were refused, and a conflict ensued of the most frightful and terrific character.  Tomahawks, knives, and arrows, were used indiscriminately, and many an Indian fell in that bloody contest.  The tomahawks were thrown with the swiftness of arrows, and were generally buried in the skull or the breast; and whenever two came in contact, with the famous “Indian hug,” the strife was soon over with either one or the other, by one plunging the deadly knife up to the hilt in the body of his opponent; nor were the poisoned arrows of less swift execution, for, wherever they struck, the wretched victim was quickly in eternity.  I shall never forget the frightful barbarity of that hour; although years have elapsed since its occurrence, still the whole scene in imagination is before me, the savage yell of the warwhoop, and the direful screams of the squaws, still ring afresh in my ears.  In the height of this conflict, a tall Indian chief, who, I knew, belonged to the same tribe with the young squaw who gave me the drink, came down to the beach where I was.  The boat had been discharged, and was lying with her head off.  At a signal given by the squaw to the chief, he caught me up in his arms, with as much ease as if I had been a child, waded to the boat, threw me in, and then, with a most expressive gesture, urged us off.  Fortunately, there were two oars in the boat, and, feeble as I was, I threw all the remaining strength I had to the oar.  It was the last effort, as life or death hung upon the next fifteen minutes.  Disappointed of a share of the booty, the savages were frantic with rage, especially when they saw I had eluded their grasp.  Rushing to the beach, about a dozen threw themselves into the other boat, which had been captured, and pulled after us; but, fortunately, in their hurry, they had forgotten the muskets, and being unacquainted with the method of rowing, of course they made but little progress, which enabled us to increase our distance.

The privateer having narrowly watched all these movements, and seeing our imminent danger, stood boldly on toward the beach, and in the next five minutes she lay between us and the Indians, discharging a heavy fire of musketry among them.  Such was the high excitement of my feelings, that I scarcely recollected how I gained the privateer’s deck.  But I was saved, nevertheless, though I was weak with the loss of blood, and savage treatment,—­my limbs benumbed, and body scorched with the piercing rays of the sun,—­the whole scene rushing through my mind with the celerity of electricity!  It unmanned and quite overpowered me; I fainted, and fell senseless on the deck.

The usual restoratives and care were administered, and I soon recovered from the effects of my capture.  Some of the others were not so fortunate; two of them, especially, were cut in a shocking manner, and the others were so dreadfully beaten and mangled by clubs, that the greatest care was necessary to save their lives.