I shall give the Particulars of this from the French Accounts; for by it the nature of the Indians, and the manner of their making War, may be more easily understood.

Piskaret, with four other Captains, set out from Trois Rivieres in one Canoe, each being provided with three Fuzees. In two Days they reach'd Sorel River, where they perceiv'd five Canoes of the Five Nations with ten Men in each. At first those of the Five Nations believed that this Canoe was the van of fome confiderable Party, and therefore went from it with all the force of their Paddles. When they saw that after a confiderable time, no others followed, they returned, and as foon as they came within call, they raised their WarShout, which they call Saffakue, and bid Piskaret and his Fellows Surrender. He answered, That he was their Prisoner, and that he could no longer furvive the Captain they had burnt; but that he might not be accused of furrendering Cowardly, he bid them advance to the middle of the River which they did, with furprizing Swiftness. Piskaret had before hand loaded all his Arms with two Bullets each, which he joyn'd together with a small Wire ten Inches in length with defign to tear the Canoes in pieces (which it could not fail to do, they being made only of Birch Bark) and gave his Çompanions Dire

B 2

ction

ction, each to chufe a Canoe, and level his fhot between Wind and Water

As the Canoes approached, he made as if he had defign'd to elcape; and to prevent him, thofe of the Five Nations feperated from each other with too much Precipitation, and Surrounded him. The Adirondacks, the better to amufe the Enemy, fung their Death Song, as ready to furrender themselves, when every one fuddenly took his Piece and fired upon the Canoes, which they Reiterated three times, with the Arms that lay ready. Those of the Five Nations were extreamly furpriz'd; for Fire Arms were still terrible to them, and they tumbled out of their Canoes, which immediately funk The Adirondacks knock't them all on the head in the Water, except fome of the chiefs that they made Prisoners, who's Fate was as cruel as that of the Adirondack Captain, who had been burnt alive.

Piskaret was fo far from having his Revenge glutted with this Slaughter, and the cruel Torments with which he made his Prisoners dye, that it feem'd rather to give a keener edge to it; for he foon after attempted another enterprize in which the boldeft of his Country-men durft not accompany him.

He was well acquainted with the Country of the Five Nations, he fet out alone about the time that the Snow began to melt, with the precaution

precaution of putting the hinder part of his Snow Shoes forward, that if any fhould happen upon his foot-steps, they might think that he was gone the contrary way; and for further security went along a Ridge, where the Snow was melted, and where his foot-steps could not be difcovered, but in a few places. When he found himself near one of the Villages of the Five Naoious he hid himself in a hollow Tree: In the Night he found out a Place nearer at hand, and more proper to retire into, for the execution of any Enterprize. He found four Piles of Wood standing clofe together, which the Indians had provided against the Winter and their bufie times, in the middle of which was a hollow place, in which he thought he could fafely hide. The whole Village was faft asleep when he enter'da Cabbin, kill'd four Perfons and took off their Scalps, being all that were in the House, and then return'd quietly into his Hole. In the Morning the whole Village was in an Alarm, as soon as the Murder was difcovered, and the young Men made all poffible hafte to follow the Murderer. They discover'd Piskarets foot-steps, which appear'd to them to be the foot-steps of fome Perfon that fled; this encourag'd them in their Purfuit: Sometimes they loft the Tract, and fometimes found it again, till at laft they entirely loft it, where the Snow was melted, and

they

they were forced to return, after much useless fatigue. Piskaret quiet in the midft of his Enemies waited with impatience for the Night. As foon as he faw that it was time to act (viz. in the first part of the night, when the Indians are observed to fleep very faft) he enter'd into another Cabbin, where he kill'd every Perfon in it, & immediately retir'd into his Wood-pile. In the morning there was a greater Outcry than before, nothing was feen but Wailing, Tears, and a general Confternation. Every one runs in queft of the Murderer, but no Tract to be feen befides the Tract which they faw the day before. They fearch'd the Woods, Swamps and Clifts of the Rocks, but no Murderer to be found. They began to fufpect Piskaret, who's Boldness and Cunning was too well known to them. They agreed that two men next night should watch in every Cabbin. All day long he was contriving fome new Stratagem, he bundles up his Scalps, and in the night he flips out of his lurking place, He approaches one of the Cabbins as quietly as poffible and peeps thro' a hole to fee what could be done, there he perceived Guards on the Watch, he went to another, where he found the fame care. When he discover'd that they were everywhere upon their Guard he refolved to strike his laft blow, and opened a Door, where he found a Centinel nodding with his Pipe in his mouth,

Piskaret

Piskaret fplit his Scull with his Hatchet, but had not time to take his Scalp, for another man who watched at the other end of the Cabbin, raised the cry, and Pifkaret fled. The whole Village immediately was in an Uproar, while he got off as faft as he could; Many pursued him, but as he was fo fwift as to run down the Wild Cows and the Deer, the pursuit gave him no great uneafinefs; When he perceived they came near him, he would Halloe to them, to quicken their pace, then fpring from them like a Buck. When he gain'd any diftance he would loiter till they came near, then halloe, and fly. Thus he continued all day, with defign to tire them out, with the hopes of over-taking him.

As they pursued only a fingle Man, five or fix only of the Nimbleft young Men continued the Chace, till being tired they were forced to reft in the Night, which when Pifkaret obferved, he hid himself near them in a hollow Tree. They had not time to take Victuals with them, and being wearied & hungry, and not apprehending any Attack from a single Person that fled, they all foon fell a sleep. Pifkaret obferv'd them, fell upon them, kill'd them all, and carried away their (b) Scalps."

These

(b) Thefe are the Trophies of Victory which all the Indian Nations carry home with them, if they have time

to