1763, Sept.] ATTACK ON SCHOONER GLAD WYN. 319 



every sound wbicli broke the stillness, from the 

 strange cry of the nighthawk, wheeling above their 

 heads, to the bark of the fox from the woods on 

 shore. The night set in with darkness so com- 

 plete, that at the distance of a few rods nothing 

 could be discerned. Meantime, three hundred and 

 fifty Indians, in their birch canoes, glided silently 

 down with the current, and were close upon the 

 vessel before they were seen. There was only time 

 to fire a single cannon-shot among them, before 

 they were beneath her bows, and clambering up 

 her sides, holding their knives clinched fast be- 

 tween their teeth. The crew gave them a close 

 fire of musketry, without any eifect ; then, flinging 

 down their guns, they seized the spears and hatchets 

 with which they were all provided, and met the 

 assaihmts with such furious energy and courage, 

 that in the space of two or three minutes they had 

 killed and wounded more than twice their own 

 number. But the Indians were only checked for a 

 moment. The master of the vessel was killed, 

 several of the crew were disabled, and the assail- 

 ants were leaping over the bulwarks, when Jacobs, 

 the mate, called out to blow up the schooner. This 

 desperate command saved her and her crew. Some 

 Wyandots, who had gained the deck, caught tlie 

 meaning of his words, and gave the alarm to their 

 companions. Instantly every Indian leaped over- 

 board in a panic, and the whole were seen diving 

 and swimming ofi* in all directions, to escape the 

 threatened explosion. The schooner was cleared 

 of her assailants, who did not dare to renew the 



