Page:Life and astonishing adventures of Peter Williamson (2).pdf/9

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pretend to be their protectors and friends, found it no very diffieult matter to get over to their interest many who belonged to those nations in amity with us, espeeially as the rewards they gave them were so great, they paying for every scalp of an English person £15 sterling. Shoeking to human nature were the barbari- ties daily eommitted by the savages, and are not to be paralleled in all the volumes of history ! Searee did a day pass but some unhappy family or other fell victims to savage eruelty. Terrible indeed it proved to me, as well as to many others ; I that was now happy in an easy state of life, blessed with an affeetionate and tender wife, who was possessed of all amiable qualities, to enable me to go through the world with that peaee and serenity of mind whieh every Christian wishes to possess, beeame on a sudden one of the most un- happy and deplorable of mankind. Scaree can I sustain the shoek whieh for ever reeoils on me, at thinking on the last time of seeing that good woman. The fatal 2d of October, 1754, she that day went from home to visit some of her re- lations. As I staid up later than usual, expeet- ing her return, none being in the house besides myself, how great was my surprise, terror, and affright, when, about 11 o’elock at night, I heard the dismal war-ery, or war-whoop of the savages, and to my inexpressible grief, soon found my