Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (Vol 1 1904).djvu/258

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252
Early Western Travels
[Vol. i

met, he then called us first to sit down, and to hear what they had to say. The Indian that delivered the prisoner to Bull and George, spoke as follows:

"My brethren, the English are at such a distance from us, as if they were under ground, that I cannot hear them. I am very glad to hear from you such good news; and I am very sorry that it happened so, that I went to war. Now I let the general know, he should consider his young men, and if you should have any of us, to set them at liberty, so as we do to you.

Then Pesquitomen said, "As the Governor gave these three messengers into my bosom, so I now likewise, by this string of wampum, give Bull into Delaware George's bosom, to bring him safe to the general." Mr. Bull sat down with the prisoner, who gave him some intelligence in writing; at which the Indians grew very jealous and asked them what they had to write there? I wrote a letter to the general by Mr. Bull. In the afternoon Mr. Bull, Delaware George, and Keskenepalen set out for the camp. Towards night they brought in another prisoner. When Mr. Bull and company were gone, the Indians took the same prisoner, whom Mr. Bull had relieved, and bound him and carried him to another town, without our knowledge. I a thousand times wished Mr. Bull had never meddled in the affair, fearing they would exceedingly punish, and bring the prisoner to confession of the contents of the writing.

19th.—A great many of the warriors came home. The French had infused bad notions into the Indians, by means of the letters, they found upon Lieutenant Hays, who was killed, which they falsely interpreted to them, viz. That, in one letter it was wrote, that the general should do all that was in his power to conquer the French,