The Ransom of Mercy CarterDeerfield, Massachusetts is one of the most remote, and therefore dangerous, settlements in the English colonies. In 1704 an Indian tribe attacks the town, and Mercy Carter becomes separated from the rest of her family, some of whom do not survive. Mercy and hundreds of other settlers are herded together and ordered by the Indians to start walking. The grueling journey -- three hundred miles north to a Kahnawake Indian village in Canada -- takes more than 40 days. At first Mercy's only hope is that the English government in Boston will send ransom for her and the other white settlers. But days turn into months and Mercy, who has become a Kahnawake daughter, thinks less and less of ransom, of Deerfield, and even of her "English" family. She slowly discovers that the "savages" have traditions and family life that soon become her own, and Mercy begins to wonder: If ransom comes, will she take it? |
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adopted arms asked baby beautiful Benny body boys brothers called captives carry Catholic child clothing cold corn cross Daniel daughter Deerfield Eben Eben's Eliza English Eunice eyes face Father Meriel feet field fire French girl give hair hand happened head heart hill holding hundred Indian Jemima Joanna John Joseph Kahnawake keep killed knew language laughing leave lifted live looked Lord loved Marah married Mary mean Mercy's Mohawk Montréal mother moved Munnonock never night Nistenha pack paint prayed prayer priest prisoners ransom remember river Ruth Sally Sarah savage seemed seen Sheldon sister Snow Walker stay step stood stopped taken talk Tannhahorens tell things thought Mercy told took trying turned voice walked wanted warriors women wondered