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Lib. J. R.
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back to my Wife, or fly into one of the neighbouring prov-
inces, & send for her thither. One Hancock who lived with
Gerrard Pendegrass of Ray's Town came frequently among
us and as I apprehended he was well acquainted with all
that part of the Country, I entred into Conversation with him
on that Subject, and from him learn't that there was a path
from Fort Cumberland thro Ray's Town to pensilvania
behind any of the Maryland Settlements, being thus advised
I deserted in the Month of January with one Willoby Willett
of Captain Rutherford's Company intending to go thro Ray's
Town and pursue the Road that Hancock had described to us.
We had not got more than a Mile or two before Willet re-
pented, and returned again as I apprehend to his post, I soon
after missed my way and travelled 9 Days without getting as
I afterwards understood more than 20 Miles from the Fort,
and the Weather being very severe one of my Feet was frost
bitten, and I was ready to perish with Cold and Hunger,
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p. 149
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when I discovered a Smoke, and going up to it found one
Kirking Pauley a Delaware Indian and his Daughter sitting
by a Fire, and three Horses standing by them I acquainted
the Indian with my miserable Condition, and intreated him
to carry me to some English Settlement, he told me that he
was just come from Fort Cumberland where he had been
selling some Skins to Captain Trent, said he must now make
the best of his Way home, but told me that if I would go to
his Cabin, he would give me Victuals, and something to cure
my Foot, and that when he should have Occasion to go again
to Fort Cumberland or any of the English Settlements he
would take me with him I embraced his Offer mounted one
of the Horses, and went with him to his Cabin which stood
on a River Run, that flows into the Allegany River about
25 Miles above Fort du Quesne, I was a good while before
I recovered the Use of my Limbs, or was able to walk but
as soon as I could go abroad, the Indian made me cut Wood
for him, dig some Ground, and plant Corn, and treated me in
every Respect as his Servant still promising me however to
carry me with him when his Business should call him to
Fort Cumberland or among the English. Last July was
Twelvemonth Kirking was informed by an Indian that came
from the Battle, that the English Army had been defeated,
and that all the Indians had thereupon declared for the
French: this News he immediately made me acquainted with,
and then told me that as his Nation would for the future be
always at War with the English he should not go to Fort
Cumberland again, or trade any longer with them, and that
I must become his Slave he having a Right to me for having
saved my Life. Within a few Days he pack't up his Hous-
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