Taken in part from:

Border Settlers of Northwestern Virginia

Written by Lucullus Virgil McWhorter

This  was a distinct incident from the Morgan- Indian tragedy at Pricket's  Fort in 1779.   It was during  this period that Jesse went very early one morning, to bring in a horse in a pasture some distance from his cabin. He arrived at the edge of the field just as day was breaking. Ever cautious, the wary scout paused to reconnoiter the premises before venturing into the open. Peering through his leafy screen, Jesse saw his horse, a spirited black, flying across the field pursued by a young Indian. The scout, who had on more than one occasion measured  speed and endurance with fleet-footed warriors, was amazed and startled to see this Indian outstrip the frantic steed. But, owing to the dread in which the horse of the white man held Indians, this  wild runner could not seize or fasten upon the coveted prize. It was yet too dark for Hughes to use his rifle with any degree of accuracy.
So, from his place of concealment, he watched this chase in the dusk of the departing night. But the day grew, and soon the silence was broken by the crash of the scout's deadly rifle, and before the answering echoes had ceased to reverberate through the valley, the swiftest runner of the Monongahela was lying still in death. One cannot but feel regret at the tragic death of this bronzed  athlete. who was seemingly alone and bent on no bloody designs  against the settlement. Like the untamed Highlander, he had merely come 

"To spoil the spoiler as we may, 

And from the robber rend the
prey." 

He was apparently trying to collect in his own way the poor tithe regarded as justly his from the robber-like usurpers of his country. Indians sometimes came into the settlement alone. It was not uncommon for a young brave to go singly in quest of horses or scalps. If successful, his reputation as a warrior was assured. 

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