第6章
Iapproachedtoregardmorenarrowlythismysticchamber，which
seemedafittinglaboratoryforanecromancer，whenIwasstartled
atbeholdingahumancountenancestaringatmefromaduskycorner。It
wasthatofasmall，shrivelledoldman，withthincheeks，bright
eyes，andgraywiryprojectingeyebrows。Iatfirstdoubtedwhetherit
werenotamummycuriouslypreserved，butitmoved，andIsawthat
itwasalive。Itwasanotheroftheseblack—cloakedoldmen，and，asI
regardedhisquaintphysiognomy，hisobsoletegarb，andthehideous
andsinisterobjectsbywhichhewassurrounded，Ibegantopersuade
myselfthatIhadcomeuponthearchmago，whoruledoverthismagical
fraternity。
Seeingmepausingbeforethedoor，heroseandinvitedmeto
enter。Iobeyed，withsingularhardihood，forhowdidIknowwhethera
waveofhiswandmightnotmetamorphosemeintosomestrange
monster，orconjuremeintooneofthebottlesonhismantelpiece？
Heproved，however，tobeanythingbutaconjurer，andhissimple
garrulitysoondispelledallthemagicandmysterywithwhichIhad
envelopedthisantiquatedpileanditsnolessantiquatedinhabitants。
ItappearedthatIhadmademywayintothecentreofanancient
asylumforsuperannuatedtradesmenanddecayedhouseholders，with
whichwasconnectedaschoolforalimitednumberofboys。Itwas
foundedupwardsoftwocenturiessinceonanoldmonastic
establishment，andretainedsomewhatoftheconventualairand
character。Theshadowylineofoldmeninblackmantleswhohadpassed
beforemeinthehall，andwhomIhadelevatedintomagi，turnedout
tobethepensionersreturningfrommorningserviceinthechapel。
JohnHallum，thelittlecollectorofcuriosities，whomIhadmade
thearchmagician，hadbeenforsixyearsaresidentoftheplace，and
haddecoratedthisfinalnestling—placeofhisoldagewithrelicsand
raritiespickedupinthecourseofhislife。Accordingtohisown
accounthehadbeensomewhatofatraveller；havingbeenoncein
France，andverynearmakingavisittoHolland。Heregrettednot
havingvisitedthelattercountry，"asthenhemighthavesaidhe
hadbeenthere。"—Hewasevidentlyatravellerofthesimplestkind。
Hewasaristocraticaltooinhisnotions；keepingaloof，asIfound，
fromtheordinaryrunofpensioners。Hischiefassociateswereablind
manwhospokeLatinandGreek，ofbothwhichlanguagesHallumwas
profoundlyignorant；andabroken—downgentlemanwhohadrunthrougha
fortuneoffortythousandpoundslefthimbyhisfather，andten
thousandpounds，themarriageportionofhiswife。LittleHallum
seemedtoconsideritanindubitablesignofgentlebloodaswellas
ofloftyspirittobeabletosquandersuchenormoussums。
P。S。ThepicturesqueremnantofoldtimesintowhichIhavethus
beguiledthereaderiswhatiscalledtheCharterHouse，originally
theChartreuse。Itwasfoundedin1611，ontheremainsofanancient
convent，bySirThomasSutton，beingoneofthosenoblecharities
setonfootbyindividualmunificence，andkeptupwiththequaintness
andsanctityofancienttimesamidstthemodernchangesand
innovationsofLondon。Hereeightybroken—downmen，whohaveseen
betterdays，areprovided，intheiroldage，withfood，clothing，
fuel，andayearlyallowanceforprivateexpenses。Theydine
togetherasdidthemonksofold，inthehallwhichhadbeenthe
refectoryoftheoriginalconvent。Attachedtotheestablishmentis
aschoolforforty—fourboys。
Stow，whoseworkIhaveconsultedonthesubject，speakingofthe
obligationsofthegray—headedpensioners，says，"Theyarenotto
intermeddlewithanybusinesstouchingtheaffairsofthehospital，
buttoattendonlytotheserviceofGod，andtakethankfullywhat
isprovidedforthem，withoutmuttering，murmuring，orgrudging。
Nonetowearweapon，longhair，coloredboots，spursorcoloredshoes，
feathersintheirhats，oranyruffian—likeorunseemlyapparel，but
suchasbecomeshospitalmentowear。""Andintruth，"addsStow，
"happyaretheythataresotakenfromthecaresandsorrowsofthe
world，andfixedinsogoodaplaceastheseoldmenare；having
