[Edward Manning Ruttenber (1872)] the ramparts, and mothers pressed their children to their arms, not knowing how soon the frail palisades might yield, and them-se Ives be exposed to the pitiless mercy of the frenzied children of the forest. For three weeks the village was held in siege, the little stock ade fort on the brow of the hill resisting the skill of Indian war fare. Relief at length came. The express to Stuy vesant reached Fort Amsterdam on the 23d of September; but everything there was in the greatest consternation. The settlements on Long 136 7HE INDIAN TRIBES island were being ravaged, and another general Indian war was feared. Considerable time was lost in enlisting a company to proceed to the assistance of the Esopus settlers, and it was not until the loth of October, that Stuyvesant set sail. He arrived at Esopus on the nth, with a force of nearly two hundred men. Indian runners had preceded him and apprised their friends of his approach, and, a few hours previous to his arrival, the siege was raised and the beleaguering forces melted into the forests. Thither they could not be pursued, heavy rains having swollen the streams and made the trails impassible, and, having no em ployment for his force, Stuyvesant directed their return to Fort