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It seemed impossible to descend the precipitous face of the rock, and Captain Church accordingly crept back and inquired of his guide if they could not approach by some other way. "No," answered the guide. "All who belong to Annawan's company are ordered to approach by that entrance, and none can from any other direction without danger of being shot."
The night was dark, and the expiring embers of Annawan's fire but enabled the adventurers more securely to direct their steps. The old chief, in a doze, with his son by his side, hearing the rustling of the bushes, raised his eyes, and seeing the old Indian and his daughter, suspected no danger, and again closed his eyes.
Within the limits of an immense swamp of nearly three thousand acres there is a small piece of upland, separated from the main only by a brook, which in some seasons is dry. This island, as we may call it, is nearly covered with an enormous rock, which to this day is called Annawan's Rock.
"We come from Captain Annawan's." "How many are there with him?" "Fifty or sixty." "How many miles is it to the spot where you left him?" "I do not know how to count in miles," she said. "He is up in the great Squannaconk swamp." The old man proved to be one of Annawan's councillors. He gave the same answers as the young squaw, his daughter. "Can we get to Annawan by night?"
Enthusiasm aroused. The old man a guide. Arrival at Annawan's retreat. Drake's description of the place. Annawan's retreat. Annawan's retreat. Employments of the Indians. Precipitous descent. Mode of entering the retreat. Annawan captured. A quiet surrender. A grand repast. Attempted repose. Effect of excitement. Disappearance of Annawan. A magnificent present. Address to Captain Church.
I will go along with you and be helpful to you, and will lay hands on any man who shall offer to hurt you." In the gloom of the wilderness it was now very dark, and all kept close together, and moved cautiously and silently along. Soon they heard a noise as of a woman pounding corn. All stopped and listened. They had arrived at Annawan's retreat.
Threatening them with terrible punishment if they deceived him with any falsehood, he examined them apart. Both agreed that they had been lately in Annawan's camp; that he had with him about sixty Indians, and that he was at but a few miles' distance, in Squannaconk Swamp, in the southeasterly part of Rehoboth. "Can I get there to-night?" inquired Captain Church.
They were assured that if they would peacefully submit they might expect the kindest treatment. As Church's Indians were all acquainted with Annawan's company, many of them being relatives, the surprised party without hesitancy surrendered both their guns and hatchets, and they were carried to Captain Church.
Captain Church plead earnestly that Annawan's life might be spared, and supposing, without any doubt, that this request would not be denied him, set out, after a few days, in pursuit of another small band of Indians who were committing robberies in the vicinity of Plymouth. The leader of this band was Tuspaquin, sachem of Namasket.
Whenever the squaw paused to shake the corn together, they paused also, and crouched. When she began to pound again, they hastened. The trail ended just at one side of Captain Annawan. The old man and daughter passed on and suddenly darting forward Captain Church stepped right over the son's head, at Annawan's feet, and stood by the stacked guns. He was here. They knew him well.
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