nothingtocarefor，butthegoodoftheirsouls，toserveGodand
toliveinbrotherlylove。"
Fortheamusementofsuchashavebeeninterestedbythepreceding
sketch，takendownfrommyownobservation，andwhomaywishtoknowa
littlemoreaboutthemysteriesofLondon，Isubjoinamodicumof
localhistory，putintomyhandsbyanodd—lookingoldgentlemanin
asmallbrownwigandasnuff—coloredcoat，withwhomIbecame
acquaintedshortlyaftermyvisittotheCharterHouse。IconfessI
wasalittledubiousatfirst，whetheritwasnotoneofthose
apocryphaltalesoftenpassedoffuponinquiringtravellerslike
myself；andwhichhavebroughtourgeneralcharacterforveracityinto
suchunmeritedreproach。Onmakingproperinquiries，however，Ihave
receivedthemostsatisfactoryassurancesoftheauthor’sprobity；
and，indeed，havebeentoldthatheisactuallyengagedinafulland
particularaccountoftheveryinterestingregioninwhichheresides；
ofwhichthefollowingmaybeconsideredmerelyasaforetaste。
THEEND。
1819—20
THESKETCHBOOK
PHILIPOFPOKANOKET
ANINDIANMEMOIR
byWashingtonIrving
Asmonumentalbronzeunchangedhislook：
Asoulthatpitytouch’d，butnevershook：
Train’dfromhistree—rock’dcradletohisbier
Thefierceextremesofgoodandilltobrook
Impassive—fearingbuttheshameoffear—
Astoicofthewoods—amanwithoutatear。
CAMPBELL。
ITIStoberegrettedthatthoseearlywriters，whotreatedofthe
discoveryandsettlementofAmerica，havenotgivenusmoreparticular
andcandidaccountsoftheremarkablecharactersthatflourishedin
savagelife。Thescantyanecdoteswhichhavereachedusarefullof
peculiarityandinterest；theyfurnishuswithnearerglimpsesof
humannature，andshowwhatmanisinacomparativelyprimitivestate，
andwhatheowestocivilization。Thereissomethingofthecharmof
discoveryinlightinguponthesewildandunexploredtractsofhuman
nature；inwitnessing，asitwere，thenativegrowthofmoral
sentiment，andperceivingthosegenerousandromanticqualities
whichhavebeenartificiallycultivatedbysociety，vegetatingin
spontaneoushardihoodandrudemagnificence。
Incivilizedlife，wherethehappiness，andindeedalmostthe
existence，ofmandependssomuchupontheopinionofhis
fellow—men，heisconstantlyactingastudiedpart。Theboldand
peculiartraitsofnativecharacterarerefinedaway，orsofteneddown
bythelevellinginfluenceofwhatistermedgood—breeding；andhe
practisessomanypettydeceptions，andaffectssomanygenerous
sentiments，forthepurposesofpopularity，thatitisdifficultto
distinguishhisrealfromhisartificialcharacter。TheIndian，onthe
contrary，freefromtherestraintsandrefinementsofpolishedlife，
and，inagreatdegree，asolitaryandindependentbeing，obeysthe
impulsesofhisinclinationorthedictatesofhisjudgment；and
thustheattributesofhisnature，beingfreelyindulged，grow
singlygreatandstriking。Societyislikealawn，whereevery
roughnessissmoothed，everybrambleeradicated，andwheretheeye
isdelightedbythesmilingverdureofavelvetsurface；he，
however，whowouldstudynatureinitswildnessandvariety，must
plungeintotheforest，mustexploretheglen，muststemthe
torrent，anddaretheprecipice。
Thesereflectionsaroseoncasuallylookingthroughavolumeof
earlycolonialhistory，whereinarerecorded，withgreatbitterness，
theoutragesoftheIndians，andtheirwarswiththesettlersofNew
England。Itispainfultoperceiveevenfromthesepartialnarratives，
howthefootstepsofcivilizationmaybetracedinthebloodofthe
aborigines；howeasilythecolonistsweremovedtohostilitybythe
lustofconquest；howmercilessandexterminatingwastheirwarfare。
Theimaginationshrinksattheidea，howmanyintellectualbeingswere
huntedfromtheearth，howmanybraveandnoblehearts，ofnature’s
sterlingcoinage，werebrokendownandtrampledinthedust！
SuchwasthefateofPHILIPOFPOKANOKET，anIndianwarrior，whose
namewasonceaterrorthroughoutMassachusettsandConnecticut。He
wasthemostdistinguishedofanumberofcontemporarySachemswho
