Chap. Vlir. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. 213 



kind, one of which I mentioned above *, but none with fo many 

 affcdinc; circumftances. 



' During the lail war in America, a company of the Delaware 



* Indians attacked a fmall detachment of Britiili troops, and defeated 

 ' them. As the Indians had greatly the advantage of fwiftnefs of 

 ' foot, and were eager in the purfuit, very few of the fugitives 

 ' efcaped, and thofe, who fell into the enemy's hands, were treated 

 ' with a cruelty, of which there are not many examples even in that 

 ' country. Two of the Indians came up with a young officer, and 

 ' attacked him with great fury. As they were armed with a kind of 



* battle-ax, which they call a tomahawk, he had no hope of efcape, 

 ' and thought only of felling his life as dearly as he could ; but, jufl; 



* at this crifis, another Indian came up, who feemed to be advanced 

 ' in years, and was armed w'ith a bow and arrows. The old man 



* inftantly drew his bow ; but, after having taken aim at the officer, 



* he fuddenly dropped the point of his arrow, and interpofed be- 

 ' tween him and his purfuers, who were about to cut him in pieces. 

 ' They retired with refpedt. The old man then took the officer by 

 ' the hand, foothed him into confidence by carefles ; and having 



* condudled him to his hut, treated him with a kindnefs which did 



* honour to his profeffions. He made him lefs a flave than a compa- 

 ' nion, taught him the language of the country, and intruded him 



* in the rude arts that are pracliced by the inhabitants. They lived 

 ' together in the moft cordial amity ; and the young officer found 

 ' nothing to regret, but that fometimes the old man fixed his eyes 

 ' upon him, and having regarded him for fome minutes with a fteady 

 ' and filent attention, burft into tears. In the mean time, the fpring 

 ' returned, and the Indians, having recourfe to their arms, again took 



' the 



• Page 208. 



