Flight Of The Sparrow: A Novel of Early America

Mary is marching with the Nipmuc along a river when Joss approaches her. She cries and hugs him, and then he leaves. The next day, warriors put her in a canoe and take her across the river. When she disembarks, she collapses onto the ground and begins to cry. She tells Quinnapin she is crying because she thinks they are going to kill her. He reassures her, and the Nipmuc give her food.

That afternoon, the warriors take Mary to a wetu to meet Philip. He asks her to sew him a shirt for his child, which she gladly agrees to do. They stay at Philip’s camp for nearly two weeks. In the meantime, James teaches Mary some words in Nipmuc. Mary begins to sew other things for the Nipmuc in exchange for food and other goods. One day, the warriors return with news that the English set a trap for them during a raid on Northampton, and the sachem Canonchet was killed by Mohawk (Kanien’kehá:ka) warriors allied with the English. Mary watches James dance during the mourning ceremony and feels desire for him.