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146.

the Island was watched and overhauled and a look
out sentinel kept up day and night. On three different
occasions Willoughby gave close chase frequently
exchanging shot, but the robbers six oared
skiff was so much lighter consequently pulled so
much faster, that he invariably made his escape
to the opposite shore evidently with the intention of
drawing the young Officer in the ardour of his pursuit
into the bush where a party of armed (men)
ruffians were lying in wait, ever alert to the movement
of their chief and from where they occasionally discharged
their rifles on the British Boat as it retired
from the chase. The Officer frequently felt much
inclined to follow up the chase on shore, but so
imperative were the Orders he had received regarding
the respect to be observed towards the American soil
that he had the strictest injunctions in no instance
whatever was the law of neutrality to be infringed
and positively directing not even to seize Kelly in
the American side of the waters of the St. Lawrence

Thus all the plans and ambuscades for
his apprehension were utterly unsuccessful, the
intricate windings and perplexing navigation of
the wooded isles of the Lake favoured these perpetual
escapes. He went about constantly armed with
a double barrelled rifle, Pistols and bowy knife
and notwithstanding the careful watch which
was constantly kept he spread terror and dismay
throughout the entire Island, He tried every ruse
to induce the Officer to follow him into the