Young Lion of the Woods | Page 9

not come
back few days."
Paul Guidon was a sub-chief, and one of the bravest of the tribe over
which he exercised some authority. He was feared and respected by all
the tribes of the St. John. He had used all his cunning and power to
pilot the sloop safely to her destination. He had for several days spread
the report that large herds of caribou and moose had appeared in a part
of the country forty miles west of the St. John River. The Indians took
the bait and had suddenly left in pursuit of the game.
Before leaving the deck Paul advised Margaret to get the vessel under
way at daylight next morning, in order that the journey might be
completed before the next setting of the sun. He then took Mrs.
Godfrey by the hand and raising it to his broad breast passed it firmly
over his quickly throbbing heart, and almost instantly turned and shot
from her presence like an arrow in the darkness. Very early in the
morning the sloop was made ready to proceed on her voyage. The wind
was blowing stiffly and fair, the little vessel reached along and arrived
at her destination at five o'clock in the afternoon. The anchor was let go
between an island and the river's bank. Thanksgiving and praise were
offered on board for past mercies and supplication for continued
guidance. Neither was Paul Guidon forgotten, for Margaret breathed a
silent supplication to Him who can soften and subdue the savage breast,
to guide, control and direct the life and steps of her benefactor.
CHAPTER II.

TRADING,--TROUBLE,--RETREAT.
After landing at Grimross, Captain Godfrey looked about to find his lot
of land. Lot No. 14 he found belonged to a Captain Spry, lot No. 15 to
a Reverend Smith, and his own lot he found to be No. 16. These lots
were all facing the St. John river, and extending back parallel with each
other. In looking over the plan of the lots, it appears that Captain
Godfrey settled on No. 14, Spry's lot, and on this lot he commenced
trading operations in an old house situated not far from a stream
leading from a lake on his own lot to the St. John. On Captain
Godfrey's lot were two small log houses, one occupied by a person
named Sayhon, and the other by a man named Crabtree. It may be, that
the Captain settled on Spry's lot because he could trade here to the best
advantage. Here he commenced business after expending forty pounds,
sterling money, in repairing the log house and adding a store room,
made of solid logs. About the middle of September, 1770, he opened
out his wares and began business. A few days later several Redskins
came to his shop and warned him to move away from the place,
threatening, if he did not do so, to burn his buildings and goods.
The Indians did not trouble him further until the middle of November,
when about thirty of them came to his place of business with beaver,
otter, raccoon, mink and other skins. These he took in exchange for
blankets, powder and other goods, the Indians appearing well satisfied
with the exchange. About a fortnight later the Indians again returned in
numbers, accompanied by a white man who acted as spokesman. The
white man, a peculiar looking character, with one eye looking due north
and the other due east, from beneath a forehead very much resembling
that of a monkey, stuttered out to Captain G.: "We-e-e-e co-co-mé t-t-to
war-war-warn you t-to g-g-g-git ou-out. Th-the la-lan-lands ar-are Free
n-sh le-le-lands, an-and th-the In-in-d-dans we-we-will dri-dri-drive
aw-all de-de-damd E-e-en-glis way, an-an gi-gi-give the-the-em
b-b-b-back to Fre-e-e-nsh." The Indians and their low-browed,
cross-eyed spokesman then left the Captain's place of business without
uttering another word. On Christmas day, 1770, or about one month
after their last visit, eight of the Indians, accompanied by two squaws,
returned to the store at Grimross Neck and whooped out in tones of

fury, "Fire, blood, scalps."
Captain Godfrey immediately barred his shop door, and also the door
of his house, seeing that the savages were bent on mischief. The
children were inside the store and house, and were terrified and
trembling. At length the Redskins became so excited and noisy and so
wild in their movements, that the place seemed like a pandemonium.
They were-armed, each one having a knife about ten inches in length
stuck in his belt.
Captain Godfrey consulted with his wife as to the wisest course to be
pursued, but no definite line of action was arranged. The two old
muskets were in the bedroom, loaded, not having been discharged since
they were fired off on leaving Fort Frederick. The Captain's wife ran to
the room and brought out