University of Virginia Library

40. Rescued from Captivity
BY INCREASE MATHER (1677)[159]

BETWEEN sunset and dark the Indians came upon us. Another man and I who were together ran away at the outcry the Indians made. They were shouting and shooting at some others of the English that were close by. We took for our place of safety a swamp that was near.

The Indians seeing us so near teem, ran after us and shot many guns at us. Three shots were fired upon me, while the Indians were quite close to me. As the swamp was muddy I slipped and fell down: whereupon one of the enemy stepped up to me, with his hatchet lifted up to knock me on the head.

He thought I was so hurt by my fall that I could not go any farther. As it happened, I had a pistol with me, which I pointed at the Indian. He stepped back thinking it was loaded, but it was not. He said if I would give myself up, I should have no hurt; he added that the woods were full of Indians.

So I gave myself up and by three of them was lcd away. Two other Indians came running to us; and one lifted up the end of his gun to knock me on the head. But the other put up his hand and stopped the blow, and said I was his friend.

They now took me, bound me, and led me away. Soon I was brought into the company of other captives that were that day brought away from the town of Hatfield. It was cause for both sorrow and joy to see the other people: for company in such a sad condition was a comfort, though of little help in any way.

Then we were all bound and led away in the night

over the mountains. Through dark and awful places, we went at least four miles, before we found a place for a brief rest. This was in a dismal place of woods on the side of the mountain.

We were kept bound all that night. The Indians kept waking, and we had little mind to sleep in this night's travel. The Indians scattered, and as they went made strange noises, as of wolves, and owls, and other wild beasts. This was so that they would not lose each other, or be discovered by the English.

About the break of day, we marched again and went over a great river. There we rested, and the Indians marked out upon trays the number of their prisoners, as their custom is.

Here I was again in great danger. A quarrel arose about me over a question as to whose captive I was; for three took me. I thought I must be killed to end the trouble; so when they put it to me, whose I was, I said three Indians took me. So they agreed to have all a share in me; and I had now three masters. That one was my chief master who laid hands on me first, and so I was fallen into the hands of the worst of all the company.

In this place they gave us some food which they had seized from the English.

The next night found us in another dismal place. We were then staked down and spread out on our backs; and so we lay all night, yes, so we lay many nights.[160]

They told me their law was that we should lie so nine nights. By that time, it was thought, we should no longer know where we were. The manner of staking down was this: our arms and legs stretched

out were staked down fast, and a cord was about our necks, so that we could not stir.

The next day we crossed the river again, and there we took up our quarters for a long time. We were now so many miles away, that the Indians were quite out of all fear of the English. But they were now in great fear of other tribes of Indians. Here they built a long wigwam.

Here they had a great dance, as they call it, and decided to burn three of us. They had got bark to, do it with, and as I understood afterwards, I was one that was to be burnt. Though I knew not which was to be burnt, yet I knew some were intended for that: so much I understood of their language. The next day when we were to be burnt, our master and some others took our part, and so the evil was prevented in this place.

Here I had a shirt brought to me to make. One of my Indian masters said it should be made this way, a second said another way, a third his way. I told them I would make it the way my chief master said. Then one Indian struck me on the face with his fist. I suddenly rose up in anger ready to strike too: Upon this there was a great hubbub. I had to humble myself to my master and so that matter ended.

While we were here one of the English captives made his escape from them; and when the news of his escape came, we were all called in and bound. One of the Indians, a captain among them, and always our great friend, met me coming in: he told me about the run-away. The Indians were very angry, and spoke of burning us. They held court, and it was decided that the Indian that let the run-away go was the person to blame. So no harm was done to us.

While we lingered here food grew scarce. One bear foot must serve five of us for a whole day. Then we parted into two companies. Some went one way and some another way. We went over a great mountain. We were eight days going over it, and travelled very hard. Every day we had either snow or rain. Here also we lacked food.

We came to a lake and stayed there a great while to make canoes to go over the lake. Here I was almost frozen and here we almost starved. All the Indians went hunting but got nothing.

Then they wished the English to pray and see what the Englishman's God could do. So we prayed. The Indians came believingly, night and morning, to our prayers. Next day they got bears. Then they would have us give thanks to God at meals. But after a while they grew tired of this, and the chief stopped it.

Then a storm overtook us. And I was for several days without food. When I came to travel in the ice I soon tired. Two Indians ran away; and one only was left. He would carry me a while and then I would walk a while. He carried me to a Frenchman's house, and set me down. There they gave me food and drink and sent for the doctor, who said he could cure me.

My Indian master was in want of money, and pawned me to the white man for fourteen beaver skins. But he could not get the beavers, and so I was sold. But by being thus sold, I was in God's good time set at liberty and returned to my friends in New England.