240 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



of his own friends, and Frontenac did not hesitate to have these 

 tortured. All wanted the Cayuga chief as a leader, and he was 

 constantly on the warpath. On the St Lawrence 38 Frenchmen 

 surprised an Iroquois party, some of whom escaped, returning 

 with aid and killing half the French. The following winter 40 

 Mohawks attacked Fort Vercheres, carrying off 20 people. They 

 were pursued, and most of the captives were recovered. Mile 

 de Vercheres successfully defended the fort, as her mother had 

 done two years before. 



There were Canadian successes. In February 1692, a party 

 of 120 French and 205 Indians attacked 50 Iroquois at Toniata, 

 killing 24 and taking .16. In May a French and Indian party 

 was defeated at the Long Sault of the Ottawa with much loss; 

 but the victors were beaten in turn, and the captives recovered. 

 Two large Iroquois parties in October did nothing. In Novem- 

 ber 400 Iroquois came down the St Lawrence, appearing in sight 

 of Montreal, while 400 came by way of Lake Champlain. They 

 did but little damage. M. Beaucour marched 300 men to attack 

 the Iroquois near Niagara, 80 of whom fought him, losing most 

 of their number. 



Kanadgegai, or Black Kettle, a noted Onondaga chief, headed 

 the party at the Long Sault, and made another dash July 15, 

 taking some prisoners. There was fighting on the Ottawa, and 

 the Iroquois alone kept Canada in constant alarm. Charlevoix 

 said that Black Kettle overran the country '' as a Torrent does 

 the Low-lands, when it overflows its banks, and there is no 

 withstanding it. The Soldiers had Orders to stand upon the 

 defensive within their Forts." This year his wife was killed 

 while trying to escape from a mission town in Canada. In this 

 warfare the Mohawks had lost 90 men in two years, leaving 

 them but 130, and the French Iroquois 60 men in 7 years. 



In June 1692 the Iroquois renewed the covenant with the Eng- 

 lish, now under Captain Ingoldsby, desiring that the important 

 blacksmith's anvil might be retained at Onondaga and a smith 

 live there. The Indians did most of the fighting; and, when 

 Ingoldsby reproved them for their carelessness, they replied: 



