“Our march continued till late that evening, during
the night I was of course securely guarded, and early
in the morning our agreeable pilgrimage was resumed.

“In the course of the second day I contrived to lag
considerably behind the others. My wound was considered
a sufficient excuse for my heavy movements, and my
two guardians were considered more than competent to
secure me.

“At last I seized a favourable moment, and by a desperate
exertion of strength succeeded in snapping the
rope that bound me. I had hoped to drop into a thicket,
and to effect my escape before the two Indians were
aware; but I was unsuccessful, they perceived my attempt,
and rushed towards me.

“Escape was of course impossible, and although I
had no weapons I prepared to give them battle.

“One, who was the most active, was a little in advance
of the other. I was celebrated the whole country
round for my dexterity in the elegant amusement of trip
and twitch, which is one of the pleasantest varieties of
the Indian hug.

“I succeeded in casting the first with tremendous violence
to the earth; his head struck against a stone, and
he lay motionless upon the ground.

“The other now came bounding towards me, making
horrible grimaces, and uttering a delightful series of Indian
yells. I closed with him—he was enormously muscular—
I exerted all my strength—I could not move him
from his feet. I succeeded, however, in pinioning his
arms—we stood for a moment grinning in each other's
face.

“After I had had plenty of leisure to examine the ingenious
paintings with which he had thought proper to

[figure description] Page 210.[end figure description]

decorate his face and bosom, he suddenly made a convulsive
movement, whirled suddenly about in my arms,
and succeeded in freeing himself from my embrace. His
blanket, which was his only covering, remained in my
clutch, and there was now an excellent opportunity to
admire the continuation of hieroglyphics with which he
had illustrated the whole of his person.

“My time for this survey was, however, limited, for
the naked savage, after executing a few pigeon-wings
with astonishing dexterity, and giving utterance to a succession
of infernal yells which were anything but melodious,
again threw himself upon me.

“I now found that I had by no means gained any
advantage by reducing him to the indecent state in which
he at present advanced to battle. As soon as I had him
again in my embrace I found that the fellow's body was
so greasy and slippery, that I could make nothing of
him.

“He turned himself about like a snake, and slipped
through my arms before I was aware of it; but as
luckily he had dropped his knife and his gun previous to
the encounter, his whole efforts were bent upon throwing
me to the earth.

“While we were still engaged in this agreeable trial
of skill, we perceived the effects of the musical performances
to which I have alluded.

“The main body of the savages, attracted by his yell,
now advanced to the place. I was again surrounded
and again a prisoner.

“I was now placed upon the ground, and surrounded
by a circle of savages. The hypocritical devils all came
forward and shook hands with me; smiling goodhumouredly
in my face, and making use of a few

[figure description] Page 211.[end figure description]

endearing expressions of which they had learned the
English.

“As it was now nearly sun-set, and as the scene of
my late encounter was a commodious one for an encampment,
they resolved to pass the night in that place. Their
cooking establishments were soon in operation, and after
an hour they were engaged in discussing the game
which they had shot in the course of their march. In
the meantime I was tied to a tree, and left to my reflections.

“When the repast was nearly finished, the chief,
whose name (as he informed me) was Wahquimacutt,
or the `White-cat,' advanced towards me, patted me on
the cheek, and assured me in English that I was a good
boy. He then held towards me a bit of venison which
he was devouring, and assured me that it was excellent.

“I told him I had no doubt of it; upon which he requested
me to partake with him.

“I accepted his invitation, for not having tasted food
since leaving P—, I was in truth nearly famished.

“Upon this he extended to me a bit with a most
graceful bow, and as I was on the point of taking it, he
snatched it from me and deposited it in his own capacious
mouth.

“At this capital jest he laughed heartily. He then
patted me again on the cheek, and asked in English if
I had breakfasted. I answered no—upon which he told
me that I must be a poor Englishman indeed, if I could
not go to Canada without breakfast.

