Considerable difficulty was experienced in the march, the streams ther than their first fort."

being swollen and heavy rains prevailing.

noon, the

first

On the 5th, about

maize field was reached, and two squaws and a

Dutch woman discovered gathering corn. Passing these with out alarming them, the fort was discovered about two o'clock, " situate on a The force was divided for the pur lofty plain." pose of surprise, but discovery was sent forth a terrible scream, which

made by a squaw, " who

was heard by the Indians,"

who rushed from the fort, on which they were at work, to their houses to secure their arms. From thence they sprang into which bordered the kil, and in almost a mo ment of time were on the opposite bank of the stream, where they courageously returned the Dutch fire. They soon retreated their corn-fields

however, having lost

their chief,

Papequanaehen, and fourteen

women and three children killed and thirteen " men and women, besides an old man," who, after prisoners, warriors, four

;

accompanying his captors about half an hour, would go no " his last meal." further, and who was then taken aside and given Twenty Dutch prisoners were recovered, among whom was Mrs. DuBois and her children, around whose captivity tradition has thrown the story that at the time of the attack preparation was being made for her sacrifice at the stake, which was only delayed by the pleasure with which the Indians listened to the

Unfortunately for the tradition, death-song which she chanted. the Indians, at the time of the attack, were not constructing sacrificial fires or listening to