The Acadians 
up arms against their countrymen nor against 
the Indians, who were the friends of the 
French, but they were enjoined to remain 
neutral. They persisted in refusing to take 
the oath of allegiance excepting with such 
modifications as made it meaningless. More 
than this, in time of war they withheld sup- 
plies from the English, refusing to sell except 
at exorbitant prices, and secretly sent their 
stores to their own countrymen. 
Le Loutre, when he came upon the scene, 
stirred up the Micmacs to constant raids upon 
the Enghsh, whom they mercilessly killed ; 
and the more reckless among the Acadians, 
disguising themselves as Indians, are said to 
have joined the raiders. 
Within what she considered her own terri- 
tory, England was nourishing an enemy that 
threatened at any favourable moment to de- 
stroy her. 
This state of affairs could not go on for ever. 
Matters were nearing a climax ; New England 
demanded the suppression of the Acadians, 
declaring her own safety depended upon it ; 
and England would not turn a deaf ear to 
New England's cries, though there are those 
87 
