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ourieives into a body, and kept a good watch in every direction; being 

 alfo occupied in confulting upon the arrangement of our future move- 

 ments. During this time wq heard a great noifc among the Indians, 

 which we confidered as portending us no good . Some of us were for 

 embarking, but that was confidered too dangerous to attempt in the 

 face of the enemy, others were for attacking them, on the old principle 

 that he who makes the firil attack conquers ; but we had at leaft three 

 hundred to encounter, for each one of us, and this was confidered too rafli. 

 While thus occupied, day broke, and gave us a fight of our danger. We 

 comfojted each otha- with hopes of God's mercy, and each determined 

 to exert himfelf to the utmoft. We foon perceived great bodies of war- 

 riors advancing, with colours flying,- and joining themfelves to thofe 

 who had affembled on the preceding night. They then enclofed us on 

 all fides, fighting with us foot to foot, and wounded above ten of our 

 foldiers ; the execution however of our fire arms and fwords made them 

 draw off a little, but it was only to ufe their arrows to more effeil.-— 

 They continually cried out, " Al Calachioni," or Oioot at the captain; in 

 confequence, he received no lefs than twelve arrows. I alfo got three for 

 my fhare, one of which, in my left fide, was very dangerous, and two 

 of our foldiers they carried off alive ; one was named Alonzo Bote, the 

 other was an old Portuguefe. Our captain feeing that all our exertions 

 to drive them off were ineftedual, that the enemy were continually 

 receiving fupplies, vv^hile we had above fifty of our number killed, de- 

 termined to endeavour to cut his way through them. This we effeded, 

 being formed into a compact body ; but they purfued us at our heels, 

 attacking us with their lances, and with fhowers of arrows. We how- 

 ever reached our boats, but it was only to encounter new difficulties; 

 the hurry and preffure to embark was fuch, that the boats were funk, 

 and we were forced, half wading, and half fwimming, to endeavour to 

 reach the fmall veffel, which came as far as pofiible to our aififi:ance ; 

 our foldiers received many wounds, while in and about the boats, and it 

 was with the utmoft difficulty that any of us efcaped with our lives. On 

 counting our numbers when Vv^e arrived on board the fhips, we found 

 that our lofs amounted to fifty-feven. This adlion lafted above half an 



hour. 



