t \6 The Diftrejfes and Adventures 



therefore perfuaded us, to turn back with 

 them to the Village, which we agreed to. As 

 we were going along, they told us, there 

 had been a Diftemper raging in thefe Parts, 

 which had fwept away moft of the Men, and 

 that the Women and Children that were left, 

 not being able to hunt about in the Woods 

 and Mountains as the Men daily do, were 

 almoft ftarved to Death. We imagined the 

 Reafon of our not being fooner told the 

 Caufe of the great Scarcity of Victuals in 

 thefe Parts, proceeded from the Fears the 

 People might form to themfelves of our 

 taking Advantages of their prefent Weak- 

 nefs, which, perhaps, were heightned, by 

 hearing we expefted Company to join us ; 

 but if they dreaded fo, they were greatly 

 unjuft to us; we were not fo profligate and 

 ungrateful as to offer Injury, had it been in 

 our Power, to a harmlefi People, who, in 

 our greateft Diftrefs, had all along fuccoured 

 and relieved us, tho', at the fame time, they 

 were poffeffed with Notions, that fhould 

 they ever fall into the Hands of the Englifh^ 

 we ftiould repay their Generofity, with the 

 utmoft Rigour and Cruelty. Thefe No- 

 tions, which we could hardly ever diffuade 



them 



