Flight Of The Sparrow: A Novel of Early America

Mary and the other captives are marched through the wilderness by the Nipmuc. After the third day, the boy allows Mary to ride the horse along with her daughter, Sarah. The horse stumbles, throwing Mary and Sarah off her back, and runs away. They continue walking until they come upon an Indigenous settlement with many wetu, or domed huts. Mary is sold to a warrior, Quinnapin, who gives her to his wife, Weetamoo. She falls asleep in their wetu.

The next day, Mary watches Weetamoo care for her infant child. A girl brings Mary gruel, which Mary attempts to give Sarah, who refuses to eat. Mary prays for God to keep her husband, Joseph, safe.

For a week, Sarah is feverish from an infection of her wounds. Mary has nothing to treat it with, and Weetamoo does not help. Weetamoo’s maid, Alawa, gives Mary food and encourages Mary to feed Sarah as well. Sarah’s health continues to decline. One day, Weetamoo forces Mary and Sarah to leave the wetu. Mary wanders over to another nearby wetu, where a woman named Quenêke takes them in. Mary settles near the fire, and that night, Sarah dies in her arms.

The next morning, Quenêke tells Mary to leave Sarah there and return to Weetamoo.