446 
TRAVELS IN 
or three weeks time, I returned to Mucclaffe in 
order to prepare for my departure. 
On my arrival, I was not a little furprifed at a 
tragical revolution in the family of my friend the 
trader, his (lores flii.it up, and guarded by a party 
of Indians : in a few minutes however, the whole 
affair was related to me. It appeared that this 
fon of Adonis, had been detected in an amorous 
intrigue, with the wife of a young chief, the day 
after his arrival : the chief was out on a hunt, 
but arrived next day ; and upon information of 
the affair, the fact being confirmed, he with his 
friends and kindred refolved to exact legal fatis- 
faction, which in this cafe is cutting off both ears 
of the delinquent, clofe to the head, which is 
called cropping. This being determined upon, 
he took the mod fecret and effectual methods to 
effect his purpofe. About a dozen young Indian 
fellows, conducted by their chief (the injured 
hufbcind), having provided and armed themlelves 
with knotty cudgels of green Hiccory, which they 
concealed under their mantles, in the dufk of the 
evening paid a pretended friendly vifit to the trader 
at his own houfe, when the chief feigning a pri- 
vate matter of bufmefs, took him afide in the yard ; 
then whirling through his fingers (the fignal pre- 
concerted) he was inftantly furrounded, knocked 
down, and then (tripped to his ikin, and beaten 
with their knotty bludgeons ; however he had the 
fubtilty to feign himfelf fpeechlefs before they 
really killed him, which he fuppofed was their in- 
tention : when he had now lain for dead, the exe- 
cutioner drew out his knife with an intention of 
taking off his ears : this fmall refpite gave him 
time to reflect a little ; when he inftantly fprang up, 
ran 
