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May 19, 1676
Before dawn, Sequankoon sneaked out of the wetu for her morning hunt. She gathered her bow and arrows which were hanging by the hut. As she headed toward the hill, the warrior, Tuspaquin, grabbed her from behind, his hand covering her mouth. Her instinct was to yell, but he signaled for her to be quiet. She saw that the boy Nish N’keke was standing behind him. It was then that she saw two other warriors launching their canoes. Tuspaquin half whispered and half gestured that many white men on horses were about to attack. “Both of you take one of the mishoons from below the falls, and get help from the warriors on the islands to the south. Tell them to ambush the English at the swamp with the white ash trees. Go as fast as you can!”
Sequankoon and Nish N’keke quickly forded the Fall River, then ran to the mishoons. Sequankoon climbed into the front of a mishoon, and Nish N’keke pushed it into the fast-moving current, and jumped in. They paddled furiously to steer the boat away from the rocky bank as it rounded a sharp bend in the river. It was difficult to see ahead in the dim light and early morning fog. They were both startled when they heard many guns firing at the encampment. Shouts, screams, and more gunshots echoed off the valley walls. They paddled as fast as they could, but worried that their mishoon would shoot, uncontrolled, past the warrior encampment. As they approached the first island at high speed, Sequankoon pointed to a large eddy that had formed downstream of the island. They paddled with all their might, making it into the calmer water. They slammed into several other mishoons and came to an abrupt stop. They crawled out and over the other canoes, climbing onto the rocky shore.
They found the warriors running out of their huts, awakened by the gunfire. Sequankoon and Nish N’keke excitedly explained what was happening and where Tuspaquin said to go. The warriors sprung into action, fording a narrow stream of water from the island onto the western bank of the river. Sequankoon and Nish N’keke followed the large band of warriors to the north. Sequankoon noticed at least ten women among the warriors. The group arrived at the swamp with the white ash trees, but no one was there yet. They heard a continuous barrage of gunfire in the distance, and they smelled smoke.
Warriors were deployed to several different locations around the swamp, and a group was sent to the Green River ford, to where the English were expected to withdraw. Some of the warriors wanted to proceed to the encampment, but they were told to wait until the white men retreated. Nish N’keke was told to follow one of the warriors. Sequankoon was instructed to climb to the top of the nearby wooded hill and report back if some of the English soldiers tried to escape through the forest. Sequankoon thought of her little brother, but suppressed her urge to cry as she ran up the hill and into the forest.
The soldiers were heard coming toward the swamp where the Indian warriors waited in ambush. Instead of an orderly column, the soldiers came in small groups being chased by other warriors. Some of the English fell silently when shot, while others went down screaming. Some fell with their wounded horses. The Indians were able to reload their French flintlock muskets much faster than the English could reload their old fowling guns. Many of the soldiers got through and were being chased as they tried to ride or run haphazardly back toward the Green River ford. They howled in fear and agony as the Indian warriors set upon them.
Sequankoon crouched in a thicket and watched for escaping soldiers. A chill ran up her spine as she heard blood-curdling screams from the swamp. She slowed her breathing when she heard footsteps approaching through the forest. She saw two soldiers running along the crest of the hill, carrying a heavy sack. She heard no others, so she followed them.