CHAPTER XVII.

My adventures with the Indians, with what happened to

the Portuguese Captain, my companion.

Having eaten some venison, and drunk out of the calabash, the captain

painted me black, with here and there a line of red and white on the

face and shoulders. I performed the same duty towards him, and we then

resumed our paddles, and pushed in a slanting direction for the shore.

The tide now ran down against us, and we could hardly stem it, and

finding ourselves opposite a beach clear of trees for a quarter of a

mile, we agreed to run on shore to look for a large stone. We soon

found one which answered our purpose, and paddling off again to three

or four hundred yards, we made the stone fast to the bow-rope of our

boat, and anchored the canoe with it. Having succeeded in this, we got

out the fishing-lines, and with a piece of raw meat as a bait, we soon

had several fish in the canoe; after which we put on no more baits,

but pretended to fish till the tide slacked, when we lifted our anchor

and recommenced our paddling to the northward.

At night we landed on a rock, close to the beach, having well

reconnoitred before it was dark to see if there were any canoes or

Indians to be seen on the shore; and thus we continued for five days,

during which we passed the mouths of one or two rivers, and had

gained, as we supposed, more than 150 miles along the coast, but how

much to the northward we could not tell, as we followed the windings

of the shore. We were twice obliged to land to obtain water, but we

always did so in the daytime, having taken the precaution to black the

whole of our bodies and take off our trowsers before we landed. Our

deer's flesh was all gone, and we continued to live on fish, cooking

as much as we could at one time. The collecting firewood was the great

risk which we ran; for we were then obliged to land where there was

wood. It was on the sixth day that we were first in danger. As we

rounded a point, we fell in with another canoe with six or seven

people in it. They were not more than 300 yards off when we first saw

them. The Indians stood up in the canoe, looked at us very earnestly,

and then perceiving that we were not of their tribe, I presume, pulled

towards us. We immediately turned and pulled away. They had been

fishing, and two of them were pulling up the lines, while the others

paddled, which gave us a little advantage; but they had three paddles

and we had only two. They shouted and paddled with all their might,

but they gained little, as they were seven in the canoe, five men and

two women, and deep in consequence. As they gained slowly upon us,

notwithstanding all our exertions, the Portuguese said to me, "They

have no weapons in the boat, I should think; if they had, they would

use them, for we are within bow-shot. Can you use a bow and arrow?"

"I could once," replied I, "use it very fairly," for when I was

captive with Whyna, she would often practise the bow and arrow with

me, and I became somewhat expert before I left her.

"Well, then," said he, "let me paddle on, and do you put an arrow in

the bow and threaten them, at all events."

I did so, and stood up, taking aim as if about to shoot, at which they

ceased paddling, and after talking a little they turned the head of

their canoe round, and made for the shore. We proceeded, as may be

imagined, with all diligence. I laid down my bow and arrows and

resumed my paddle, and in an hour we could no longer see our late

pursuers. We continued our voyage, and for three days met with no

further adventures, when about noon, on the fourth day, the sky became

overcast, and there was every prospect of rough weather. Before night

the wind and sea rose, and it was no longer possible for us to keep

along the coast, which already was covered with breakers.

We had, therefore, no remedy but to make for the shore and haul up the

canoe, for we could not perceive any inlet which might shelter us. It

was quite dark when we dashed the canoe through the breakers and

landed. We hauled her up some distance, as there was every appearance

of worse weather, and sheltered ourselves under the lee of a high

rock. The wind now blew fiercely, and rain descended in torrents. We

tried to light a fire to warm ourselves, but could not succeed, so we

lay down on one bear-skin, and covered ourselves with the others,

waiting impatiently for daylight. When the day dawned, the weather was

worse than ever. We now looked out for a better place of concealment

for ourselves and our canoe, and found one at about fifty yards'

distance: between two high rocks there was a narrow cleft or passage,

which was large enough for us and for the canoe, and this hid us both

from the storm and from the sea. Into this cleft we hauled our canoe

and withdrew ourselves, making a meal off some fish we roasted on the

embers. We remained there for two days, when the weather moderated,

but the sea was still too rough for us to launch the canoe; so we

decided upon remaining one day more, although our provisions were all

gone and our calabashes quite empty. On the third day, to our great

surprise and alarm, we heard the report of a musket not far from us.

From this we knew that we could not be very far from the English

settlements, for it was only the Indians near to the settlements who

had obtained muskets. But whether it was an Indian or a white man who

fired we could not, of course, tell. I recollected that, in the last

advices we had had from James Town, our factors had stated that there

was a cruel war carried on between the Indians and the settlers, and

that the Indians had ravaged the plantations; but that was two years

ago, and how it might be now it was impossible to tell. A second

report of a musket still nearer induced me to creep along by the side

of the rock, and look out to see if any one was near. To my great

alarm, I perceived five Indians with muskets not a hundred yards off.

I drew back, as I hoped, unperceived, but the eye of an Indian was too

keen. They had discovered me; and whilst I was relating to the

Portuguese captain what I had seen, they were suddenly upon us. We had

no time to make resistance, even if we were inclined so to do, we

therefore sat still. They came up and looked at us. The wet had washed

off a great portion of the paint upon my back and shoulders. One of

the Indians touched me on the shoulder, and said, "Ugh!--white man

paint like Indian." They then examined the canoe and its contents, and

having spoken a few words to each other, apparently relating to the

canoe, they put a thong of leather round each of our arms, and, making

a motion for us to follow them, they led us away.

"We've done our best, and could do no more," said the Portuguese; "I

feel that it's all over with me now, and I shall soon sleep in the

bosom of Jesus."

My heart was too full to make any reply. The Indians led on, and I

followed in silence.

We passed through the woods, which appeared to be interminable, till

the night closed in, and then the Indians halted, and while one

remained as guard over us, the others collected wood for a fire. They

had some provisions, but offered none to us. After an hour they lay

down to sleep round the fire, placing me and the Portuguese captain

next to the fire, and lying outside of us. They were soon fast asleep,

or appeared to be, when I said to the captain, "Have you your knife?

for if they remain asleep, let us wait an hour or so, and if you can

cut the leather thong which the Indian holds in his hand, and then

watch your opportunity, I will do the same, and we may escape."

"I have my knife, but my Indian is not asleep," replied he; "I will

wait till he is."

"What signal shall we make if we succeed?" said I.

"When you are ready, lift your arm up, I shall understand, and if I am

ready, I will do the same. Agreed; and now let us be quiet, for depend

upon it our conversation has roused them all."

We then composed ourselves, as if to sleep, and remained in that way

for more than an hour, by which time we were convinced that our

captors were slumbering. I then drew out my knife, for the Indians had

not attempted to rifle us, and cut the thong which was round my arm,

without awaking the Indian who had the other end in his hand. I

remained quiet for a quarter of an hour, when the Portuguese lifted up

his arm as a signal that he was free. I listened attentively, and

being certain that the Indians were asleep, I lifted up my arm also.

The Portuguese then rose up carefully, and without noise, stepping

past the bodies of the Indians, till he was clear of the circle. I did

the same, and pointed to the muskets, which lay on the grass by the

Indians. He took one up and I another, and we retreated to a short

distance.

"We must have the other muskets," said I; "stay where you are."

I advanced cautiously and took up the other three muskets, and was

retreating with them, when one of the Indians turned round as if

awaking. I ran past the Portuguese, and making a sign for him to

follow me, we retreated a few yards into the wood, where we could

watch the Indians without being seen ourselves. The Portuguese

motioned to be off, but I detained him, and I was right. The Indian

roused up and sat upon his haunches; perceiving that we had escaped,

he waked up the others. They started on their feet, and looking round,

found that the muskets were all gone; and then they held a

consultation. At last they appeared to have made up their minds to

follow, and, if possible, recapture us, for they went back in the

direction of the sea.

"Now, then, we must hide three of the muskets," said I, in a whisper,

"and keep the others to defend ourselves."

We examined and found that they were all loaded, and the Portuguese

then said to me, "There are five of them. If they meet with us, and we

discharge two muskets and we do not kill, we shall be at their mercy.

If we do kill, still there will be three against two; we had better

carry all the muskets. Do you take two, and I will take three."

As I thought he was right, I consented, and we now went the same path

towards the sea which the Indians had done before us in pursuit of us.

We walked fast, as we knew the Indians would do the same, and they had

the start of us, so that we were not likely to come up with them. It

was severe work, but we did not slacken our pace, and before dawn the

sea was quite visible through the branches of the trees, for we had

arrived at the outskirts of the wood.

As soon as we had gained the beach, which was 500 yards wide, we

looked round to see if we could perceive the Indians, but we could

observe nobody.

"Let us, while it is yet dark, go round so as to get on the opposite

side of the rocks where we were concealed," said the Portuguese. "If

they are there, we shall take them by surprise."

Keeping just within the wood, we walked half a mile to the southward,

and then emerged just as the day was breaking, and made for the rocks.

As soon as we arrived, we examined very cautiously before we entered

the cleft, but there was nobody there, and the canoe was safe.

"They are not here," said I; "where can they be?"

"They cannot be far off," said the Portuguese; "I suspect they are

hidden somewhere, and intend to surprise us while we are launching our

canoe, and when our muskets will be out of our hands."

"I agree with you; let us now wait at some little distance from the

rocks till broad daylight, we shall then be secure from surprise."

