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and run back to the Indian towns, some who could not make their escape clung to their savage acquaintance at parting, and continued many days in bitter lamentations, even refusing sustenance."

Business now being closed with the Indians, the army decamped on 18th November and took up the line of march for Fort Pitt, where they arrived in ten days.

A few days afterwards Colonel Bouquet proceeded to Philadelphia, and from thence returned to England. He had served as "commander-in-chief of his majesty's forces in the southern department of America.”

Before reaching Fort Pitt the Indians that had been brought along as hostages made their escape. This gave new cause for doubts and fears that the Shawnees would not redeem their promises. But when the 9th of May in the ensuing spring had arrived, ten chiefs and about fifty warriors of the Shawnee nation appeared in fulfilment of their promises, accompanied by a large body of Delaware, Seneca, Sandusky and Munsy Indians. They had with them all the prisoners but a few, whom they said were absent with their hunting parties at the time they left-such probably as altogether preferred a savage life.

Unusual as had been with the Shawnees an expression of entire satisfaction at the treaty of peace, their tone was now completely changed, and they seemed indeed rejoiced in perfectly brightening "the chain of friendship.;' Geo. Groghan, Esq., "deputy agent” to Sir William Johnson, had attended to ratify the treaty with them.

So remarkable was the altered tone they now assumed, we are induced to make some extracts from the words of their speaker to exhibit it, as well as for their preservation. It being the closing speech, and the only

one we have inserted, in part, of this nation. Lawaughqua, a Shawnee, spoke

"Fathers, for so we will call you hence forward, listen to what we are going to say to you. It gave us great pleasure yesterday to be called the children of the great King of England; and convinces us your intentions towards us are upright, as we know a father will be tender of his children; and they are more ready to obey him than a brother. Therefore we hope our father will take better care of his children than has heretofore been done. You put us in mind of our promise to Colonel Bouquet, which was to bring your flesh and blood to be delivered at this place. Father, you have not spoken in vain. You see we have brought them with us, except a few that were out with our hunting parties, which will be brought here as soon as they return. They have been all united to us by adoption; and although we now deliver them up to you, we will always look upon them as our relations whenever the Great Spirit is pleased that we may visit them. Father, we have taken as much care of them as if they were our own flesh and blood. They are now become unacquainted with your customs and manners; and, therefore, we may request you use them tenderly and kindly, which will induce them to live contentedly with you. Here is a belt with the figure of our father the King of Great Britain at one end and the chief of our nation at the other. It represents them holding the chain of friendship; and we hope neither side will slip their hands from it so long as the sun and moon give light."

Thus closed the memorable "Kiyasuta and Pontiac war"-one of but a few months duration, nevertheless productive of more distracting inquietude and serious injury to the Anglo frontiers than had been experienced

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through years of hostilities at any previous or subsequent time.

A comparative calm, it will be seen, now ensues for several years. The next outbreak is immediately prior to the Revolution, which extends to a fearful duration consequent upon that rupture between the colonies and the parent government. But the interim of peace now occurring will occupy our attention for a time. It was during this period that the Anglo-settlement of the west was permanently commenced; and, therefore, but now that the reader is properly introduced to the interesting history of the Western Pioneer.

CHAPTER XV.

Earliest Anglo-settlements in the west-Frazier's settlement on the Monongahela-Gist's-Tygart's-Files'-Eckarly's-Red Stone fort -Decker's settlement surprised by a party of Indians-Captain Gibson and Kiskephila, a Mingo chief-" Sandy creek voyage"-Other settlements and depredations of the Indians.

Although the Backwoods up to near this date had been in possession of the French, and over-run by the more hostile savages, yet did a few brave spirits from the English colonies venture, in defiance of these discouragements, to penetrate the forests west of the mountains and rear their solitary cabins in the remote wilderness.

A few instances of such daring, when even the shout of battle was the loudest, are known. However we will return to the earliest period that the English settlements on the branches of the Ohio had been made, and endeavor to trace their progress up to the date of which we at present write.

Somewhat earlier than 1753, Frazier, an Indian trader, commenced a settlement at the mouth of Turtle creek, on the Monongahela. His object, however, was rather to hold traffic with the Indians than the cultivation of the soil,

When a rupture took place between the French and English arms, he was prompt to render his countrymen assistance; and had been appointed to a lieutenancy in Captain Trent's company, who had marched in advance of the first troops destined for the Ohio, to hasten the

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erection of the fort at the mouth of the Monongahela. When this little band of forty-one men was obliged to abandon their half-finished fortification and retreat at the dictation of the formidable Contracœur, Frazier doubtless accompanied them, as no mention of his subsequent residence there is made. The place of his settlement became doubly memorable. The waters of the spring that gushed from the side of his cabin flowed through one of the ravines that afterwards bounded the fatal field of Braddock.

In 1753, Mr. Gist, of whom we have already spoken as exploring the country along the Ohio the two years previous, commenced a settlement "in the valley between the east ridge of the Alleghenies and the Monongahela." It was near where Uniontown now stands, the seat of justice for Fayette county, Pa.

The next year, 1754, a person by name of David Tyggart reached a beautiful valley on an upper branch of the Monongahela and commenced a settlement. The region is still known as "Tygart's valley."

Shortly afterwards another settler by name of Files arrived and built his cabin on the same stream near the site of Beverly, county seat of Randolph. Remote in the depths of the almost unknown forests the two families for a time anticipated a residence of comparative security, but the calm wave of their hopes was soon to be ruffled. In an unsuspecting hour the relentless savages came upon them. The family of Files was first surprised and all killed but one, who making his escape fled to Tygart's; that family by his timely warning with him was enabled to make a retreat to the older settlements. After some years they returned and continued their settlement.

Shortly after this discouraging occurrence another