Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-06-12

,, with hopeless gesture toward the lake,
said Better to drown in that quiet water
than to remain longer with these savages,
now that Ninigret has turned foe also and
/ have no friend to help me-
Let me be o friend to help yon, re-
! piled manly voice close by.
Surprised and astonished MillicentsPrang
to her feet, and saw standing before her a
tall, handsome man of perhaps I'VE ana
thirty years, dressed in uniform.
20, sir can / really hope that you VIII
help poor, distressed captive girl r
"Of course ! will, he answered, moving
near to her. First tell me the ci-cum-
stances of your captivity and
Hush do not speak So loud, or they
will hear us and take you prisoner also;
Come this way" said Millic, mt as she led
him to thick clump OF trees near at hand.
" short distance from here. on yonder
hill is an Indian camp, which has been my
home for many months"
How large is the encampment? asked
the young man, looking with interest and
admiration at the poorly clad but refined
and beautiful girl by his side.
"When all are there they number about
one hundred; but at present most OF the
warriors are away"
Where is your homer
&" have no home. | am an orphan, and
with my sister was visiting friends in Taun-
ton, at the time the Indians attacked that
place"
"Ah Tell me the story of your capt
uIe."
81 will if you care to hear it. Upon the
breaking out of the wal, my friends like
others. became alarmed, and adopted such
means of defense as they could command;
still, when Philip really appeared with his
Indians, they were surprised. All, SIR.
even you, who | see are an officer and
probably used to such sights, would have
been touched by the misery and desolation
those wretches caused on that day. They
fired the house we were in. and when we
were driven by the flames to the open air,
they assailed us and then saw my friends
struck down about me. An old woman, a
mother, three daughters and son. all bru-
tally killed. Then they seized me. more
dead than alive. A fierce Indian, with a
yell, raised some weapon in the air while
holding me fast with the other hand but his
uplifted arm was suddenly grasped by
stalwart and gayly-dressed chief. whom /
soon learned was King Philip. Although
nearly overcome with terror, heard him
say, She is too"
/" Beautiful to be killed, adde the off
Ger.
Well, yes, suppose that was the idea.
Take her captive They bound my arms
to my sides and carried me away tainted
at that point, and when | came to myself
was on horseback, supported by a horrible
old sauaw."
Poor girl how did you survive such a
shock?"
g do not know, for was i'll with fever
throughout the journey; but am | not
nh tba & -. Il
who has surely no claim upon YOU ?"
You have a claim, dear lady the I'M
fortunate have always a claim upon any
honorable man besides, | am deeply in
terestcd in your story Please proceed"
- We travelled slowly on for several days,
resting at night The shock, the mode of
life, and, above all, the anxiety about my
sister. of whose fate knew nothing, made
me i'll and unfit for the rough journey
When l failed and tainted, as l did several
times, they beat me and knocked me about.
making me walk when utterly unable, as a
punishment for my lazineSs, they said
At last, when they saw could go no farther
on my feet, they strapped me on horses
back, where l lay, half delirious and with
out food, until we reached this place."
What an experience for one so deli
cate.' remarked the officer, looking at Mil
licent with increasing interest.
we arrived here late one night, and
then an old squaw, who has ever since been
kind to me, took me to her wigwam and
made me as comfortable as she could. |
shall never forget the relief it was to lie
quiet. if only on bed of pine-boughs."
You must have had fortitude to have
lived through such a mental and physical
strain. How did they happen to bring you
here?"
That night, when they thought slept,
| overheard the leader of the band that
brought me talking with Wattasacompa-
mum, the Chief of the Nipmucks. He said
Philip had ordered them to bring me here,
and sent a message that l should be kept
and well treated until he should see fit to
have me ransomed. Wattasacompanum,
who is good chief and PRAYING Indian,
promised l should be faithfully guarded.
The next day, before Philips messengers
departed, was carried outside the wig
wan, where the Indians danced q wild,
fantastic war-dance about me, to the music
of their own strange screaming. | lay
trembling with fright until the old squaw
came out and sat by me, somewhat quiet
ing my fears by repeating, They no kill
YOU; they no kill They wished to paint
my face and decorate my head with
branches, but Wattasacompanum said no,
that being i'll / should not be disturbed.
He had his hand on my head, and solemnly
promised to safely keep me; and after that
the strange Indians departed
What did they do for you to bring back
your health?"
Very little. | was allowed to rest for a
time, was not treated very harshly, and ma
ture did the rest"
What food did you have?''
All. that was the worst trial for days |
ate almost nothing. | could not touch the
meat they kept constantly boiling in a
great common kettle which ali could go to,
but | soon learned 10 eat sort of cake they
make of Indian corp, and when stronger |
wandered about and found berries and
dried nuts for myself; but | have never
been strong since | came here
That does not surprise me. Such a life
for one like you Have they always treated
you well?"
No. they are often very rough but the
women are kinder than the men, who, for
tunately for me, are away upon the war
path the greater part of the time, returning
only occasionally for night"
What work do they require of you ?n
- | first bring up water from the lake in
the morning-that tires me mcsr-then |
help cook their food. and do whatever is
necessary in an Indian household and
Millicent smiled" and | sew for the wom-
en- and children"
The wretches! why don't they bring
their own water from the lake, and make
their own clothes2"
Z" would willingly do all they ask could
but know that | may soon be free to look
for my sister, and be among my own race
again"
Z" We will see about that. You must not
do drudgery for these savages much longer.
Have you no relatives with whom it may
be possible your sister is now p
None; the family whom we were visit
ing when | was captured were our only
relatives. My sister was out at the time on
an errand in the town; so you see Go not
know whether she was killed or captured,
undoubtedly one or the other. My name
is Millicent Gordon; hers, Martha. Now,
sir, you have my history, and | wish to
thank you for your kind attention. 1t has
done me good to relate ii to you, for you are
the first white man whom have seen for
many months"
My dear lady, your story has interested
me deeply and aroused in ME both sincere
admiration and sympathy for one who has
suffered so much and SO bravely. My one
thought is to liberate you"
Can you really do so2 Is the country,
then, not all given over to the Indians /?
| Oh, tell me it is not !"
mo, indeed; they are being steadily aud
surely conquered; though, God knows,
I tbax, do enough damaca even now / am