that would have overflowed, but for the dikes thrown up to confine it.  Behind the dike on the farther bank stood the seeming officer, waving his flag in sign that he desired a parley.  He was in reality no officer, but one of Le Loutre’s Indians in disguise, Etienne Le Batard, or, as others say, the great chief, Jean-Baptiste Cope.  Howe, carrying a white flag, and accompanied by a few officers and men, went towards the river to hear what he had to say.  As they drew near, his looks and language excited their suspicion.  But it was too late; for a number of Indians, who had hidden behind the dike during the night, fired upon Howe across the stream, and mortally wounded him.  They continued their fire on his companions, but could not prevent them from carrying the dying man to the fort.  The French officers, indignant at this villany, did not hesitate to charge it upon Le Loutre; “for,” says one of them, “what is not a wicked priest capable of doing?” But Le Loutre’s brother missionary, Maillard, declares that it was purely an effect of religious zeal on the part of the Micmacs, who, according to him, bore a deadly grudge against Howe because, fourteen years before, he had spoken words disrespectful to the Holy Virgin.[114] Maillard adds that the Indians were much pleased with what they had done.  Finding, however, that they could effect little against the English troops, they changed their field of action, repaired to the outskirts of Halifax, murdered about thirty settlers, and carried off eight or ten prisoners.

[Footnote 114:  Maillard, Les Missions Micmaques.  On the murder of Howe, Public Documents of Nova Scotia, 194, 195, 210; Memoires sur le Canada, 1749-1760, where it is said that Le Loutre was present at the deed; La Valliere, Journal, who says that some Acadians took part in it; Depeches de la Jonquiere, who says “les sauvages de l’Abbe le Loutre l’ont tue par trahison;” and Prevost au Ministre, 27 Oct. 1750.]

Strong reinforcements came from Canada.  The French began a fort on the hill of Beausejour, and the Acadians were required to work at it with no compensation but rations.  They were thinly clad, some had neither shoes nor stockings, and winter was begun.  They became so dejected that it was found absolutely necessary to give them wages enough to supply their most pressing needs.  In the following season Fort Beausejour was in a state to receive a garrison.  It stood on the crown of the hill, and a vast panorama stretched below and around it.  In front lay the Bay of Chignecto, winding along the fertile shores of Chipody and Memeramcook.  Far on the right spread the great Tantemar marsh; on the left lay the marsh of the Missaguash; and on a knoll beyond it, not three miles distant, the red flag of England waved over the palisades of Fort Lawrence, while hills wrapped in dark forests bounded the horizon.