Polly Tidd
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The Indians now manifested the utmost haste. They fairly urged their captives into a run across the open field opposite the house, nor did they slacken their pace until they gained the cover of the woods. The path along which they were going led not far from the highway. Presently they heard the rumble of a wagon, and the children recognized the voice of their father as he encouraged his frightened horse. At this juncture the lad essayed to cry out “Father!” but the word was broken off in mid-utterance by a blow on the head from the nearest Indian, which stretched the little fellow apparently lifeless upon the ground. When the sound of the wheels died away some leaves were hastily strewn over the lad, and the flight down the mountain path resumed. Presently the noise of rapid footsteps was heard behind them, and the party turned to behold the boy, who had recovered consciousness and kicked away the leaves; and, terrified at being left alone in the woods, had unwittingly run into the power of the worst enemy that he could have encountered. No harm was offered the lad, but he was given to understand if he made another outcry he should be killed.
Being so far from the river, the Indians knew their own safety depended on the speed of their flight. One savage in advance, the other in the rear, with the captives in single file between-the strength of the children was tested to the utmost. It became evident as they progressed that the boy could not keep pace with them; and he was taken aside, his brains dashed out with a tomahawk, the body thrown into a cleft of rocks for the wolves and ravens to devour, and the flight resumed.
In due time the savages with their captives reached their village at the base of the Shawangunk mountain. Here Polly and Esther were formally adopted into two Indian families that had each been recently bereaved of a daughter, and they were set at work gathering corn, collecting fuel, and other menial drudgery of the Indian women. In this way a year or more passed; and the girls were blooming into womanhood. The fair face of Esther had attracted the notice of a young brave, and he sought her hand in marriage after the manner of courtship in vogue with his tribe. On two successive evenings he presented himself at the wigwam where Esther lived, partook of the food offered by her hands, and reclined on the couch of skins. But Esther, while she extended the usual courtesy required by the rules of Indian hospitality, was so far unversed in savage wooing as not to understand how she was to signify her acceptance. The succeeding day Esther was set at work to gather sticks, a hint designed to intimidate her to accept his matrimonial advances, though she understood not its purport. That evening her swarthy suitor again presented himself at her door, dressed in his best deerskins, and received as before the hospitality of her wigwam. Her noncompliance with Indian custom was interpreted as a rejection of his suit, and the savage departed next morning crest-fallen.
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