1760.] THE RANGERS ON THE LAKES. 165 



boats over the portage, they launched them once 

 more above the cataract, and slowly pursued their 

 voyage ; while Eogers, with a few attendants, 

 hastened on in advance to Fort Pitt, to deliver 

 despatches, with which he was charged, to General 

 Monkton. This errand accomplished, he rejoined 

 his command at Presqu' Isle, about the end of the 

 month, and the whole proceeded together along 

 the southern margin of Lake Erie. The season 

 was far advanced. The wind was chill, the lake 

 was stormy, and the woods on shore were tinged 

 with the fading hues of autumn. On the seventh 

 of November, they reached the mouth of a river 

 called by Eogers the Chogage. No body of troops 

 under the British flag had ever before penetrated 

 so far. The day was dull and rainy, and, resolving 

 to rest until the weather should improve, Eogers 

 ordered his. men to prepare their encampment in 

 the neighboring forest. 



Soon after the arrival of the rangers, a party 

 of Indian chiefs and warriors entered the camp. 

 They proclaimed themselves an embassy from 

 Pontiac, ruler of all that country, and directed, 

 in his name, that the English should advance no 

 farther until they had had an interview with the 

 great chief, who was already close at hand. In 

 truth, before the day closed, Pontiac himself 

 appeared ; and it is here, for the first time, that 

 this remarkable man stands forth distinctly on 

 the page of history. He greeted Eogers with the 

 haughty demand, what was his business in that 

 country, and how he dared enter it without his 



