already disposed of the prisoners in his hands, replied that they must be considered " as dead." The answer deeply grieved the sachem, the memory of their banished brethren was

graven on the hearts of his people. But though sufferers by the war, their losses were not without some compensation. Among the pri soners held by them was the son of Evert Pels, one of the men who had led the midnight foray upon them. Just as he was being

bound to the. stake of torture, the incident which gave to American history the name of Pocahontas had its counterpart.

The daughter of a chief stepped forward, in accordance with the customs of her people, and adopted the trembling captive as her own. In the depths of the forest he became her husband, and

when the delivery of prisoners came, she was " unwilling to part with him or he with her."

Adopted by the tribe, he returned with them to the wilderness, content to share their fortunes and their freedom.

Meanwhile affairs at Fort Orange wore a threatening aspect. In their greedy grasping for furs, a class of what were called runners had sprung up, who penetrated the woods to meet

town and secure their pel Their remuneration depended on the amount of property they secured for their principals, and to increase their gains they often had recourse to violence, wresting from the Indians their the Indians before they reached the tries.

property against their will, after inflicting on them, in addition, The evil continued, despite the efforts of the personal injuries. authorities to correct it, until the Mohawks made complaint and threatened to break their treaty and leave altogether, adding, that