unhappily for me, as it has since proved, on the
frontiers of Pennsylvania. It contained about two hundred acres, with a
good house and barn.

I was now happy in my home with a good wife; but my peace did not last
long, for about 1754 the Indians in the French interest, who had
formerly been very troublesome in our province, began to renew their old
practices. Even many of the Indians whom we supposed to be in the
English interest joined the plundering bands; it was no wonder, for the
French did their utmost, to win them over, promising to pay 15_l._ for
every scalp of an Englishman!

Hardly a day passed but some unhappy family fell a victim to French
bribery and savage cruelty. As for me, though now in comfortable
circumstances, with an affectionate and amiable wife, it was not long
before I suddenly became the most pitiable of mankind. I can never bear
to think of the last time I saw my dear wife, on the fatal 2nd of
October, 1754. That day she had left home to visit some of her
relations, and, no one being in the house but myself, I stayed up later
than usual, expecting her return. How great was my terror when, at
eleven o'clock at night, I heard the dismal war-whoop of the savages,
and, flying to the window, saw a band of them outside, about twelve in
number.

They made several attempts to get in, and I asked them what they wanted.
They paid no attention, but went on beating at the door, trying to get
it open. Then, having my gun loaded in my hand, I threatened them with
death if they would not go away. But one of them, who could speak a
little English, called out in return that if I did not come out they
would burn me alive in the house. They told me further--what I had
already found out--that they were no friends to the English, but that if
I would surrender myself prisoner they would not kill me.

My horror was beyond all words. I could not depend on the promises of
such creatures, but I must either accept their offer or be burnt alive.
Accordingly I went out of my house with my gun in my hand, not knowing
what I did or that I still held it. Immediately, like so many tigers,
they rushed on me and disarmed me. Having me now completely in their
power, the merciless villains bound me to a tree near the door, and then
went into the house and plundered what they could. Numbers of things
which they were unable to carry away were set fire to with the house and
consumed before my eyes. Then they set fire to my barn,