“To this sensible speech no reply seemed to be expected,
and I made none. Soon afterwards, Wahquimacutt,
or uncle White-cat, as he called himself in English,
turned on his heel and rejoined his comrades.

[figure description] Page 212.[end figure description]

“Sobriety was evidently not one of the virtues of my
amiable companions. As may be supposed, they had
provided themselves with a plentiful supply of spirits, and
were soon tolerably tipsy. They contrived, however, in
the midst of their intoxication, to maintain a decent
gravity of demeanour which was truly edifying.

“After they had exhausted their supply, they sat themselves
down in a circle with burlesque solemnity, and
lighted their pipes. From a few words whose meaning
I understood, I obtained the cheering information that
they were deliberating on the most advisable method of
despatching me; while they were occupied in this philanthropical
business, they would smile upon me as if
their hearts were overflowing with kindness, and occasionally
would address me in the most endearing
terms.

“After a time, the old chief, who was very dignified,
but very drunk, came forward, caressed me affectionately,
and informed me that he was my uncle White-cat, the
great chief so terrible in battle. After this, he placed
himself in an oratorical position, and announced his intention
of making me a speech. The tenor of his oration
was to assure me that the number of his warlike exploits
exceeded all belief; that he had eaten the chief sachems
and princes of seven hostile tribes, and that every red man
turned white when his name was mentioned; furthermore
that he had fifteen wives at home, each more
beautiful than the other; that he had a collection of
Englishmen's scalps hanging in his wigwam; that their
number amounted already to one hundred and twenty,
and that mine would have the honour of being the one
hundred-and-twenty-first.

“After giving me all this choice information, he came

[figure description] Page 213.[end figure description]

more immediately to the point. He told me that the
grand council which had just been in session, had decided
that it was not expedient immediately to despatch
me. That, on the contrary, it was possible I might yet
afford them considerable entertainment, and concluded
by requesting me to prepare immediately to run the
gauntlet.

“My heart sank within me. I had hoped that my
trials were to be short, and that I was soon to find repose
in death. I now found that my tortures were to form
the daily amusement of my companions for Heaven
knew how long a period.

“They commenced proceedings immediately. Several
approached the tree to which I was bound, and began
tearing off my clothes. While they were thus occupied,
they amused themselves with pricking me with the points
of their knives in every part of my body, lacerating my
face, slitting my ears, and other ingenious devices. During
the whole time, their faces were expressive of the
utmost good humour.

“It is not necessary to give you the details of the process
which I underwent. Suffice that I was compelled
to run the gauntlet till my persecutors were wearied, and
till I dropped lifeless with fatigue and loss of blood.
After this, I was I believe again pinioned, and laid on
the ground between two savages for the night.

“Early the next morning the party resumed their line
of march. Its direction continued to be towards Canada.
For the whole of the two succeeding days I was comparatively
unmolested, and was given to understand that
it was possible I might be surrendered to the French
and obtain my liberty by paying a handsome ransom.

[figure description] Page 214.[end figure description]

“As I thought it extremely unlikely that any of my
acquaintances at home would purchase so worthless a
commodity as myself at the extravagant price, which
the enemy would be sure to put upon me, I considered
my situation as hardly changed for the better. Besides
this, I infinitely preferred death to life. I had at last
become disgusted with my fate—with myself—with
mankind; and in my state of mind it was more than
probable that if I had been set at my liberty, my first act
would have been to free myself from the intolerable thraldom
of existence.

“I had, however, recently received a piece of information,
which gave me at least one object to live for.
Wahquimacutt had informed me with great exultation
that he was the murderer of my Eunice. His bullet
was the accursed one which had cut asunder the last
bond that united me to mankind. I swore that if I,
indeed, escaped from my present imprisonment with life,
I would not rest till I had revenged her death upon its
infernal perpetrator.

“Our march continued a day or two longer; but at
length I was informed that we were near its termination.
On the afternoon of the fifth day, we arrived at the principal
Indian village of the tribe.

“Our party was received with great glee, and the exultation
in the village was heightened when they were
informed that the celebrated Patanko had been taken
captive.

