On Monday (as I said) they set their wigwams on fire and went away. It was a cold morning, and before us there was a great brook with ice on it; some waded through it, up to the knees and higher, but others went till they came to a beaver dam, and I amongst them, where through the good providence of God, I did not wet my foot. I went along that day mourning and lamenting, leaving farther my own country, and traveling into a vast and howling wilderness, and I understood something of Lot's wife's temptation, when she looked back. We came that day to a great swamp, by the side of which we took up our lodging that night. When I came to the brow of the hill, that looked toward the swamp, I thought we had been come to a great Indian town (though there were none but our own company). The Indians were as thick as the trees: it seemed as if there had been a thousand hatchets going at once. If one looked before one there was nothing but Indians, and behind one, nothing but Indians, and so on either hand, I myself in the midst, and no Christian soul near me, and yet how hath the Lord preserved me in safety? Oh the experience that I have had of the goodness of God, to me and mine!
On Monday, as I said, they set their wigwams on fire and left. It was a cold morning, and ahead of us lay a large brook covered with ice. Some waded through water up to their knees or higher. But others walked until they reached a beaver dam, and I was among them. There, through God’s good providence, I crossed without getting my feet wet. I spent that day mourning and lamenting as I traveled farther from my own country into a vast, howling wilderness. I understood something of the temptation Lot’s wife felt when she looked back. That day we reached a large swamp and camped beside it for the night. When I reached the hilltop overlooking the swamp, I thought we had arrived at a large Indian town. Yet there was no one there but our own group. The Indians were as thick as the trees. It sounded as if a thousand hatchets were chopping at once. If I looked ahead, I saw nothing but Indians. Behind me, too, there were nothing but Indians, and the same on either side. I was in the middle, with not one Christian soul near me. And yet, how the Lord has kept me safe! Oh, how I have experienced God’s goodness to me and my family!