1764, Oct.] TERROR OF THE ENEMY. 213 



among them might, it is true, escape by flight ; but, 

 in doing so, they must abandon to the victors their 

 dwellings, and their secret hordes of corn. They 

 were confounded at the multitude of the invaders, 

 exaggerated, doubtless, in the reports which reached 

 their villages, and amazed that an army should 

 force its way so deep into the forest fastnesses, 

 which they had thought impregnable. They knew, 

 on the other hand, that Colonel Bradstreet was still 

 at Sandusky, in a position to assail them in the 

 rear. Thus pressed on both sides, they saw that 

 they must submit, and bend their stubborn pride 

 to beg for peace ; not alone with words, which cost 

 nothing, and would have been worth nothing, but 

 by the delivery of prisoners, and the surrender of 

 chiefs and warriors as pledges of good faith. Bou- 

 quet had sent two soldiers from Fort Pitt with 

 letters to Colonel Bradstreet ; but these men had 

 been detained, under specious pretexts, by the Del- 

 awares. They now appeared at his camp, sent 

 back by their captors, with a message to the efl'ect 

 that, within a few days, the chiefs would arrive and 

 hold a conference with him. 



Bouquet continued his march down the valley of 

 the Muskingum, until he reached a spot where the 

 broad meadows, which bordered the river, would 

 supply abundant grazing for the cattle and horses ; 

 while the terraces above, shaded by forest- trees, 

 offered a convenient site for an encampment. Here 

 he began to erect a small palisade work, as a depot 

 for stores and baggage. Before the task was com- 

 plete, a deputation of chiefs arrived, bringing word 



