Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/298

274 HISTORY OF four each, and passing through the bars, formed in single line in the road, the lower end reaching about opposite Mr. Earle's house. I stationed myself at the bars as they passed, and endeavored to count them. In observing their disguises I lost the count, but should think from the estimate I then made, they were about one hundred strong, all disguised and armed ; I saw not one unarmed, most had rifles ; there were some muskets, and in addition, several had small pistols, some toma- hawks, bags of feathers, &c., &c. I passed from the bars down along the line of Indians, from four to six feet in front, and on arriving at the centre of the line I met one of the chiefs, who, raising his sword, told me to stand back twenty feet ; I stopped, and maintaining my position, told him I should not stand back one inch for him or any of his tribe ; he then placed his sword upon my breast, and again ordered me back : I in- stantly placed my hand upon my pistol, and told him to with- draw his sword from my person, or I would make a hole through him ; he then withdrew his sword and drew a pistol ; I then told him to violate my person again and I should defend myself to the last, against him and the whole of his tribe ; that I should ofi"er no insult or injury to any of them, but that they must let me alone, that I did not fear the whole of them ; that I came there on lawful business, that their's was unlawful; they came there to violate the law, and were all outlaws, and liable to be punished in the State prison, every one of them ; that they were not ignorant of the fact, for they knew what the law was. ^' This was said in a loud voice, so that all could hear, and they responded, ' damn the law, we mean to break it.' I told the chief that I knew him well, and that I should remember him ; he replied, ' you can't swear to me.' — The Indians then asked me if I intended to bid upon the property ; I told them that I came there for that purpose, and that if I had an oppor- tunity I should. I was then told that if I bid upon the pro-