Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/109

DELAWARE COUNTY. 85 weapon, in attempting to free it from the skull of the savage. The first one struck by Cowley was killed, but the blows which sent two to their final reckonings, awoke their fellows, who instantly sprang to their feet. As Seth Henry arose he re- ceived a blow, which he partially warded ofi" by raising his arm, but his shoulder was laid open, and he fell back stunned. The fourth, as he arose, received a heavy blow on his back ; he was pursued and fled into a swamp near by, where he died. The two men returned to the fire, and were resolving on what course to pursue, when Seth Henry, who had recovered, and feigned himself dead for some time to embrace a favorable opportunity, sprang upon his feet, dashed through the fire, caught up his rifle, levelled and snapped it at his foes, then ran' into the forest and disappeared. — Simms' Hktory of Schoharie. The liberated captives were now masters of the bloody field, and once more free ; but after such an exciting scene, no sleep came to their eyes during the remainder of the night. Their first precaution was to arm themselves with the implements of their fallen foes. They took each a gun, a tomahawk and a scalping-knife, together with all the remaining ammunition, and thus equipped, they anxiously awaited the approach of day. At last the luminous orb raised his head from behind the eastern hills, and its rays peering through the overhanging branches of the forest trees, revealed to their eyes more fully the reality of the sad spectacle, and gave the signal for the commencement of their march. They conjectured, and with truth, that the escaped savage would communicate the fearful tidings of the massacre of his comrades to the nearest Indians, and that they would be im- mediately pursued. Deeming it unsafe, therefore, to follow the same trail they had lately passed over, they boldly struck out into the forest in a south-easterly direction, knowing that sooner or later, that course would lead to the settlements of the 8