The National tribune., 1902-10-09


nothing of having escaped the sufferings
Of the journey ahead.
A little past midnight the Indians pre-
pared to move, first dividing into two par
ties. The larger of these went down the
valley, while the others, seven in number,
headed toward the north with the cap
tives. The Indians had learned by this
time that it was more profitable to spare
the lives Of those who had fallen into
their hands than to kill them outright,
though scalps brought bounty from the
French. Two sources Of profit were among
the possibilities in taking captives to
Canada, one of these being the prices paid
by the people Of that province for women
and children as servants, and the other the
ransoms the English were only too glad
to pay that they might restore their loved
ones to their homes.
This journey to the captives, typical Of
many another, was too heavily freighteG
with suffering and sorrow to be described
in detail, as they went day by day deeper
and deeper into the great wilderness lying
for a hundred miles in width between the
settlements in New England and the out
posts of New France. Still, now they
were fairly started on their way, the In
dams treated them with unexpected in
diligence. The fare was scanty, consist
ing Of little maize brought with them
from their raids, and game that was pro-
cured along the journey which was being
made too hastily to admit Of a great
variety or amount in this respect. But
whether their captors had plenty or little,
they were offered generous portions of
the best to be procured. When night
came On halt would be made until an
other day, and as they followed some
stream as much as possible there was
plenty of running water, and the gentle
song Of the singing river to lull them to
sleep. A little apart from their resting
places the Indians would scrnpe together
some leaves on dry spot, escort them
gravely to their rude couches, and throw
the nights were beginning to grow cold
in the regions of the mountains, leave
them to rest in peace.
Though all this was done with utmost
respect for their welibeing, in their state
of mind, they were poorly fitted to appre-
ciate this uncivilizcd courtesy. Finding
little opportunity through the day to ex-
change words Of good cheer or of COM
miseration it was natural the two should
become confidential during these occasions
10 talk. Each told her companion of her
east life, her hopes, her fears. Mary
Sheplcy spoke with tears in her eyes of
her father and mother. and Of the little
brother, whose fate her own hard ex-
periences had recalled with very vivid feel
ings. Once, when speaking OF him. she
drew from under the folds of her d ess
a wooden spoon cut out of the original
wood by an ingenious hand.
1T IS little ladle father made me
with which to stir the maple syrup while
it was boiling in the kettle. He made one
for little brother just like it, but we never
found his. Mine has my initials cut on
the handle. N. ST. while his were cut on
his, r. s. But rs Robert could not read,
so he could tell HIS father cut a deer's
head and antlers on the handle Of his
ladle. 1t was for my ladle that l went
back to the house, but could not bear to
lose it, and now / ds-e not let the In
dians know / have it. II had not gone
back for it, we might have escaped them"
During her confidential talks Mary also
told blushingly Of the lover. whose fate
and her parents of their peril he had gone
to carry the news down the river, and
she had not learned anything more from
him. Had he, too, been taken captive or
been killed outright by the savage enemy?
Mrs. Craig was equally communicative,
and she who had seemed to lack the more
tender sentiments Of life became q most
gentle confident. During one of these in.
tervals Of personal accounts she related
the singular story Of her life, her speech
at times falling into the idioms and pecu-
liar expressions of her native language,
while at others she would use the harsher
speech she had unconsciously acquired
during her life on the frontier.
Little did i dream, as I fingered by
the banks o the bonnie burn O. my native
heath, singing the sweet songs O. girlbood,
what this day had in store for me. As iii
as l look today and burnt with the sun
and toughened by hard work, 1 was a
pretty lass, and my family was aE,ong
the best. Aye" she repeated with kin.
ding eye, while her voice grew softer.
none were higher or better rated than the
Montalonas O. Auchineel. ] was a wee
lass when l picked out from my play
mates merry Chririie Craig for my young
lord. Aye, ye lcetle mike now that a
maun sa stern and cruggy as he was sich
a blithe-hearted lad that my Christie wa.
We piighted our pledges young, when the
sky had ma feck, an it was weel ga, else
We ne'er had known much o. JOY
"Amang Christie's kin was jamie Clair
q cousin O. his, who tended the Laird's
locks on Kilmarnock bills. He being