Young Lion of the Woods | Page 5

would do no injury to a weak,
pale-faced woman, I will go with you." And as she said these words,
she sprang into the boat and sat down, resting the musket upon her
knees.
The Indians paddled the boat back to the place whence they had loosed
it, and not one of them uttered a word. After the boat had been made
fast Mrs. Godfrey was assisted ashore by the tall, muscular savage, his
four companions walking away without saying a word. They were soon
joined by their tall, muscular friend, and a few minutes later all were
lost to view among the trees on the shore.
Mrs. Godfrey retired to the fort, where she was warmly congratulated
by her husband for the tact and courage she had displayed in presence
of the savages. She replied, "the Indians seemed completely taken
aback when I jumped into the boat and had not recovered from their
surprise when they parted from me, and while I was sitting in the boat,
the deep, black eyes of the tall, muscular fellow looked straight and
steady at me, and at times I felt as though they were piercing me
through and through."

The evening was a solemn one at Fort Frederick. The Captain and his
wife talked over their situation, and the children were restless, the
slightest noise about the place making the little ones tremble like aspen
leaves. The Captain and his wife agreed that it would be useless, while
the Indians were so troublesome, to remain at the Fort and attempt to
transact business with the settlers, who were few indeed.
As they sat together that night in the Fort by the dim light of a
flickering candle, expecting every moment to be disturbed by the
war-whoop of the savages, Captain Godfrey said to Margaret, (for such
was the name of his wife,) "our situation is serious." She replied, "I
believe it to be most dangerous." "What move would you propose,"
asked the Captain. Margaret answered, "I would propose to return to
Halifax, if it be possible to get there." The Captain then said to his wife,
"What do you think about going to Grimross Neck where our grant of
land is?" Margaret replied, "I am your wife, whatever you think best to
do, do it, and I will follow and support you to the best of my ability."
She then, together with her husband and children, knelt in the lonely
Fort and asked Him who had guided and protected them thus far not to
forsake them in their present situation, but to guide, instruct and lead
them in the future. She rose on her feet, walked across the small, dingy
apartment, kissed each of the children, then taking her husband by the
hand, said to him, in a clear and decided voice, "Whither thou goest I
will follow, where thou resteth I will rest, and where thou settlest there
will I be found with thee." And in presence of the children God had
given them, they bound their hearts to suffering and death.
Fatigue and fear had overcome the little ones, and in a short time they
were sleeping soundly upon the floor.
After some further conversation between the Captain and his wife, it
was agreed that he should attempt to proceed before dawn in the little
boat to Annapolis Royal, and there, if possible, purchase a small vessel
suitable to convey his goods and family up the river to his grant of
land.
At four o'clock he secretly and alone left the fort, waving with his hand
an adieu to his wife, as he stepped out of the door. He carried with him

to the boat a camp blanket which he intended to hoist as a sail. At four
o'clock, thirty minutes, he was on his way. As the little boat passed the
island at the mouth of the harbour a breeze sprang up. He hoisted the
sail, making it fast to one of the oars, which was used as a mast; the
other oar being brought into play for steering purposes. Captain
Godfrey had been fortunate in bringing with him from England several
small compasses and two larger ones, one of the latter he took with
him.
A gentle but fair breeze followed the little ship from land to land. The
Captain found great difficulty in sighting the entrance to Digby Bay,
where he arrived safe and sound at eleven o'clock the following
morning.
The next day he proceeded to Annapolis Royal arriving there at noon,
where he purchased a large sloop, and without delay got his boat on
board and next day at the turn of tide sailed for Digby. Here he took on
board some water, and after waiting several hours for a fair wind sailed
for the mouth of