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PORTENTS OF THE COMING STORM. © 25
similar plot was discovered, and, in the same manner, frus-
trated. : opts moe
But these were only the faint mutterings of the thunder in
the far-off horizon, Unseen but subtle elements were rapidly
uniting in eyery part of the sky, and’ the whole heavens were
goon to burst forth in one blaze of destroying fire. ‘A storm,
such as'the North American continent had‘ never before wit-_
nessed was marslialing its forces, and its awful gloom: was
already darkening the land. -
It is stated that a few days' before Philip of Mount’ Hope!
rushed forth at the head’ of his Narragansett warriors, the
New: England: Puritans saw the: figure of an Indian bow. in:
the sky,'and’ the shadow of a human scalp upon the moon’s
disk. In the autumn of 1762, clouds of midnight blackness
settled over the settlement and fort of’ Detroit. Rain of a
sulphurous odor, and of such dark color fell; that'it is reported:
to have been gathered and used’ for writing purposes 1 AY
phenomenon that philosophers have attempted: to explain upon’
some principle af meteorologic science, was a. dire portent to
the simple-minded Canadian. All through the following win-
ter, around their’ hearth-stones, they conversed about it: in
subdued voices, and all agreed’ that a gloomy future awaited:
them.
The fort and settlement of Detroit, at’ this time, numbered’
about twenty-five hundred souls. They stood on the western
side of Detroit river. The fort, or fortified part of the town,
was directly in the center of the settlement, and contained:
about one hundred houses placed compactly together, and sur-
rounded by a palisade. Above and: below, for: six or eight
miles, the stream was lined with ‘the cabins of the Canadians.
These latter, it must be borne in mind, are’ not included in’
that’ part of the town which was besieged, as* their ‘inhabit-.
ants, being French, remained on good terms with the Indians.
of Presqu’'Isle, part of the Six Nations, the Delawars and Shancse, are to
Assembic on the Ohio, and all at the same: time, about’ the latter End of
the Month, to-surprise Niagara and Fort Pitt, und.Cut off the Communica:
tion Everywhere; I hope this will Come Time enough to put You on Your
Guard and to send to Oswego, and all. the Posts on.that: communication,
they Expect to be Joined by the Nations that are Come from the North
of Toronto.—"" : so
{Captain Campbell, Commander at Detroit to Captain Walters. Commander:
ct Niagara. .
* Gentleman’s Magazine XXXIV, 403.. Carver's. Travels, 153. -