But about midnight they heard a hideous and great cry and their sentinel called, "Arm, arm"; so they bestirred them and stood to their arms and shot of a couple of muskets, and then the noise ceased. They concluded it was a company of wolves or such like wild beasts; for one of the seamen told them he had often heard such a noise in Newfoundland. So they rested till about 5 of the clock in the morning; for the tide, and their purpose to go from thence, made them be stirring betimes. So after prayer they prepared for breakfast, and it being day dawning, it was thought best to be carrying things down to the boat. But some said it was not best to carry the arms down, others said they would be the readier, for they had lapped [wrapped?] them up in their coats from the dew. But some 3 or 4 would not carry theirs till they went themselves, yet as it fell out, the water being not high enough, they laid them down on the bank side and came up to breakfast. But presently, all on the sudden they heard a great and strange cry, which they knew to be the same voices they heard in the night, though they varied their notes and one of their company being abroad came running in, and cried, "Men, Indians, Indians"; and withal their arrows came flying amongst them. Their men ran with all speed to recover their arms as by the good providence of God they did. In the mean time, of those that were there ready, two muskets were discharged at them, and 2 more stood ready in the entrance of the there rendezvous, but were commanded not to shoot till they could take full aim at them; and the other 2 charged again with all speed, for there were 4 had arms there and defended the barricade which was first assaulted. The cry of the Indians was dreadful, especially when they saw their men run out of the rendezvous towards the shallop, to recover their arms, the Indians wheeling about upon them. But some running out with coats of mail on, and cutlasses in their hands, they soon got their arms and let fly amongst them and quickly stopped their violence. Yet there was a lusty man, and no less valiant, stood behind a tree within half a musket shot, and let his arrows fly at them. He was seen shoot 3 arrows which were avoided. He stood 3 shot of a musket, till one taking full aim at him and made the bark or splinters of the tree fly about his ears, after which he gave an extraordinary shriek, and away they went all of them. They left some to keep the shallop, and followed them about a quarter of a mile, and shouted once or twice, and shot of 2 or 3 pieces, and so returned. This they did, that they might conceive that they were not afraid of them or any way discouraged. Thus it pleased God to vanquish their enemies, and give them deliverance; and by his special providence so to dispose that not any one of them were either hurt or hit, though their arrows came close by them, and on every side them, and sundry of their coats, which hung up in the barricade, were shot through and through. Afterwards they gave God solemn thanks and praise for their deliverance, and gathered up a bundle of their arrows, and sent them into England afterward by the master of the ship, and called that place the first encounter. From hence they departed, and coasted all along, but discerned no place likely for harbor; and therefore hastened to a place that their pilot (one Mr. Coppin who had been in the country before) did assure them was a good harbor, which he had been in, and they might fetch it before night; of which they were glad, for it began to be foul weather. After some hours sailing it began to snow and rain, and about the middle of the afternoon, the wind increased and the sea became very rough, and they broke their rudder, and it was as much as 2 men could do to seer her with a couple of oars. But their pilot bade them be of good cheer, for he saw the harbor; but the storm increasing and night drawing on, they bore what sail they could to get in, while they could see. But herewith they broke their mast in 3 pieces, and their sail fell overboard, in a very grown sea, so as they had like to have been cast away; yet by God's mercy they recovered themselves, and having the flood with them struck into the harbor. But when it came to, the pilot was deceived in the place, and said, the Lord be merciful unto them, for his eyes never saw that place before; and he and the master mate would have run her ashore, in a cove full of breakers, before the wind. But a lusty seaman which steered, bade those which rowed, if they were men, about with her, or else they were all cast away; the which they did with speed. So he bid them be of good cheer and row lustily, for there was a fair sound before them, and he doubted not but they should find one place or other where they might ride in safety. And though it was very dark, and rained sore, yet in the end they got under the lee of a small island, and remained there all the night in safety. But they knew not this to be an island till morning, but were divided in their minds; some would keep the boat for fear they might be amongst the Indians; others were so weak and cold, they could not endure, but got ashore and with much ado got fire, (all things being so wet,) and the rest were glad to come to them . . .
Take a look at a 1620 musket.
No comments:
Post a Comment