elf-defence.

"Such was their condition when in June, 1778, an expedition of Tories
and Indians was ready to come down upon them. All this was told to
Congress. Wyoming men in the army besought protection for their wives
and little ones, and General Schuyler wrote a touching letter in their
behalf. But all Congress did was to pass resolutions to let the people
take measures for self-defence by raising troops among themselves, and
finding their own arms, accoutrements, and blankets.

"The people--poor creatures!--did their best; but, attacked by
overwhelming numbers of the most savage foes, they went through
terrible scenes and sufferings. I will not dwell further upon the
horrors of that dreadful time. The Tories and Indians acted like
fiends. Lossing, speaking of what occurred after the fight and
surrender, says: 'The terms of capitulation were respected by the
invaders, particularly the Indians, for a few hours only. Before night
they spread through the valley, plundering and burning.'"

"Did the women and children run away, papa?" asked Ned.

"Yes; they fled to the mountains, and many of them perished in the
Pocono Mountain swamp, known as the Shades of Death, and along the
wilderness paths by the way of the Wind Gap and Water Gap. They were
flying to the settlements on the Lehigh and Delaware. They were not
travelling like ourselves--in an easy carriage, with abundance of food
and clothing; and many died from hunger and exhaustion."

"Some of their clothes had been taken by the Indians," remarked
Violet. "I remember reading that many squaws had on from four to six
dresses of silk or chintz, one over the other; and some four or five
bonnets, one over another."

"Papa, are we going to visit any more places in this State where they
had fights?" asked Ned.

"Where there were battles fought, son? No, I think not at this time.
We will probably go on into Ohio now without any more delays."

"There were some fights there--weren't there, papa?" asked Elsie.

"Yes; between the whites and the Indians, and between the Americans
and the British and Indians, in the war of 1812-14."

"Yes, children," said Lucilla; "don't you remember papa's telling us
about some of the fights near Lake Erie, and Perry's victory on the
lake?"

"Oh, yes!" exclaimed both the little ones; "and his letter to General
Harrison--'We have met the enemy and they are ours.' And you'll tell
us about the land fights, won't you, papa?"

"Yes," he