ake good care of your garrison here, which made our
hearts glad.

Listen! When we were last at the Rapids, it is true we gave
you little assistance. It is hard to fight people who live
like ground hogs.

Father, listen! Our fleet has gone out; we know they have
fought; we have heard the great guns; but we know nothing of
what has happened to our father with that arm. Our ships have
gone one way, and we are much astonished to see our father
tying up every thing and preparing to run away the other,
without letting his red children know what his intentions are.
You always told us to remain here and take care of our lands;
it made our hearts glad to hear that was your wish. Our great
father, the king, is the head, and you represent him. You
always told us that you would never draw your foot off British
ground; but now, father, we see you are drawing back, and we
are sorry to observe our father doing so without seeing the
enemy. We must compare our father's conduct to a fat dog, that
carries its tail upon its back, but when affrighted, it drops
it between its legs and runs off.

Father, listen! The Americans have not yet defeated us by
land; neither are we sure that they have done so by water: _we
therefore wish to remain here and fight our_ _enemy, should
they make their appearance_. If they defeat us, we will _then_
retreat with our father.

At the battle of the Rapids, last war, the Americans certainly
defeated us; and, when we retreated to our father's fort in
the neighbourhood, the gates were shut against us. We were
afraid that it would again be the case; but, instead of
closing the gates, we now see our British father preparing to
march out of his garrison.

Father! You have got the arms and ammunition which our great
father sent for his red children. If you intend to retreat,
give them to us, and you may go, and welcome for us. Our lives
are in the hands of the Great Spirit. We are determined to
defend our lands, and if it be His will, we wish to leave our
bones upon them.

General Harrison's troops were soon transported by the American squadron
to _Put-in-Bay_, and they occupied Amherstburg on the 23d of September,
Proctor having previously fallen back upon Sandwich, after setting fire
to the navy yard, barracks, and public stores at the former place. The
British g