Escape

by Mary Beacock Fryer

  Before Papa could say anything, Mr. Clow went on, “I’m on my way there now and I know I can find accommodation for you and your family among my friends.”

  “That’s good advice, Caleb,” Captain Meyers said. “If Mistress Seaman is determined to settle nearby, Coleman’s Corners should suit you very well. I can take you as far as the landing at Buell’s Bay, about fifteen miles upstream. Coleman’s Corners is only three miles inland from there.”

  “What do you think, Martha?” Papa asked.

  “Yes, Caleb, let us go to Coleman’s Corners.” It was easy to see that the prospect pleased Mama. Before nightfall our long journey would be over.

  With a nod of his head, Papa made the fateful decision “What about the horses?” he asked Mr. Clow. “Is there a trail to Coleman’s Corners? Could the boys ride the horses there?”

  “Horses!” Mr. Clow exclaimed, and Papa pointed along the shore to where Cade and Sam were rubbing down the mare and the stallion.

  Without another word, Mr. Clow ran over to them, shouting back to Papa as he neared the horses, “A stallion, no less. Truly, Mr. Seaman, you’re a godsend. Up to now we’ve had no stallion within twenty miles of Coleman’s Corners and have been unable to breed our mares.” He stared at the big horse admiring him and then went on, “Yes, there’s a trail to Coleman’s Corners. The boys can come with me.”

  For a moment Papa was overwhelmed. Everything was working out so well; he’d be able to work at his trade after all. Then suddenly he remembered Mr. Butler. “What about you, Truelove?” he asked. “Where do you go from here?”

  “My farm is a short distance upriver,” Mr. Butler answered. “Captain Meyers says that he’ll take me as far as my landing.”

  Mama looked at him with a soft smile on her face. “I’m so glad we’re settling close to you, Truelove,” she said. “It makes me feel at home already to know that you and your family will be nearby.”

  Mr. Butler clasped Mama’s hand. “That’s right, Martha. You haven’t seen the last of me,” he said.

  All at once Captain Meyers became very brisk and businesslike. “Let’s get this load aboard,” he said, kicking at our pile of belongings. “My son Jacob will give us a hand.” He called to a blond boy about Sam’s age, who ran down the gangplank towards us. Close behind came a big black and white dog, with three fat puppies tumbling after her. They sniffed at each of us in turn, and then one of them settled on Elizabeth’s foot, his trusting brown eyes turned up to her appealingly. Elizabeth couldn’t resist him. Bending, she picked him up and cuddled him in her arms. We could see the tears in her eyes.

  Captain Meyers watched her for a moment, and then I saw him murmur to Mama. She must have told him about Goliath, for he called out to his son, “Jacob, can you spare that pup for Elizabeth?”

  Jacob laughed. “Yes, I can, Pa, not that my permission matters. He’s already adopted her.”

  Elizabeth lifted a glowing face from the soft fur. “I’ll call him Samson,” she said. What a name for that little bundle. Oh well, I thought, he’s as much like Samson as Goliath was like his namesake.

  As we pulled away from the jetty, the last shred of doubt and fear evaporated. We had come full circle. Barely visible in the distance, Cade and Sam were following Mr. Clow along the trail. Beside me a radiant Elizabeth cradled her new pup. In front of me Mama sat surrounded by the children, all laughing and talking. In the bow, with Captain Meyers and Mr. Butler, Papa stood erect and strong, ready to make a new life for us in this new homeland we’d sometimes thought we’d never reach in those long, hard weeks on the trail.

  Jacob came to squat beside me, our escape very much on his mind. “Do you know,” he said, “that when I was in Oswego a few weeks ago, delivering supplies to the fort, the soldiers were talking about a man named Captain Fonda. He was in pursuit of a Loyalist family on their way to Canada. Little did I dream I’d meet that family.”

  That really tickled me. Imagine Captain Fonda combing the road to Oswego while we made our escape on the Indian trail. “The next time you’re in Oswego be sure to give the soldiers a message for Captain Fonda,” I said to Jacob. “If he wants Caleb Seaman, he’ll have to come to Canada to get him.”