We did so, and when the sun rose we looked well round, but could see

nobody. We entered the cleft, and were about to lay down the muskets,

and lay hold of the canoe, when I perceived a small piece of rock to

drop down. This caused me immediately to suspect the truth, and I

cried to the Portuguese to come back with me. He did so, and I told

him that I was certain that the Indians had climbed the rock, and were

lying down on the top of it, ready to pounce upon us.

"Depend upon it, they must be there," said he, when I mentioned the

falling piece of rock; "let us walk round and see if we can discover

them."

We did so, but they were too well concealed.

"But what must be done now?" said he. "It is useless our attempting to

clamber to the top of the rock, for no one could do it with a musket

in his hand."

"No," replied I, "that is certain; and if we attempt to bring the

canoe out of the cleft, they may drop down upon us."

"I think," said he, "that if we were to go in and take the tow-rope in

our hands, which is several yards long, we might haul out the canoe by

it, and when once it is clear of the cleft they cannot move without

our seeing them."

"We will try, at all events," replied I. "Do you stay on the watch

while I get hold of the tow-rope and bring it out."

The Indians did not expect this manoeuvre, it was clear. Still keeping

the muskets in our possession, the butts on the sand, and the muzzles

resting on our shoulders, we laid hold of the tow-rope, and by great

exertion hauled the canoe several yards away from between the two

rocks. We then paused for breath after a minute or two, with our eyes

fixed upon the top of the rock to see if they moved, and then we

hauled it at least a hundred yards further off, when for the first

time I perceived that the bow and arrows were not in the canoe, and

that they must have been taken by the Indians.

"Then we must haul again," said the Portuguese, when I stated this to

him, "till we are out of bow-shot. Let us put the muskets into the

canoe, and drag it as fast as we can."

We did so, and gained another hundred yards before we stopped, when an

arrow was discharged from the summit of the rock, and buried itself in

the sand close to my feet.

"Haul again," said the Portuguese, "we are not out of shot yet."

Again we exerted ourselves, and gained another hundred yards, during

which two more arrows were discharged, and one of them went through

the left arm of my comrade; but as it was through the fleshy part, and

did not touch the bone, it did not disable him. A third arrow was

sent after us, but did not reach us, and we knew that we were out of

distance.

"Cut the shaft of the arrow, and draw it through the arm," said the

Portuguese.

"Not now," said I; "they will perceive me doing so, and will think

that you are disabled. That may induce them to rush upon us, thinking

they have only one man to deal with."

"Well, it's no great matter," replied he; "we must now drag our canoe

down to the water and launch her, if they will let us. We have

outwitted them so far."

We now turned the head of the canoe towards the sea, and slowly

dragged her down; our eyes, as may be supposed, constantly kept upon

the rock, to see if the Indians would move, but they did not. They

perhaps felt that they had no chance with us, having all the fire-arms

and an open beach in our favour. We launched our canoe without further

interruption on their part, and in a few minutes, taking care to be

out of arrow distance, we passed the rock with our head to the

northward. When about two miles off, we perceived the Indians to

descend from the rock and walk away into the woods.

"Let us praise God for this miraculous escape," said I to the

Portuguese.

"I do; and the holy patron saint who has preserved me," replied the

Portuguese captain; "but I am still heavy at heart. I feel that we have

escaped only to come into more strange and fresh calamity. I shall

never get back to Lisbon, that I feel convinced of."

I tried all I could to encourage him, but it was of no avail. He told

me that the presentiment was too strong, and could not be overcome by

any argument. Indeed he appeared to have allowed the idea so to have

taken possession of his mind, that his reason became enervated; and

having heard how the Indians burnt their prisoners, he talked about

martyrdom at the stake, and rising up to Heaven in great glory, there

to be received by the whole body of saints and legions of angels.

"What is the use of our thus labouring at the paddle?" said he; "why

not at once let us go ashore and receive the crown of martyrdom? I am

ready; for I long for the hour, and shall rejoice."

I said all I could to keep him quiet, but it was useless, and such was

his insanity, that he gradually neared the shore by steering against

me with his paddle, so that I could not prevent it. I had drawn the

shaft of the arrow through his arm, and he appeared to feel no pain. I

expostulated with him at his keeping the canoe so near to the shore,

but he smiled and gave no reply.

We had the stream against us, and made but little way, and it vexed me

very much to hear him talk so loud as he did, as the Indians must have

heard him, and I thought would follow us along the coast; but he

ransacked the whole book of martyrs, telling me how one had his body

sawn in two, another was pinched to death; this one burnt, that

tortured; every variety of death he entered upon during the whole of

that day without ceasing.

I ascribed much of this to the pain arising from the wounded arm,

notwithstanding which he paddled with as much vigour as ever. As the

night came on, I entreated him to hold his tongue, but it was in vain,

and I felt assured that his reason was quite gone. He continued to

talk loud and rave without intermission, and I now considered our fate

as sealed. We had no water in the boat or provisions of any kind, and

I proposed that we should heave-to and catch some fish, telling him

that if he talked we should scare them away.

This made him quiet for a time, but as soon as we had hooked four or

five fish, he again commenced his history of the glorious martyrs. I

prayed him to be silent, for a short time at least, and he was so for

about four or five minutes, when he would break out into some

ejaculation, which I immediately stopped. At last he could talk no

more for want of water; his lips were glued together, and so were

mine. Nevertheless, I continued paddling for two hours more, when I

found by the canoe grounding that he had steered her on the beach.

There was no help for it. We landed and went in search of water, which

we found about half of a mile from where our canoe was beached.

We drank heartily, filled the calabash, and were returning to the

canoe, when he again commenced talking as loud as ever. I was in great

anger, but I put my hand before his mouth, beseeching him in a whisper

to be quiet. As we were doing this, we were suddenly sprung upon and

seized by several Indians, and in a minute were bound hands and feet.

"I knew it," cried the Portuguese; "I knew it would be so. Well, I am

prepared; are not you, my good friend?"

I made no reply. I felt that in his madness he had sacrificed his own

life and mine also; but it was the will of Heaven. The Indians left

two to guard us, and went down to the canoe, returning with their

muskets. I soon perceived that they were the same whom we had escaped

from the night before, and the one who had spoken a little English

when we were first captured now came to me and said, "White man paint

like Indian, steal gun--ugh."

When the Indians had returned from the canoe, our feet were unbound,

and we were again led away by the leather thong which was fast to our

arms. The Portuguese now began to find his tongue again, and talked

incessantly, the Indians not checking him; from which, it was evident

that they were on their own domains. After four hours' walking they

kindled a fire, and went to repose as before; but this time they took

our knives from us, and bound our legs so tight that they gave us much

pain. I did not expostulate, as I knew it was useless. My companion,

as the thong entered into his flesh, seemed pleased, saying, "Now my

martyrdom is commencing."

Alas! poor man; but I will not anticipate. We travelled three days,

during which we were supplied with a small portion of parched Indian

corn every day, just sufficient for our sustenance, and no more. On

the fourth morning the Indians, after an hour's travelling, set up

some shrill and barbarous cries, which I afterwards discovered was

their warhoop. These cries were replied to by others at a distance,

and in about a quarter of an hour afterwards we found ourselves close

to a number of wigwams, as they are termed (the Indian houses), and

soon surrounded by a large party of men, women, and children, who

greeted us with taunts and menaces.

We were led into a larger wigwam than the others, where we found

several Indians of grave aspect assembled, and a man who could speak

English was ordered in as interpreter. He asked us where we came from

in the canoe. I replied, that we came from the south, but we had been

wrecked in a big ship, and had taken the canoe, which we found on the

beach. They asked no more questions. We were led out, and in about an

hour afterwards the Indian who had spoken English to us when we were

captured, came up with two others and painted us black, saying, "The

white man like paint. Black paint good."

I did not know till afterwards that this painting black was a sign

that we were condemned to death, but so it was. They took off our

trowsers, the only garments we had on, and left us naked. To my

surprise, they did not take the diamond which was sewed up in leather

from off my neck; but as I learnt subsequently, the Indians are much

given to conjurors and charms, wearing many round their own necks and

about their persons, and they respect the charms that their enemies

wear, indeed are afraid of them, lest they should be harmed by having

them in their possession. We remained in a wigwam during that day,

with guards over us. The following day we were led out and cast loose,

and we found all the Indians, women and children, ranged in two lines,

each holding in their hands a club or stick, or rod of some

description or another.

We were led to the end of the row, and looked about us in amazement.

They made signs to us which we did not understand, and while we were

remaining in doubt as to what was to be our fate, an old woman, who

had been menacing and grinning at me for some time, and who was the

most hideous animal that I ever beheld in the shape of a woman, thrust

a straw into my eye, giving me most excruciating agony. I was so

carried away by rage and pain, that I saluted her with a kick in the

stomach, which laid her doubled up on the ground, expecting to be

scalped for so doing the next moment. On the contrary, the Indians

laughed, while some of the other women dragged her away.

At last the interpreter came, and from him we learnt that we had to

run the gauntlet, and that, as soon as we gained the large lodge

where we had been examined by the old Indians on the day previous, we

were safe, and that we must run for that as fast as we could. The

Portuguese, who was still as mad as ever, was then pushed on; he would

not run, but walked, glorying in the blows, which showered down upon

him like hail; and, moreover, he prevented me from running for some

time, till I got past him. I had been cruelly punished, and was mad

with pain, when I perceived a tall, gaunt Indian waiting for me with a

heavy club. Careless of life or consequences, I rushed past him, and

as I passed I threw out my fist with such impetus, that, hitting him

under the right ear, he fell senseless, and it appears that he never

rose again, for the blow killed him; after which I at last gained the

council-house, and was soon afterwards followed by my companion, who

was streaming with blood. We were then led away, and tied by our necks

to two stakes about twenty yards apart, and there we remained for the

night.

