4-2 THE LABRADOR TENINSULA. ciiAr. xxiii. 



Tliey instantly hid tlieir canoes, sent a messenger to warn 

 their friends who were coming down the Manitou, and, 

 tracing the Micmacs' tracks to the spot where they had 

 landed, found their canoes in charge of three or four 

 of the party, whom they surprised and scalped, and then 

 hid themselves until such time as their messenger should 

 return to state whether he was successful or not in 

 warning the other canoes. He arrived just in time, and, 

 after a short council, they divided into two parties, one 

 party remaining with the women and children, the other 

 going with the messenger to join in the attack upon the 

 Micmacs. As soon as they had found their camps, which 

 were situated one near the head and one at the foot of 

 the portage round the falls, they agreed upon a plan of 

 attack. Stealing along the coast at night, the Montagnais 

 came upon the ]\iicmac camp at the foot of the falls, and 

 succeeded in killing or taking prisoners all who were 

 sleeping there ; the noise of the falling water preventing 

 the sound of the scuffle from reaching their friends above, 

 who were watching near the head of the falls. As soon 

 as the conflict was over, they bound their prisoners and 

 stole up the portage path to surprise the second party. 

 They were heard by the watchers, and the alarm was 

 given. The Montagnais knew their strength and that of 

 the enemy, and in the dim morning light began the fight 

 at once, and after severe loss succeeded in killing or 

 taking all but the leader of the Micmacs' band, a noted 

 warrior and conjuror, and one whom the Montagnais 

 were most anxious to take alive. Finding escape hopeless, 

 he sprang to the edge of the cataract, and, crouching 

 behind a rock, began to sing a defiant Avar-song, occa- 



