20th.—There came a great many more together in the town, and brought _Henry Osten_, the sergeant, who was to have been burnt. They hallooed the war halloo; and the men and women beat him till he came into the house.[97] It is a grievous and melancholy sight to see our fellow mortals so abused. _Isaac Still_ had a long discourse with the _French_ captain; who made himself great, by telling how he had fought the _English_ at _Loyal-Hanning_. _Isaac_ rallied him, and said he had seen them scalp horses, and take others for food. The first he denied, but the second he owned. _Isaac_ ran the captain quite down, before them all. The _French_ captain spoke with the two _Cayugas_; at last the _Cayugas_ spoke very sharp to him, so that he grew pale, and was quite silent. These three days past was precarious time for us. We were warned not to go far from the house; because the people who came from the slaughter, having been driven back, were possessed with a murdering spirit; which led them as in a halter, in which they were catched, and with bloody vengeance were thirsty and drunk. This afforded a melancholy prospect. _Isaac Still_ was himself dubious of our lives. We did not let Mr. _Hays_ know of the danger. I said, “As God hath stopped the mouth of the lions, that they could not devour _Daniel_, so he will preserve us from their fury, and bring us through.” I had a discourse with Mr. _Hays_ concerning our message, and begged him he would pray to God for grace and wisdom, that he would grant us peace among this people. We will remain in stillness, and not look to our own credit. We are in the service of our king and country. This people are rebellious in heart. Now we are here to reconcile them again to the General, Governor, and the _English_ nation; to turn them again from their errors. And I wished that God would grant us his grace, whereby we may do it; which I hope and believe he will do. Mr. _Hays_ took it to heart and was convinced of all; which much rejoiced me. I begged _Isaac Still_ to watch over himself and not to be discouraged; for I hoped the storm would soon pass by. In the afternoon all the captains gathered together in the middle town; they sent for us, and desired we should give them information of our message. Accordingly we did. We read the message with great satisfaction to them. It was a great pleasure both to them and us. The number of captains and counsellors were sixteen. In the evening messengers arrived from _fort Duquesne_, with a string of wampum from the commander; upon which they all came together in the house where we lodged. The messengers delivered their string, with these words from their father, the _French_ King: