310 THE FIGHT OF BLOODY BRmGE. [1763, July. 



their progress — little suspecting that Pontiac, 

 apprised by the Canadians of their plan, had 

 broken up his camp, and was coming against 

 them with all his warriors, armed and painted 

 for battle. 



A mile and a half from the fort, Parent's Creek, 

 ever since that night called Bloody E-un, descended 

 through a wild and rough hollow, and entered the 

 Detroit amid a growth of rank grass and sedge. 

 Only a few rods from its mouth, the road crossed 

 it by a narrow wooden bridge, not existing at the 

 present day. Just beyond this bridge, the land 

 rose in abrupt ridges, parallel to the stream. Along 

 their summits were rude intrenchments made by 

 Pontiac to protect his camp, which had formerly 

 occupied the ground immediately beyond. Here* 

 too, were many piles of firewood belonging to the 

 Canadians, besides strong picket fences, enclosing 

 orchards and gardens connected with the neighbor- 

 ing houses. Behind fences, wood-piles, and in- 

 trenchments, crouched an unknown number of 

 Indian warriors with levelled guns. They lay 

 silent as snakes, for now they could hear the dis- 

 tant tramp of the approaching column. 



The sky was overcast, and the night exceedingly 

 dark. As the English drew near the dangerous 

 pass, they could discern the oft-mentioned house 

 of Meloche upon a rising ground to the left, while 

 in front the bridge was dimly visible, and the ridges 

 beyond it seemed like a wall of undistinguished 

 blackness. They pushed rapidly forward, not 

 wholly unsuspicious of danger. The advance 



