meantime, the Indians had gathered in considerable numbers, determined to avenge the attack which had t>een made upon their kindred. Observing the party which had been sent out

by Smith, an ambuscade was formed, into which, on their re turn, the company fell and were immediately surrounded by the Indians, to whom thirteen of the party, including the officer in

command and six soldiers, surrendered without any resistance, and were borne off -into captivity.

Open war was now declared.

The Indians, justly incensed

against their Dutch neighbors, burned all the houses, barns, and

harvests within their reach, and killed all the horses and cattle that fell in their way.

Four or

five hundred Indians invested

the village, and, after vainly attempting to set it on fire, avenged

themselves by burning at the stake eight or ten of the prisoners in their hands, among

whom was Stoutenberg who had taken

part in the attack on the sleeping Indians.

It was a horrid cere

The victims were fastened naked to stakes, placed at

mony. some distance from each other encircling a large fire their heads ornamented; their bodies painted. The dance of death was then held, and the work of torture commenced. The nails of the victims were pulled out, their fingers bitten off or crushed between stones, their skin scorched with fire-brands or torches, pieces of flesh cut from their bodies, and every ;

kind of slow torture that savage ingenuity could suggest, in flicted ; and, as one by one they were released by death, their bodies were cast into the blazing fire and consumed. Terror folded her wings in the hearts of the people who beheld the spectacle which they could not prevent j fathers gathered upon