Year: 1874

NNE of the most daring chieftains of
" whom we remember of having read,
was an Algonquin or Adirondack. This
tribe of Indians, at the time of the first set
tlement of Canada, were found upon the
banks of the St. Lawrence.


They were once warlike and powerful
people but were finally conquered by the
Iroquois or Five Nations, with whom they
were continually at war.


The Trois Riviere or Three Rivers was
the scene of most signal defeat, from
which the Algonquins never recovered.


The chieftain to whom we have alluded,
whose name was Paskaret, could never
forget the stain which the victories of the
Iroquois had left upon his people, and with
four of his boldest warriors devoted him
self to what he considered the sacred duty
of wiping the stain from the national
honor.


"We will become" said Paskaret, ad-
dressing his four warriors, "the avengers
of our race. We will learn the Iroquois to
tremble at the mention of our names. We
will perform such deeds of prowess as shall
add new glory to the nation of the Algon-
quins, and cause other tribes to forget the
past, and cease to hold us in derisiOn. Our
numbers are few, and you seem ready to
ask, How can we do all thisP p My friends,
much can be accomplished by individuals
as we'll as by great and conquering armies.
Cunning and daring may sometimes effect
more than numbers. The good warrior
may lay many plans to entrap the enemy,
and so will we and the 1roquois shall soon
learn to fear us. We will meet them in
unexpected places, and slay their best war;
riors when they are (apparently) resting in
safety in sight of the smoke of their own
lodges"


"What shall be done, great chieftain ?"
asked one of the avengers of the Adiron-
dacks. "The Iroquos are numerous
people, and we are still smarting under the
terrible wounds which our honor received
at the memorable battle of Trois Riviere."


"When you speak of Trois Riviere, you
cause my cheeks to burn with shame" re-
piled Paskaret, shaking his long and quiv-
ering finger towards the country Of the
Five Nations. at is the memory of the
Trois Riviere that is turning my hair gray,
and writing wrinkles upon my brow.
Brother avengers, you have asked what we
shall do, being only five in all-Only one to
each Of the nations of our enemies. will
tell you one plan which / have thought of
by which to punish the Iroquois. have
learned by one of my spies that five canoes
have gone up the Three Rivers, and will
probably return in few days and pass over
the same spot where we were defeated.
Each of the canoes contained ten of our
enemies Now will reveal to you way
in which we can destroy them all. There
are five of us-one warrior to each canoe.
Let us provide ourselves with muskets-
three for each man, and ammunition in
abundance. Three muskets to each war
rior, in our hands, will count the same as
fifteen armed in the ordinary manner.


But avengers, this is not all; have
another important matter to make known.
have discovered that by loading musket
with two balls, connected by chain ten
inches in length, birchen canoe can be cut
to pieces in moment Look at this piece
of birch bark; brought it hither on pur-
pose to show you. You see that it is cut
nearly into two pieces. 1t was done by a
single discharge from musket, loaded
with two balls chained together. Algon.
quins, that shot would have sunk a birch
canoe, loaded with our enemies


An exultant shout arose from the aveng-
ers Of the Adirondacks. The chief went
on.


"Now you perceive the benefit Of little