Page:History of the Ojibway Nation.djvu/465

Rh cessant fire kept them in awe, until they were two hundred paces from the woods, when the enemy perceiving their prey ready to escape, surrounded and rushed upon them. Three of the Saulteaux [Ojibways] fled in a different direction, and one escaped, but the other two were killed.

"He that remained to protect the women and children was a brave fellow, Anguemance, or Little Chief. When the enemy was rushing upon them, he waited very deliberately, when he aimed at one coming full speed and knocked him from his horse. Three young girls and one boy were taken prisoners, and the rest were all murdered and cut up in the most horrible manner. Several women and children had made their escape to the woods. The enemy chased them, but the willows were so thick, they were saved. A boy of about twelve years of age, says, that a Scieux being in pursuit of him, he crossed into a low hidden place, and the horseman leaped over, without perceiving him. One of the little girls tells a pitiful story. She says that her mother having two children who could not walk fast enough, had taken one upon her back, and prevailed upon her sister to carry the other, but when they got near the woods, the enemy rushing upon them and yelling, the young woman was so frightened that she threw down the child and soon overtook the mother, who, observing that the child was missing, and hearing it screaming, kissed the little daughter who tells the story, and said: 'As for me, I will return for your youngest sister, and rescue her or die in the attempt; take courage, and run fast, my daughter!'

"Poor woman! she rescued the child, and was running off, when she was arrested by a blow from a war-club. She fell to the ground, but drew her knife and plunged it into the neck of her murderer; others coming up, she was soon despatched. Thus my belle-mère ended her days. The