“I had the gratification of discovering that my fame
was much more widely extended than I was previously
aware of.

“Captain White-cat now informed me that I was for
the present to remain a prisoner in his wigwam. I was

[figure description] Page 215.[end figure description]

unable to discover what his exact intentions were with
regard to me; but it was evident that I was not immediately
to be sacrificed.

“I was kept strictly bound and guarded, and my
scanty food was of the meanest description. You may
believe that my condition was not improved by such a
course of life. In the course of a few weeks I was
greatly reduced, and I hoped fervently that death would
soon finish my miserable struggles.

“Every evening Wahquimacutt would seat himself
near me, and rehearse to me in a low voice, and in his
native tongue (which I already partially understood) the
oft-repeated catalogue of his achievements. Notwithstanding
my situation was apparent to every one, he
was sure to be greatly irritated when my weakness prevented
me from applauding him to his satisfaction.

“At last he seemed to be aware of my illness, and began
to doctor me. This was all that was wanted to
complete my misery. I was obliged to swallow countless
decoctions of nauseous drugs, and listen to interminable
disquisitions on the causes of my malady, which
were irritating to the last degree.

“At last, owing as much as any thing to his constant
physicking, I felt myself reduced in reality to a very low
ebb. He agreed with me that I was dying, and as a great
indulgence promised to send me a French priest to console
my last moments.

“I testified the utmost horror and disgust at the proposition,
in consequence of which he of course became
more urgent in its favour. At last I had nothing to do
but to yield.

“The tribe of savages of which Wahquimacutt was
the chief were among the closest allies of the French.

[figure description] Page 216.[end figure description]

They were, as a natural consequence, the direst enemies
of the English; and as the hostilities between France
and England were so constant in those days, that there
was hardly ever a cessation of warfare on the border;
the hate of all those, both savages and Christians,
French and English, who dwelt near the frontier, went
on increasing from day to day.

“The Canadian Indians were, however the most
perfect tools of the French. Inch by inch, and acre
by acre, they, in common with all other white men,
wrested their territories from the original proprietors, and
at the same time indulged them with the permission to
fight their most desperate battles for them, while they
kindly relieved them of the principal portion of the spoils.

“There were a few Jesuits and French traders usually
to be found in most Indian villages of that tribe.

“The priest whose acquaintance I had now the
honour of making, was, it seemed to me, a type of his
calling and his sect.

“He was a tall spare man, of a sallow and adust complexion;
for father Simon was none of your ordinary,
well-fed, greasy priests. There was genius in his crafty
eye and in his scornful mouth. But it was an evil
genius,—a genius of ambition, rapaciousness and cruelty.
It was not till some time afterwards that I discovered the
extent of the French government's obligations to that
man; and was fully satisfied that he was not only one
of the subtlest instigators, but one of the most powerful
conductors of the bloody and desperate wars of that period
between the French Indians and the New England
settlers.

“My acquaintance with him was not of long duration.
Very luckily, however, Captain White-cat left me

[figure description] Page 217.[end figure description]

more to myself during the priest's attendance; and in
consequence of my weakness and emaciation I was no
longer confined with the strictness which had hitherto
been my lot.

“I began gradually to recover, and so much had
Wahquimacutt's clemency increased, that I was even
permitted to walk about the village, attended only by the
Père Simon, and a couple of well-armed Indians.

“The whole bent of the holy father's eloquence during
his communications with me was to induce me to forswear
my country, and to embrace his faith. He assured
me that he had taken a great liking to me from
the first, and had a particular respect for my character
and talents. From what source this liking and this
respect had been derived, it would have been difficult for
him to inform me, for the few observations I had made
had been merely intended to convey to him the extreme
disgust and contempt I entertained for myself.

“My obligations to this clerical gentleman proved in
the sequel much greater than I had any reason to expect.

