1891-92. ] AN EPISODE IN THE PONTIAC WAR. 231 
closely on the bank of the river, endeavouring to divert our attention by 
ridiculous stories, that it was impossible to see what was going on behind, 
or what the men were about. The warriors, however, were then busy 
posting themselves behind a rising ground a little before, so that when we 
came opposite that place—the squaws as it had been preconcerted ran as 
fast as they could out of the way—the warriors commenced firing upon 
us at the distance of sixty yards. Captain Robson was immediately 
wounded on the left side, which showing me, he called to the men to 
sheer up, but alas! he had just spoken the words when another shot 
through his body killed him. I then took the helm and endeavoured to 
bring round the boat, but two of the soldiers being now killed, the 
remaining five could not navigate the boat, and as they had neither 
their arms ready nor loaded, they thought only of screening themselves 
as best they could from the enemy’s fire; but it was all in vain, for the 
Indians, seeing Captain Robson our chief killed, and the confusion that 
prevailed, rushed upon us and easily boarded us, raising at the same time 
and in accordance to their custom on such occasions, the most dreadful 
cries and yellings, which they called the “ Death Gralloo.” They had 
changed their appearance from what it was when they called us brothers, 
having at that time their blanket and ornaments on, but now they were 
painted black and red, making a very frightful appearance. Every one 
of us was now seized by his future master, for by their custom whoever 
lays hold of a captive by the hair of his head, to him he belongs, and 
none may take him from him. I was laid hold of by one whose hideous 
aspect was enough to banish every hope of receiving quarter, but indeed 
before this I had given up any hope of being saved, and became ina 
manner resigned for the worst. They immediately scalped Captain Rob- 
son and the other two soldiers who were shot. My master (for such I 
was now to acknowledge him) dragged me out of the boat by the hair of 
the head into the water, which took me up to the neck, endangering my 
drowning; however, he brought me safe on shore, and with a rope 
adorned with trinkets (which they always carry about with them to bind 
their prisoners of war) bound me and delivered me over in charge of his 
squaw, returning himself to plunder the boat. All this time, Sir Robert 
Davies, as I was afterwards informed by his Indian boy, seeing the 
savages attack us, endeavoured to escape in his light canoe to the opposite 
side of the river, while the Indians called to him repeatedly to come on 
shore and deliver himself up, promising not to hurt a hair of his head. 
He paid no regard to their words, which so exasperated them that two 
of them levelled their pieces at him and brought him instantly down. 
His body fell over into the water, and having picked it up, they cut off 
the head and buried the trunk; the head they afterwards interred, after 