reignedoverthePequods，theNarragansetts，theWampanoags，andthe
othereasterntribes，atthetimeofthefirstsettlementofNew
England；abandofnativeuntaughtheroes，whomadethemost
generousstruggleofwhichhumannatureiscapable；fightingtothe
lastgaspinthecauseoftheircountry，withoutahopeofvictory
orathoughtofrenown。Worthyofanageofpoetry，andfitsubjects
forlocalstoryandromanticfiction，theyhaveleftscarcelyany
authentictracesonthepageofhistory，butstalk，likegigantic
shadows，inthedimtwilightoftradition。*
*Whilecorrectingtheproofsheetsofthisarticle，theauthoris
informedthatacelebratedEnglishpoethasnearlyfinishedan
heroicpoemonthestoryofPhilipofPokanoket。
Whenthepilgrims，asthePlymouthsettlersarecalledbytheir
descendants，firsttookrefugeontheshoresoftheNewWorld，from
thereligiouspersecutionsoftheOld，theirsituationwastothelast
degreegloomyanddisheartening。Fewinnumber，andthatnumber
rapidlyperishingawaythroughsicknessandhardships；surroundedbya
howlingwildernessandsavagetribes；exposedtotherigorsofan
almostarcticwinter，andthevicissitudesofanever—shifting
climate；theirmindswerefilledwithdolefulforebodings，andnothing
preservedthemfromsinkingintodespondencybutthestrongexcitement
ofreligiousenthusiasm。Inthisforlornsituationtheywerevisited
byMassasoit，chiefSagamoreoftheWampanoags，apowerfulchief，
whoreignedoveragreatextentofcountry。Insteadoftaking
advantageofthescantynumberofthestrangers，andexpellingthem
fromhisterritories，intowhichtheyhadintruded，heseemedat
oncetoconceiveforthemagenerousfriendship，andextended
towardsthemtheritesofprimitivehospitality。Hecameearlyin
thespringtotheirsettlementofNewPlymouth，attendedbyamere
handfuloffollowers，enteredintoasolemnleagueofpeaceandamity；
soldthemaportionofthesoil，andpromisedtosecureforthemthe
good—willofhissavageallies。WhatevermaybesaidofIndian
perfidy，itiscertainthattheintegrityandgoodfaithof
Massasoithaveneverbeenimpeached。Hecontinuedafirmand
magnanimousfriendofthewhitemen；sufferingthemtoextendtheir
possessions，andtostrengthenthemselvesintheland；andbetraying
nojealousyoftheirincreasingpowerandprosperity。Shortlybefore
hisdeathhecameoncemoretoNewPlymouth，withhissonAlexander，
forthepurposeofrenewingthecovenantofpeace，andofsecuring
ittohisposterity。
Atthisconferenceheendeavoredtoprotectthereligionofhis
forefathersfromtheencroachingzealofthemissionaries；and
stipulatedthatnofurtherattemptshouldbemadetodrawoffhis
peoplefromtheirancientfaith；but，findingtheEnglish
obstinatelyopposedtoanysuchcondition，hemildlyrelinquished
thedemand。Almostthelastactofhislifewastobringhistwosons，
AlexanderandPhilip（astheyhadbeennamedbytheEnglish），tothe
residenceofaprincipalsettler，recommendingmutualkindnessand
confidence；andentreatingthatthesameloveandamitywhichhad
existedbetweenthewhitemenandhimselfmightbecontinued
afterwardswithhischildren。ThegoodoldSachemdiedinpeace，and
washappilygatheredtohisfathersbeforesorrowcameuponhistribe；
hischildrenremainedbehindtoexperiencetheingratitudeofwhite
men。
Hiseldestson，Alexander，succeededhim。Hewasofaquickand
impetuoustemper，andproudlytenaciousofhishereditaryrightsand
dignity。Theintrusivepolicyanddictatorialconductofthestrangers
excitedhisindignation；andhebeheldwithuneasinesstheir
exterminatingwarswiththeneighboringtribes。Hewasdoomedsoon
toincurtheirhostility，beingaccusedofplottingwiththe
NarragansettstoriseagainsttheEnglishanddrivethemfromthe
land。Itisimpossibletosaywhetherthisaccusationwaswarrantedby
factsorwasgroundedonmeresuspicion。Itisevident，however，by
theviolentandoverbearingmeasuresofthesettlers，thattheyhadby
thistimebeguntofeelconsciousoftherapidincreaseoftheir
