Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/204

 180 HISTORY OF Ross at first, the bad faith of Haines having caused him to suspect every pale-face. He finally consented, however, to stay with Mr. Ross a short time. He was kindly treated by Mr. R. and his neighbors. While here, his conduct afforded much amusement to the juvenile members of the family. Mr. Ross and his hands,'' were hoeing corn, and every time they went to their work, Shanks accompanied them. As soon as he got to the field he selected the highest ground in it, and after glancing rapidly and suspiciously over the surrounding country, he seated him- self a la Tiirque, among the waving and rustling corn, where he remained out of sight fifteen or twenty minutes. He would then get upon the tip of his toes, stretch his neck'' upwards as far as possible, look around, as if expecting to see Tom, and then squat upon his haunches again. As long as he remained in the field he acted in this way. The boys could compare him to nothing but a rather vigilant and somewhat alarmed turkeycock. After remaining a day or two, he continued his journey homeward, to relate another great wrong committed by the white man. He left Ross, breathing threats of vengeance, and was ferried across the Delaware, at Equinunk, by Mr. Parks, who has already been mentioned. The death of Canope was regretted by most of the frontier set- tlers, for many reasons. His murder was brought about by the blackest treachery, and in violation of a solemn treaty of peace, the strict observance of which was necessary to their safety. Nothing could justify the murder. It was known that others beside Tom were engaged in the transaction, and there was good ground for fear that the Indians would avenge his death, and in doing so, not discriminate between the bloody perpetrators of the outrage, and those who would have sheltered him from harm. The Indians made a formal complaint to the government against Shinier, Haines, and Quick ; but it does not appear