As they overtook the fugitives they saw the Indians hid in the creek-bottom, and dismounted to fight, turning their horses loose.

A smart interchange of shots followed, the whites having, if any thing, rather the best of it, when the other and larger body of Indians rose from their hiding-place, in a clump of cedars, and running down, formed between the combatants and the fort, intending to run into the latter, mixed with the fleeing riflemen.

The only chance of the hemmed-in whites was to turn and try to force their way back through their far more numerous foes.

This was a desperate venture, for their pieces were all discharged, and there was no time to reload them; but they were helped by two unexpected circumstances.

Their horses had taken flight at the firing, and ran off towards the fort, passing to one side of the intervening line of Indians; and many of the latter, eager for such booty, ran off to catch them.