the boy captives(被俘的男孩)-第2节
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his house； and the family more than once in the night heard them
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The Boy Captives An Incident of the Indian War of 1695
whispering under the windows； and saw them put their copper faces to the
glass to take a view of the apartments。 Strange as it may seem； they
never offered any injury or insult to the inmates。
In 1695 the township was many times molested by Indians； and
several persons were killed and wounded。 Early in the fall a small party
made their appearance in the northerly part of the town； where； finding
two boys at work in an open field； they managed to surprise and capture
them； and； without committing further violence； retreated through the
woods to their homes on the shore of Lake Winnipiseogee。 Isaac Bradley；
aged fifteen； was a small but active and vigorous boy； his companion in
captivity； Joseph Whittaker； was only eleven； yet quite as large in size； and
heavier in his movements。 After a hard and painful journey they arrived
at the lake； and were placed in an Indian family； consisting of a man and
squaw and two or three children。 Here they soon acquired a sufficient
knowledge of the Indian tongue to enable them to learn from the
conversation carried on in their presence that it was designed to take them
to Canada in the spring。 This discovery was a painful one。 Canada； the
land of Papist priests and bloody Indians； was the especial terror of the
New England settlers； and the anathema maranatha（1） of Puritan pulpits。
Thither the Indians usually hurried their captives； where they compelled
them to work in their villages or sold them to the French planters。
Escape from thence through a deep wilderness； and across lakes； and
mountains； and almost impassable rivers； without food or guide； is
regarded as an impossibility。 The poor boys； terrified by the prospect of
being 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
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The Boy Captives An Incident of the Indian War of 1695
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
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The Boy Captives An Incident of the Indian War of 1695
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
