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     ESCAPE of SAMUEL DAVIS  - The last noted prisoner brought to the licks by the Indians was Samuel Davis, the spy employed by the Governor of Kentucky to watch, together with others, the movements of the Indians along the border.  In the fall of 1792 the spies were discharged, and Davis  and William Campbell went up Big Sandy on a winter's hunt.  On their return, they slept one night on a small island, where, before morning, they were found by Indians, who made them prisoners, and at once started for their towns in Ohio.  After they had reached the Licks, they camped for the night, securing their prisoners in the following manner.  They took a strong tug made from the raw hide of the buffalo or elk.  This tug they tied tight around the prisoner's waist.  Each end of the tug was fastened around an Indian's waist.  Thus with the same tug fastened to two Indians, he could not turn to the one side or the other without drawing an Indian with him.  Notwithstanding all their precautions, Davis finally escaped.  The story of his escape, as told by McDonald, is as follows:
     One morning, just before day began to appear, as Davis lay in his uncomfortable situation, he hunched one of the Indians to whom he was fastened, and requested to be untied.  The Indian raised up his head and looked round, and found it was still dark, and no Indians up about the fires.  He gave Davis a severe dig with his fist, and bade him lie still.  Davis' mind was now in a state of desperation.  Fire and fagot, sleeping or awake were constantly floating before his mind's eye.  This torturing suspense would chill his soul with horror.  After some time a number of Indians rose up and made their fires.  It was growing light, but not light enough to draw a bead.  Davis again jogged one of the Indians to whom he was fastened, and said the tug hurt his middle, and again requested the Indian to untie him.  The Indian raised up his head, and looked round, and saw it was getting light and a number of Indians about the fires.  He untied him.  Davis rose to his feet and was determined, as soon as he could look around and see the most probable direction of making his escape, to make the attempt at all hazards.  He screwed his courage to the sticking point.  It was a most desperate undertaking.  Should he fail to effect his escape, death, instant, cruel death, was his doom.  He rose to his feet, stood a minute, between the two Indians, to whom he had been fastened, and took a quick glance at the Indians who were standing around him.  In the evening the Indians had cut two forks, which were stuck into the ground; a pole was laid across these forks, and all their rifles were leaned against the pole.  If he made his start back from the Indian camp, the rifles of the Indians, who were standing round the fires, and who, he knew, would pursue him, would be before them, and as they started after him, they would have nothing to do, but pick up a rifle as they ran.  On the contrary, if he made his plunge through the midst of them, they would have to run back for their guns, and by that time, as it was only twilight in the morning, he could be so far from them that their aim would be very uncertain.  The success of his daring enterprise depended on the swiftness of his heels.  He knew his bottom was good.  A large active Indian was standing between Davis and the fire.  He drew back his fist and struck that Indian with all his force, and dropping him into the fire; and with the agility of a buck he sprang over his body and took to the woods with all the speed that was in his power.  The Indians pursued, yelling and screaming like demons.  But as Davis anticipated, not a gun was fired at him.  Several Indians pursued him some distance, and for some time it was a doubtful race.  The foremost Indian was so close to him that he sometimes fancied that he felt his clutch.  However at length Davis began to gain ground upon his pursuers, the breaking and rustling of brush was still farther and farther off.  He took up a long sloping ridge. When he reached the top, he for the first time looked back, and to his infinite pleasure saw no person in pursuit.  After many privations for several days, he reached Manchester.