422 EROXTEXAC ATTACKS THE OXOXDAGAS. [1698. 



Frontenac that they were all so engrossed in be- 

 wailing the recent death of Black Kettle, a famous 

 war chief, that they had no strength to travel ; 

 and they begged that Onontio would return the 

 hostage, and send to them for the French prisoners. 

 The messenger farther declared that, though they 

 would make peace with Onontio, they would 

 not make it with his allies. Frontenac threw 

 back the peace-belt into his face. " Tell the 

 chiefs that, if they must needs stay at home to cry 

 about a trifle, I will give them something to cry for. 

 Let them bring me every prisoner, French and 

 Indian, and make a treaty that shall include all 

 my children, or they shall feel my tomahawk 

 again." Then, turning to a number of Ottawas 

 who were present : " You see that I can make peace 

 for myself when I please. If I continue the war, 

 it is only for your sake. I will never make a treaty 

 without including you, and recovering your prison- 

 ers like my own." 



Thus the matter stood, when a great event took 

 place. Early in February, a party of Dutch and 

 Indians came to Montreal with news that peace 

 had been signed in Europe ; and, at the end of 

 May, Major Peter Schuyler, accompanied by Del- 

 lius, the minister of Albany, arrived with copies 

 of the treaty in French and Latin. The scratch 

 of a pen at Ryswick had ended the conflict in 

 America, so far at least as concerned the civilized 

 combatants. It was not till July that Frontenac 

 received the official announcement from Versailles, 

 coupled with an address from the king to the 

 people of Canada. 



