We explained that we were better armed than they were, and had plenty of ammunition, the suspected want of which often inspires them with courage, but that we did not wish to shed the blood of the children of the same Great Father with ourselves; that if we must fight, the guilt would be all theirs.
This being a common mode of expostulation among themselves, we so far succeeded, that with great persuasion the leader and others laid down their arms, and waded over from the bank to the boats to talk the matter over.

"This was their river; they did not allow white men to use it.

We must pay toll for leave to pass." It was somewhat humiliating to do so, but it was pay or fight; and, rather than fight, we submitted to the humiliation of paying for their friendship, and gave them thirty yards of cloth.

They pledged themselves to be our friends ever afterwards, and said they would have food cooked for us on our return.

We then hoisted sail, and proceeded, glad that the affair had been amicably settled.
Those on shore walked up to the bend above to look at the boat, as we supposed; but the moment she was abreast of them, they gave us a volley of musket-balls and poisoned arrows, without a word of warning.
Fortunately we were so near, that all the arrows passed clear over us, but four musket-balls went through the sail just above our heads.