History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

334 HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON. [1676.
directions, that he escaped from it with difficulty. Havingfilled
his wounds with tow and bound his handkerchief
around them, he laid down to rest. During sleep he
dreamed that his grandfather appeared and told him how
to find the right course. Deerfield river was crossed with
great difficulty by the help of his gun. Again he fell
asleep, and on awakening saw an Indian approaching,
in a canoe. His gun, half filled with sand and water, was
useless, but he presented it at the Indian, who jumped from
the canoe and disappeared. Wells then went into a swamp,
fearing that other Indians were about, and hid between
two logs which rested partly on the water. He heard the
enemy searching for him, stepping upon the very logs beneath
which he was concealed, and pressing him under the
water till he was nearly drowned. Some horse's bones that
the crows had picked, and some rotten beans that he found
in Deerfield meadow, formed his only nourishment till he
reached Hatfield, on Sunday, "between meetings," having
wandered forty-eight hours. He was received with great
joy by his friends. Four years and more he suffered be-
fore his wounds were fully healed. ^
Narrative of Rev. ReV. HopC AthertOU, first minister of Hat-
Hope Atherton.
^^^(j^ voluuteered to act as chaplain to the
expedition. He became separated from the
army in the hurry and confusion of the retreat, and was
lost in the woods. In a sermon delivered to his people,
May 24"\ he described the events of that occasion:
"On the morning that followed the night, in which I went out
against the enemy with others, I was in eminent danger through an Instrument
of death ; a gun was discharged against me at a small distance
; the Lord diverted the bullet so that no harm was done me.
When I was separated from the army, none pursued after me, as if God
had given the heathen a charge, sajing let him alone, he shall have his
life for a prey. The night following I wandered up and down among
the dwelling places of our Enemies ; but none of them espied me.
Sleep fell upon their eyes, and slumbering upon their eyelids. Their
dogs moved not their tongues. The next day I was encompassed with
enemies, unto whom I tendered myself a Captive. The Providence of
God seemed to require me so to do. No way appeared to escape, and I
had been a long time without food. They accepted not the tender
which I made, when I spake they answered not; when I moved toward
1 Sheldon's History of Deerfield, vol. 1, pp. 161 to 166.