Prince-George, as the commanding officer shall think proper, unmolested; and that a number of Indians be appointed to escort them, and hunt for provisions during the march: that such soldiers as are lame, or by sickness disabled from marching, be received into the Indian towns, and kindly used until they recover, and then be alJowed to proceed to fort Prince-George: that the Indians do provide for the garrison as many horses as they conveniently can for their march, agreeing with the officers and soldiers for the payment; that the fort's great guns, powder, ball, and spare arms, be delivered to the Indians without fraud or further delay, on the day appointed for the march of the troops.

Agreeably to the terms stipulated, the garrison delivered up the fort, on the 7th of August, and marched out with their arms, accompanied by Occonostota the prince of Chote, and several other Indians, and that day marched fifteen miles on their way to fort Prince-George. At night they encamped on a plain about two miles from Taliquo an Indian town, when all their Indian attendants, upon some pretence or other, left them; which the officers considered as an unfavorable omen, and therefore placed a strict guard round their camp. During the night they remained unmolested, but next morning at the dawn of day, a soldier from an out-post came running in, and informed them, that he saw a vast number of Indians, armed and painted in a warlike manner,

creeping among the bushes, and advancing in order to surround the camp: scarcely had the commanding officer time to order his men under arms, when the savages poured in upon them a heavy fire from different directions, accompa nied by the most hideous yells, which struck a panic into the soldiers, who were so much enfeebled and dispirited that they were incapable of making any effectual resistance. Captain Paul Demere the commander, and three other officers, with twenty-six men, fell at the first onset; some fled into the woods and were afterwards taken prisoners; captain Steuart, and those who remained, were seized, pinioned, and carried back to fort Loudon. No sooner had Attakullakulla heard that his friend captain Steuart, had escaped death, than he hastened to the fort and purchased him from the Indian who took him, giving him his rifle, clothes, and all that he could command, by way of ransom: he then took possession of captain Demere's house, where he kept his prisoner as one of his family, and humanely shared with him the little provisions his table afforded, until an opportunity should offer of rescuing him from their hands; but the poor soldiers were kept in a miserable state of captivity for some time, and then ransomed at considerable expense.

During the time these prisoners were confined at fort Loudon, Occonostota formed a design of attacking fort Prince-George, and for this purpose despatched a messenger to the Indian settlements

in the valley, requesting all the warriors to join him at Stickoe-old-town. By accident a discovery was made of ten kegs of powder, and ball in proportion, which the officers had secretly buried in the fort, to prevent it from falling into the hands of the enemy: this discovery had nearly proved fatal to captain Steuart, and would certainly have cost him his life, had not the interpre ter had so much presence of mind, as to assure the enemy that this ammunition had been con cealed without his knowledge or consent. The Indians having now abundance of ammunition for the siege, a council was called at Chote, to which captain Steuart was brought, and put in mind of the obligations he lay under to them for sparing his life; and as they had resolved to carry six cannon and two cohorns with them against fort Prince-George, to be managed by men under his command, they told him he must go and write such letters to the commandant as they should dictate they informed him at the same time, that if that officer should refuse to surrender, they were determined to burn the prisoners, one after another before his face, and try if he could be so obstinate as to hold out while he saw his friends expiring in the flames: captain Steuart was much alarmed at his situation, and from that moment resolved to make his escape or perish in the attempt his design he privately communicated to his faithful friend Attakullakulla, and told him how uneasy he was at the thoughts of being com

pelled to bear arms against his countrymen: he acknowledged that he had always been a brother to him, and hoped he would now assist him in projecting the means of escape from this perilous situation. The old man took him by the hand, told him he might rely upon his friendship, that he had given him one proof of his esteem, and intended to give him another, so soon as his bro ther should return and help him to concert the measure he said he was fully apprized of the evil designs of his countrymen, and the fatal consequences which would be the result; and should he go and persuade the garrison of fort Prince George to surrender by capitulation, as fort Loudon had done, what could be expected but that they would share the same treacherous dismal fate.

Strong and uncultivated minds carry friendship, as well as enmity, to an astonishing length. Among the savages, family friendship is a national virtue, and civilized nations may blush, when they consider how far barbarians have often surpassed them in the practice of it. The instance I am going to relate, is as singular and memorable as many that have been recorded in the annals of history.

Attakullakulla claimed captain Steuart as his prisoner, and had resolved at every hazard to save his life, and for this purpose there was no time to be lost: accordingly he signified to his countrymen that he intended to go hunting for

a few days, and carry his prisoner with him to eat venison: at the same time captain Steuart went among his soldiers, and told them that they could never expect to be ransomed by their goyernment, if they gave the smallest assistance to the Indians against fort Prince-George. Having settled all matters, they set out on their journey accompanied by the old warrior's wife, his brother and two soldiers, who were the only persons of the garrison that knew how to convey great guns through the woods. For provisions they depended upon what they might kill by the way: the distance to the frontier settlements was great, and the utmost expedition necessary, to prevent any surprise from Indians pursuing them. Nine days and nights did they travel through a dreary wilderness, shaping their course by the sun and moon for Virginia, and traversing many hills, vallies and paths, that had never been travelled before but by savages and wild beasts. On the tenth they arrived at Holston's river, where they fortunately fell in with a party of three hundred men, sent out by colonel Bird for the relief of such soldiers as might make their escape that way from fort Loudon. On the fourteenth day the captain reached colonel Bird's camp, on the frontiers of Virginia, where having loaded his faithful friend and his party, with presents and provisions, he sent him back to protect the unhappy prisoners until they should be ransomed, and to exert his influence among the Cherokees