ed Mag, but when any of the tribe addressed her, it was by the not
very respectful addition of "Old Mag." Her boy had gone toward the
setting sun to be with a party of English officers on a hunting
excursion, he had left her in September and would not return for some
moons.

Captain Godfrey and his family rested in comparative peace for some
weeks, and Mrs. Godfrey drew from Old Mag many stories respecting the
manner of life among the various tribes of American Indians.

About one month after the old squaw had been captured, she began to
appear exceedingly dull and dispirited. The Captain's wife said to her
one morning, "Mag, are you ill," "No! no!" she replied, "me no sick
to-day," "bad dream some nights ago. Saw all Indians outside house, and
big black devil's spirit come into them, black spirits come out woods,
and fire on their heads, all went into Indians and made them dance war,
yell and whoop and burn house."

All went fairly well until the 26th February, 1771, when the red men
again appeared at the premises of the Captain. They were armed, and
their actions seemed to be in keeping with Old Mag's dream.

Their shrieks, yells and war-whoops were terrible, they acted like
demons. The children hid under the beds and held on to the garments of
their parents. The terrified little ones trembled like leaves in an
autumn breeze. Spirits let loose from the regions of the damned could
hardly present a more devilish appearance than did the savages. They
were armed with muskets. Old Mag, who was crouching in a corner of the
kitchen, shook with fear, her teeth were chattering, and she appeared
like a person badly affected with fever and ague.

The Redskins, about twenty in number, ran round and round the house
roaring like wild beasts thirsting for gore. Charlie, the Captain's
eldest boy, came rushing into the kitchen screaming out that two of the
Indians were making a fire at the store door. Captain Godfrey ran to the
shop, looked out of the window and was horrified to find the side of the
building in flames. A minute after he had left the kitchen two of the
red devils broke in the door, Mrs. Godfrey, with Charlie holding on to
her skirt, had taken up a position in front of Old Mag, as the charging
enemy came toward her, she fired. There was a yell, as of death. Captain
Godfrey had placed the other musket in Old Mag's lap, Mrs. Godfrey
instantly seized it and quick as a flash again fired and the door way
was cleared.