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Down the Ohio: Indian Summer, 1778
- The University Press of Kentucky
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98 Down the Ohio: Indian Summer, 1778 Jeptha Kelly No noise but the water’s flow. We held the raft in the river’s channel and never stopped watching the shade. Bright October days brought Shawnee across the river for one last hunt or raid. We heard, then saw, two men pleading for us to stop, but afraid of who lay hidden in the trees, we went on. They began to shout and curse. Then we saw them, two large canoes of warriors. Their first shots killed young Ebenezer and wounded John Nokes. We shot back and fought to keep the raft in the strongest current. 99 The first canoe caught us as I struggled to reload. Ruth screamed and tried to hide, but Sarah grabbed an ax and struck the first man in the chest. He fell back into their boat and I shot the next one in the throat. Their canoe rocked sharply and went broadside in the current, blocking the other boat. The water hurried us along and we passed around a bend. Reloaded we waited, but never saw them again. In the mild blue weather we watched the shore and water, while our raft went down the river. ...