power，andtogrowharshandinconsiderateintheirtreatmentofthe
natives。TheydespatchedanarmedforcetoseizeuponAlexander，and
tobringhimbeforetheircourts。Hewastracedtohiswoodland
haunts，andsurprisedatahuntinghouse，wherehewasreposingwitha
bandofhisfollowers，unarmed，afterthetoilsofthechase。The
suddennessofhisarrest，andtheoutrageofferedtohissovereign
dignity，sopreyedupontheirasciblefeelingsofthisproudsavage，
astothrowhimintoaragingfever。Hewaspermittedtoreturn
home，onconditionofsendinghissonasapledgeforhis
reappearance；buttheblowhehadreceivedwasfatal，andbeforehe
hadreachedhishomehefellavictimtotheagoniesofawounded
spirit。
ThesuccessorofAlexanderwasMetacomet，orKingPhilip，ashe
wascalledbythesettlers，onaccountofhisloftyspiritand
ambitioustemper。These，togetherwithhiswell—knownenergyand
enterprise，hadrenderedhimanobjectofgreatjealousyand
apprehension，andhewasaccusedofhavingalwayscherishedasecret
andimplacablehostilitytowardsthewhites。Suchmayveryprobably，
andverynaturally，havebeenthecase。Heconsideredthemas
originallybutmereintrudersintothecountry，whohadpresumed
uponindulgence，andwereextendinganinfluencebanefultosavage
life。Hesawthewholeraceofhiscountrymenmeltingbeforethemfrom
thefaceoftheearth；theirterritoriesslippingfromtheirhands，
andtheirtribesbecomingfeeble，scatteredanddependent。Itmaybe
saidthatthesoilwasoriginallypurchasedbythesettlers；butwho
doesnotknowthenatureofIndianpurchases，intheearlyperiods
ofcolonization？TheEuropeansalwaysmadethriftybargainsthrough
theirsuperioradroitnessintraffic；andtheygainedvast
accessionsofterritorybyeasilyprovokedhostilities。An
uncultivatedsavageisneveraniceinquirerintotherefinementsof
law，bywhichaninjurymaybegraduallyandlegallyinflicted。
Leadingfactsareallbywhichhejudges；anditwasenoughforPhilip
toknowthatbeforetheintrusionoftheEuropeanshiscountrymenwere
lordsofthesoil，andthatnowtheywerebecomingvagabondsinthe
landoftheirfathers。
Butwhatevermayhavebeenhisfeelingsofgeneralhostility，and
hisparticularindignationatthetreatmentofhisbrother，he
suppressedthemforthepresent，renewedthecontractwiththe
settlers，andresidedpeaceablyformanyyearsatPokanoket，or，asit
wascalledbytheEnglish，MountHope，*theancientseatofdominion
ofhistribe。Suspicions，however，whichwereatfirstbutvagueand
indefinite，begantoacquireformandsubstance；andhewasat
lengthchargedwithattemptingtoinstigatethevariousEasterntribes
toriseatonce，and，byasimultaneouseffort，tothrowoffthe
yokeoftheiroppressors。Itisdifficultatthisdistantperiodto
assignthepropercreditduetotheseearlyaccusationsagainstthe
Indians。Therewasapronenesstosuspicion，andanaptnesstoactsof
violence，onthepartofthewhites，thatgaveweightandimportance
toeveryidletale。Informersaboundedwheretalebearingmetwith
countenanceandreward；andtheswordwasreadilyunsheathedwhen
itssuccesswascertain，anditcarvedoutempire。*NowBristol，RhodeIsland。
TheonlypositiveevidenceonrecordagainstPhilipisthe
accusationofoneSausaman，arenegadeIndian，whosenaturalcunning
hadbeenquickenedbyapartialeducationwhichhehadreceived
amongthesettlers。Hechangedhisfaithandhisallegiancetwoor
threetimes，withafacilitythatevincedtheloosenessofhis
principles。HehadactedforsometimeasPhilip’sconfidential
secretaryandcounsellor，andhadenjoyedhisbountyandprotection。
Finding，however，thatthecloudsofadversityweregatheringround
hispatron，heabandonedhisserviceandwentovertothewhites；and，
inordertogaintheirfavor，chargedhisformerbenefactorwith
plottingagainsttheirsafety。Arigorousinvestigationtookplace。
Philipandseveralofhissubjectssubmittedtobeexamined，but
nothingwasprovedagainstthem。Thesettlers，however，hadnowgone