The Portuguese passed the night in singing; I passed it in silence and

prayer. I felt convinced that we were to die, and I feared that it

would be by fire or torture, for I had heard something of the manners

and customs of these Indians. I made my peace with God as well as a

poor sinner could, prayed for mercy through Jesus Christ, sighed my

adieu to Amy, and made up my mind to die.

Early the next morning the Indians brought firewood, and placed it in

bundles round the stakes, at a distance of about fourteen yards from

the centre. They then went to the Portuguese, tied his hands behind

him, and exchanged the rope by which he had been fastened for a much

stronger one, one end of which they fastened to his wrists behind him,

and the other to the stake. As they left me as I was before, it was

plain that the Portuguese was to suffer first. They then set fire to

the piles of wood which were round the stake, which were too far from

him to burn him, and I could not imagine what they intended to do, but

you may conceive that I was in a state of awful suspense and anxiety,

as I was well convinced that his fate, whatever it might be, would be

my own.

During these appalling preparations, the Portuguese appeared as if he

really enjoyed the scene.

"Now, my good friend," said he to me, "you shall see how I can suffer

for the true faith. Even a heretic like you shall be converted by my

example, and I shall ascend to Heaven with you in my arms. Come on, ye

fiends; come on, ye heathens, and see how a Christian can suffer."

Much as I felt for him and for myself, I could not lament that his

reason had left him, as I thought his sufferings would be less; but

his exclamations were soon drowned by a loud yell from the Indians,

who all rushed upon my unfortunate companion.

For a moment or two they were crowded so thick round him that I could

not perceive what they were doing, but after that they separated, and

I beheld him bleeding profusely, his ears and nose having been cut

off, and a broken iron ramrod passed through both cheeks. And now a

scene took place, at the remembrance of which, even now, my blood

curdles. Some caught up the burning sticks and applied them to his

flesh, others stuck him full of small splints, the ends of which they

lighted. The Indian warriors shot at him with muskets loaded with

powder only, so as to burn him terribly on every part of the body. The

women took up handfuls of lighted ashes and showered them down on him,

so that the ground he trod upon was a mass of burning embers, and he

walked upon fire.

Red-hot irons were now brought forward, and his body seared in all

parts, his tormentors seeking out where they could give him the most

pain. At last one applied the hot iron to his eyes, and burnt them

out. Imagine my feelings at this horrid scene--imagine the knowledge

that this was to be also my fate in a short time; but, what is more

strange to tell, imagine, Madam, my companion not only deriding his

torturers, but not flinching from the torture; on the contrary,

praising God for his goodness in thus allowing him to be a martyr for

the true faith, offering his body to their inflictions, and shouting

manfully; but such was the behaviour of my insane friend, and this

behaviour appeared to give great satisfaction to the Indians.

For nearly two hours did this torture continue, his body was black

and bloody all over, and the smell of the burning flesh was horrible;

but by this time it appeared as if he was much exhausted, and, indeed,

appeared to be almost insensible to pain. He walked round the stake as

before upon the burning coals, but appeared not to know when further

torture was applied to him or not. He now sang hymns in Portuguese in

a low voice, for he was much exhausted. Soon afterwards he staggered

and fell down with his face upon the burning embers; but even the

flesh of his face grilling, as it were, appeared to have no effect

upon him. An Indian then went up to him, and with his knife cut a

circle round his head, and tore off the whole scalp, flesh and hair

together, and when he had done this the old woman whom I had saluted

with a kick before I ran the gauntlet, and who had his ears hanging on

her neck to a string, lifted up a handful of burning coals, and put

them upon his bleeding head.

This seemed to rouse him. He lifted up his head, but his features were

no longer to be distinguished, as his face was burnt to a black coal,

and he said, "Take me, ye holy saints. Angels, receive me," and, to my

great astonishment, he again rose on his legs, and tottered round and

round for a few minutes. At last he sank down, with his back against

the stake, and one of the Indians cleaved his brain with his tomahawk;

and thus ended the life and the misery of my unfortunate

companion--and it was now my turn.

"Well," thought I, "it is but two hours of suffering, and then I shall

be beyond their malice. May God have mercy upon my soul."

The same preparations were now made for me. I was fastened with the

stout rope, and my arms tied behind me, the wood was fired, and one of

the chiefs was haranguing the Indians. He finished, the low yell was

given, when the old woman whom I had before mentioned ran up to me,

and saying something which I could not understand, put her hand upon

me.

When she did this the other Indians, who were about to rush on me,

drew back with signs of disappointment on many of their wild

countenances. The chiefs then went into the council-house, leaving me

tied where I was, and the wood burning around me, the mass of Indians

standing about as if waiting the decision of the chiefs. After a time

three Indians, one of whom was the interpreter, came up to me, and,

kicking aside the burning poles, cast me loose.

I asked the interpreter what he was about to do. He replied, "You kill

Indian here (pointing to his own ear), you kill him dead. Squaw lose

husband--want another--take you--stead of him."

They led me to the council-house before the chiefs. The old woman whom

I had kicked was there. It was her husband that I had killed by the

blow behind the ear, and she had claimed me in his stead, and,

according to the custom of the country, her claim was allowed, and I

was made over to her, and received into the tribe. Strange custom for

a woman to marry the murderer of her husband, but still such it was,

and thus did I find myself freed from the stake when I least expected

it. The principal chief made me a speech, which was interpreted, in

which he told me that I was now the husband of Manou, and was one of

their own tribe; that I must be strong in war, and must hunt and

procure venison for my family.

They then washed off the black paint, and after a few more speeches

and ceremonies, I was handed over to the hideous old hag, whose neck

was still decorated with the two ears of my companion. To say that I

would have preferred the torture would be saying too much, but that I

loathed the creature to excess was certain. However, I said nothing,

but allowed her to take me by the hand and lead me to her wigwam. As

soon as we were in she brought me some venison, which I ate greedily,

for I had had nothing for thirty-six hours. She then offered me the

leggings, as they call them, which the Indians wear, and the other

portions of the Indian dress, which probably belonged to her late

husband. I put them on, as I was glad to cover my nakedness, and, worn

out with walking and exertion, I first thanked God for my miraculous

preservation, and then lay down and fell into a deep sleep.

It was not until the next day that I awoke, and I then perceived the

old woman rubbing oil upon the deep cuts made in my wrists and

shoulders by the leather thongs. She again set meat before me, and I

ate heartily, but I looked upon her with abhorrence, and when she

attempted to fondle me, I turned away and spit with disgust, at which

she retired, grumbling. I now had leisure to reflect. I passed over

with a shudder the scenes that had passed, and again returned thanks

to God for my deliverance. I called to mind how often I had been

preserved and delivered. From my bondage in Africa, from my

imprisonment in the Tower, from my hopeless slavery in the mines, from

our wreck on the island, and now, after passing through such dangers,

from an almost certain cruel death by torture. Truly did I feel how

grateful I ought to be for that Providence which had so often

preserved me, and that my only reliance in future must be in its

gracious protection.

But here I was, married to a woman I detested, and living with

barbarians; and I said to myself, "That kind Heaven which has already

done so much for me will, in its own good time, also release me from

this thraldom. In the meanwhile let me not murmur, but be thankful."

My squaw, as they call their wives among the Indians, now came up to

me and offered to paint me, and I thought it advisable that she

should, as I felt that the sooner I conformed myself to their customs

the more chance I had of making my escape, which I was resolved to do

the first opportunity.

As soon as she had completed my toilet I walked out of the wigwam,

that I might look about me and be seen. The Indians, who were

sauntering about, met me with a friendly "Ugh," which appeared a

favourite monosyllable with them. At last I met with the interpreter,

and began to converse with him. I asked what nation I was now

belonging to, and he said the Massowomicks. I asked how large their

country was, and he told me much which I could not understand, except

that it appeared to me a very powerful nation.

I was very careful of mentioning the English, or any thing about their

settlement, although I was anxious to know where it was; but I asked

him whether they were at war with any other nation. He said "No, they

had been at war with other tribes, but that they had all made peace

that they might join against the white man, who had taken their land."

"I am an Indian now," said I.

"Yes, and you will forget the white man," said he. "You have now red

blood in your veins. You marry Indian wife, you all the same as one

Indian."

I said, "War Indian beat his wife, suppose she talk too much?"

"Plenty talk, plenty beat," said he.

"Suppose my wife talk too much and I beat her, what Indian people

say?"

"Say good. Suppose wife too old, you take two wife, one more young."

I was very much pleased with this conversation; not that I had the

slightest idea of profiting by his information by taking another wife,

but I felt such a disgust at my present one, and had already seen what

a fury she could be, that I was resolved, if necessary, to show her

that I was master, for I felt certain that if I did not, she would

soon attempt to master me, and so it turned out.

