CHAPTER XIV. 



1690-1694. 

 THE SCOURGE OF CANADA. 



Iroquois Inroads. — Death op Bienville. — English Attack. — 

 A Desperate Fight. — Miseries op the Colony. — Alarms. — 

 A Winter Expedition. — La Chesnate burned. — The Heroine 

 of Vercheres. — Mission Indians. — The Mohawk Expedition. 

 — Retreat and Pursuit. — Relief arrives. — Frontenac Tri- 

 umphant. 



One of Phips's officers, charged with the exchange 

 of prisoners at Quebec, said as he took his leave, 

 " We shall make you another visit in the spring ; " 

 and a French officer returned, with martial courtesy, 

 " We shall have the honor of meeting you before 

 that time." Neither side made good its threat, for 

 both w r ere too weak and too poor. No more war- 

 parties were sent that winter to ravage the English 

 border ; for neither blankets, clothing, ammunition, 

 nor food could be spared. The fields had lain un- 

 tilled over half Canada ; and, though four ships had 

 arrived with supplies, twice as many had been cap- 

 tured or driven back by English cruisers in the 

 Gulf. The troops could not be kept together ; and 

 they were quartered for subsistence upon the set- 

 tlers, themselves half famished. 



Spring came at length, and brought with it the 



