Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/150

126 HTSTORY OF sternly at liim, said^ in a voice of thunder^ ^You infamous viilciin ! in the name of God^ are you murdering people alive here ? send for your provost-sergeant in a moment, and knock .off that poor fellow's span-sliackles, or I will smasli you in a moment V 0, this language was balm to my wounds, was oil to my bleeding heart ; was the voice of sympathy — of determined mercy and immediate relief. I had a soldier's heart, which shrunk not ; a fountain of tears ) I had none in the hour of battle, but now they rushed out amain, as if anxious to see the man, who by his goodness, had drawn them from their deep seclusion. An entire change of situation now took place, and our health was soon recovered, which rendered my imprison- ment quite tolerable. From this place, after a while, we were sent to Rebel's Island, or Culoctelack, or Cut-throat Island, where we remained a year, when peace was declared. We were now sent to Montreal, thence to Quebec, and there put on board a cartel ship and sent round to Boston, though before we reached that place, we were driven out to sea in a storm and nearly shipwrecked, suffering exceedingly ; but at last we arrived at the desired haven, where I once more set foot on my native land, and rejoiced that it was a land of liberty and inde- pendence. " As fast as possible we made the best of our way to old Schoharie, which was our home, after an absence of three years, during which I suffered much, as well as my companions, for the love of my country; which, under the blessing of Heaven, I have enjoyed these many years. The reader will recollect Beacraft, the tory, who stood sentry over us during the first night of our captivity, in the sap-bush, who boasted he had cut the throat of a boy of the Yrooman family ; this man had the audacity to return after the war to old Schoharie, the scene of his villanies. As soon as it was known, a number of persons, properly qualified to