On the third day she took down a bow and arrows and made a sign to me

to go out, and, I presumed, bring back food; and as there was nothing

in the house, I thought the request reasonable. I therefore went out

of the wigwam and found that many of the young men were going out on a

hunting-party, and that I was to join them. We set off and travelled

for six hours before we came to the hunting-ground, and as the deer

passed me I thought of Whyna and my hunting excursions with her. I

was, however, fortunate, and killed two deer, much to the surprise of

the Indians, who thought a white man could not use a bow and arrows,

and I rose very much in their estimation in consequence. The deer was

cut up, and we hung upon branches what we could not carry.

We did not go home that night, but feasted over a large fire. The next

morning we all carried home our loads, and mine was as large as any of

the others, if not larger; neither did I flag on the way, for I was

naturally very strong and active, and had lately been inured to

fatigue. When we arrived, the squaws and men among the others were

despatched for the remainder of the venison. I now went out every day

by myself and practised with my bow, till I had become more expert,

for I wanted practice. I had no musket, but I had a tomahawk and a

long knife. I began to pick up a few words of the language, and by

means of the interpreter I gained them very fast. Before I had been

three months with the Indians I had acquired their confidence and

respect. They found that I was expert, and able to gain my own

livelihood, and I may add that before I had been three months I had

also mastered my wife. When she found that I would not submit to her

caresses, she was very indignant and very violent, but I immediately

knocked her down, and beat her unmercifully. This brought her to her

senses, and after that I treated her as my slave with great rigour,

and as she was a notorious scold, the Indians liked me all the better

for it.

You may think that this was not fair treatment towards a woman who had

saved my life; but she only saved it for her own purposes, and would

have worn my ears, as well as my companion's, if I had not killed her

husband. The fact is, I had no alternative; I must have either treated

her kindly and submitted to her nauseous endearments, or have kept her

at a respectful distance by severity, and I hardly need say that I

preferred the latter. So far as her choice of a husband was concerned,

she made a bad one, for she received nothing but blows and bad usage.

I had one day driven my wife out of the wigwam in consequence of her

presuming to "talk too much," as the Indian said, when the interpreter

told me that one of the chiefs was willing that I should marry his

daughter, polygamy being one of their customs.

I was very much annoyed at this, for I knew the young girl very well:

she was very graceful and very pretty; and I felt that my fidelity to

Amy would be in great danger if the marriage was to take place; and if

proposed, I dared not refuse so great a distinction.

I replied that I was fortunate, but that I feared my present wife

would make her very unhappy, as she wanted to be the chief woman of

the wigwam, and when I was away I could not tell what the old woman

might do to her, and the conversation was dropped.

This little Indian had, before this, shown me as much favour as an

Indian girl ever ventures to show, sufficient, at all events, to

satisfy me that I was not disagreeable to her, and what the

interpreter had said made me very uncomfortable. However, I consoled

myself with the recollection that if I were compelled to marry this

girl, it would be an involuntary infidelity on my part, and on that

account might well be excused; for the hope of again rejoining Amy

never left me at any time.

One day I went out in search of deer, and was led away from my

companions after a buck which I had wounded and attempted to overtake.

They saw me in chase of my quarry, and left me in pursuit. I followed

for several hours, continually coming up with it and as continually

losing it again. At last, I heard the report of a musket close to

where the deer was last seen by me, and I thought that some Indian had

shot it. I walked forward, however, very cautiously, and perceived a

white man standing by the animal, which lay at his feet. I started

back, for I did not know whether I had fallen in with a friend or a

foe; but as I knew that he had not had time to reload his musket, I

hallooed to him, concealing myself at the same time behind a tree.

"Is that you, Evans?" said the man in reply.

"No," said I, "it is an Englishman."

"Well, show yourself, then," said he.

"I am dressed as an Indian," replied I; "I was taken by the Indians."

"Well, come along," said the man, who was attired as a seafaring man.

I came from behind the tree, and when he saw me he snatched up his

musket.

"Don't be afraid," said I.

"Afraid!" said he; "I should like to see what I am afraid of; but I'll

be on my guard."

"That's right," I replied.

I then told him that I had been taken by the Indians, and they saved

my life because one of their women chose me as her husband, and that I

was anxious to escape from them.

"Well," said he, "I am on board of a schooner at anchor down below in

the river. There are a few of us come on shore to get some venison,

and I have lost my comrades; but I had no idea that the Indians were

down here so close to the English settlements."

"How close are we, then?" said I; "for I know not where I am. This is

certainly not our usual hunting-ground, for I have been led many miles

from it, in pursuit of the animal you have just shot."

"Well, I thought so; for I have been on shore here more than once, and

I have never met with an Indian. You ask how far you are from the

settlement; that I can hardly tell you, because the settlers have

spread out so far; but you are about forty or fifty miles from James

Town."

"And what river, then, is your schooner at anchor in?"

"I don't know the name," replied the man; "I'm not sure that it has a

name. We come here for wood and water, because it is quiet, not

inhabited, and no questions asked."

"What are you, then?" inquired I.

"Why, to tell you the truth, we are what are called 'Jolly Rovers;'

and if you have a mind to come on board, we can find a berth for you,

I dare say."

"Many thanks," replied I; "but I am not sufficiently fond of the sea,

and I should be of no use" (for, by his term of Jolly Rover, I knew

that they were pirates).

"That's as you please," replied he; "no harm's done."

"No," replied I; "and I thank you for your kind offer, but I cannot

live long on board of a vessel. Will you now tell me which is the

right track to the English plantations?"

"Why," said he, "they bear right out in that direction; and I dare

say, if you travel five or six leagues, you will fall aboard of some

plantation or another--right in that quarter; follow your nose, old

fellow, and you can't go wrong."

"Many thanks," I replied; "am I likely to meet your companions?--they

may take me for an Indian."

"Not in that direction," replied he; "they were astern of me a long

way."

"Farewell, then, and many thanks," I replied.

"Good-bye, old fellow; and the sooner you rub off that paint, the

sooner you'll look like a Christian," said the careless rover, as I

walked away.

"No bad advice," I thought: for I was now determined to make for the

English settlements as fast as I could, "and I will do so when I once

see an English habitation, but not before; I may fall in with Indians

yet."

I then set off as fast as I could, and being now inured to running for

a long time without stopping, I left the rover a long way behind me in

a very short time. I continued my speed till it was dark, when I heard

the barking of a dog, which I knew was English, for the Indian dogs do

not bark. I then proceeded cautiously and in the direction where I

heard the dog bark, and arrived in a quarter of an hour to a cleared

ground, with a rail fence round it.

"Thank God!" I cried, "that I am at last among my own countrymen."

I considered, however, that it would not be prudent to show myself,

especially in my Indian paint, at such a time of night, and I

therefore sat down under the lee-side of a large tree, and remained

there till morning. I then looked about for water, and having found a

running stream, I washed off my paint, and appeared what I really was,

a white man in an Indian dress. I then went up again to the clearing,

and looked for the habitation, which I discovered on the top of a

hill, about four hundred yards off. The trees were cleared away for

about three hundred yards all round it. It was built of heavy logs,

let into one another, with one window only, and that very small. The

door was still shut. I walked up to it, and tapped at the door.

"Who's there?" replied a hoarse voice.

"An Englishman, and a stranger," I replied. "I have just escaped from

the Indians."

"Well, we'll see what you are in a very short time," replied the

voice. "James, get me my gun."

In a minute the door opened, and I beheld a woman more than six feet

high, of gaunt appearance and large dimensions: I thought that I had

never seen such a masculine creature before. It was her voice which I

had heard. Two men were seated by the fire-place.

"Who are you?" said she, with the musket ready for the present.

I told her in a few words.

"Show me the palm of your hand--turn it up at once."

I did so, without the least idea of the reason for the demand; but I

afterwards discovered that it was to ascertain whether I was one of

those who had been transported to the settlement, as they all had the

letter R branded on them.

"Oh, you're not a gaol-bird, then, I see: you may come in; but you'll

give me that bow and arrows, if you please."

"Certainly," replied I, "if you wish it."

"Why, there's nothing like making sure in this world; and although you

look a very peaceable, good-looking sort of personage, notwithstanding

your Indian set-out, still I've known just as amiable people as you,

in appearance, very mischievous at times. Now come in, and let us hear

what you have to say for yourself. Jeykell, get some more wood."

One man went out to obey her orders; the other sat by the fire with

his musket between his knees. I sat down by the fire, at the request

of the woman, who had seated herself by the side of the man, and then,

on her repeating her question, I gave her a narrative of my

adventures, from the time that I left Rio.

"Well," says she, "we seldom hear stories like them; it's all the

world like a book; and pray what's that thing (pointing to the diamond

in its case) you have hanging to your neck there? you have left that

out in your history."

"That's a charm given me by my Indian wife, to preserve me from

disasters from wild animals; no panther, wolf, or bear will ever

attack me."

"Well," said she, "if so be it has that power, all I can say is, it's

not a bad charm to wear in these parts, for there are animals enough

in the woods in summer, and round the house all night in winter; but I

don't believe a bit in the charm, and that's the truth; however, if it

does no good, it can't do no harm, so you may keep it on, and

welcome."

"May I ask how far it is to James Town?" said I.

"What, going to James Town already? I suppose you expect to be there

to-night?"

"Not exactly, my good woman," replied I. "I must trespass upon your

kindness to give me something to eat, for I am hungry."

"Good woman! bah! and pray how dare you call me good woman? Call me

mistress, if you want any thing."

"I beg your pardon," said I. "Well, then, mistress, will you give me

something to eat?"

