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Learn more- Scene I. Pequots in War Paint. Scene II. The Indian Attack, Dustin's Escape, Capture of Mrs. Dustin. Here we have the Dustin cabin just outside of Haverhill on the bank of the river. Mrs. Dustin, the heroine of our story, is sitting in the armchair enjoying the sun. The older children are playing about happily and the nurse looks after her charge, all unconscious of danger. The mother has the babe in her arms. But now the father rushes in in wild alarm. While at work in the fields he has seen the Indians approaching. What is he to do with so many innocent lives to guard? He gathers his little brood about him and starts to flee, hoping that Mrs. Dustin may be able to keep up until they reach the blockhouse. But Dustin has hardly gotten away from the house when the Indians pour in and part of them start in pursuit of Dustin and the children. Alone and half-crazed with the thought of his dear wife left behind, Dustin manages to hold back the savages until the whole of his little brood reaches safety, for the savages, fearing his gun and having already lost several of their band, abandon the chase. But, in the meantime, what had happened at the cabin? As Hannah and Mrs. Neff were preparing for flight the Indians burst in and the helpless women are captured. The baby was hurled into the river and the women laden with bundles of loot from the house and led away, while the cabin itself was set on fire and destroyed. Scene III. Indian Depredation, And so, in the lurid light of her burning home, her family ruthlessly murdered, Hannah was taken into the wilderness, staggering and falling at almost every step. Scene IV. The Refinement of Indian Cruelty. For many weary weeks that followed, Hannah and Mrs, Neff were In the bands of the Indians, who Improved every opportunity to terrorize and abuse the two women. Frequently they were led to believe that they were to be tortured, and the Indians took fiendish delight in going through the hideous performance in pantomime. Among the Indians was the while boy who befriended Hannah and on whom she depended for her one hope of rescue. Hannah wished to find out just what blow would surely kill and by a trick the boy got the Indians to demonstrate it while Hannah eagerly watched. It was with this blow on the temple that Hannah Dustin earned her liberty. Scene V. Hannah's Heroism. Early next morning, the savages by this time having grown careless, Hannah and Mrs. Neff were ready to put their plan into operation, while the sentry dozed, the two women stealthily stole tomahawks from the sleeping Indians and with superhuman strength, crushed the skulls of their captors and hastened away. But Indians from neighboring tepees soon discovered the deed and gave the alarm, and in a few minutes they were pursued. Now it was necessary for them to get to the river and away if they were to escape to Haverhill. Scene VI. Hannah Finds the Canoe. Hannah had fortunately headed toward a cover when an Indian had just landed with his canoe. Mrs. Neff was an expert with the paddle and the Indian's rifle was there ready for action. The two women quickly jumped in and with a stroke or two of the paddle they were away. But the pursuing buck was now at the water's edge, and saw them paddling desperately away. He quickly secured another canoe which was hidden in the bushes and started after them. Scene VII. Hannah Uses the Rifle. Down the stream the two .women headed, Mrs. Neff paddling for dear life and Hannah with the rifle, watching her opportunity. The Indian fired, but missed, and as the canoe swung around Hannah got a clear aim and dropped her man. The Indian fell over into the water and disappeared and from then on the two women were able to elude their pursuers, and by the end of the week were in sight of the blockhouse at Haverhill. That they were able to evade the Indians was nothing short of miraculous. Scene VIII. The Family Reunited. -- The Moving Picture World, March 29, 1914
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By what name was Hannah Dustin: The Border Wars of New England (1908) officially released in Canada in English?
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