Captivity of Mrs. Coleman
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At the first streak of dawn the party set out upon the trail. No time was lost in a useless discussion of the probable results of the pursuit. It was enough that two of their friends had been murdered, and several women and helpless children carried off into captivity, by a savage and relentless foe. Little difficulty was experienced in following the trail, the impressions made by the feet of the horse being quite distinct. When they came upon the remains of the babe, and discovered the brutal manner in which it had been killed, their horror and indignation knew no bounds; they pressed forward with the greater energy with the stern purpose of wreaking vengeance on the marauders.
So rapidly did they march that they traveled as far that day as the Indians did in a night and day, encumbered as they were with women and children; towards night they found they were close upon the savages. The latter became aware that they were pursued, while the captives were ignorant of the proximity of their friends. They were then probably on the “barrens” of one of the Delaware river towns. The Indians were not in a condition for a fight and were aware that their enemies outnumbered them; so they sought to escape by stratagem.
The nature of the ground at this point being such that the horse's hoofs would leave no impression, they turned at right angles from the path and secreted themselves, with the captives in a thicket. This was the first intimation the prisoners had that succor was near; but they were informed they would suffer instant death if they made the least noise. Presently they heard the sounds of their friends following in the path they had just left. Nearer and nearer they came, until the individual voices of their neighbors could be distinguished. But the poor children and their mothers did not dare even to look in the direction from whence the sounds came, for a savage stood over each of the trembling and anxious captives with a weapon upraised, ready to deal the fatal blow if an alarm was made. Would that a kind Providence might interpose, and prevent their passing on without discovering that the path had been abandoned. Now that help was so near, the hearts of the poor captives were well-nigh burst-big at the suspense. They could hardly suppress a cry that they knew would bring their friends instantly to their side; but they knew it was in the power of the savages to strike every captive dead before relief could come. Gradually the voices grew more and more indistinct, then entirely ceased, and hope gradually died in the breasts of the prisoners, for the chance of liberation had passed.
After the whites had gone by, Mrs. Coleman, for the first time, was taken from the horse, on which she had been tied for twenty-four hours. The party remained in their place of concealment until the next morning; then the feeble and bereaved mother was again placed in her former position, and the journey resumed.
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