employed in getting out timber for building
barfacks. ]Mr. Ferris and his son wcj-e sont among this number in
the month of January j 770. In the spring folloAving nine of thep ri:;-
oners, among whom were Mr. Ferris and his son, seized a battcau
in the night, in wliich they crossed to the east side of the river,
Avherc it was fifLCon miles wide. On landing they set the batteau
adrift, separated into two parties, and made the best of their way
up the river. They had brought provisions with them, and avoid-
ing the settlements, and traveling only in the night, the party, with
which the two Ferrises remained, arrived opposite the Three Rivers
on the fourth day. They crossed in the night, but were discovered
and retaken. The remainder of the ])arty did not get sofar, Jiav-
ing been retaken by a body of Indians in the neighborhood of Que-
bec. The party of the Ferrises were put into jail at Three Rivers,
where they remained eighteen months. During this time they made
one attempt to escape, but were discovered and were then placed in
a dungeon for sevcnty-tvro days. At this time the father and son
were separated.
" Squire Ferris, the son, describes the dungeon where he was
confined, as an apartment eight feet hy ten, and so low that he
could not stand up in it. and that the one occupied by his father
adjoined it, and was of the same character. The only light was
admitted by a small hole about eight by ten inches in size, which
vras crossed by iron grates. The hole which admitted this light
was level with