he Indians it was Logan who first struck the Long Knives. With
only seven warriors he suddenly appeared in Virginia itself. This was
Long Knife country. Here, July 12, he fell upon William Robinson,
Thomas Hellen and Coleman Brown, three settlers who were gathering flax
in their field.

Brown died under the first volley; Hellen and Robinson ran hard.
Hellen was an old man, and easily caught, but William Robinson was
young and strong. Dodging and legging, he had almost reached the
timber. Hearing loud shouting, with English words, behind him, and
fearing a rifle bullet, he turned his head and lunged full tilt into a
tree. Down he dropped, stunned.

After a bit he came to. He was lying, securely tied, hands and feet.
Logan was sitting quietly beside him, waiting for him to waken. The
old man Hellen had not been harmed, either. Logan's party took their
two captives to Logan's town in Ohio--treated them kindly on the way.

"What will be done to us at your town?" asked Robinson.

"You will be made to run the gauntlet," answered Logan. "But if you
listen to my words, you will not be hurt. You must break through the
lines and run to the council house. When you are in the council house,
you will be safe. That will end the gauntlet."

Approaching the Mingo and Shawnee towns, Logan uttered a terrific
scalp-halloo, as signal of success. Warriors hastened out. The
gauntlet was formed. This was two lines of warriors, squaws and
children, armed with sticks, clubs and switches. Through the long,
narrow, living aisle the two prisoners had to make their way.

Remembering Logan's advice, Robinson charged aside, broke through, and
raced for the council house. All out of breath, he reached it ahead of
his howling pursuers. No Indian dared to attack him there. It was
sanctuary.

Poor old Mr. Hellen failed. The lines were stout, the clubs and
switches blinded him; before he had reached the council house a
war-club struck him helpless. He might have been beaten to death had
not Robinson bravely grabbed him and dragged him in.

He had won his life, and was adopted into an Indian family. Now the
Indians were angry with Robinson. They decided to burn him at the
stake.

"Have no fear. You shall not die," asserted Logan.

But matters looked bad. He was tied to the stake. While he stood
there, with the squaws howling around him, he heard Logan speak,
appealing for his life.

"The most powerful orator I've ev