He advanced toward them and said
huskily:
"There was no fight! They did not attack!"
"There was a fight," said Henry, "and we beat them back; then a
second and a larger force came up, but it was composed chiefly of
Wyandots, led by their great chief, Timmendiquas. He came
forward and said that they would not pursue women and children,
and that we could go in safety."
Carpenter looked incredulous.
"It is true," said Henry, "every word of it."
"It is more than Brant would have done," said Carpenter, "and it
saves us, with your help."
"You were first, and the first credit is yours, Mr. Carpenter,"
said Henry sincerely.
They did not tell the women and children of the fight at the
oasis, but they spread the news that there would be no more
pursuit, and many drooping spirits revived. They spent another
day in the Great Dismal Swamp, where more lives were lost. On
the day after their emergence from the marsh, Henry and his
comrades killed two deer, which furnished greatly needed food,
and on the day after that, excepting those who had died by the
way, they reached Fort Penn, where they were received into
shelter and safety.
The night before the fugitives reached Fort Penn, the Iroquois
began the celebration of the Thanksgiving Dance for their great
victory and the many scalps taken at Wyoming.
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