Holding a central position, they struck out upon each side in turn, never content with simply defeating an adversary, but absolutely annihilating and destroying him, while holding all the others in check by their diplomacy.

War was their business, and cruelty their amusement.

One by one they had turned their arms against the various nations, until, for a space of over a thousand square miles, none existed save by sufferance.

They had swept away Hurons and Huron missions in one fearful massacre.

They had destroyed the tribes of the north-west, until even the distant Sacs and Foxes trembled at their name.