The occasion (as I thought) of their moving at this time was the English army, it being near and following them. For they went as if they had gone for their lives, for some considerable way, and then they made a stop, and chose some of their stoutest men, and sent them back to hold the English army in play whilst the rest escaped. And then, like Jehu, they marched on furiously, with their old and with their young: some carried their old decrepit mothers, some carried one, and some another. Four of them carried a great Indian upon a bier; but going through a thick wood with him, they were hindered, and could make no haste, whereupon they took him upon their backs, and carried him, one at a time, till they came to Banquaug river. Upon a Friday, a little after noon, we came to this river. When all the company was come up, and were gathered together, I thought to count the number of them, but they were so many, and being somewhat in motion, it was beyond my skill. In this travel, because of my wound, I was somewhat favored in my load; I carried only my knitting work and two quarts of parched meal. Being very faint I asked my mistress to give me one spoonful of the meal, but she would not give me a taste. They quickly fell to cutting dry trees, to make rafts to carry them over the river: and soon my turn came to go over. By the advantage of some brush which they had laid upon the raft to sit upon, I did not wet my foot (which many of themselves at the other end were mid-leg deep) which cannot but be acknowledged as a favor of God to my weakened body, it being a very cold time. I was not before acquainted with such kind of doings or dangers. "When thou passeth through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee" (Isaiah 43.2). A certain number of us got over the river that night, but it was the night after the Sabbath before all the company was got over. On the Saturday they boiled an old horse's leg which they had got, and so we drank of the broth, as soon as they thought it was ready, and when it was almost all gone, they filled it up again.
I thought they were moving because the English army was nearby and following them. For quite a distance, they traveled as if running for their lives. Then they stopped, chose some of their strongest men, and sent them back to keep the English army occupied. This allowed the rest to escape. Then, like Jehu, they marched on furiously, with their old and their young. Some carried their old, frail mothers, and others carried different people. Four of them carried a large Indian man on a stretcher. But the thick woods slowed them down, and they could not move quickly with the stretcher. So they took turns carrying him on their backs until they reached the Banquaug river. We reached this river on a Friday, a little after noon. When the whole group had caught up and gathered together, I tried to count them. But there were so many, and they kept moving about, that I could not manage it. On this journey, because of my wound, they gave me a somewhat lighter load. I carried only my knitting and two quarts of parched meal. Feeling very faint, I asked my mistress for one spoonful of the meal. But she would not let me have even a taste. They quickly began cutting down dry trees to make rafts to carry them across the river. Soon my turn came to cross. They had laid some brush on the raft to sit on, which kept my feet dry. Many of them at the other end were standing in water halfway up their legs. I must acknowledge this as God's kindness to my weakened body, for the weather was very cold. I had never before experienced such activities or dangers. "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you" (Isaiah 43.2). Some of us crossed the river that night. But the whole group did not finish crossing until the night after the Sabbath. On Saturday, they boiled a leg from an old horse that they had obtained. We drank the broth as soon as they thought it was ready. When the broth was almost gone, they filled the pot again.
The first week of my being among them I hardly ate any thing; the second week I found my stomach grow very faint for want of something; and yet it was very hard to get down their filthy trash; but the third week, though I could think how formerly my stomach would turn against this or that, and I could starve and die before I could eat such things, yet they were sweet and savory to my taste. I was at this time knitting a pair of white cotton stockings for my mistress; and had not yet wrought upon a Sabbath day. When the Sabbath came they bade me go to work. I told them it was the Sabbath day, and desired them to let me rest, and told them I would do as much more tomorrow; to which they answered me they would break my face. And here I cannot but take notice of the strange providence of God in preserving the heathen. They were many hundreds, old and young, some sick, and some lame; many had papooses at their backs. The greatest number at this time with us were squaws, and they traveled with all they had, bag and baggage, and yet they got over this river aforesaid; and on Monday they set their wigwams on fire, and away they went. On that very day came the English army after them to this river, and saw the smoke of their wigwams, and yet this river put a stop to them. God did not give them courage or activity to go over after us. We were not ready for so great a mercy as victory and deliverance. If we had been God would have found out a way for the English to have passed this river, as well as for the Indians with their squaws and children, and all their luggage. "Oh that my people had hearkened to me, and Israel had walked in my ways, I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries" (Psalm 81.13-14).
During my first week among them, I hardly ate anything. By the second week, I felt very weak from hunger. Yet it was very hard to swallow their filthy food. But by the third week, that food tasted sweet and savory to me. I could still remember how certain foods had once turned my stomach. I had thought I could starve and die before eating such things. At this time, I was knitting a pair of white cotton stockings for my mistress. I had not yet worked on a Sabbath day. When the Sabbath came, they told me to work. I told them it was the Sabbath and asked them to let me rest. I said I would do that much extra work the next day. They answered that they would break my face. Here I cannot help noticing God's strange providence in keeping the heathen safe. There were many hundreds of them, old and young, some sick and some lame. Many carried babies on their backs. Most of those with us at this time were women. They traveled with everything they owned, yet they crossed the river I mentioned earlier. On Monday, they set their wigwams on fire and left. That very day, the English army followed them to the river and saw the smoke from their wigwams. Yet the river stopped the English. God did not give the English the courage or energy to cross after us. We were not ready for so great a mercy as victory and deliverance. If we had been ready, God would have found a way for the English to cross the river. The Indians had crossed with their women and children and all their belongings. "Oh, if only my people had listened to me, and Israel had followed my ways! I would soon have subdued their enemies and turned my hand against their foes" (Psalm 81.13-14).