gave up the attack, and Lieutenant Banks went forward with a flag of
truce, in the hope of ransoming the prisoners. He was met by six
chiefs, among whom were two noted Indians of his acquaintance, Bomazeen
and Captain Nathaniel. They well knew that the living Plaisted was worth
more than his scalp; and though they would not come to terms at once,
they promised to meet the English at Richmond's Island in a few days and
give up both him and Tucker on payment of a sufficient ransom. The flag
of truce was respected, and Banks came back safe, bringing a hasty note
to the elder Plaisted from his captive son. This note now lies before
me, and it runs thus, in the dutiful formality of the olden time:--

Sir,--I am in the hands of a great many Indians, with which there
is six captains. They say that what they will have for me is 50
pounds, and thirty pounds for Tucker, my fellow prisoner, in good
goods, as broadcloth, some provisions, some tobacco pipes,
Pomisstone [pumice-stone], stockings, and a little of all things.
If you will, come to Richmond's Island in 5 days at farthest, for
here is 200 Indians, and they belong to Canada.

If you do not come in 5 days, you will not see me, for Captain
Nathaniel the Indian will not stay no longer, for the Canada
Indians is not willing for to sell me. Pray, Sir, don't fail, for
they have given me one day, for the days were but 4 at first. Give
my kind love to my dear wife. This from your dutiful son till
death,

Elisha Plaisted.

The alarm being spread and a sufficient number of men mustered, they set
out to attack the enemy and recover the prisoners by force; but not an
Indian could be found.

Bomazeen and Captain Nathaniel were true to the rendezvous; in due time
Elisha Plaisted was ransomed and restored to his bride.[52]

FOOTNOTES:

[40] Count Frontenac, 231.

[41] _Ibid._, chaps, xi. xvi. xvii.

[42] Penhallow, _History of the Wars of New England with the Eastern
Indians_, 16 (ed. 1859). Penhallow was present at the council. In Judge
Sewall's clumsy abstract of the proceedings (_Diary of Sewall_, ii. 85)
the Indians are represented as professing neutrality. The governor and
intendant of Canada write that the Abenakis had begun a treaty of
neutrality with the English, but that as "les Jesuites observoient les
sauvages, le traite ne fut pas conclu." They add that Rale, Jesuit
missionary at Norridgewock