To return upon my footsteps to the spot where the dead animal lay was a
heartless project. I might thus be placing myself at a hopeless distance
from liberty. Besides, my track could not be retraced. I had frequently
deviated from a straight direction for the sake of avoiding impediments. All of which I was sensible was, that I was travelling up an irregular
acclivity. I hoped some time to reach the summit, but had no reason for
adhering to one line of ascent in preference to another. To remain where I was was manifestly absurd. Whether I mounted or
descended, a change of place was most likely to benefit me. I resolved
to vary my direction, and, instead of ascending, keep along the side of
what I accounted a hill. I had gone some hundred feet when the murmur,
before described, once more saluted my ear. This sound, being imagined to proceed from a running stream, could not
but light up joy in the heart of one nearly perishing with thirst. I
proceeded with new courage. The sound approached no nearer, nor became
more distinct; but, as long as it died not away, I was satisfied to
listen and to hope. I was eagerly observant if any the least glimmering of light should
visit this recess. At length, on the right hand, a gleam, infinitely
faint, caught my attention. It was wavering and unequal. I directed my
steps towards it. It became more vivid and permanent. It was of that
kind, however, which proceeded from a fire, kindled with dry sticks, and
not from the sun. I now heard the crackling of flames. This sound made me pause, or, at least, to proceed with circumspection. At length the scene opened, and I found myself at the entrance of a
cave. I quickly reached a station, when I saw a fire burning. At first
no other object was noted, but it was easy to infer that the fire was
kindled by men, and that they who kindled it could be at no great
distance. Chapter XVII. Thus was I delivered from my prison, and restored to the enjoyment of
the air and the light. Perhaps the chance was almost miraculous that led
me to this opening. In any other direction, I might have involved myself
in an inextricable maze and rendered my destruction sure; but what now
remained to place me in absolute security? Beyond the fire I could see
nothing; but, since the smoke rolled rapidly away, it was plain that on
the opposite side the cavern was open to the air. I went forward, but my eyes were fixed upon the fire: presently, in
consequence of changing my station, I perceived several feet, and the
skirts of blankets. I was somewhat startled at these appearances. The
legs were naked, and scored into uncouth figures. The _moccasins_
which lay beside them, and which were adorned in a grotesque manner, in
addition to other incidents, immediately suggested the suspicion that
they were Indians. No spectacle was more adapted than this to excite
wonder and alarm. Had some mysterious power snatched me from the earth,
and cast me, in a moment, into the heart of the wilderness? Was I still
in the vicinity of my parental habitation, or was I thousands of miles
distant? Were these the permanent inhabitants of this region, or were they
wanderers and robbers? While in the heart of the mountain, I had
entertained a vague belief that I was still within the precincts of
Norwalk. This opinion was shaken for a moment by the objects which I now
beheld, but it insensibly returned: yet how was this opinion to be
reconciled to appearances so strange and uncouth, and what measure did a
due regard to my safety enjoin me to take? I now gained a view of four brawny and terrific figures, stretched upon
the ground. They lay parallel to each other, on their left sides; in
consequence of which their faces were turned from me. Between each was
an interval where lay a musket. Their right hands seemed placed upon the
stocks of their guns, as if to seize them on the first moment of alarm. The aperture through which these objects were seen was at the back of
the cave, and some feet from the ground. It was merely large enough to
suffer a human body to pass. It was involved in profound darkness, and
there was no danger of being suspected or discovered as long as I
maintained silence and kept out of view. It was easily imagined that these guests would make but a short sojourn
in this spot. There was reason to suppose that it was now night, and
that, after a short repose, they would start up and resume their
journey. It was my first design to remain shrouded in this covert till
their departure, and I prepared to endure imprisonment and thirst
somewhat longer. Meanwhile my thoughts were busy in accounting for this spectacle. I need
not tell thee that Norwalk is the termination of a sterile and narrow
tract which begins in the Indian country. It forms a sort of rugged and
rocky vein, and continues upwards of fifty miles. It is crossed in a few
places by narrow and intricate paths, by which a communication is
maintained between the farms and settlements on the opposite sides of
the ridge. During former Indian wars, this rude surface was sometimes traversed by
the red men, and they made, by means of it, frequent and destructive
inroads into the heart of the English settlements. During the last war,
notwithstanding the progress of population, and the multiplied perils of
such an expedition, a band of them had once penetrated into Norwalk, and
lingered long enough to pillage and murder some of the neighbouring
inhabitants. I have reason to remember that event. My father's house was placed on
the verge of this solitude. Eight of these assassins assailed it at the
dead of night. My parents and an infant child were murdered in their
beds; the house was pillaged, and then burnt to the ground. Happily,
myself and my two sisters were abroad upon a visit. The preceding day
had been fixed for our return to our father's house; but a storm
occurred, which made it dangerous to cross the river, and, by obliging
us to defer our journey, rescued us from captivity or death. Most men are haunted by some species of terror or antipathy, which they
are, for the most part, able to trace to some incident which befell them
in their early years. You will not be surprised that the fate of my
parents, and the sight of the body of one of this savage band, who, in
the pursuit that was made after them, was overtaken and killed, should
produce lasting and terrific images in my fancy. I never looked upon or
called up the image of a savage without shuddering. I knew that, at this time, some hostilities had been committed on the
frontier; that a long course of injuries and encroachments had lately
exasperated the Indian tribes; that an implacable and exterminating war
was generally expected. We imagined ourselves at an inaccessible
distance from the danger; but I could not but remember that this
persuasion was formerly as strong as at present, and that an expedition
which had once succeeded might possibly be attempted again. Here was
every token of enmity and bloodshed.