1891-92. ] AN EPISODE IN THE PONTIAC WAR. 243 
and were contriving methods for their deliverance, a party of armed 
Indians entered the house, all of them Ottawahs, and unknown to me, 
without saying a word to any one they seized me in a rude manner and 
hurried me down stairs. Then, indeed, my situation wore a very gloomy 
aspect. I was torn away from that excellent family without having time 
to say farewell, while on their part they were as much amazed and con- 
founded as myself, nor durst they make any efforts on my behalf or any 
attempt to save me. The Jadies of the family burst into tears, crossing 
themselves several times, and I believe fervently prayed for my deliver- 
ance. All that Mr. Quilleim could say or do was to encourage me to 
keep up my spirits and place my trust in “Le bon Dieu.” As we pass 
along the Frenchman’s houses the inhabitants all expressed a compas- 
sion for me, saying what asad thing it was to behold so young a lad 
come to so cruel and untimely an end; while others advised me to keep 
up my spirits as there still might be hope. As for myself I own I was 
much shocked at first, but by degrees became more resigned, and began 
seriously to think my time was come at last, and that the many dangers 
and escapes that I had had were so many warnings to me to prepare for 
that change which we must all sooner or later undergo. They carried 
me to Pondiac’s hut, the chief of the Ottawah tribe, and after being left 
there in a state of suspense for some hours, a Frenchman was procured 
to act as interpreter, who informed me on the part of the chief that the 
reason why I was taken from Monsieur Quilleim, was because several 
Dutch traders had got Frenchmen to buy or rather ransom prisoners like 
me, and that if he suffered that trade to be carried on, they would soon 
have no captives left. He therefore was resolved either to retain us all 
or have our scalps, in pursuance of which resolve he had ordered all those 
that had been so bought to be brought back again, and that he had 
intended to keep me himself. This sveech relieved me in some degree 
from the disagreeable apprehension I was under, and gave me cause to 
consider that my last hour was not so near as I had expected, but I could 
not but wish that I was still with Perwash. However, I remained this 
night with Pondiac, but early next morning the Chippewahs, the nation 
to whom I formerly belonged, despatched a party to take me from the 
Ottawahs. Their chief, Pondiac, had however, taken a great fancy to me, 
owing I believe, to my youth, (I being then only seventeen years of age), 
as they seldom grow fond of elderly people, from a notion that they will 
never be reconciled to their Indian manners, and he therefore positively 
refused to give me up, the consequences of which refusal had well nigh 
been a war between the two nations. This was prevented by King 
Owasser, the chief of the Chippewah nation, having prevailed upon 
Pondiac to give me up. The latter, had after a good deal of altercation 
