The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-07-01


pursued, suffer him to live, exerted himself t,
, keep up with them. And he soon found HI
; could do this without much fatigue, for 1t
was robust and accustomed to such travel
ing. On one occasion, during this journey
when his companions wished to test his fleet
ness, he outstripped them so far that they
were on the point of shooting him to stoI
his progress. He might then have escaped, IA
he afterwards said, eff he had had his thought:
about him."
On the first night after his capture, the
party encamped at the foot of Sodom noun
tain. He was secured, during the night, by
being placed upon his back, with each arm
and ANGLE strongly fastened to sapling, and
with sticks so crossing his body as to be lain
upon by an Indian on each side. He passed
most of the nights bound in this Manner du-
ring his long march to Canada. On the sec
ond day. the party crossed the Connecticut
river by tording and swimming, and spent
the ensuing night at the base Of Mount Hol-
yoke.
In this manner they proceeded from day
to day, up the valley of the Connecticut riv-
err, and through the wilderness, on their route
to Canada. Many incidents occurred, which
Hayes used to relate. One evening, the lit
tie savages belonging to a village where the
party had stopped, annoyed him by tickling
his feet, as he lay before a fire with his arms
pinioned as usual. Bearing this annoyance
as long as his patience would allow, he at
tempted to get rid of his tormentorS by using
his feet in MISUNDERSTANDING which pro-
cess some of them were kicked into the fire.
He expected nothing short Of death for this
aggression, but was agreeably surprised when
the fathers of the burnt children, instead Of
offering violence, patted him on his shoulders
and exclaimed boon" (signifying approba-
tion.)
They were nearly thirty days on this Jour-
ncy during all which time the sullerings Of
poor Hayes were excessive, and almost with
out intermission. Subjected to hard toll du-
ring the day, with no sustenance save what
the forests and rivers furnishcd,and deprived
at night OF rest, by the manner of binding his
limbs, he had that to sustain which, in most
cases would have brought the sufferer to the
grave But Hayes, if he must be a victim,d de-
termined that he at least would not volun-
tarily contribute to hasten the sacrifice. He
possessed that happy faculty Of making, at all
times, the best of his condition. His cheer
fulncss though assumcd-his ability to endure
fatigue and hardships-and his apparent sto-
ical indifference to his fate, secured the good
opinion of his comradesand tended to light
en- his burdens, and possibly, to prolong his
life. Indulgence in dependency could bring
no relief, and would, as he we'll knew, but
render more bitter the cup of Affections
lie very wisely therefore made up his MUD
" to make a virtue of necessity" by submit
ting with the best possible grace to that fate
which he knew awaited him.
The Indians told him, on the journey, OF
their lying about his house Oh the night be-
fore he was taken, and Of overhcaring the
conversation relating to his intention to pro-
coed, on the next morning, into the wilder
ness to find his horse; which Information
thus obtained, induced them to lie in wait at
Stoney hill in order to capture him. They
also told him that they had been lurking
about the settlement some days, seeking an
opportunity to secure n captive, or commit
some other depreciation.
When they arrived at the great Indian en-
campment on the borders Of Canada,th pris'
oner was delivered over to the council of the
nation, to be disposed of as they should see
fit BY their decision, he was doomed to I'M
dcrgo the painful ordeal Of running the
gauntlet" Being stripped to his skin, and
Amounted according to custom,he commenced
the course and after many hagellations and
DuTu kllOCkS ICCclNcllj WIFI llSul
the end of the line, being exhausted and faint,
he boltcd from the course to avoid blow
from an appraised war club and sought safety
by fleeing into a wigwam, at the door of
which sat a supcranuated and infirm squaw.
He was pursued, but the squaw proclaimed
the house Sacred and its inmates protected
from injury. BY her intercession, and es-
pecially by the Difference paid to the sane
tity of the place, according to the rites of In
dian superstition, " the appetite Of the saw
age for blood was stayed
The squaw, whose husband and only son
had fallen in war, claimed the captive, and
adopted him as her son. She was destitute,
and so nfirm as to be unable to walk -
Hayes, in addition to minor duties, was COM
PEELED to provide for her sustenance and flu
ell. He administered to her wants, and de-
voted to her the kindest attenhons-and she,
in return, evinced her gratitude by calling
him her son! He lived in this family about
five years; and although during this time, he
Jared better, perhaps, than most Indian cap
tives, yet existence in his then condition, had
for him but few charms, and the future I'M
yelled to his view no cheering prospect. lie
was in bondage, compelled to adopt the Gus
toms and modes of life of savages, and was
deprived Of almost every comfort deemed ne
cessary by civilized people Besides, he
could entertain no reasonable hope of being
restored to his home and kindred-and more
than all, his life was at the mercy, whim or
caprice of savage masters.
One of the tasks imposed upon him, in the
winter season, was to draw hpon sled his
Indian mother to such places as she wished
to visit, and especially to the feasts and coun-
ell assemblages of her tribe. Upon occasion
of " dog feast" which, by the usagcs Of her
people, all were expected to attend, he pro-
cceded with her in this manner, until ascend
ing hill which was steep and slippery, he
found his strength, when put to its utmost
power, barely adequate to make any head
way. By perseverance and eXertlon, howeV-
err he was enabled to reach nearly the sum
mit of the hill. whom he slinned and fell and