Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (Vol 1 1904).djvu/290

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284
Early Western Travels
[Vol. i

Colonel Armstrong and Colonel Bouquet went into the tent by themselves, and I went upon my business. What they have further agreed I do not know; but when they had done, I called king Beaver, Shingas, and Kekeuscund. and said,

"Brethren, if you have any alteration to make, in the answer to the general, concerning leaving this place, you will be pleased to let me know." They said, they would alter nothing, "We have told them three times to leave the place and go back; but they insist upon staying here; if, therefore, they will be destroyed by the French and the Indians, we cannot help them."

Colonel Bouquet set out for Loyalhannon: The Indians got some liquor between ten and eleven o'clock. One Mohock died; the others fired guns three times over him; at the last firing one had accidentally loaded his gun with a double charge: this gun burst to pieces, and broke his hand clean off; he also got a hard knock on his breast; and in the morning at nine o'clock he died, and they buried them in that place, both in one hole.

6th.—It was a cold morning; we swam our horses over the river, the ice running violently. Mr. Croghn told me that the Indians had spoke, upon the same string that I had, to Colonel Bouquet, and altered their mind; and had agreed and desired that 200 men should stay at the fort. I refused to make any alteration in the answer to the general, till I myself did hear it of the Indians; at which Mr. Croghn grew very angry. I told him I had already spoke with the Indians; he said, it was a d—d lie; and desired Mr. Hays to enquire of the Indians, and take down in writing what they said. Accordingly he called them, and asked them, if they had altered their speech, or spoke to Colonel Bouquet on that