Page:Surprising life and sufferings of Peter Williamson.pdf/21

 myself to the divine protection I set forwards naked and defencless as I was. A rash and dangerous enterprise!

Such was my terror however that in going from them. I halted and paused every four or five yards looking fearfully towards the spot where I had left them, least they should awake and miss me, but when I was about two hundred yards from them, I mended my pace, and made as much haste as I could to the foot of the mountains; when on a sudden I was struck with the greatest terror and amaze at hearing the wood-cry as it is called and may be expressed ''Jo hau! Jo hau!'' which the savages I had left were making, accompanied with the most hideous cries and howlings they could uter! They having now missed their charges I concluded they would soon separate themselves and go in quest of me. The more my terror increased the faster did I push on, and scarce knowing where I trode drove through the woods with the utmost precipitation, sometimes falling and bruising myself, cutting my feet and legs against the stones in a miserable manner; but though faint and maimed I continued my fight until break of day, when without having any thing to sustain nature but a little corn, I crept unto a hallow tree, in which I lay very snug and returned thanks to God who had thus far favoured my escape.

At night I ventured forwards again frightened and trembling at every bush I passed, thinking each twig that touched me to be a savage. The third day I concealed myself in the like manner, and at night I travelled on in the same deplorable condition keeping off the main road used by the Indians as much as