1765.] FRASER'S MISSION. 285 



I, with the help of an Indian who was sober, 

 defended ourselves till morning, when they thought 

 proper to let us escape. When Pontiac was sober, 

 he made me an apology for his behavior ; and told 

 me it was owing to bad counsel he had got that he 

 had taken me ; but that I need not fear being 

 taken in that manner for the future." ^ 



Eraser's situation was presently somewhat im 

 proved by a rumor that an English detachment 

 was about to descend the Ohio. The French 

 traders, before so busy with their falsehoods and 

 calumnies, now held their peace, dreading the 

 impending chastisement. They no longer gave 

 arms and ammunition to the Indians ; and when 

 the latter questioned them concerning the fabrica- 

 tion of a French army advancing to the rescue, 

 they treated the story as unfounded, or sought to 

 evade the subject. St. Ange, too, and the other 

 officers of the crown, confiding in the arrival of 

 the Enghsh, assumed a more decisive tone ; refus- 

 ing to give the Indians presents, telling them that 

 thenceforward they must trust to the English for 

 supplies, reproving them for their designs against 

 the latter, and advising them to remain at peace.^ 



Nevertheless. Eraser's position was neither safe 

 nor pleasant. He could hear nothing of Croghan, 

 and he was almost alone, having sent away all his 

 men, except his servant, to save them from being 

 abused and beaten by the Indians. He had dis- 



1 MS. Letter — Fraser to Lieut. Col Campbell, 20 May, 1765. 



'^ Harangue faitte a la nation lllinoise et au Chef Pondiak par M. de St. 

 Ange, Cap. Commandant au pais des Illinois pour S. M. T. C. au sujet de la 

 guerre que Les Indiens font aux Anglois. 



