Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/159

DELAWARE COUNTY. 135 the upper fort to anticipate any hostile movement of the ene- my, arrived at the residence of Rose, where they halted. They inquired of this man, if he had seen any Indians in that vicinity? He replied, ^^Yes, the woods are full of them V' and instead of sending them from, he directed them to take the same route pursued by the Indians. The scout proceeded but a short distance when they overtook the party, who had been made aware of their approach, and had awaited them in ambush. As they approached the eminence on which the enemy were concealed, Bouck saw his father's slave, who waved her bonnet at him in such a manner as to warn him of their danger, and they turned and beat a hasty retreat. The Indians perceiving the backward movement of their foes, fired, when John Hagidore fell, wounded in the hip, but instantly springing up, followed his companions. The Indians did not see fit to pursue, and the scout returned to the house of Rose, where Hagidore's wound rendering him unable to proceed further, they were obliged to leave him with this tory, assuring him that if their friend was not well cared for, or if harm befel him, his own life should be the forfeit. But to return to the fort at Schoharie — Bouck not return- ing as was expected, Captain Hager dispatched a company of twenty men, under the command of Lieutenants Joseph Har- per and Ephraim Yrooman, to pursue their captors, and if possible, retake the prisoners. They luckily pursued the same route taken by the Indians, and when near the house of Rose they met the scout on their return to Schoharie, who immedi- ately, however, joined in the pursuit. After arriving at the place where Hagidore was wounded, they struck the trail of the enemy, which ascended the moun- tain toward the Little Delaware, which course the Indians had ^ evidently taken to avoid further pursuit. They proceeded cautiously but expeditiously up the mountain, near the sum- mit of which, upon an open plain, they discovered the party,