next time I meddled
with a hawk's nest, I'd shoot the old hawk first.

OLD TIMES IN THE COLONIES.

BY CHARLES CARLETON COFFIN.

No. VII.

JOHN STARK AND THE INDIANS.

In April, 1752, David Stinson, Amos Eastman, William and John Stark,
paddled up the Merrimac River in canoes. Just above the junction of the
Contoocook River with the Merrimac they passed the last log-cabin. From
thence all the way to Canada there was not a white man. They made their
way forty miles farther, entered a little stream now known as Baker's
River, winding through a beautiful valley, built a camp, and set their
traps to catch beaver, which were building their dams along the brooks.

There had been war between France and England, but peace had been agreed
upon, and the Indians, who had been on the side of France, came from
Canada and traded with the settlers along the frontier; but the settlers
were ever on the watch, fearing an outbreak of hostilities at any
moment.

The young hunters discovered some tracks in the woods, which had been
made by Indians.

"The red-skins are about," they said.

It was agreed that it would be best to take up their traps and leave
quietly, for the Indians claimed the whole country as their hunting
ground. John Stark went out from the camp to take up his traps, when he
found himself confronted by several Indians, who made him their
prisoner. They had come from the village of St. Francis, in Canada, to
Lake Memphremagog, brought their canoes across the divide between the
lake and Connecticut River, and had descended that stream to the present
town of Haverhill, in New Hampshire, and were on their way to plunder
the settlements on the Merrimac. They did not know that John Stark had
any companions near at hand, nor did he inform them.

"Why is John gone so long?" was the question asked by the others.

"Perhaps he is lost. Let us fire a gun."

The report of a gun echoed through the forest.

The Indians' eyes twinkled. There were more prisoners to be had. They
stole through the woods with John, and came upon his three companions.
Eastman was on shore, his brother William and Stinson in the boat. The
Indians seized Eastman.

"Pull to the other shore," shouted John.

[Illustration: "CRACK! CRACK! WENT THE GUNS OF THE INDIANS."]

Crack! crack! went the guns of the Indians. Stinson fell dead, and a
bullet split the paddle in the hands of John's brother, who leaped to
the other bank, and escaped. Cr