toofartoretract；theyhadpreviouslydeterminedthatPhilipwasa
dangerousneighbor；theyhadpubliclyevincedtheirdistrust；and
haddoneenoughtoinsurehishostility；according，therefore，to
theusualmodeofreasoninginthesecases，hisdestructionhadbecome
necessarytotheirsecurity。Sausaman，thetreacherousinformer，was
shortlyafterwardsfounddead，inapond，havingfallenavictimto
thevengeanceofhistribe。ThreeIndians，oneofwhomwasafriend
andcounsellorofPhilip，wereapprehendedandtried，and，onthe
testimonyofoneveryquestionablewitness，werecondemnedand
executedasmurderers。
Thistreatmentofhissubjects，andignominiouspunishmentofhis
friend，outragedtheprideandexasperatedthepassionsofPhilip。The
boltwhichhadfallenthusathisveryfeetawakenedhimtothe
gatheringstorm，andhedeterminedtotrusthimselfnolongerinthe
powerofthewhitemen。Thefateofhisinsultedandbroken—hearted
brotherstillrankledinhismind；andhehadafurtherwarninginthe
tragicalstoryofMiantonimo，agreatSachemoftheNarragansetts，
who，aftermanfullyfacinghisaccusersbeforeatribunalofthe
colonists，exculpatinghimselffromachargeofconspiracy，and
receivingassurancesofamity，hadbeenperfidiouslydespatchedat
theirinstigation。Philip，therefore，gatheredhisfightingmen
abouthim；persuadedallstrangersthathecould，tojoinhiscause；
sentthewomenandchildrentotheNarragansettsforsafety；and
whereverheappeared，wascontinuallysurroundedbyarmedwarriors。
Whenthetwopartieswerethusinastateofdistrustand
irritation，theleastsparkwassufficienttosettheminaflame。The
Indians，havingweaponsintheirhands，grewmischievous，and
committedvariouspettydepredations。Inoneoftheirmaraudingsa
warriorwasfiredonandkilledbyasettler。Thiswasthesignal
foropenhostilities；theIndianspressedtorevengethedeathof
theircomrade，andthealarmofwarresoundedthroughthePlymouth
colony。
Intheearlychroniclesofthesedarkandmelancholytimeswemeet
withmanyindicationsofthediseasedstateofthepublicmind。The
gloomofreligiousabstraction，andthewildnessoftheirsituation，
amongtracklessforestsandsavagetribes，haddisposedthe
coloniststosuperstitiousfancies，andhadfilledtheir
imaginationswiththefrightfulchimerasofwitchcraftand
spectrology。Theyweremuchgivenalsotoabeliefinomens。The
troubleswithPhilipandhisIndianswerepreceded，wearetold，by
avarietyofthoseawfulwarningswhichforerungreatandpublic
calamities。TheperfectformofanIndianbowappearedintheairat
NewPlymouth，whichwaslookeduponbytheinhabitantsasa
"prodigiousapparition。"AtHadley，Northampton，andothertownsin
theirneighborhood，"washeardthereportofagreatpieceof
ordnance，withashakingoftheearthandaconsiderableecho。*Others
werealarmedonastill，sunshinymorningbythedischargeofgunsand
muskets；bulletsseemedtowhistlepastthem，andthenoiseofdrums
resoundedintheair，seemingtopassawaytothewestward；others
fanciedthattheyheardthegallopingofhorsesovertheirheads；
andcertainmonstrousbirths，whichtookplaceaboutthetime，
filledthesuperstitiousinsometownswithdolefulforebodings。
Manyoftheseportentoussightsandsoundsmaybeascribedto
naturalphenomena：tothenorthernlightswhichoccurvividlyinthose
latitudes；themeteorswhichexplodeintheair；thecasualrushingof
ablastthroughthetopbranchesoftheforest；thecrashoffallen
treesordisruptedrocks；andtothoseotheruncouthsoundsandechoes
whichwillsometimesstriketheearsostrangelyamidsttheprofound
stillnessofwoodlandsolitudes。Thesemayhavestartledsome
melancholyimaginations，mayhavebeenexaggeratedbytheloveforthe
marvellous，andlistenedtowiththataviditywithwhichwedevour
whateverisfearfulandmysterious。Theuniversalcurrencyofthese
superstitiousfancies，andthegraverecordmadeofthembyoneofthe
learnedmenoftheday，arestronglycharacteristicofthetimes。*TheRev。IncreaseMather’sHistory。
