPE OF LEWIS AND JACOB WETZEL (1778)

AND THE NERVE OF TWO BOY SCOUTS

Several kinds of frontier fighters seem to have been needed in order
that from the white strip along the Atlantic coast the American cabins
should move, on to the Ohio River and into the red Northwest.

The patient, untiring Daniel Boone was one kind. He was a settler. He
explored only to plant a family home; he killed Indians only to
preserve the home, his people and himself. He commanded respect.

Simon Kenton was another kind. He was an adventurer. He planted no
home of any value to the country; he took the trail as a scout, and
killed Indians who got in his way. He won hatred as well as respect.

The Wetzel boys were a third kind. They were settlers, they were
scouts, but they were professional Indian-hunters. The trail had one
object to them: scalps and revenge. They spread fear and hatred both.

There were five Wetzel brothers: Martin, Lewis, Jacob, John and George.
Not so much is heard about George, but the four others became famous
bordermen.

The Wetzel family removed with the Zane families and neighbors from the
South Branch of the Potomac River, West Virginia, in 1770, to help form
the Wheeling settlement at the Ohio in the pan-handle. Father John
Wetzel was a daring man; a great hunter, a venturesome explorer; and
finally he took chances once too often and lost his life.

When he arrived in the Wheeling district he located his cabin fourteen
miles up Wheeling Creek, where he had little company except his wife
and children. Besides the five sons, two daughters were born: Susan
and Christina. So the cabin did not lack excitement, even had there
been no Indian scares.

Of the sons, Martin was the eldest. He and his father aided in the
defense of Fort Henry, in 1775. Lewis was the next; he was born about
1764. Jacob probably was the next to Lewis.

It was in 1778, when Lewis was about fourteen and Jacob was about
twelve that they two had their celebrated affair with the Indians,
which proved them to be made of the right stuff for bordermen.

They were playing near the corn-crib some little distance from the