Page:Barbour--Metipoms Hostage.djvu/281

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TO THE RESCUE
265

mouth, as when, but last month, he visited King Philip’s village at Pocasset and brought back news of that infidel’s intent. But to continue my story.

“This Nausauwah, son of Metipom, was lately brought to trial, and, although the evidence against him was not pressed lest the result should be his death and your undoing, yet he was adjudged a menace and deported to one of the islands in Boston Harbor, there to be held until peace is restored. Fearing the news of this would reach Metipom and that he would wreak vengeance on you, I applied to the Council for assistance and, as Pikot had brought word of the Wachoosetts’ disaffection, Major Willard was instructed to go to their village, take prisoners, and rescue you. To this end, four days since, the Major’s command visited the Wachoosett village, I and Obid accompanying them. But we found only a desert. Our guides soon found the signs of their departure, but the trail was already cold and pursuit was deemed ill-advised until we had added to our force. Yesterday twenty more dragoons joined us from Groton and to-day we were to have followed Metipom.”

“He lodges near to Brookfield, father, and