Thenatureofthecontestthatensuedwassuchastoooften
distinguishesthewarfarebetweencivilizedmenandsavages。Onthe
partofthewhitesitwasconductedwithsuperiorskillandsuccess；
butwithawastefulnessoftheblood，andadisregardofthenatural
rightsoftheirantagonists：onthepartoftheIndiansitwaswaged
withthedesperationofmenfearlessofdeath，andwhohadnothing
toexpectfrompeace，buthumiliation，dependence，anddecay。
Theeventsofthewararetransmittedtousbyaworthyclergymanof
thetime；whodwellswithhorrorandindignationoneveryhostile
actoftheIndians，howeverjustifiable，whilsthementionswith
applausethemostsanguinaryatrocitiesofthewhites。Philipis
reviledasamurdererandatraitor；withoutconsideringthathewasa
truebornprince，gallantlyfightingattheheadofhissubjectsto
avengethewrongsofhisfamily；toretrievethetotteringpowerof
hisline；andtodeliverhisnativelandfromtheoppressionof
usurpingstrangers。
Theprojectofawideandsimultaneousrevolt，ifsuchhadreally
beenformed，wasworthyofacapaciousmind，and，haditnotbeen
prematurelydiscovered，mighthavebeenoverwhelminginits
consequences。Thewarthatactuallybrokeoutwasbutawarofdetail，
ameresuccessionofcasualexploitsandunconnectedenterprises。
Stillitsetsforththemilitarygeniusanddaringprowessof
Philip；andwherever，intheprejudicedandpassionatenarrationsthat
havebeengivenofit，wecanarriveatsimplefacts，wefindhim
displayingavigorousmind，afertilityofexpedients，acontemptof
sufferingandhardship，andanunconquerableresolution，that
commandoursympathyandapplause。
DrivenfromhispaternaldomainsatMountHope，hethrewhimself
intothedepthsofthosevastandtracklessforeststhatskirtedthe
settlements，andwerealmostimpervioustoanythingbutawildbeast，
oranIndian。Herehegatheredtogetherhisforces，likethestorm
accumulatingitsstoresofmischiefinthebosomofthethundercloud，
andwouldsuddenlyemergeatatimeandplaceleastexpected，carrying
havocanddismayintothevillages。Therewerenowandthen
indicationsoftheseimpendingravages，thatfilledthemindsofthe
colonistswithaweandapprehension。Thereportofadistantgunwould
perhapsbeheardfromthesolitarywoodland，wheretherewasknown
tobenowhiteman；thecattlewhichhadbeenwanderinginthewoods
wouldsometimesreturnhomewounded；oranIndianortwowouldbeseen
lurkingabouttheskirtsoftheforests，andsuddenlydisappearing；as
thelightningwillsometimesbeseenplayingsilentlyabouttheedge
ofthecloudthatisbrewingupthetempest。
Thoughsometimespursuedandevensurroundedbythesettlers，yet
Philipasoftenescapedalmostmiraculouslyfromtheirtoils，and，
plungingintothewilderness，wouldbelosttoallsearchor
inquiry，untilheagainemergedatsomefardistantquarter，laying
thecountrydesolate。Amonghisstrongholds，werethegreatswamps
ormorasses，whichextendinsomepartsofNewEngland；composedof
loosebogsofdeepblackmud；perplexedwiththickets，brambles，
rankweeds，theshatteredandmoulderingtrunksoffallentrees，
overshadowedbylugubrioushemlocks。Theuncertainfootingandthe
tangledmazesoftheseshaggywilds，renderedthemalmost
impracticabletothewhiteman，thoughtheIndiancouldthreadtheir
labyrinthswiththeagilityofadeer。Intooneofthese，thegreat
swampofPocassetNeck，wasPhiliponcedrivenwithabandofhis
followers。TheEnglishdidnotdaretopursuehim，fearingto
ventureintothesedarkandfrightfulrecesses，wheretheymight
perishinfensandmirypits，orbeshotdownbylurkingfoes。They
thereforeinvestedtheentrancetotheNeck，andbegantobuilda
fort，withthethoughtofstarvingoutthefoe；butPhilipandhis
warriorswaftedthemselvesonaraftoveranarmofthesea，inthe
deadofthenight，leavingthewomenandchildrenbehind；and
escapedawaytothewestward，kindlingtheflamesofwaramongthe
tribesofMassachusettsandtheNipmuckcountry，andthreateningthe
colonyofConnecticut。