134 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
From their present quarters the savages, still carrying Williamson along with
them, proceeded two hundred miles farther into the interior, where their wigwams,
wives, and children were. Here Williamson was detained for two months,
suffering severely from cold and hunger, as the Indians paid no attention to his
comforts, but left him to shift for himself as he best could, always taking care,
however, that he should not escape them. At length another expedition against
the whites having been determined on, the Indians, who, by various additions
to their numbers, now amounted to about 150, began their march, taking
Williamson along with them towards the back parts of the province of Pennsylvania,
On arriving at the Blue Hills, Williamson was left there with ten Indians,
it not being deemed safe to take him nearer the plantations, to await the return
of the main body. Here Williamson began to meditate an escape, and watching
an opportunity one night when his guard were asleep, having previously
assured himself that they were so, by gently touching their feet as they lay
around the fire, he softly withdrew, after having vainly attempted to possess
himself of one of their guns, which they always kept beneath their heads when
they slept. Williamson’s terror was so great lest he should be discovered, that
he stopped as he was retreating every four or five paces, and looked fearfully
towards the spot where his sayage masters were lying ; seeing, however, no
motion amongst them, he gradually mended his pace, and had gained a considerable
distance, when he suddenly heard the war-cry of the savages, who had
missed their captive, and were now in pursuit of him.
The terror of Williamson, on hearing these appalling sounds, increased his
speed. He rushed wildly on through woods and over rocks, falling and bruising
himself severely, and cuttiiig his feet and legs in a miserable manner ; but
he eventually succeeded in eluding the vigilance of his pursuers. Continuing
his flight until daybreak, he then crept into the hollow of a tree, but was here
again alarmed by hearing the voices of the savages in his immediate vicinity,
loudly talking of how they should treat him if he again fell into their hands.
They, however, did not discover him, and soon after left the spot.
Williamson remained in his concealment till nightfall, when he again set out
on his perilous journey, hiding himself in trees by day, and prosecuting his
march by night. On one occasion during his route, he unknowingly approached
so near a bivouac of savages, that the rustling he made amongst the trees
alarmed them, when, starting from the ground and seizing their arms, they began
to search round for the cause of the noise they had heard. Fortunately for
Williamson, who stood stock-still, petrified with fear, a herd of wild swine at
this critical moment made their appearance near the spot, when the savages
thinking that they had been the cause of their alarm, gave up their search and
returned to their fire. On observing this, FVilliamson recommenced his journey,
and finally arrived in safety at his father-in-law’s, on the 4th January 1755,
where he learned that his wife had died two months before.
Soon after his arrival, Williamson was called before the State Assembly, then
