276 HISTORY OF and crossing the road on the north side^ as if they wished to head them off^ supposing they had started for home. Steele and Edgerton returned to the bars, and the Indians again to the lot. I then called the sheriff out of the lot, and told him that he might say to the Indians, that unless they would permit the property to be driven into the road, he might adjourn the sale. The sheriff then went back into the lot, saying he thought he should be able to drive the property into the road, and was followed by Mr. Brisbane, about fifteen feet from the bars, a little to the right, where they were surrounded by a number of Indians, and considerable conversation ensued with the sheriff, which I cannot now relate. In a few moments I attempted to pass through the bars into the lot where the sheriff was, and a platoon of Indians guarded the bars, forbid- ding my passage, and an Indian raised his gun before me. Holding a cane in my hand, I placed it with both hands against his breast, and forced a passage into the lot, the file of Indians at the bars closing in behind me. Steele and Edgerton, appre- hending my danger, then rode into the lot about two lengths of their horses. I maintained about the same position near the horse's head. The file of Indians at the bars fell back, forming a semi-circle of fifteen or twenty feet radius around Steele, Edgerton and myself. The crowd around the sheriff formed in the same circle, and some came from the hollow square. The chief then gave the command : ^ shoot the horses — shoot the horses :' ^ shoot Mm, shoot him the spectators at the bars moved away at the motion of the Indians, and thirty or forty rifles were pointed at us, and we then supposed death was our portion. Steele and Edgerton then commanded the peace, and Edgerton, in a loud voice, called upon every citizen to assist in preserving the peace. A volley of rifles was then fired upon us, and I saw instantly the blood flow freely from the breast of Edgerton's horse, upon my right, and I should think Steele was wounded in the arm at this fire ; in the course
