and the distant
mountains forming the landscape in Walpole, New Hampshire, which Colonel
Benjamin Bellows and John Kilburn gazed upon on the banks of the
Connecticut River in 1749. They had built their log-houses with
loop-holes in the walls through which they could fire upon the Indians
in case they were attacked. Though peace had been agreed upon between
France and England, the people who lived along the frontier felt no
security, for the French in Canada were continually urging the Indians
to commit depredations on the English. It was a short and easy journey
from Crown Point, on Lake Champlain, to the valley of the Connecticut,
and the Indians who sold their furs to the French were frequent visitors
to the settlements along the Connecticut.

One of the Indians who visited John Kilburn was called Captain Philip.
He had been baptized and christened by the Jesuit priests at the Indian
village of St. Francis, on the banks of the St. Lawrence, half way from
Montreal to Quebec. The St. Francis tribe were called Christian Indians.
There were rumors that war would break out again between England and
France. Before war was declared hostilities began.

It was in the spring of 1755 that Captain Philip made a visit to John
Kilburn's house with some beaver-skins for sale. He wanted powder,
bullets, and flints for pay. While he was trading, Captain Philip was
running his eyes over the house, looking at the thick timbers, the
loop-holes in the walls. When he had finished his trade he visited the
other houses in the settlement. He was kindly treated. The settlers
never mistrusted that he was taking observations for future use.

August came. The settlers heard that war had begun, and knew that the
French and Indians might be upon them at any moment. They strengthened
their block-houses. No one went into the field to work alone. They
always carried their guns with them. They had some faithful watch-dogs
which always growled when Indians were about. There were nearly forty
men in the settlement. They were stout-hearted, and were determined not
to be driven out by the French and Indians. They appointed Colonel
Bellows to be their leader. He had a suspicion that Indians were about.

"We must have a supply of meal, so that in case we are attacked we shall
have something to eat," he said.

The settlers filled each a bag with corn, shouldered them, and then, in
single file, each man carrying his gun, they marched to the grist-mill
wh