218 THE THREE WAR-PARTIES. [1690. 



snow-shoes, equipped with tomahawk and gun, 

 to chase the retiring French. Fifty young men 

 from Albany joined them ; and they followed the 

 trail of the enemy, who, with the help of their 

 horses, made such speed over the ice of Lake 

 Champlain that it seemed impossible to overtake 

 them. Thev thought the pursuit abandoned ; and, 



•SCI. 7 ' 



having killed and eaten most of their horses, and 

 being spent with fatigue, they moved more slowly 

 as they neared home, when a band of Mohawks, 

 who had followed stanchly on their track, fell upon 

 a party of stragglers, and killed or captured fifteen 

 or more, almost within sight of Montreal. 



Three of these prisoners, examined by Schuyler, 

 declared that Frontenac was preparing for a grand 

 attack on Albany in the spring. In the political 

 confusion of the time, the place was not in 

 fighting condition ; and Schuyler appealed for 

 help to the authorities of Massachusetts. " Dear 

 neighbours and friends, we must acquaint you that 

 nevir poor People in the world was in a worse Con- 

 dition than we are at Present, no Governour nor 

 Command, no money to forward any expedition, 

 and scarce Men enough to maintain the Citty. 

 We have here plainly laid the case before you, 

 and doubt not but you will so much take it to 

 heart, and make all Eeadinesse in the Spring to 

 invade Canicla by water." l The Mohawks were 

 of the same mind. Their elders came down to 

 Albany to condole with their Dutch and English 



1 Schuyler, Wessell, and Van Rensselaer to the Governor a)id Council of 

 Massachusetts, 15 Feb., 1690, in Andros Tracts, III. 114. 



