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 c
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