I  shall  only  require  four  or  five  volunteers  and
one  of  my  Indian  guides  to  accompany  me."
Combs  was  properly  equipped,  and  on  May  1  he
started  on  his  perilous  errand,  accompanied  by
two  brothers  named  Walker  and  two  others
(  Paxton  and  Johnson  ) ;  also  by  young  Black
Fish,  a  Sliawnoese  warrior.  They  passed  the
Rapids  in  safety,  when  the  roar  of  the  siege
met  their  ears.  Great  peril  was  in  their  way.
It  was  late  in  the  morning.  To  remain  where
they  were  until  night  or  to  go  on  was  equally
hazardous.  "  We  must  go  on,"  said  the  brave
Combs.  As  they  passed  the  last  bend  in  the
stream  that  kept  the  fort  from  view  they  were
greatly  rejoiced  to  see  that  "  the  flag  was  still
there,"  and  that  the  garrison  was  holding  out
against  a  strong  besieging  force.  Suddenly  they
were  assailed  by  some  Indians  in  the  woods,  and
were  compelled  to  turn  their  canoe  towards  the
opposite  shore,  where  they  abandoned  it.  One  of
the  party  was  killed  and  another  badly  wound-
ed. Combs  and  his  unhurt  companions  made
their  way  back  to  Fort  Defiance.
