themselves up for lost. While their knives were unsheathing, and their hatchets glittering, as they were flourished in the sunbeams, the only survivor of the murdered party rushed into the circle and interposed in their favor. With a wave of the hand, as of a warrior entitled to be heard-for he was himself, a chief-silence was restored, and the prisoners were surprised by the utterance of an earnest appeal in their behalf. He eloquently and impressively declaimed in their favor, upon the ground that it was not they who murdered their brothers; and to take the lives of the innocent, would not be right in the eyes of the Great Spirit. His appeal was effective. The passions of the incensed warriors were hushed, their eyes no longer shot forth the burning glances of revenge, and their gesticulations ceased to menace immediate and bloody vengeance.

"True, it so happened, that this chief knew all the prisonershe having resided in the Schoharie canton of the Mohawks, during the war. He doubtless felt a deeper interest in their behalf on that account. Still, it was a noble action, worthy of the proudest era of chivalry, and in the balmy days of Greece and Rome, would have crowned him almost with an apotheosis and rights divine.' The interposition of Pochohantas, in favor of Captain Smith, before the rude court of Powhaltan, was, perhaps, more romantic; but when the motive which prompted the generous action of the princess, is considered, the transaction now under review, exhibits the most of genuine benevolence. Pochohantas was moved by the tender passion-the Mohawk Sachem, by the feelings of magnanimity, and the eternal principles of justice. It is a matter of regret, that the name of this high souled warrior is lost, as, alas! have been too many that might serve to relieve the dark and vengeful portraiture of Indian character, which it has so well

pleased the white man to draw! The prisoners themselves were so impressed with the manner of their signal deliverance, that they justly attributed it to a direct interposition of Providence."*

After the most acute sufferings from hunger and exhaustion the party at last arrived at Niagara. The last night of their journey, they encamped a short distance from the fort. In the morning the prisoners were informed that they were to run the gauntlet, and were brought out, where two parallel lines of Indians were drawn out, between which the prisoners were to pass, exposed to the whips and blows of the savages. The course to be ran, was towards the fort. Harper was the first one selected, and at the signal, sprang from the mark with extraordinary swiftness. An Indian near the end of the line, fearing he might escape without injury, sprang before him, but a blow from Harper's fist felled him; the Indians enraged, broke their ranks and rushed after him, as he fled with the utmost speed towards the fort. The garrison, when they saw Harper approaching, opened the gates, and he rushed in, only affording sufficient time for the garrison to close the gates, ere the Indians rushed upon it, clamoring for the possession of their victim. The other prisoners taking advantage of the breaking up of the Indian ranks, took different routes, and all succeeded in reaching the fort without passing through the terrible ordeal, which was intended for them.

Stone's Life of Brant.

A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER.

"COL. ALLEN MC LANE, who died at Wilmington, Del., in 1829, at the patriarchial age of 83, was distinguished for his personal courage, and for his activity as a partisan officer. He was long attached to Major Lee's famous legion of horse. While the British occupied Philadelphia, Mc Lane was constantly scouring the upper end of Bucks and Montgomery counties, to cut off the scouting parties of the enemy, and intercept their supplies of provisions. Having agreed for some purpose, to rendesvouz near Shoemakertown, Col. Mc Lane ordered his little band of troopers to follow at some distance, and commanded two of them to precede the main body, but also to keep in his rear; and if they discovered an enemy, to ride up to his side and inform him of it, without speaking aloud. While leisurely approaching the place of rendesvouz in this order, in the early gray of the morning, the two men directly in the rear, forgetting their orders, suddenly called out, "Colonel, the British faced about, and putting spurs to their horses, were soon out of sight. The colonel looking around, discovered that he was in the centre of a powerful ambuscade, into which the enemy had silently allowed him to pass, without his observing them. They lined both sides of the road, and had been stationed there to pick up any straggling party of the Americans that might chance to pass. Immediately on finding they were discovered, a file of soldiers rose from the side of the highway, and fired at the colonel, but without effect; and as he put spurs to his horse, and mounted the road-side into the woods, the other part of the detachment also fired. The colonel miracuously escaped; but a shot striking his horse upon the flank, he

dashed through the woods, and in a few minutes reached a parallel road upon the opposite side of the forest. Being familiar with the country, he feared to turn to the left, as that course led to the city, and he might be intercepted by another ambuscade. Turning therefore, to the right, his frightened horse carried him swiftly beyond the reach of those who had fired upon him. All at once, however, on emerging from a piece of woods, he observed several British troops stationed near the road-side, and directly in sight ahead, a farm house, around which he observed a whole troop of the enemy's cavalry drawn up. He dashed by the troops near him without being molested, they believing he was on his way to the main body to surrender himself. The farm-house was situated at the intersection of two roads, presenting but two avenues by which he could escape. Nothing daunted by the formidable array before him, he galloped up to the cross roads, on reaching which, he spurred his active horse, turned suddenly to the right, and was soon fairly out of reach of their pistols, though as he turned, he heard them call loudly to surrender or die! A dozen were instantly in pursuit; but in a short time they all gave up the chase except two. Col. Mc Lane's horse, scared by the first wound he had ever received, and being a chosen animal, kept ahead for several miles, while his two pursuers followed with unwearied eagerness. The pursuit at length waxed so hot, that, as the colonel's horse stepped out of a small brook which crossed the road, his pursuers entered it at the opposite margin. In ascending a little hill, the horses of the three were greatly exhausted, so much so, that neither could be urged faster than a walk. Occasionally, as one of the troopers pursued on, a little in advance of his companion, the colonel slackened his pace, anxious to be attacked by one of the two; but no sooner was his willingness dis

covered, than the other fell back to his station. They at length approached so near, that a conversation took place between them; the troopers calling out, 'surrender you d-d rebel, or we'll cut you in pieces.' Suddenly one of them rode up on the right side of the colonel, and, without drawing his sword, laid hold of the colonel's collar. The latter, to use his own words, "had pistols which he knew he could depend on.' Drawing one from the holster, he placed it to the heart of his antagonist, fired, and tumbled him dead on the ground. Instantly the other came upon his left, with his sword drawn, and also seized the colonel by the collar of his coat. A fierce and deadly struggle here ensued, in the course of which Col. Mc Lane was desperately wounded in the back of his left hand, the sword of his antagonist cutting asunder the veins and tendons of that member. Seeing a favorable opportunity, he drew his other pistol, and with a steadiness of purpose, which appeared even in his recital of the incident, placed it directly between the eyes of his adversary, pulled the trigger, and scattered his brains on every side of the road! Fearing that "others were in pursuit, he abandoned his horse in the highway; and apprehensive, from his extreme weakness, that he might die from loss of blood, he crawled into an adjacent mill-pond, entirely naked, and at length succeeded in stopping the profuse flow of blood occasioned by his wound."