A gun?—it was a part of Clark. He used his rifle-barrelled
firelock as he used his hands, his feet, his eyes,
instantly, surely, involuntarily. He showed them how to
strike the buffalo in a vital part, killed fourteen, and hurried
on, thirty miles a day, fording stream and swamp
and tangled forest to save Kentucky.
Kentucky was watching for her deliverer. Into his ear was poured the startling tale. With Simon Girty, the renegade, and six hundred Indians, down the high waters of the Miami and up the Licking, Bird came to Ruddle's station and fired his cannon. Down went the wooden palisades like a toy blockhouse before his six-pounders.
"Surrender!" came the summons from Colonel Bird.
"Yes, if we can be prisoners to the British and not to the Indians."
Bird assented. The gates were thrown open. Indians flew like dogs upon the helpless people.
"You promised security," cried Captain Ruddle.
"I cannot stop them," said Bird. "I, too, am in their power."
Madly the Indians sacked the station and killed the cattle. Loading the household goods upon the backs of the unfortunate owners, they drove them forth and gave their cabins to the flames.
The same scenes were enacted at Martin's Station. The Indians were wild for more. But Bird would not permit further devastation. He could easily have taken every fort in Kentucky, not one could have withstood his artillery; but to his honour be it said, he led his forces out.
Loaded with plunder, the wretched captives, four hundred and fifty men, women, and children, were driven away to Detroit. Whoever faltered was tomahawked.
Clark immediately called on the militia of Kentucky. Hastening to Harrodsburg he found the newcomers wild over land entries.
"Land!" they cried, "you can have all you can hold against the Indians."
It was a grewsome joke. The Indians would not even let them survey. Like a military dictator, Clark c
