that effect, when Allen (who by this time understood their customs of war)
took a belt of wampum, which he had fraudulently procured, and carried it
as a token of peace from the Indians to the commander of the nearest
American military post.

The Indians were soon answered by the American officer that the wampum was
cordially accepted and, that a continuance of peace was ardently wished
for. The Indians, at this, were chagrined and disappointed beyond measure;
but as they held the wampum to be a sacred thing, they dared not to go
against the import of its meaning, and immediately buried the hatchet as
it respected the people of the United State; and smoked the pipe of peace.
They, however, resolved to punish Allen for his officiousness in meddling
with their national affairs, by presenting the sacred wampum without their
knowledge, and went about devising means for his detection. A party was
accordingly despatched from Fort Niagara to apprehend him; with orders to
conduct him to that post for trial, or for safe keeping, till such time as
his fate should be determined upon in a legal manner.

The party came on; but before it arrived at Gardow, Allen got news of its
approach, and fled for safety, leaving the horse and goods that he had
brought from Philadelphia, an easy prey to his enemies. He had not been
long absent when they arrived at Gardow, where they made diligent search
for him till they were satisfied that they could not find him, and then
seized the effects which he had left, and returned to Niagara. My son
Thomas, went with them, with Allen's horse, and carried the goods.

Allen, on finding that his enemies had gone, came back to my house, where
he lived as before; but of his return they were soon notified at Niagara,
and Nettles (who married Priscilla Ramsay) with a small party of Indians
came on to take him. He, however, by some means found that they were near,