"Yes, I will. James, fetch the meal-cake and a bit of salt pork, and

give him to eat, while I call the cows from the bush."

The mistress, as I shall in future call her, then put down her musket

and left the cabin. During her absence I entered into conversation

with the man called James, for the other had gone out. To my inquiry

how far it was to James Town, he replied that he really did not know;

that he was sent out a convict, and sold for ten years to the husband

of the mistress, who had died two years ago; that this man had a small

vessel, in which he went to James Town by water, and that he had

returned with him in his vessel; that the distance by water, he

considered about one hundred and fifty miles, but by land it was not

half that distance; that he did not know the way, nor did he believe

that there was any road as yet made to James Town, as this plantation

was quite by itself, and a long way from any other. He understood that

the nearest plantation was twenty miles off, and he knew there was no

road to it, as no one ever went or came except by water.

"But," said I, "are not the settlers at war with the Indian tribes

that surround them?"

"Yes; and have been now for three or four years; and the Indians have

done great mischief to the plantations, and killed a great many

people; but the settlers have punished them severely."

"Then how is it that this plantation, which is so solitary, has not

been attacked?"

"Because the mistress's husband was a great friend of the Indians, and

it is said used to bring them cargoes of muskets and ammunition from

James Town, contrary to all law and regulation. But if he was friendly

with them, the mistress is not; for she has quarrelled with the

principal chief, and I should not be surprised if we were attacked

some day, and all scalped."

"And what does the mistress say to that?"

"Oh, she don't care; she'd fight a hundred Indians, or white men

either. I never saw such a creature--she's afraid of nothing."

"Who is the other man I saw here?"

"Oh, he's another like myself. There were three of us, but one was

drowned by falling overboard from the sloop."

"Well, but my good fellow, how shall I get to James Town?"

"I'm sure I can't tell; but my idea is that you will never get there

unless mistress chooses."

"Why, surely she won't detain me by force?"

"Won't she?--you don't know her. Why, she'd stop an army," replied the

man. "I don't think that she will let you go--I don't know; but that's

my opinion. She wants another hand."

"What, do you mean to say that she'll make me work?"

"I mean to say that, according to the laws of the settlement, she has

a right to detain you. Any person found roving here, who cannot give a

satisfactory account of himself, may be detained till something is

heard about him; for he may be a runaway convict, or a runaway

apprentice, which is much the same, after all. Now, she may say that

your account of yourself is not satisfactory, and therefore she

detained you; and if you won't work, she won't give you to eat; so

there you are."

"Well, we will see if she is able."

"Able! if you mean strong enough, why she'd take you up with one hand;

and she is as resolute and severe as she is strong. I had rather have

to deal with three men, and that's the truth."

"What's the truth, James?" cried the mistress, coming in at the door.

"Let's hear the truth from your lips, it will be something new."

"I said that I was sent here for finding a pocket-book, mistress;

that's all."

"Yes; but you did not tell him where you found it--at the bottom of a

gentleman's coat-pocket, you know. You can only tell the truth by

halves yet, I see."

Wishing to ascertain how far the man's suspicions were correct, I said

to her,

"I have good friends in James Town: if I were once there I could

procure money and any thing else to any amount that I required."

"Well," says she, "you may have; but I'm afraid that the post don't go

out to-day. One would think, after all your wanderings and

difficulties, that you'd be glad to be quiet a little, and remain

here; so we'll talk about James Town some time about next spring."

"Indeed, mistress, I hope you will not detain me here. I can pay you

handsomely, on my arrival at James Town, for your kind treatment and

any trouble you may take for me."

"Pay me! what do I want with money?--there's no shops here with

ribbons, and calicoes, and muslins; and if there were, I'm not a fine

madam. Money! why I've no child to leave what I have to--no husband to

spend it for me. I have bags and bags of dollars, young man, which my

husband heaped up, and they are of as much use to me as they are now

to him."

"I am glad that you are so rich, mistress, and more glad that your

money is so little cared for and so little wanted; but if you do not

want money, I do very much want to get back to my friends, who think I

am dead, and mourn for me."

"Well, if they have mourned, their sorrow is over by this time, and

therefore your staying here will not distress them more. I may as well

tell you at once that you shall not go; so make up your mind to be

contented, and you'll fare none the worse for it."

This was said in so decided a tone, that, bearing in mind what I had

heard from the convict servant, I thought it advisable to push the

question no further for the present, making up my mind that I would

wait a short time, and then make my escape, if she still persisted in

detaining me by force; but this I could not venture upon until I was

in possession of fire-arms, and I could not obtain them while she had

any suspicion. I therefore replied--

"Well, since you are determined I shall not go, I have nothing more to

say, except that I will wait your pleasure, and, in the mean time, let

me make myself as useful as I can, for I don't want to eat the bread

of idleness."

"You're a very sensible young man," replied she; "and now you shall

have a shirt to put on, which will improve your appearance a great

deal."

She then went into the inner room, which I presumed was her bed-room,

as there were but two rooms in the cabin. As she went out, I could not

help wondering at her. On examination, I felt assured that she was

more than six feet high, and her shoulders as broad and her arms as

nervous as a man's of that stature. Her chest was very expanded, but

bosom she had none. In fact, she was a man in woman's clothing, and I

began to doubt her sex. Her features were not bad, had they been of

smaller dimensions, but her nose was too large, although it was

straight; her eyes were grand, but they were surmounted with such

coarse eyebrows; her mouth was well shaped, and her teeth were good

and regular, but it was the mouth of an ogress; her walk was

commanding and firm; every action denoted energy and muscle; and

certainly, from the conversation I have already made known, her mind

was quite as masculine as her body--she was a splendid monster. In a

minute she returned, bringing me a good check shirt and a pair of

duck trowsers, which I thankfully accepted.

"I've plenty more for those who please me," said she, carelessly;

"when you've put them on, come out to me, and I'll show you the

plantation."

In a minute or two I joined her, and she led me round the

tobacco-fields, then to the maize or Indian corn grounds, pointing out

and explaining every thing. She also showed me the cows, store pigs,

and poultry. Wishing to please her, I asked many questions, and

pretended to take an interest in all I saw. This pleased her much, and

once or twice she smiled--but such a smile! After an hour's ramble we

returned, and found the two servants very busy, one husking maize, and

the other in the shed where the tobacco was dried. I asked some

questions of her about the tobacco--how many casks or bales she made a

year? She replied that she made it in bales, and sold it by weight.

"It must be heavy carriage from here to James Town?" said I.

"Yes, indeed, if it went that way it never would arrive, I imagine,"

replied she; "but I have a sloop in the river below, which carries it

round."

"When is the time it is harvested and fit to be carried round?"

inquired I.

"It is now turning fast," said she; "all that you see hanging in the

drying-sheds has been already drawn; in three or four weeks it will

all be housed, and then we begin to pack: in about two months from

this the sloop will take it round."

"But is it not very expensive keeping a sloop on purpose, with men to

have her in charge?" inquired I, to hear what she would say.

"The sloop lies at anchor, without a soul on board," said she. "No one

ever comes up this river. I believe Captain Smith, who made the

settlement, did do so once. There is another river, about twenty miles

farther down, which is occasionally frequented by buccaneers, I am

told--indeed, I know it, for my husband had more to do with them than

perhaps was good for his soul, but this little river is never

visited."

"Then your servants take her round?"

"Yes; I leave one in charge, and take two with me."

"But you have but two."

"Not till you came--one died; but now I have three," and she smiled at

me again.

If I had not been so afraid of affronting her, I certainly would have

said to her, "Do any thing, I beg, but smile."

I said no more on that point. She called Jeykell, who was in the

tobacco-shed, and desired him to kill a couple of chickens, and bring

them in. We then entered the cabin, and she observed--

"I don't doubt but you are tired with so much fatigue; you look so; go

and sleep on one of their beds; you shall have one for yourself by

night."

I was not sorry to do as she proposed, for I was tired out. I lay

down, and did not wake till she called me and told me that dinner was

ready. I was quite ready for that also, and I sat down with her, but

the two convict servants did not. She ate in proportion to her size,

and that is saying enough. After dinner she left me, and went with her

two men on her farming avocations, and I was for a long while

cogitating on what had passed. I perceived that I was completely in

her power, and that it was only by obtaining her good-will that I had

any chance of getting away, and I made up my mind to act accordingly.

I found a comfortable bed, of the husks of Indian corn, prepared for

me at night, in an ante-room where the two servant-men slept. It was a

luxury that I had not enjoyed for a long while. For several days I

remained very quiet, and apparently very contented. My mistress gave

me no hard work, chiefly sending me on messages or taking me out with

her. She made the distinction between me and the convicts that I

always took my meals with her and they did not. In short, I was

treated as a friend and visitor more than any thing else, and had I

not been so anxious about going to England, I certainly had no reason

to complain except of my detention, and this, it was evident, it was

not in her power to prevent, as, until the sloop went away with the

tobacco, she had no means of sending me away. One day, however, as I

was walking past the tobacco-shed, I heard my name mentioned by the

two convicts, and stopping, I heard James say,

"Depend upon it, that's what she's after, Jeykell; and he is to be our

master, whether he likes it or not."

"Well, I shouldn't wonder," replied the other; "she does make pure

love to him, that's certain."

"Very true; every thing's fierce with her--even love--and so he'll

find it if he don't fancy her."

