Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/395

 the North American Indians. 383

the year 17475 a couple of the Mohawk Indians came againft th; lower towns of the Cheerake, and fo cunningly ambufcaded them through moft part of the fpring and fummer, as to kill above twenty in different attacks, before they were difcovered by any party of the enraged and dejected people* They had a thorough knowledge of the moft convenient ground for their purpofe, and were extremely fwift and long winded when ever they killed any, and got the fcalp, they made off to the neighbouring mountains, and ran over the broad ledges of rocks, in contrary courfes, as occafion offered, fo as the purfuers could by no means trace them. Once, when a large company was in chace of them, they ran round a fteep hill at the head of the main eaftern branch of Savana river, intercepted, killed,, and fcalped the hindmoft of the party, and then made off between them and Keeowhee: as this was the town to which the company belonged, they haftened home in a clofe body, as the proper place of fecurity from fuch enemy wizards. In this manner, did thofe two fprightly gallant fa- vages perplex and intimidate their foes for the fpace of four moons, in the greateft fecurity, though they often were forced to kill and barbicue what they chiefly lived upon, in the midft of their watchful enemies. Having fufficiently revenged their relations' blood, and gratified their own ambition with an uncommon number of fcalps, they refolved to captivate one, and run home with him, as a proof of their having killed none but the ene mies of their country. Accordingly, they approached very near to Keeo whee, about half-a-mile below the late Fort Prince George, advancing with the ufual caution on fuch an occafion one crawled along under the bed cover of the place,, about the diftance of an hundred yards a-head, while the other fhifted from tree to tree, looking fharply every way. In the evening, however, an old beloved man difcovered them from the top of an adjoining hill, and knew them to be enemies, by the cut of their hair, light trim for running, and their poftures ; he returned to the town, and called firft at the houfe of one of our traders, and informed him of the affair, enjoining him not to mention it to any, left the people fhould fee ofF againft them without fuccefs, before their tracks were to be difco* vered, and he be charged with having deceived them.. But, contrary to the true policy of traders among unforgiving favages, that thoughtlefs member of the Choktah Sphynx-company bufied himfelf as ufual- out of his proper fphere, fent for the head-men, and told them the ftory. As the Mohawks were our allies, and not known to moleft any of the traders

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