They had scoured the whole country to westward until their scalping parties had come into touch with their kinsmen the Sioux, who were lords of the great plains, even as they were of the great forests.

The New England Indians in the east, and the Shawnees and Delawares farther south, paid tribute to them, and the terror of their arms had extended over the borders of Maryland and Virginia.
Never, perhaps, in the world's history has so small a body of men dominated so large a district and for so long a time.
For half a century these tribes had nursed a grudge wards the French since Champlain and some of his followers had taken part with their enemies against them.

During all these years they had brooded in their forest villages, flashing out now and again in some border outrage, but waiting for the most part until their chance should come.

And now it seemed to them that it had come.

They had destroyed all the tribes who might have allied themselves with the white men.