"Yes, indeed:--well, I'd rather serve another ten years than she

should fall in love with me."

"And if I had my choice, whether to be her husband or to swing, I

should take the cord in preference."

"Well, I pity him from my heart; for he is a good youth, and a

fair-spoken and a handsome, too; and I'm sure that he has no idea of

his unfortunate situation."

"No idea, indeed," said I to myself, as I walked away. "Merciful

Heaven! is it possible!" And when I thought over her conduct, and what

had passed between us, I perceived not only that the convicts were

right in their supposition, but that I had, by wishing to make myself

agreeable to her, even assisted in bringing affairs to this crisis.

That very day she had said to me: "I was very young when I married,

only fourteen, and I lived with my husband nine years. He is dead more

than a year now."

When she said that, which she did at dinner, while she was clawing the

flesh off the bone of a wild turkey, there was something so ridiculous

in that feminine confession, coming from such a masculine mouth, that

I felt very much inclined to laugh, but I replied,

"You are a young widow, and ought to think of another husband."

Again, when she said, "If ever I marry again, it shall not be a man

who has been burnt on the hand. No, no, my husband shall be able to

open both hands and show them."

I replied, "You are right there. I would never disgrace myself by

marrying a convict."

When I thought of these and many other conversations which had passed

between us, I had no doubt, in my own mind, but that the convicts were

correct in their suppositions, and I was disgusted at my own

blindness.

"At all events," said I to myself, after a long cogitation, "if she

wants to marry me, she must go to James Town for a parson, and if I

once get there, I will contrive, as soon as extra constables are sworn

in, to break off the match." But, seriously, I was in an awkward

plight. There was something in that woman that was awful, and I could

imagine her revenge to be most deadly. I thought the old Indian squaw

to be bad enough, but this new mistress was a thousand times worse.

What a hard fate, I thought, was mine, that I should be thus forced to

marry against my will, and be separated from her whom I adored. I was

a long while turning over the matter in my mind, and at last I

resolved that I would make no alteration in my behaviour, but behave

to her as before, and that if the affair was precipitated by my

mistress, that I would be off to the woods, and take my chance of wild

beasts and wild Indians, rather than consent to her wishes. I then

went into the cabin, where I found her alone.

"Alexander," said she (she would know my Christian name, and called me

by it), "they say widows court the men, and that they are privileged

to do so" (I turned pale, for I little thought that there was to be an

explanation so soon); "at all events, whether they are or not, I know

that a woman in my position cannot well expect a young man in yours to

venture without encouragement. Now, Alexander, I have long perceived

your feelings and your wishes, and I have only to say that mine are

such as yours" (oh, I wish they were, thought I), "and therefore you

have but to ask and to have."

I was mute with fear and despair, and could not find a reply to make

to her.

"Why do you not answer, Alexander? Do you think me too forward?"

"No," stammered I; "you are very kind, but this is so unexpected--so

unlooked for--so unhoped for--I am so overcome."

Observe, Madam, how strangely the sexes were changed. I was the woman

in this instance.

"I should like to consult my friends."

"Consult your fiddlesticks," replied she, quickly. "Who have you got

to consult? I hope, Alexander," said she, setting her broad teeth

together, "that you are not trifling with me?"

"Indeed, I never should think of trifling with you, mistress," replied

I. "I feel much obliged to you for showing such a preference for me."

"I think, Alexander, that you ought; so now then, if you please, give

me your answer," replied she.

"Had I been prepared for your kindness, I would have done so at once,

but I have many serious questions to put to myself, and if you please,

we will renew the subject to-morrow morning. I will then tell you

candidly how I am situated; and if after that you do not withdraw your

proposal, I shall be most happy to be yours as soon as we can go to

James Town to be married."

"If," replied she, "you mean to insinuate, Alexander, that you have a

wife in England, that is of no consequence in this settlement; for

those who live here are free from all English marriages; and as for

going to James Town, that is quite unnecessary. If the people in the

settlement were to wait for a parson when they married, they would

never be married at all. All that is necessary is, that we shall draw

up an agreement of marriage, on paper, sign it, and have it witnessed.

However, as I perceive that you are flurried, I will wait till

to-morrow morning for your decision."

My mistress then rose from her stool, and went into her chamber,

shutting to the door with more emphasis than was at all agreeable to

my nerves. I walked out into the open air to recover myself, and to

reflect upon what course I should take in this awkward and dangerous

dilemma. Marrying was out of the question--but how to avoid it? It was

almost like being stopped by a highwayman. He says, "Your money or

your life." My mistress's demand was, "Marriage or your life." There

was but one hope, which was to escape that very night, and take my

chance in the woods, and so I resolved to do.

I did not go in till dark; my mistress was in her own room; the two

convicts were sitting by the fire. I took my seat by them, but did not

speak, except in a whisper, telling them that their mistress was not

well, and that we had better go to bed, and not talk. They stared at

me at the idea of the mistress being ill; they had never known her to

complain of any thing since they resided with her; but the hint was

sufficient. They went to bed, and so did I with my clothes on,

watching the crevices of the door of her room to see if her lamp was

out. In about half an hour the little thin beams through the chinks of

her door disappeared, and then I knew that she had gone to bed. I

watched two hours more before I ventured to stir. The convicts were

both snoring loud, and effectually drowned any slight noise I might

make in moving about. I went to the locker, secured all the cold meat

for provision, took down one of the muskets and ammunition-belts, and

having put the latter over my shoulders, I then took the musket in my

hand and crept softly to the door of the cabin. Here was the only

difficulty; once out, but five yards off, and I was clear. I removed

the heavy wooden bar, without noise, and had now only to draw the

bolt. I put my finger to it, and was sliding it gently and

successfully back, when my throat was seized, and I was hurled back on

the floor of the cabin. I was so stunned by the violence of the fall,

that for a short time I was insensible. When I recovered, I felt a

great weight upon my chest, and opening my eyes, found my mistress

sitting upon me, and giving orders to the convicts, one of whom had

already lighted the lamp.

"For mercy's sake, get off my chest," said I, in a faint voice.

"Yes, I will, but not yet," replied my mistress. "Now, James, hand

them to me."

James handed some chains to his mistress, who, turning round as she

sat on my body, made the manacle at the end of the chain fast round my

ankle. This went with a snap-spring, which could not be opened

without a key belonging to it. At last she rose off my body, and I

could breathe free. She then called to the convicts, saying,

"Go both of you into the tobacco-shed, and wait there till I call you

out. If I find you one foot nearer to us, I'll flay you alive."

The servants ran off as fast at they could. When they were gone, my

mistress said,

"So you were about to escape, were you? You would avoid the chances of

matrimony, and now you have other chances which you little dreamt of."

"I thought it was the wisest thing that I could do," replied I. "Since

I must be plain, I am sacredly betrothed to another person, and I

could not even for you break my faith. I meant to have told you so

to-morrow morning, but I was afraid it would annoy you, and therefore

I wished to go away without giving you any answer."

"Well, Sir, I offered to be your wife, which would have made you my

lord and master. You refuse it, and now I make you my slave. I give

you your option; you shall either consent to be my husband, or you

shall remain as you are, and toil hard; but any time that you think

better of it, and are willing to embrace my offer, you will be free,

and I will be as a wife in subjection."

"So you say," replied I; "but suppose I was to make you angry after I

married you, you would do to me as you have done now. I may, perhaps,

one day get free from this chain, but, once married to you, I am a

slave for ever."

"You may think otherwise before long," replied she; "in the mean time,

you may walk out and cool yourself."

She then returned to her room, and I rose, having determined to walk

out and cool myself, as she proposed; but when I was on my legs, I

found that to the other end of the chain, which was very heavy, and

about two yards long, was, riveted an iron ball of about thirty pounds

weight, so that I could not walk without carrying this heavy weight in

my hands, for it could not be dragged. I lifted up the iron ball, and

went out of the house. I was no longer afraid of her. I was in too

great a rage to fear any thing. As I calmed, I considered my case, and

found it to be hopeless; as I thought of Amy, and the many months of

hope deferred, I wept bitterly; and I had no consolation, for the

reader may recollect that I lost my Bible when I was sent on shore,

naked almost, by the rascally captain of the Transcendant.

I had now been twenty months away from Liverpool, and I felt as if my

chance of seeing her that I loved was indeed hopeless. I might remain

chained in such a solitude for years, or I might expire under her

barbarous treatment, for I fully knew what I had to expect. However, I

was resolved. I prayed fervently for support and succour in my time of

trouble, and became more composed. I remained out the whole of the

night, and watched the rising sun. The two convicts came out to their

work, and shrugged their shoulders as they passed me, but they dared

not speak to me.

My mistress at last came out. She commenced with abuse, but I gave no

answer. She tried soothing, but I was mute. At last she became frantic

in her passion, hurled me away from her, and after being dreadfully

beaten, I fell to the ground. She put her foot upon my neck, and she

stood there, looking like a fury. She loaded me with epithets, and

then of a sudden went down on her knees by me, and begged my pardon,

calling me her dear Alexander--her life--entreating me to accede to

her wishes. Never was there such a tigress in love before, I really

believe.

"Hear me," replied I; "as long as I am chained, I never will give any

answer upon the present subject, that I swear."

She rose from my side, and walked away.

