the boy captives-第2节

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carried　still　farther　from　their　home　and　friends；　began　to　dream　of

escaping　from　their　masters　before　they　started　for　Canada。　　It　was

now　winter；　it　would　have　been　little　short　of　madness　to　have

chosen　for　flight　that　season　of　bitter　cold　and　deep　snows。　　Owing

to　exposure　and　want　of　proper　food　and　clothing；　Isaac；　the　eldest

of　the　boys；　was　seized　with　a　violent　fever；　from　which　he　slowly

recovered　in　the　course　of　the　winter。　　His　Indian　mistress　was　as

kind　to　him　as　her　circumstances　permitted；procuring　medicinal

herbs　and　roots　for　her　patient；　and　tenderly　watching　over　him　in

the　long　winter　nights。　　Spring　came　at　length；　the　snows　melted；

and　the　ice　was　broken　up　on　the　lake。　　The　Indians　began　to　make

preparations　for　journeying　to　Canada；　and　Isaac；　who　had　during

his　sickness　devised　a　plan　of　escape；　saw　that　the　time　of　putting　it

in　execution　had　come。　　On　the　evening　before　he　was　to　make　the

attempt　he　for　the　first　time　informed　his　younger　companion　of　his

design；　and　told　him；　if　he　intended　to　accompany　him；　he　must　be

awake　at　the　time　appointed。　　The　boys　lay　down　as　usual　in　the

wigwam　in　the　midst　of　the　family。　　Joseph　soon　fell　asleep；　but

Isaac；　fully　sensible　of　the　danger　and　difficulty　of　the　enterprise

before　him；　lay　awake；　watchful　for　his　opportunity。　　About

midnight　he　rose；　cautiously　stepping　over　the　sleeping　forms　of　the

family；　and　securing；　as　he　went；　his　Indian　master's　flint；　steel；　and

tinder；　and　a　small　quantity　of　dry　moose…meat　and　corn…bread。　　He

then　carefully　awakened　his　companion；　who；　starting　up；　forgetful

of　the　cause　of　his　disturbance；　asked　aloud；　〃What　do　you　want？〃　

The　savages　began　to　stir；　and　Isaac；　trembling　with　fear　of

detection；　lay　down　again　and　pretended　to　be　asleep。　　After

waiting　a　while　he　again　rose；　satisfied；　from　the　heavy　breathing　of

the　Indians；　that　they　were　all　sleeping；　and　fearing　to　awaken

Joseph　a　second　time；　lest　he　should　again　hazard　all　by　his

thoughtlessness；　he　crept　softly　out　of　the　wigwam。　He　had

proceeded　but　a　few　rods　when　he　heard　footsteps　behind　him；　and；

supposing　himself　pursued；　he　hurried　into　the　woods；　casting　a

glance　backward。　　What　was　his　joy　to　see　his　young　companion

running　after　him！　　They　hastened　on　in　a　southerly　direction　as

nearly　as　they　could　determine；　hoping　to　reach　their　distant　home。　

When　daylight　appeared　they　found　a　large　hollow　log；　into　which

they　crept　for　concealment；　wisely　judging　that　they　would　be　hotly

pursued　by　their　Indian　captors。



（1）　*Anathema　maranatha*　occurs　at　the　close　of　St。　Paul's　first

epistle　to　the　Corinthians；　and　in　the　English　version　is　made　to

appear　as　a　composite　phrase。　　It　has　so　passed　into　common　use；

*maranatha*　being　taken　as　intensifying　the　curse　contained　in

*anathema*。　The　words　are　properly　to　be　divided；　*maranatha*

signifying　〃The　Lord　cometh。〃



　　

