He could
not doubt on a near view that these were white like himself, and
the words rang true.
"My house is strong," he said, "and I can beat them off. Maybe
you will help me."
"We'd help you willingly enough," said Henry, "if this were any
ordinary raiding band, but 'Indian' Butler, Brant, and Queen
Esther are coming at the head of twelve or fifteen hundred men.
How could we hold a house, no matter how thick its walls, against
such an army as that? Don't hesitate a moment! Get up what you
can and gallop."
The man, a Connecticut settler-Jennings was his name-left his
plow in the furrow, galloped on his horse to his house, mounted
his wife and children on other horses, and, taking only food and
clothing, fled to Stroudsburg, where there was a strong fort. At
a later day he gave Henry heartfelt thanks for his warning, as
six hours afterward the vanguard of the horde burned his home
and raged because its owner and his family were gone with their
scalps on their own heads.
The five were now well into the Wyoming Valley, where the
Lenni-Lenape, until they were pushed westward by other tribes,
had had their village Wy-wa-mieh, which means in their language
Wyoming.
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