Page:Crawford's defeat a tale of the frontier in 1812 (1954).djvu/19

 reconnoitering parties. These groups, taking different directions, should put the neighboring settlers upon their guard and should endeavor to discover the retreat of the hostile party. Accordingly, the military part of the force was divided into small detachments which took different directions. They had instructions to return in the evening and make a report of their discoveries.

In the meantime, the other villagers in small parties continued to ramble through the woods within the vicinity of the town, endeavoring to discover some trace of the retreating party of Indians. As Emmett and another townsman were strolling through the rich bottoms near a place called the Indian fields, a little below Mount Vernon on the south side of the river, the conversation naturally turned upon the incidents of the preceding night. Emmett turned to his companion with a hearty laugh, requested him to sit down on a log nearby, and said he would disclose to him the whole cause of the alarm. When his companion was seated, Emmett proceeded to tell him about the logrolling and the boastings of Crawford as to his personal courage.

"Believing that his heart would quail if put to the test, notwithstanding his pretensions of bravery," continued Emmett, "another man and I entered into conspiracy against him. Our object was to play a joke upon him and to put his fortitude to a trial. We accordingly waited until he had started homeward. Then, having in some small degree disguised ourselves, and having taken a hasty circuitous route, we came into the road some distance before him and concealed ourselves behind the clump of trees on the margin of Dry Creek. Our plan succeeded beyond our expectation. We gave the poor fellow a greater fright than was intended. The joke succeeded so well that when we discovered the course it was about to take, we determined to enjoy it longer."

This disclosure being made, the two enjoyed some merriment at the expense of Crawford and the deluded villagers. Then they laid themselves down in the shade to await the arrival of the appointed time for making their report. In the evening the different parties returned, bringing the joyful intelligence that the enemy had certainly fled from