20. The Heroine of Ohio

In a little village in Ohio, on the banks of the Ohio River, there was a large fort called Fort Henry, which belonged to the colonists. When the Indians, who were fighting on the side of the English, attacked the village, all the men, women, and children fled to the fort. The Indians then attacked the fort, and all the men who went out to fight them were killed or taken prisoners. At last only twelve men were left in the fort to protect the women and children. When the colonists began to prepare for the second attack, they found their supply of powder almost exhausted, and without powder they knew death was near. Captain Zane called the twelve men together and said: “In my house there is a keg of powder. I do not wish to order any man to go for it, as it is a very dangerous thing to do, but I would like to have some one offer to go.” Several young men at once volunteered. “It means almost certain death,” said the captain. “I know that,” replied one young man, “but we must have the powder. To stay means death to all.” Just then the captain’s sister, Elizabeth, a girl of fourteen, stepped forward. “I will go for the powder,” she said; “you cannot spare one of the men, they are all wanted to protect the fort. If we are captured by the Indians, I shall surely be killed. So please let me go.”

At that Captain Zane said, “No! No!” But he soon saw she was right; not a man could be spared. The gate of the fort opened and the girl ran quickly out. The Indians saw her and cried in surprise, “A squaw! a squaw!” but no Indian tried to shoot her. She entered the house and found the keg of powder, but it was too heavy for her to carry, so, girllike, she emptied the powder into her apron, and started back amid the firing of the Indians, but although their arrows whistled over her head, she ran swiftly on and reached the gate in safety.

With the help of the powder the colonists were able to keep the Indians away that night. The next morning more men came and the Indians were driven away, and so the colonists of Ohio won a great victory.

The story of this fight at Fort Henry is often told, and the name of Elizabeth Zane, the brave girl who carried the apronful of powder to the men in the fort, will be remembered as long as brave deeds shall be told.