The next morning, guided by the Indian woman, they set off in the
direction of the river, and arrived at it in the afternoon. They found
the canoes, which were large, and in good order, and having carried them
down to the beach, they resolved to put off their embarkation till the
following day, as they were again in want of provisions for their
subsistence. Alfred, Malachi and John went out this time, for Percival
had shown himself so quiet and contented, and had gradually become so
fond of being near Mary Percival, that he appeared to have awakened from
his Indian dream, and renewed all his former associations. They did not,
therefore, think it necessary to watch him any more--indeed, he never
would leave Mary's side, and began now to ask many questions, which
proved that he had recalled to mind much of what had been forgotten
during his long sojourn with the Indians. The hunters returned, having
been very successful, and loaded with meat enough to last for four or
five days. At daylight the next morning, they led the prisoners about
half a mile into the woods, and, pointing to the north as to the
direction they were to go, cast loose the deer-thongs which confined
them, and set them at liberty. Having done this, they embarked in the
canoes, and were soon gliding rapidly down the stream.
The river upon which they embarked, at that time little known to the
Europeans, is now called the river Thames, and the town built upon it is
named London. It falls into the upper part of Lake Ontario, and is a
fine rapid stream. For three days they paddled their canoes,
disembarking at night to sleep and cook their provisions, and on the
fourth they were compelled to stop, that they might procure more food.
They were successful, and on the next day they entered the lake, about
two hundred miles to the west of the settlement. Mary Percival was now
quite recovered, and found her journey or voyage delightful; the country
was in full beauty; the trees waved their boughs down to the river side,
and they did not fall in with any Indians, or perceive any lodges on the
bank. Sometimes they started the deer which had come down to drink in
the stream, and on one occasion, as they rounded a point, they fell in
with a herd which were in the water swimming across, and in this
position they destroyed as many as they required for their food till
they hoped to arrive at the settlement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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