persons in the capacity of guides;[15] whose knowledge of the woods,
and familiarity with those natural indices, which so unerringly mark
the direction of the principal points, enabled them to pursue the
direct course.--When they had approached within six miles of the town,
the [116] army encountered an opposition from a party of fifty or
sixty Indians lying in ambush; and before these could be dislodged,
two whites were killed, and eight or ten wounded;--one Indian was
killed, and several wounded. They then proceeded to Wappatomica
without further molestation.[16]

When the army arrived at the town, it was found to be entirely
deserted. Supposing that it would cross the river, the Indians had
retreated to the opposite bank, and concealing themselves behind trees
and fallen timber, were awaiting that movement in joyful anticipation
of a successful surprise.--Their own anxiety and the prudence of the
commanding officer, however, frustrated that expectation. Several were
discovered peeping from their covert, watching the motion of the army;
and Colonel McDonald, suspecting their object, and apprehensive that
they would recross the river and attack him in the rear, stationed
videttes above and below, to detect any such purpose, and to apprise
him of the first movement towards effecting it. Foiled by these
prudent and precautionary measures and seeing their town in possession
of the enemy, with no prospect of wresting it from them, 'till
destruction would have done its work, the Indians sued for peace; and
the commander of the expedition consenting to negotiate with them, if
he could be assured of their sincerity, five chiefs were sent over as
hostages, and the army then crossed the river, with these in front.

When a negotiation was begun, the Indians asked, that one of the
hostages might be permitted to go and convoke the other chiefs,
whose presence, it was alleged, would be necessary to the ratification
of a peace. One was accordingly released; and not returning at the
time specified, another was then sent, who in like manner failed
to return. Colonel McDonald, suspecting some treachery, marched
forward to the next town, above Wappatomica, where another slight
engagement took place, in which one Indian was killed and one white
man wounded. It was then ascertained, that the time which should
have been spent in collecting the other chiefs, preparatory to
negotiation, had been employed in removing their old men, their w