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attempted to storm the citadel proved that they lacked neither courage nor endurance, Phips decided that he had undertaken a task beyond his accomplishment, discreetly withdrew, and returned to Boston.

While Phips was on his way to Quebec the Massachusetts authorities despatched Church with some three hundred men to punish the Wapanakis. He burned Pejepscot, on the Androscoggin, killed a few men, and captured some women and children, but accomplished little toward teaching the Indians to have a wholesome respect for English wrath. Early in 1691 the Wapanakis were again on the war path and assisted the French in the destruction of York. Later a band of French and Indians Maliseets from the St. John, Micmacs from Nova Scotia, Sakokokis, Penobscots, and Kennebecs some four hundred strong, led by Portneuf and St. Castine, made a vigorous attack on Wells, but were repulsed by the townspeople under the brave leadership of Converse.

The war had been conducted in a desultory fashion, but enough had been accomplished to keep the Colonists of the outlying settlements in a constant state of anxiety and unrest. They became depressed and discourged, and many advocated removal to the towns. That was precisely the result for which Frontenac had been plotting. He hoped by constant harassment to drive the English from their settlements and open the country for French occupation. (At a later date the Massachusetts authorities put a check upon proposed removals from the frontier by enacting a law prohibiting the desertion of farms on penalty of forfeiting the property thus deserted.) Relief came to the Colonists at last in the assurance from the authorities that they had secured permanent peace. Many of the Indians were disposed to resume friendly relations. The prompt and vigorous action of the Colonists in answering recent attacks; the failure of the