at you are in earnest, and that you are really determined to
take my life as you have declared. Am I now to consider you as my
avowed enemy, and, in order to secure my own life against your
murderous designs, to be the first to strike you, and imbrue my hands
in your blood? I will not, I cannot do it. Your heart is bad, it is
true, but still you appear to be a generous foe, for you gave me
notice of what you intended to do; you have put me on my guard, and
did not attempt to assassinate me by surprise; I therefore will spare
you until you lift up your arm to strike, and then, uncle, it will be
seen which of us shall fall." The murderer was thunderstruck, and,
without replying a word, slunk off, and left the house.--_Heckew._
161, 2.

Mr. Heckewelder relates another instance of Indian heroism and
magnanimity, not below the preceding. In the year 1782, a young white
prisoner had been sent by the war-chief of the Wyandots of Lower
Sandusky as a present to another chief, who was called the _Half-King_
of Upper Sandusky, for the purpose of being adopted into his family in
the place of one of his sons, who had been killed the preceding year,
while at war with the people on the Ohio. The wife of the Half-King
refused to receive the prisoner in lieu of her son, and this amounted
to a sentence of death. The young man was therefore taken away for the
purpose of being tortured and burnt on the pile. While the dreadful
preparations were making near the village, the unhappy victim being
already tied to the stake, and the Indians arriving from all quarters
to join in the cruel act, or to witness it, two English traders,
Messrs. Arundel and Robbins, shocked at the idea of the cruelties
which were about to be perpetrated, and moved by feelings of pity and
humanity, resolved to unite their exertions to endeavour to save the
prisoner's life, by offering a ransom to the war-chief, which he,
however, refused, because he said it was an established rule among
them, that when a prisoner, who had been given as a present, was
refused adoption, he was irrevocably doomed to the stake, and it was
not in the power of any one to save his life. The two generous
Englishmen, however, were not discouraged, and determined to try a
last effort. They well knew what effects the high-minded pride of an
Indian is capable of producing, and, to this strong and noble passion
they directed their attacks. "But," said they in reply to the answer
which the chief ha