We began this remove with wading over Banquang river: the water was up to the knees, and the stream very swift, and so cold that I thought it would have cut me in sunder. I was so weak and feeble, that I reeled as I went along, and thought there I must end my days at last, after my bearing and getting through so many difficulties. The Indians stood laughing to see me staggering along; but in my distress the Lord gave me experience of the truth, and goodness of that promise, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee" (Isaiah 43.2). Then I sat down to put on my stockings and shoes, with the tears running down mine eyes, and sorrowful thoughts in my heart, but I got up to go along with them. Quickly there came up to us an Indian, who informed them that I must go to Wachusett to my master, for there was a letter come from the council to the Sagamores, about redeeming the captives, and that there would be another in fourteen days, and that I must be there ready. My heart was so heavy before that I could scarce speak or go in the path; and yet now so light, that I could run. My strength seemed to come again, and recruit my feeble knees, and aching heart. Yet it pleased them to go but one mile that night, and there we stayed two days. In that time came a company of Indians to us, near thirty, all on horseback. My heart skipped within me, thinking they had been Englishmen at the first sight of them, for they were dressed in English apparel, with hats, white neckcloths, and sashes about their waists; and ribbons upon their shoulders; but when they came near, there was a vast difference between the lovely faces of Christians, and foul looks of those heathens, which much damped my spirit again.
We began this stage of our journey by wading across Banquang river. The water reached our knees, and the current was very swift. It was so cold that I thought it would cut me in two. I was so weak and feeble that I staggered as I walked. I thought I must finally end my days there, after enduring and surviving so many hardships. The Indians stood laughing as they watched me stagger along. But in my distress, the Lord let me experience the truth and goodness of this promise: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you" (Isaiah 43.2). Then I sat down to put on my stockings and shoes. Tears ran from my eyes, and sorrowful thoughts filled my heart, but I got up to go with them. Soon an Indian came up to us and told them I must go to my master at Wachusett. A letter had come from the council to the Sagamores about paying for the captives’ release. Another letter would come in fourteen days, and I must be there ready. Before this news, my heart had been so heavy that I could hardly speak or walk along the path. Yet now my heart was so light that I could run. My strength seemed to return, renewing my weak knees and aching heart. Yet my captors chose to travel only one mile that night, and we stayed there for two days. During that time, a group of nearly thirty Indians came to us, all on horseback. My heart leaped at the first sight of them, because I thought they were Englishmen. They wore English clothing, with hats, white neckcloths, sashes around their waists, and ribbons on their shoulders. But when they came closer, I saw a vast difference between Christians’ lovely faces and those heathens’ ugly looks. The sight greatly dampened my spirits again.