246 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [ VoL. es 
war. This, with a good deal more enthusiastic stuff in her speech, at 
length excited their passions to such a pitch, that they flew about the 
camp like maniacs to collect their prisoners, in order to butcher them as 
above stated, and verify the dream of this imp of hell. However, they 
were in some measure disappointed, for those that had any concern for 
their captives, concealed them. The little drummer mentioned above was 
a favourite of an old squaw, who wanted much to save him, but notwith- 
standing her tears and most earnest entreaties, the young warriors tore 
him away from her, declaring upon such an occasion they would respect 
neither age nor sex. Almost every day exhibited fresh atrocities towards 
some of their prisoners, so that I lived in continual dread, expecting every 
day to be my last; 1 therefore resolved to attempt my escape at all hazards. 
There lived near to where we had our cabin a Frenchman named 
Boileau. This man had been civil to me on several occasions, and I 
thought might be willing to facilitate my escape by his assistance, I 
thereby succeeded in gaining him to my interest. As the French were 
permitted to enter the fort, I gave him a letter to my friend Mr. Sterling, 
who likewise promised him a recompense if he succeeded in my deliver- 
ance. Major Gladwin also, and several other officers assured him of 
their countenance. Upon his return, I found him quite ready to engage 
in my interest. I therefore redoubled my entreaties and promises in 
case of success. The next object to be considered was a plan for my 
departure in the most secret and unsuspicious manner. He formed many 
schemes, but rejected them all upon a more cool consideration of the 
matter. Our respective eagerness, (he to enjoy the promised reward 
and I to enjoy my liberty), made it difficult to determine upon the most 
practicable means of effecting it. However, we at last came to the 
following contrivance. On the evening appointed, the Frenchman was 
to embark in his canoe, and give out publicly he was going to fish as 
usual; instead of doing which he was to go about two miles down the 
river nearer to the Fort Detroit, and at a certain point of low land 
covered with bushes, he was then to put in with his canoe in the dusk of 
the evening, when the Indians would not perceive him and so conceal 
himself. I, on my part, was to make the best of my way to him in the 
night. This scheme we were to put into execution the evening after it 
was formed. This, however, was prevented for that and several succeed- 
nights, the Indians being alarmed by a report that the Chippewahs were 
to be attacked by our forces, which actually happened a few days after. 
Captain Dalzell, who had brought a reinforcement to Fort Detroit, issued 
from thence on the night of the 15th of August with a strong body of 
men under his command, with an intention of surprising the enemy’s 
camp, but they had been warned by the French of his designs, for they 
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