Their　sagacity　was　by　no　means　at　fault。　　The　Indians；　missing

their　prisoners　in　the　morning；　started　off　in　pursuit　with　their　dogs。　

As　the　young　boys　lay　in　the　log　they　could　hear　the　whistle　of　the

Indians　and　the　barking　of　dogs　upon　their　track。　　It　was　a　trying

moment；　and　even　the　stout　heart　of　the　elder　boy　sank　within　him

as　the　dogs　came　up　to　the　log　and　set　up　a　loud　bark　of　discovery。　

But　his　presence　of　mind　saved　him。　　He　spoke　in　a　low　tone　to　the

dogs；　who；　recognizing　his　familiar　voice；　wagged　their　tails　with

delight；　and　ceased　barking。　　He　then　threw　to　them　the　morsel　of

moose…meat　he　had　taken　from　the　wigwam。　　While　the　dogs　were

thus　diverted；　the　Indians　made　their　appearance。　　The　boys　heard

the　light；　stealthy　sound　of　their　moccasins　on　the　leaves。　　They

passed　close　to　the　log；　and　the　dogs；　having　devoured　their　moose…

meat；　trotted　after　their　masters。　　Through　a　crevice　in　the　log　the

boys　looked　after　them；　and　saw　them　disappear　in　the　thick　woods。　

They　remained　in　their　covert　until　night；　when　they　started　again

on　their　long　journey；　taking　a　new　route　to　avoid　the　Indians。　　At

daybreak　they　again　concealed　themselves；　but　travelled　the　next

night　and　day　without　resting。　　By　this　time　they　had　consumed　all

the　bread　which　they　had　taken；　and　were　fainting　from　hunger　and

weariness。　　Just　at　the　close　of　the　third　day　they　were

providentially　enabled　to　kill　a　pigeon　and　a　small　tortoise；　a　part　of

which　they　ate　raw；　not　daring　to　make　a　fire；　which　might　attract

the　watchful　eyes　of　savages。　　On　the　sixth　day　they　struck　upon　an

old　Indian　path；　and；　following　it　until　night；　came　suddenly　upon　a

camp　of　the　enemy。　　Deep　in　the　heart　of　the　forest；　under　the

shelter　of　a　ridge　of　land　heavily　timbered；　a　great　fire　of　logs　and

brushwood　was　burning；　and　around　it　the　Indians　sat；　eating　their

moose…meat　and　smoking　their　pipes。



The　poor　fugitives；　starving；　weary；　and　chilled　by　the　cold　spring

blasts；　gazed　down　upon　the　ample　fire；　and　the　savory　meats　which

the　squaws　were　cooking　by　it；　but　felt　no　temptation　to　purchase

warmth　and　food　by　surrendering　themselves　to　captivity。　　Death　in

the　forest　seemed　preferable。　　They　turned　and　fled　back　upon　their

track；　expecting　every　moment　to　hear　the　yells　of　pursuers。　　The

morning　found　them　seated　on　the　bank　of　a　small　stream；　their　feet

torn　and　bleeding；　and　their　bodies　emaciated。　　The　elder；　as　a　last

effort；　made　search　for　roots；　and　fortunately　discovered　a　few

ground…nuts　（*glycine　apios*）；　which　served　to　refresh　in　some

degree　himself　and　his　still　weaker　companion。　　As　they　stood

together　by　the　stream；　hesitating　and　almost　despairing；　it　occurred

to　Isaac　that　the　rivulet　might　lead　to　a　larger　stream　of　water；　and

that　to　the　sea　and　the　white　settlements　near　it；　and　he　resolved　to

follow　it。　　They　again　began　their　painful　march；　the　day　passed；

and　the　night　once　more　overtook　them。　　When　the　eighth　morning

dawned；　the　younger　of　the　boys　found　himself　unable　to　rise　from

his　bed　of　leaves。　　Isaac　endeavored　to　encourage　him；　dug　roots；

and　procured　water　for　him；　but　the　poor　lad　was　utterly　exhausted。　

He　had　no　longer　heart　or　hope。　　The　elder　boy　laid　him　on　leaves

and　dry　grass　at　the　foot　of　a　tree；　and　with　a　heavy　heart　bade　him

farewell。　　Alone　he　slowly　and　painfully　proceeded　down　the

stream；　now　greatly　increased　in　size　by　tributary　rivulets。　　On　the

top　of　a　hill　he　climbed　with　difficulty　into　a　tree；　and　saw　in　the

distance　what　seemed　to　be　a　clearing　and　a　newly…raised　frame

building。　　Hopeful　and　rejoicing；　he　turned　back　to　his　young

companion；　told　him　what　he　had　seen；　and；　after　chafing　his　limbs

awhile；　got　him　upon　his　feet。　　Sometimes　supporting　him；　and　at

others　carrying　him　on　his　back；　the　heroic　boy　staggered　towards

the　clearing。　　On　reaching　it　he　found　it　deserted；　and　was　obliged

to　continue　his　journey。　　Towards　night　signs　of　civilization　began

to　appear；the　heavy；　continuous　roar　of　water　was　heard；　and；

presently　emerging　from　the　forest；　he　saw　a　great　river　dashing　in

white　foam　down　precipitous　rocks；　and　on　its　bank　the　gray　walls

of　a　huge　stone　building；　with　flankers；　palisades；　and　moat；　over

which　the　British　flag　was　flying。　　This　was　the　famous　Saco　Fort；

built　by　Governor　Phips；（1）　two　years　before；　just　below　the　falls　of

the　Saco　River。　　The　soldiers　of　the　garrison　gave　the　poor　fellows

a　kindly　welcome。　　Joseph；　who　was　scarcely　alive；　lay　for　a　long

time　sick　in　the　fort；　but　Isaac　soon　regained　his　strength；　and　set

out　for　his　home　in　Haverhill；　which　he　had　the　good　fortune　to

arrive　at　in　safety。



（1）　An　interesting　account　of　Sir　William　Phips　will　be　found　in

Parkman's　*Frontenac　and　New　France　under　Louis　XIV。*　

Hawthorne　also　tells　his　romantic　story　in　*Fanshawe　and　Other

Pieces。*





Amidst　the　stirring　excitements　of　the　present　day；　when　every

thrill　of　the　electric　wire　conveys　a　new　subject　for　thought　or

action　to　a　generation　as　eager　as　the　ancient　Athenians　for　some

new　thing；　simple　legends　of　the　past　like　that　which　we　have

transcribed　have　undoubtedly　lost　in　a　great　degree　their　interest。　

The　lore　of　the　fireside　is　becoming　obsolete；　and　with　the

octogenarian　few　who　still　linger　among　us　will　perish　the　unwritten

history　of　border　life　in　New　England。











End