So far from offering any further obstacle to the movements of the family,
the borderers were seriously urged to pursue their previous intentions of
thoroughly examining the woods. The dwelling was accordingly intrusted,
under the orders of the Puritan, to the keeping of about half the
laborers, assisted by the Europeans, who clung with instinctive
attachment to the possession of the block-house; their leader repeatedly
and rightly enough declaring that though ready at all times to risk life
on a plain, he had an unconquerable distaste to putting it in jeopardy in
a thicket. Attended by Eben Dudley, Reuben Ring, and two other stout
youths, all well though lightly armed, Content then left the palisadoes,
and took his way towards the forest. They entered the woods at the
nearest point, always marching with the caution and vigilance that a
sense of the true nature of the risk they ran would inspire, and much
practice only could properly direct.
The manner of the search was as simple as it was likely to prove
effectual. The scouts commenced a circuit around the clearing, extending
their line as far as might be done without cutting off support, and each
man lending his senses attentively to the signs of the trail, or of the
lairs, of those dangerous enemies, who they had reason to think were
outlying in their neighborhood.
Pages:
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156