In order to save his villages the Mohegan marched out several miles toward the Narragansetts. When they were face to face, he called to Miantonomah.
"You have a good many brave warriors, so have I; it is a pity that these men should lose their lives because of a quarrel that is only between you and me; if you are as much of a man as you claim to be, you will come forward, and we will fight it out between ourselves; if you slay me, my men shall be yours; if I slay you, your men shall be mine."
This challenge was not only a brave one, but it was cunning, for, if accepted, it would make the conflict equal by holding it to two leaders. Rather it would give Uncas a marked advantage, since he was of unusual size and strength. Miantonomah was too wise to throw away his opportunity.
"My warriors have come a long distance to fight," he replied, "and they shall not go home without a fight."
It was the answer that Uncas expected and for which he was ready. The words were hardly spoken, when Uncas dropped like a flash to the ground. At the same instant his men launched a shower of arrows over his body, uttered a series of shouts, and rushed like a whirlwind upon the Narragansetts.
The assault was so sudden that the invaders were thrown into a panic, with the whooping Mohegans at their heels. No mercy was shown, and the Narragansetts were cut down like frightened sheep. Miantonomah could not rally his warriors, and joined in the headlong flight. He was soon overtaken, but the pursuers left him to Uncas, who quickly came up and seized him by the arm. Believing nothing could save him, the hapless chief stopped short and sat down without speaking a word. Uncas gave a signal which brought a number of his men to the spot. The prisoner continued sullen with downcast eyes and would not make any reply to the taunts of Uncas.
"If I were your prisoner," said he, "I should have begged for life; are you too proud to ask a like favor of me?"
Miantonomah was too proud to beg for mercy. Uncas spared his life for the time and took him to his village as a proof of his triumph. He then conducted his prisoner before the governor and magistrates at Hartford, and asked them what he should do with him.
This act put the authorities in a delicate situation. There was no war between them and the Narragansetts, and they did not wish to interfere in the quarrel. They therefore turned the problem over to the Commissioners of the United Colonies, who were to meet in September. By this time, Miantonomah had regained speech, and, knowing he would be safer as a prisoner of the English than of his rival, begged that he might remain in custody at Hartford. Uncas was willing, but insisted that he should be held as his prisoner.
The Commissioners tackled the question. They declared that it had been proved that Miantonomah had made several attempts against the life of Uncas; that he had set on foot a general plot among the Indian tribes for the destruction of the colonies, and, still further, that he had urged the Mohawks to join in such a plot, and that they were already within a short distance of the English settlements, and only awaiting the release of the Narragansett sachem to unite with him in the attack. They condemned him to death at the hands of Uncas, who was urged to make it merciful, and not torture his captive. It was ordered that the execution should take place in the presence of "certain discreet English persons," and the Hartford government was to provide Uncas with sufficient forces to protect him against all his enemies.