[E.B. O'Callaghan (1849)] COUNT FRONTENAC'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE ONONDAGAS. 213 not ready, they should bring five of their most influential Chiefs as hostages, and that they should be soon followed by the army to oblige them by force to execute the conditions imposed on them. On the next day, the 7th, a young Frenchman, seven years a prisoner among the Onnontagues arrived in the camp. He had escaped with those who had come into the outposts the night preceding. He reported that they had retired with their families twenty leagues from their fort, having scouts always around them in order to fly farther off if pursued. He added that it is probable a great number would perish having been in such a hurry to fly that they took away scarcely any corn, caches of which they hastily made, and that they began to fall short. Almost all these caches were discovered. The grain and the rest of the booty consisting of pots, guns, axes, stuffs, wampum belts, and some peltries were plundered by our Frenchmen and Savages. The destruction of the Indian corn was commenced the same day, and was continued the two following days. The grain was so forward that the stalks were very easily cut by the sword and sabre without the least fear that any could sprout again. Not a single head remained. The fields stretched from a league and a half to two leagues from the fort : The destruction was complete. A lame girl was found concealed under a tree, and her life was spared.