. The border wars of New England, commonly called King William's and Queen Anne's wars. nd 1697] ONSLAUGHT AT HAVERHILL 121 fright, were liuddled together, benumbed by the blowthat had so unexpectedly fallen upon them. These werenow being hurriedly loaded down with thespoil of their own houses. The savagesthen plunged into the woods, driving their prisoners be-fore them Uke somany beasts ofburden. Mrs. Dustan andMrs. Neff, who stillheld the baby inher arms, marchedwith the rest. Nomercy was shownto laggards. Onemiscreant, not yetsated with slaugh-ter, tore the help-less infant fromits nurses a
. The border wars of New England, commonly called King William's and Queen Anne's wars. nd 1697] ONSLAUGHT AT HAVERHILL 121 fright, were liuddled together, benumbed by the blowthat had so unexpectedly fallen upon them. These werenow being hurriedly loaded down with thespoil of their own houses. The savagesthen plunged into the woods, driving their prisoners be-fore them Uke somany beasts ofburden. Mrs. Dustan andMrs. Neff, who stillheld the baby inher arms, marchedwith the rest. Nomercy was shownto laggards. Onemiscreant, not yetsated with slaugh-ter, tore the help-less infant fromits nurses armsand dashed outits brains againstthe nearest the pris-oners some were old and feeble. Whenever one showed signs of givingout he was instantly despatched by the blow of a tom-ahawk, and his load given to another. By this meansthe retreat was pressed to the utmost. Though in hourly expectation of meeting with thesame fate, Mrs. Dustan succeeded in keeping up withthe band during the rest of the day, notwithstanding herextreme bodily weakness. The halt for the night brought. DUSTAN MONUMENT. 122 THE BORDER WARS OF NEW ENGLAND [1697 with it a sliort respite. She saw that none of her lovedones were among the little knot of captives. And withthat knowledge, reviving hope gave her the strength stillto bear bravely up against her cruel sufferings of mindand body, as in the deepening gloom she threw herselfupon the bare earth, there to live over again in speech-less misery the woful tragedy of the day. Upon resuming their march, the hostile band separat-ed into small parties, the better to throw their pursuersoff the scent. To each one was parcelled out its share ofthe prisoners and plunder. The party whose property Mrs. Dustan and Mrs. Neffhad thus become took a wide circuit through the wil-derness of woods, hills, and waters, stretching away to thenorth. After travelling for several days longer, all fearof pursuit now being at an end, a more westward coursewas steered, whi
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