It is impossible, my dear Madam, for me to describe what I suffered

from this woman for more than six weeks, during which she kept me

chained in this way--at one time entreating me, the next moment

kicking me, and throwing me down. I had no peace--my life became a

burden to me, and I often entreated her, in mercy, to put an end to my

sufferings. I also had my paroxysms of rage, and would then spurn her,

spit at her, and do every thing I could, and say all that I could

imagine, to show my hatred and contempt. At other times I was sullen,

and that always annoyed her. She would bear my reproaches

patiently--bear any thing, so long as I would talk; but if I remained

obstinately silent, then, in a short time, her fury would break forth.

I pitied her, notwithstanding her ill-treatment, for the woman did

love me (after her own fashion) most intensely.

It was on the seventh week of my confinement on the chain, that one

morning very early, as I was lying in the tobacco-shed, for she had

turned me out of the cabin, I perceived among the trees, which were

about three hundred yards from the cabin, two Indians, in what is

called their war-paint, which is a sign that they were on a hostile

excursion. I remained perfectly quiet, and well concealed, that I

might watch them. The convicts had more than once told me that the

Indians would attack us, in consequence of an insult which my mistress

had offered to their chief, with whom her husband had been so

friendly; and when they stated what had passed, I agreed with them

that they would not fail to resent the insult as soon as they could. I

had therefore always been on the look-out, but had never seen any

Indians before. My mistress, to whom I had, in our days of sweet

converse, spoken about them, always laughed at the idea of their

attacking her, and said that they might come if they liked. She had

made every preparation for them, as she had loop-holes stuffed up with

moss just below the roof of the cabin, from which you could fire down

upon them till they were within four yards of the cabin, and other

loop-holes, from which you might shoot them when close to; the window

and door were impregnable, and provided that we were once in the

cabin, there was no doubt but that a serious, if not effectual,

resistance might be made. That the Indians were reconnoitring the

cabin was evident, and that they did not do so for nothing was equally

certain. After a while, during which I made out six of them, they fell

back in the wood, and disappeared. The dog at that moment came out to

me, and it was probably the sight of the dog which made them retreat,

as they feared that he would have given notice of their being so close

to us. I waited till the convicts came out, and then I went into the

cabin, and said,

"You drove me out of the house last night, and I come to return good

for evil. As I lay in the tobacco-shed, I saw six Indians in the wood,

to the east of the cabin, reconnoitring, and I have no doubt but that

you will be attacked this night, so I give you notice."

"And you hope that, by this fear of their attack, you will be set

free, is it not?"

"It is perfectly indifferent to me whether I am or not. I have often

asked you to put an end to my misery, and as you have not done it, I

shall bless those Indians for the friendly act; a blow of a tomahawk

will release me, if you will not."

"Well, then, let them come with their tomahawks," replied she, "and I

will protect you from them, for no one shall release you but myself."

"As you please," replied I; "I have done my duty in telling you what I

have seen, and you may take precautions or not; for myself I care

nothing."

So saying, I lifted up my ball of iron and went away out of the door.

I remained out of doors the whole of the day, and therefore did not

know whether my mistress took any precautions or not, but I told the

two convicts what I had seen, and advised them not to go far from the

cabin, as they would run great danger.

They inquired of me where I had seen the Indians, and I pointed out

the spot in the wood, after which they went away. I was certain that

the attack would be on this night, as there was no moon till three

hours before daybreak; and as it was very dark, it would probably take

place in the early part of the night. I had made up my mind what I

would do, which was not in any way to defend the cabin while chained,

but, when I was freed, I would fight to the last, so that I might be

killed where I stood, and not be taken alive and tortured.

I did not go out from home all that day, and, to my surprise, I was

not molested by my mistress. At dark she called the convicts, but they

did not answer; she came out to look for them, and asked me whether I

had seen them.

I told her that I had not seen them for two hours, and I had thought

that they were in the house.

"Did you tell them about the Indians?"

"Yes, I did," I replied, "and stated my opinion that they would attack

us this night, and I advised them not to go far from the cabin, or

they might be cut off."

"Then the cowardly sneaks have run off to the woods, and left us to

defend ourselves how we can."

"I shall not defend myself," replied I. "I shall stay here where I am.

I wait for death, and will not avoid it."

"Come into the house," said she, abruptly.

"No," replied I, "I will not."

"You will not," said she, and catching up the chain and ball in one

hand, with her other arm she caught me round the waist, and carried me

into the house.

"Well," replied I, "it is only deferring it a little longer; they will

force their way in it at last, and I will die here."

"Wait until they arrive," replied my mistress. "But do you mean to say

that you will not help to defend the house?"

"Certainly not, as long as I am chained as a slave," replied I.

My mistress made no reply, but busied herself with barring the door

and window. She then placed the table and stools so that she might

stand upon them and fire out of the upper loop-holes; pulled the moss

out of the loop-holes; took down the muskets--of which there were

six--from their rests, examined the priming of those which were

loaded, and loaded those which were not. She then got out a supply of

powder and ball, which she put ready on the table, brought the axes

out, that they might be at hand, examined the water-jars to ascertain

whether the convicts had filled them as she had ordered, and then,

when all was prepared for defence, she removed the lamp into the inner

room, leaving the one we were in so dark, that the Indians could not,

by looking through the chinks or loop-holes, discover where the

occupants of the cabin might be. All these arrangements she made with

the greatest coolness, and I could not help admiring her courage and

self-possession.

"Is there any more to be done, Alexander?" said she, in a mild voice.

"Where is the dog?" replied I.

"Tied up in the tobacco-shed," said she.

"Then there is no more to be done," replied I; "the dog will give you

notice of their coming, as they will first occupy the tobacco-shed as

an advanced post."

"Alexander, will you promise not to escape if I set you free?"

"Certainly not," replied I. "You set me free for your own purposes,

because you wish me to help to defend your property; and then,

forsooth, when the Indians are beat off, you will chain me again."

"No, no; that was not my feeling, as I sit here alive," replied she;

"but I was thinking that, if forced to retreat from the cabin, you

would never be able to escape, and I never could save you; but they

should hack me to pieces first."

"Answer me one question," said I. "In a time of peril like this, would

you, as a conscientious person, think that you were justified in

retaining in such fetters even a convict who had robbed you? And if

you feel that you would not, on what grounds do you act in this way to

a man whom you profess to love?--I leave it to your conscience."

She remained silent for some time: when the dog barked, and she

started up.

"I believe I am mad, or a fool," said she, sweeping back her hair from

her forehead.

She then took the key of the manacle out of her dress, and released

me.

"Alexander"--

"Silence!" said I, putting my hand to her mouth, "this is no time to

be heard speaking. Silence!" repeated I, in a whisper, "I hear them,

they are round the house."

I stood upon one of the stools and looked through a loop-hole. It was

very dark, but as the Indians stood on the hill, there was clear sky

behind them as low down as their waists, and I could perceive their

motions, as they appeared to be receiving orders from their chief; and

they advanced to the door of the cabin with axes and tomahawks. My

mistress had mounted on the table at the same time that I had got on

the stool. We now got down again without speaking, and each taking a

musket, we kneeled down at the lower loop-holes which I have

described. On second thoughts, I mounted the stool, whispering to her,

"Don't fire till I do."

The Indians came to the door and tapped, one asking in English to be

let in. No reply was given, and they commenced their attack upon the

door with their axes. As soon as this aggression took place, I took

good aim at their chief, as I presumed him to be, who was now standing

alone on the hill. I fired. He fell immediately.

As I leaped from the stool my mistress discharged her musket, and we

both caught up others and returned to the loop-holes below. By this

time the blows of the axes were incessant, and made the cabin-door

tremble, and the dust to fly down in showers from the roof; but the

door was of double oak with iron braces, and not easily to be cut

through; and the bars which held it were of great size and strength.

It was some time before we could get another shot at an Indian, but at

last I succeeded, and as his comrades were taking the body away my

mistress shot another. After this the blows of the axes ceased, and

they evidently had retreated. I then went into the inner room and

extinguished the lamp, that they might not be able to see us--for the

lamp gave a faint light. We returned to the table, and loaded the

muskets in the dark.

As I put my musket on the table, my mistress said, "Will they come

again?"

"Yes;" replied I, "I think they will; but if you wish to talk, we had

better retreat to the fire-place: there we shall be safe from any

shot."

We retreated to the fire-place, and sat down on the ashes; it just

held us both, and my mistress took this opportunity of embracing me,

saying--

"Dear Alexander, if I had a thousand lives, I would sacrifice them for

you."

"We have but one," replied I, "and that one I will devote for your

defence; I can do no more."

"Who did you fire at?" said she.

"The chief, as I believe, who was on the hill giving orders. He fell;

and I think that he fell dead."

"Then depend upon it they will retreat," said she.

"I think not; they will be revenged, if they possibly can; and we must

expect a hard fight for it."

"Why, what can they do? They never can break through the door, and

when daylight comes we can shoot them by dozens."

"Depend upon it," said I, "they will try to burn us out. The wind is

high, which is all in their favour, and I suspect they are now gone to

collect firewood."

"And if they do fire the cabin, what shall we do? I never thought of

that."

"We must remain in it as long as we can, and then sally out and fight

to the last; but every thing depends on circumstances. Be guided by

me, and I will save you if I can."

"Be guided by you!"

"Yes! Recollect I am not in chains now, and that although you have all

the courage of a man, still you have not been so accustomed to warfare

as I have been. I have long been accustomed to command, to plan, and

to execute, in times of peril like this."

