away his gun and hatchet, and set off at a speed that soon
overtook the woman. One man and myself did the same, except our
guns. The rest, picking up our things, followed. On overtaking
the woman, she instantly fell on her kness, and tearing open
the cassock, (a dress composed of deerskin lined with fur,)
showing her breasts to prove that she was a woman, and begged
for mercy. In a few moments we were by Mr. ----'s side. Several
of the Indians, with the three who had quitted the house with
the woman, now advanced, while we retreated towards the shore.
At length we stopped and they did the same. After a pause,
three of them laid down their bows, with which they were armed,
and came within two hundred yards. We then presented our guns,
intimating that not more than one would be allowed to approach.
They retired and fetched their arms, when one, the ill-fated
husband of Mary March, our captive, advanced with a branch of
fir tree (spruce) in his hand. When about ten yards off he
stopped and made a long oration. He spoke at least ten minutes;
towards the last his gesture became very animated, and his eye
"shot fire." He concluded very mildly, and advancing, shook
hands with many of the party--then he attempted to take his
wife from us; being opposed in this he drew from beneath his
cassock an axe, the whole of which was finely polished, and
brandished it over our heads. On two or three pieces being
presented, he gave it up to Mr. ----, who then intimated that
the woman must go with us, but that he might go also if he
pleased, and that in the morning both should have their
liberty. At the same time two of the men began to conduct her
towards the houses. On this being done, he became infuriated,
and rushing towards her strove to drag her from them; one of
the men rushed forward and stabbed him in the back with a
bayonte: turning round, at a blow he laid the fellow at his
feet; the next instant he knocked down another, and rushing on
----, like a child laid him on his back, and seizing his dirk
from his belt brandished it over his head; the next instant it
would have been buried in him, had I not with both hands
seized his arm; he shook me off in an instant, while I
measured my length on the ice; Mr. ---- then drew a pistol from
his girdle an