“Time wore on. I was still a tenant of Captain
White-cat's wigwam. As my fate had decided that I
was not yet to be relieved by death, and as my health
was now nearly re-established, father Simon was informed
that his visits were no longer necessary. Accordingly
my acquaintance with the priest terminated for a
time.

“Not long after this, I was informed by my worthy
landlord that an expedition was in contemplation. The
destination was to the south, and of course against my
countrymen. He did not enter into ample explanations,
but coolly informed me that I was to accompany him.
I was of course to be securely guarded.

[figure description] Page 218.[end figure description]

“I have omitted to inform you that after my communications
with the priest, I had received from
Wahquimacutt a formal invitation to join his tribe.
This of course, if accepted, included present liberty, and
pardon for all past offences. The hopes of a Sachemship
and other promotions were moreover held out to me in
addition.

“I rejected the proposal with indignation. The chief,
however, evidently did not resign his hope of eventually
succeeding, and in the mean time informed me that I
was to accompany him on his expedition.

“I found that my name and my exploits in the scalp-taking
line had been long the theme of particular admiration
among the savages. A grand council of war had
determined that it was expedient if possible to enlist the
terrible Patanko on their side, and large offers were made
to induce me to consent.

“Although I have already mentioned that the proposal
met with my decided disapprobation; yet they were
not the less determined that I should accompany them
on their contemplated invasion. It was expected, I believe,
that the opportunity thus afforded me of seeing on
a grand scale the atrocities which they were in the habit
of committing upon my countrymen, would indubitably
induce me at last to unite myself to their party.

“I was, however, no longer kept in ignorance of the
principal features of their design. A day or two before
we set out, Captain White-cat informed me that their intention
was to penetrate into the very heart of New England,
carrying desolation as they went, and more particularly
to burn all the villages, and massacre all the inhabitants
upon the Connecticut River. He modestly assured
me that if the Great Spirit allowed them to carry

[figure description] Page 219.[end figure description]

only this part of the plot into operation, he should still
consider that his exertions had not been in vain.

“Arrangements for assistance and co-operation had
been entered into with various southern tribes, who were
friendly to their cause, and the vast numbers who were
in readiness, and the extensive preparations and farreaching
plans for the whole campaign were of a character
so decidedly superior to those which are to be met
with in ordinary Indian warfare, that I at once detected
the presence of a civilized and crafty mind, (superior to
the combined intelligence of all the savages,) which presided
over the whole.

“The day before we set out, White-cat entered the
wigwam in a very merry mood. He informed me that
he was the happiest man in the world, that he had just
concluded a bargain which had enriched him for life, and
that he could never sufficiently express his gratitude to
the virtuous man who had allowed him to make so advantageous
a barter.

“I testified my curiosity to hear the particulars of this
wonderful transaction.

“He informed me that he had just completed the sale
of a large tract of land to a French settler. I had of
course never accurately measured the property in question;
but from his description and my own observation,
I found that the district in question could not be less than
three thousand acres.

“I inquired the price which he had received. He informed
me with great exultation that it was a barter and
not a sale, and hereupon he read me a catalogue of the
articles which he was to receive.

“I do not recollect the whole. The principal, however,
were twelve coats of fine French cloths, twelve

[figure description] Page 220.[end figure description]

spoons, twelve hatchets, twelve hoes, two dozen knives,
twelve pewter porringers, and four cases of scissors.

“I asked the purchaser's name, which I already suspected.
He informed me that it was father Simon, and
that the reverend gentleman, with a parade of liberality,
had thrown in over and above the stipulated price, ten
fathoms of glass beads of the most magnificent description,
besides a cassock worn by himself and quite as good
as new.

“As this latter article was likely to be so particularly
useful to my bare-legged patron, and as the whole price
was so scrupulously adequate to the value of the land
transferred, I had of course nothing to say.

“Wahquimacutt announced to me with great dignity,
that he intended to array himself in the cassock on
the morrow and wear it during the whole expedition;
so that I felt myself bound to make him a few compliments
on the peculiar fitness of the costume, and on the
sagacity he had manifested in the whole transaction.