RESCUED.
Rescued! at last, and from a life worse than death. I was so overjoyed
that I sat down and cried. The rescuing party were members of General
Strange's scouts, led by two friends of my late husband, William McKay,
and Peter Ballentyne of Battleford. We were so glad to see them. They
had provisions with them, and they asked us if we wanted anything to
eat. We told them we had bannock and bacon, but partook of their canned
beef and hard tack. It was clean and good; and was the first meal we
enjoyed for two months.
I could not realize that I was safe until I reached Fort Pitt. The
soldiers came out to welcome us back to life. The stories they heard
about us were so terrible, that they could scarcely believe we were the
same.
The steamer was in waiting to take us to Battleford. Rev. Mr. Gordon
took my arm and led me on board. The same gentleman gave us hats, we had
no covering for our heads for the entire two months we were captives
We were very scant for clothing. Mrs. Delaney had a ragged print dress,
while I managed to save one an Indian boy brought me while in camp. Upon
reaching Battleford we were taken to the residence of Mr. Laurie.
Coming down on the steamer, on nearing a little island, we saw a number
of squaws fishing and waving white flags. All along wherever we passed
the Indians, they were carrying white flags as a token that they had
washed off their war paint and desired rest.