it fall, threw away his gun and hatchet, and set off at a speed that soon overtook the woman.  One man and myself did the same, except our guns.  The rest, picking up our things, followed.  On overtaking the woman, she instantly fell on her kness, and tearing open the cassock, (a dress composed of deerskin lined with fur,) showing her breasts to prove that she was a woman, and begged for mercy.  In a few moments we were by Mr. ——­’s side.  Several of the Indians, with the three who had quitted the house with the woman, now advanced, while we retreated towards the shore.  At length we stopped and they did the same.  After a pause, three of them laid down their bows, with which they were armed, and came within two hundred yards.  We then presented our guns, intimating that not more than one would be allowed to approach.  They retired and fetched their arms, when one, the ill-fated husband of Mary March, our captive, advanced with a branch of fir tree (spruce) in his hand.  When about ten yards off he stopped and made a long oration.  He spoke at least ten minutes; towards the last his gesture became very animated, and his eye “shot fire.”  He concluded very mildly, and advancing, shook hands with many of the party—­then he attempted to take his wife from us; being opposed in this he drew from beneath his cassock an axe, the whole of which was finely polished, and brandished it over our heads.  On two or three pieces being presented, he gave it up to Mr. ——­, who then intimated that the woman must go with us, but that he might go also if he pleased, and that in the morning both should have their liberty.  At the same time two of the men began to conduct her towards the houses.  On this being done, he became infuriated, and rushing towards her strove to drag her from them; one of the men rushed forward and stabbed him in the back with a bayonte:  turning round, at a blow he laid the fellow at his feet; the next instant he knocked down another, and rushing on ——­, like a child laid him on his back, and seizing his dirk from his belt brandished it over his head; the next instant it would have been buried in him, had I not with both hands seized his arm; he shook me off in an instant, while I measured my length on the ice; Mr. ——­ then drew a pistol from his girdle and fired.  The poor wretch first staggered, then fell on his face; while writhing in agonies, he seemed for a moment to stop; his muscles stiffened:  slowly and gradually he raised himself from the ice, turned round, and with a wild gaze surveyed us all in a circle around him.  Never shall I forget the figure he exhibited; his hair hanging on each side of his sallow face; his bushy beard clotted with blood that flowed from his mouth and nose; his eyes flashing fire, yet with the glass of death upon them,—­they fixed on the individual that first stabbed him.  Slowly he raised the hand that still grasped young ——­’s dagger, till he raised it considerably above his head, when uttering a yell that made the woods echo, he rushed at