He was like any of the lads, except that he excelled us all in strength and agility.

When he was nearly eighteen years old a band if Indians--Delawares, I think--crossed the border on a marauding expedition far into Virginia.

They burned the old Wetzel homestead and murdered the father, mother, two sisters, and a baby brother.

The terrible shock nearly killed Lewis, who for a time was very ill.

When he recovered he went in search of his brothers, Martin and John Wetzel, who were hunting, and brought them back to their desolated home.