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 fcores fhut up, and guarded by a party 
of Indians : in a few minutes however, the whole 
affair was related to me. It appeared that this 
Ion 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 fadt being confirmed, he with his 
friends and kindred refolved to exa<d 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 moft fecret and effectual methods to 
effedt his purpofe. About a dozen young Indian 
fellows, conducted by their chief (the injured 
hufband), having provided and armed them- 
felves with knotty cudgels of green Hiccory, 
which they concealed under their mantles, in the 
duik of the evening paid a pretended friendly 
vifit to the trader at his own houfe, when the 
chief feigning a private matter of bufinefs, took 
him afide in the yard ; then whiffling through 
his fingers (the fignal preconcerted) he was in- 
ftantly furrounded, knocked down, and then 
ftripped to his fldn, and beaten with their knotty 
bludgeons ; however he had the fubtilty to teign 
himfelf fpeechlefs before they really killed him, 
which he fuppofed was their intention : wdien he 
had now lain for dead, the executioner drew out 
his knife with an intention of taking off his ears : 
this final! refpite gave him time to refledt a little ; 
when 
