To ensure concealment of their proceedings, they first destroyed the two Europeans left as hostages, by shooting them with arrows—­then packed up what clothing and utensils they could conveniently carry—­crossed the lake on the ice the same afternoon, carrying the heads of the two Europeans with them—­one of which they stuck on a pole, and left it on the north side of the lake; they then followed along the margin of the lake westward, and about midnight reached the encampment of their friends—­the alarm was given, and next morning they all joined in the retreat westward.  They proceeded a few miles in order to reach a secure and retired place to halt at, in the hope soon of hearing something of the two Indians whom Captain Buchan had taken with him.  On the second day the Indians appeared among them, and stated to them that upon returning with the white men and discovering the first encampment destroyed, they fled instantly and escaped,—­one of these was Shaw-na-dith-it’s uncle.  All now resumed the retreat, and crossed on the ice to the south-side of the lake, where the only remaining and undisturbed encampment lay.  Upon reaching the shore, a party was despatched to the encampment which lay further to the westward to sound the alarm.  This encampment was then likewise broken up, and the occupants came east to join the tribe.  To avoid discovery, the whole retired together to an unfrequented part of the forest, situate some distance from the shore of the lake, carrying with them all the winter stock of provisions they possessed.

In this sequestered spot they built six winter wigwams, and remained unmolested for the remainder of the winter,—­about six weeks.  They had conveyed with them the head of one of the hostages; this was placed on a pole, around which the Indians danced and sang.

When spring advanced and their provisions were exhausted, some of them went back to the encampment at which they had been surprised, and there supplied themselves out of the winter stock of venison that had been left there.

After the disaster the tribe became scattered, and continued dispersed in bands frequenting the more remote and sequestered parts of the northern interior.  In the second winter afterwards twenty-two had died about the river Exploits, at the Great Lake, and in the vicinity of Green Bay; in the following years also numbers died of hardship and want.  In 1819 their numbers were reduced to thirty-one, and in 1823 it consisted of only a remnant of twelve or thirteen.  Such is the substance of Shaw-na-dith-it’s statement, and which it is said she never related without tears.