THE VENGEANCE OF UNCAS. 123 



towards the country of his enemy. The spies of Uncas, 

 however, perceived their approach, and though the chief was 

 totally unprepared for such an attack, he suddenly gathered 

 a body of four or five hundred warriors and determined to 

 meet Miantonimoh before he should enter the settlement. 

 The two armies met upon a large plain about three miles 

 distant from the town. When they had advanced within 

 bow-shot of each other, Uncas demanded a parley. Advancing 

 in front of his band, he proposed to Miantonimoh that they 

 should settle their dispute by single combat. Whether he was 

 really actuated by a sort of chivalric spirit, and wished to 

 avoid risking the lives of so many brave warriors in a personal 

 quarrel, is still a matter of doubt. But with true Indian 

 craft, he had concerted with his men a scheme of vengeance 

 in case his proffer was rejected. No sooner did Miantonimoh 

 utter a bold and fierce refusal, than Uncas fell flat to the 

 ground, and his warriors discharging a shower of arrows over 

 his prostrate body, rushed upon the Narragansetts with such 

 fury that they were instantly put to flight. 



Behind the retreating army rose the rugged cliffs of the 

 Yantic falls, and as their enemies pressed them with savage 

 fierceness, they were hunted down the rocks and precipices 

 like wild beasts. In this terrible straight they had to choose 

 between the tomahawk of their ruthless enemies glittering 

 behind them, and the yawning abyss of greedy waters raging 

 before them. At the foot of the rock which has been 

 already described, is said to be an awful pit hidden beneath 

 the rushing stream, whose depths have never yet been 



