[Edward Manning Ruttenber (1872)] Meanwhile the Weckquaesgeek boy had grown to manhood, and determined to exact his long meditated atonement for the death of his uncle. Taking with him some beaver skins to barter, he stopped at the house of one Claes Smit, " a harm less Dutchman," and while he was stooping over a chest in which he kept his goods, the savage seized an axe and killed him by a blow on the neck; then quickly plundering his abode, escaped to the woods. Kieft demanded satisfaction, but the Weckquaesgeeks refused to deliver up the murderer. He then summoned all the heads of families of Manhattan to a meeting and. laid the matter before them, especially -asking if it was not just that the murder should be avenged, and if in case the Weckquaesgeeks would not surrender the murderer, it would not be "just to destroy the whole village" to which he belonged; and if so, in what manner, when, and by whom such chastise ment should be inflicted. The meeting referred the pro position to " twelve select men," who, with greater discernment of the consequences of an open rupture with the Indians than the director, reported that while the murder should be avenged they thought " God and the opportunity should be taken into