Page:Surprising life and sufferings of Peter Williamson.pdf/22

 possible which made my journey many miles longer. But how shall I describe the terror I felt on the fourth night, when by the rustling I made among the leaves, a party of Indians that lay round a small fire which I did not perceive, started from the ground and seizing their arms, run from the fire amongst the woods. Whether to move forward or to rest where I was I knew not, so distracted was my imagination. In this melancholy state, revolving in my thoughts the now inevitable fate of I thought waited on me, to my great consternation and joy, I was relieved by a parcel of swine passing on seeing the hogs, they conjectured that their alarm was occasioned by them and very merrily returned to the fire, and lay down to sleep as before. As soon as I perceived my enemies so disposed of, with more cautious step and silent tread I pursued my course, and reached the summit of a great hill with some difficulty; and looking out if I could spy any habitations of white people to my unutterable joy I saw some, which I guessed to be about ten miles distance. This pleasure was in some measure abated by my not being able to get among them that night; therefore, when evening approached, I again recommended myself to the Almighty and composed my weary mangled limbs to rest. In the morning as soon as I awoke, I continued my journey towards the nearest cleated lands I had seen the day before, and about four o'clock in the afternoon arrived at the house of one John Bell, an old acquaintance where knocking at the door, he who opened it seeing me in such a frightful condition flew from me like lightning and screaming into the house. This alarmed the