“Is this here a time,” she cried, with enthusiasm, her eyes flashing as she spoke, “to be hanging back, till the all important moment’s gone by, and then choke to death for want o’water?  What’s our lives any more’n the men’s, that we should be so orful skeered about a few ripscallious, painted varmints, as arn’t o’ no account, no how?  Han’t I bin amongst ’em once?—­and didn’t the Lord preserve me?—­and shall I doubt His protection now, when a hundred lives is at stake?  No! no!  I’m not skeered; and I’ll go, too, ef I has to go alone.  Who’ll follow me?”

“I will!” cried one.

“And I!” said a second.

“We’ll all go!” exclaimed several voices.

Dispersing in every direction, each flew to her own cabin, and seizing upon a bucket, hurried to the rear gate, where, all being assembled, they were at once given exit.[20]

Perhaps in the whole annals of history, a more singular proceeding than this—­of men allowing their wives and daughters to deliberately put themselves into the power of a ferocious, blood-thirsty enemy, and women with nerve and courage to dare all so bravely—­can not be found.  But these were times of stern necessity, when each individual—­man, woman or child—­was called upon to dare and do that which would surprise and startle their descendants.  Still it must not be supposed that they, on either side, were without fears, and those of the most alarming kind.  Many a palpitating heart moved over the ground to the spring, and many a pale face was reflected in its placid waters; while many a courageous soul within the fort trembled at the thought of the venture, and what might be its result, as they had never done before—­even with death staring them in the face—­and as they probably would never do again.  Each party, however, knew the step taken to be a serious alternative; and the women believed that on their caution and presence of mind, their own lives, and those of their fathers, husbands, and children were depending; and in consequence of this, they assumed an indifference and gaiety the most foreign to their present feelings.  As for Algernon, we leave the task to lovers of imagining his feelings, when he saw the lovely Ella depart with the rest.  It was indeed a most anxious time for all; but the stratagem succeeded to a charm; and, to use the words of a historian on the subject, “Although their steps became quicker and quicker on their return, and, when near the gate of the fort, degenerated into a rather unmilitary celerity, attended with some little crowding in passing the aperture, yet not more than one-fifth of the water was spilled, and the eyes of the youngest had not dilated to more than double their ordinary size.”

[Footnote 20:  In both the foregoing and subsequent details, we have followed history to the letter.]

[Footnote 21:  The reader, familiar with the history of the early pioneers of Kentucky, will doubtless observe a similarity between the account given by Reynolds of his escape from captivity, and that of Gen. Simon Kenton, as narrated by his biographer, Col.  John McDonald.]