I had often before this said that if the Indians should come, I
should choose rather to be killed by them than taken alive, but
when it came to the trial my mind changed; their glittering
weapons so daunted my spirit, that I chose rather to go along
with those (as I may say) ravenous beasts, than that moment to
end my days; and that I may the better declare what happened to
me during that grievous captivity, I shall particularly speak of
the several removes we had up and down the wilderness.


The First Remove

Now away we must go with those barbarous creatures, with our
bodies wounded and bleeding, and our hearts no less than our
bodies. About a mile we went that night, up upon a hill within
sight of the town, where they intended to lodge. There was hard
by a vacant house (deserted by the English before, for fear of
the Indians). I asked them whether I might not lodge in the
house that night, to which they answered, "What, will you love
English men still?" This was the dolefulest night that ever my
eyes saw. Oh the roaring, and singing and dancing, and yelling
of those black creatures in the night, which made the place a
lively resemblance of hell. And as miserable was the waste that
was there made of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, calves, lambs,
roasting pigs, and fowl (which they had plundered in the town),
some roasting, some lying and burning, and some boiling to feed
our merciless enemies; who were joyful enough, though we were
disconsolate. To add to the dolefulness of the former day, and
the dismalness of the present night, my thoughts ran upon my
losses and sad bereaved condition. All was gone, my husband