"You have great strength and courage; I little thought what a lion I

had chained up," replied she. "Well, I love you all the better for it,

and I will be guided by you, for I perceive already that you have the

best head of the two. Hark! What is that?"

"It is what I said," replied I; "they are laying firewood against the

logs of the cabin on the windward side--(this was on the side

opposite to the door). Now we must try if we cannot pick off some more

of them," said I, rising and taking a musket. "Bring the stools over

to this side, for we must fire from the upper loop-holes."

We remained at our posts for some time without seeing an Indian. They

had gone back to the wood for more combustibles. At last we perceived

them coming back with the wood. I should imagine there were at least

twenty of them.

"Now, take good aim," said I.

We both fired almost at the same moment, and three Indians fell.

"Get down, and give me another musket," said I to my mistress.

She handed me one, and, taking another for herself, resumed her

station. We fired several times; sometimes with and sometimes without

success; for the Indians went away twice for firewood before they had

collected what they considered sufficient. By this time it was piled

up to the eaves of the cabin, and our loop-holes were shut up; we

therefore went over to the other side, where the door was, to see if

there were any Indians there, but could not see one. We had been on

the look-out for about five minutes, when the crackling of the wood,

and the smoke forcing itself through the crevices between the logs,

told us that the fire had been applied, and the wind soon fanned it up

so that the flame poured through every chink and loop-hole, and

lighted up the cabin.

"We must retreat to the fire-place," said I. "Come quickly, or we

shall be shot."

"Why so?" said she, as she did as I requested.

"They will peep through the loop-holes on the side of the cabin where

the door is and see us plainly, until the cabin is filled with smoke,

which it soon will be."

"But tell me what we are to do now, for I feel if this smoke increases

we shall not be able to speak to one another."

This she said about five minutes after we had remained standing in the

fire-place, with our heads up the chimney.

"Perhaps it will be as well," replied I, "that I do speak so. This

fierce wind drives the smoke to leeward in volumes, but the great

burst of smoke will be when the roof is well on fire. It is now

burning fiercely on the windward side, but we must wait till the

lee-side has caught, and then the volume of smoke will be greater. The

great point is to hit the precise time of opening the door, and

escaping shrouded in a volume of smoke. If too soon, they will

perceive us, and we shall be shot down; if too late, the roof will

fall upon us, and we shall be smothered or burnt. We had better now, I

think, leave this, and be all ready. Our best weapon, if we have to

fight our way, will be an axe. Let us each take one, and, by now going

near to the door, and putting our mouths to one of the loop-holes, we

shall breathe freer, and unbar the door at the right time. Do you

agree with me?"

"You are right," said she; "you are a _man_, and I am a _woman_."

We left the fire-place, and having felt for and found the axes, we

went near the door, and put our mouths to the loop-holes below; and

the smoke passing above them enabled us to breathe freer. I looked out

and perceived that, with the exception of about six yards to leeward

of the cabin, there was a dense volume of smoke rolling along the

ground for a long distance, and that if we could only once gain it

without being perceived, we should probably be saved. I therefore

unbarred the door, drew the bolt, and held it in my hand, all ready

for a start. The cabin was now in flames in every part as well as the

roof. I touched my mistress, and then took her hand in mine, watching

at the loop-hole. At last, when the heat was almost unbearable, an

eddy of the wind drove back the smoke close to the lee-side of the

cabin, and all was dark. I jumped up, opened the door, and dragged my

mistress after me; we walked out into the black mass completely hid

from our enemies, and then running hand-in-hand as fast as we could to

leeward in the centre of the smoke, we found ourselves at least one

hundred yards from the cabin without the Indians having any idea that

we were not still inside. As we retreated, the density of the smoke

became less, and I then told her to run for her life, as the Indians

would discover that the door of the cabin was open and that we had

escaped--and so it proved. We were still a hundred yards from the wood

when a yell was given which proved that they had discovered our

escape, and were in pursuit. We gained the wood; I turned round a

moment to look behind me, and perceived at least forty or fifty

Indians in full pursuit of us--the foremost about two hundred yards

distant.

"Now we must run for it, mistress," said I, "and we must no longer

take hands. We shall have to thread the wood. Away! We have no time to

lose."

So saying, I snatched my hand from her and sprang forward; she

following me as fast as she could, more fearful, evidently, of my

making my escape from her than of her own escape from the Indians. As

soon as I was a hundred yards in the wood, I turned short to the

right, and fled with all my speed in that direction, because I hoped

by this means to deceive the Indians, and it was easier to run where

the wood was not so thick. My mistress followed me close: she would

have hallooed to me, but she had not breath after the first half-mile.

I found out that I was more fleet than she was. Whether encumbered

with her clothes, or perhaps not so much used to exercise, I heard her

panting after me. I could easily have left her, but my fear was that

she would have called to me, and if she had, the Indians would have

heard her, and have known the direction I had taken, and, when once on

my trail, they would, as soon as daylight came, have followed me by it

to any distance; I therefore slackened my speed so as just to enable

my mistress to keep up with me at about ten yards' distance; when we

had run about three miles I felt certain that she could not proceed

much further: speak she could not, and as I ran without once looking

behind me, she could make no sign. I continued at a less rapid pace

for about a mile further. I did this to enable her to keep up with me,

and to recover my own breath as much as possible previous to a start.

The voices of the Indians had long been out of hearing, and it was

clear that they had not discovered the direction which we had taken. I

knew, therefore, that they could not hear her now, if she did cry out

as loud as she could, and I gradually increased my speed, till I

could no longer hear her panting behind me; I then went off at my full

speed, and after a few minutes I heard her voice at some distance

faintly calling out my name. "Yes," thought I, "but I have not

forgotten the ball and chain; and if you thought that you had let

loose a lion while we were in the cabin, you shall find that you have

loosed a deer in the woods." I then stopped for a few moments to

recover my breath; I did not, however, wait long; I was afraid that my

mistress might recover her breath as well as myself, and I again set

off as fast as I could. The idea of torture from the Indians, or again

being kept confined by my mistress, gave me endurance which I thought

myself incapable of. Before morning I calculated that I had run at

least twenty miles, if not more.

With the perspiration running down me in streams, and hardly able to

drag one leg before the other, I at last, just about daybreak, gave it

up, when I threw myself on the ground, and dropped out of my hand my

axe, which I had carried the whole way. I lay there for more than half

an hour, tormented with thirst, but quite unable to move. At last I

recovered; and, as I well knew that the Indians would divide in

parties of three or four, and hunt every part of the woods, and by

daylight probably discover my track, I rose and prepared to resume my

toil, when, looking round me, I perceived that I was exactly on the

spot where I had followed the deer, and had fallen in with the Jolly

Rover, as he termed himself, who had pointed out the way to the

plantations. I turned and saw the river below, and as he had told me

that the Indians never came there, I resolved to go to the river,

where, at least, I should find shell-fish and water. I did so; and in

half an hour arrived at the skirts of the wood, and found that the

river was about four hundred yards from me and clear of trees at the

mouth for some distance. I went down to the river, which ran swiftly

out, and I drank till I was ready to burst. I then rose on my feet,

and walked along its banks towards the mouth, thinking what I should

do. To get to James Town appeared to me to be an impossibility, unless

by water, and I was not likely to meet with any other vessel here but

a pirate. Should I then go aboard of a pirate? It appeared to me to

be my only resource, and that I should be happy if I could find one.

By this time I had arrived at the mouth of the river, and, looking out

to seaward, I saw a schooner at anchor. She was about three miles off.

That she was a pirate vessel, I presumed. Should I go on board of her

or not? and if so, how was I to get on board? All her boats were up:

and I surmised that she had just left the river with the intention of

sailing as soon as there was any wind, for now it was calm. The river

ran out swiftly, and I thought I should be able to swim the distance

with the assistance I should obtain from the current, which swept down

right for her, and she was riding to its strength.

I was demurring. I had been perhaps two hours on the beach, waiting to

see if she might send a boat on shore, when, as I stood at the

river-side, still hesitating, I happened to turn round and perceived

three Indians coming down upon me as fast as they could. I hesitated

no longer, but plunged into the stream, and was swept out two hundred

yards before they arrived at the beach. I made for the schooner; and

the current ran out so fast, that in half an hour I was close to her.

I swam for her cable, which I clung to, and then shouted loudly. This

induced some of the crew to look over the bows, and they handed me a

bowling knot, into which I fixed myself, and was hauled on board.

I was dragged aft to give an account of myself, and I stated in few

words that I had been pursued by the Indians, and swam off to save my

life.

"Hav'n't we met before?" said a rough voice.

I looked, and saw the Jolly Rover, whom I had fallen in with on shore.

I said, "Yes; I was escaping from the Indians when I met you, and you

showed me the direction of the plantations."

"All's right," said he. "It's a true bill; and were those Indians

after you that we saw on the beach just now?"

"Yes," I replied; and then I stated how it was that they had attacked

our cabin, and how we had escaped.

"That was well done, and so you swam off three miles. Fire and water

won't hurt you; that's clear. You're just the man for us. What

thing-um-bob is this that you have hung round your neck?" said he,

taking up the leathern bag with the diamond in it.

"That," replied I--a sudden thought having struck me--"is my caul; I

was born with a caul, and I have always worn it, as it saves a man

from drowning."

"No wonder that you swam three miles, then," replied the man.