The sufferings of the fugitives from Wyoming in passing through the "Shades of Death" were dreadful, as is always the case where such large bodies flee in a panic.
Many children were born, and perished in the wilderness. Strong men lay down and died, and the bones of the victims marked every mile of the way.
But there were many who survived, and one bright summer morning all our friends reached the hamlet of Stroudsburg, so far removed from the scene of massacre that every cause for alarm had passed.
There were fugitives before them, and the hospitality of the villagers was taxed to the utmost, but they gladly met every demand.
The weather was so mild that much suffering had been saved the settlers, whose trouble rose mainly from the lack of food.
In Stroudsburg were old friends and relatives of the Brainerds, who did everything in their power for them. It was arranged that Maggie, Eva, and Aunt Peggy should stay with them indefinitely until there could be no risk in going back.
The anxiety of the brother and sisters was that the body of their father should be laid away in proper form, and Fred Godfrey and Gravity Gimp went back to Wyoming for that purpose.
When the sad duty was finished they once more made their way to Stroudsburg, where the young patriot bade his friends a tender adieu, after which he started to join the Continental army under Washington.
Habakkuk McEwen went with him, and, despite a manifestation of his natural timidity now and then, made a good record. Both he and Fred, who had become a captain, were present at the surrender of Yorktown, which ended the struggle of the colonies, and established the independence of the United States of America.
When they returned to Wyoming the settlements had recovered, to a great extent, from the visitation of the Tories and Indians three years before.