The scene is now shifted to the Connecticut valley, where on the 25th of August Captain Lothrop defeated the savages at Hatfield.  On the 1st of September simultaneous attacks were made upon Deerfield and Hadley, and among the traditions of the latter place is one of the most interesting of the stories of that early time.  The inhabitants were all in church keeping a fast, when the yells of the Indians resounded.  Seizing their guns, the men rushed out to meet the foe; but seeing the village green swarming on every side with the horrid savages, for a moment their courage gave way and a panic was imminent; when all at once a stranger of reverend aspect and stately form, with white beard flowing on his bosom, appeared among them and took command with an air of authority which none could gainsay.  He bade them charge on the screeching rabble, and after a short sharp skirmish the tawny foe was put to flight.  When the pursuers came together again, after the excitement of the rout, their deliverer was not to be found.  In their wonder, as they knew not whence he came or whither he had gone, many were heard to say that an angel had been sent from heaven for their deliverance.  It was the regicide William Goffe, who from his hiding-place had seen the savages stealing down the hillside, and sallied forth to win yet one more victory over the hosts of Midian ere death should come to claim him in his woodland retreat.  Sir Walter Scott has put this pretty story into the mouth of Major Bridgenorth in “Peveril of the Peak,” and Cooper has made use of it in “The Wept of Wish-ton-wish.”  Like many other romantic stories, it rests upon insufficient authority and its truth has been called in question. [32] But there seems to be nothing intrinsically improbable in the tradition; and a paramount regard for Goffe’s personal safety would quite account for the studied silence of contemporary writers like Hubbard and Increase Mather. [Sidenote:  The mysterious stranger of Hadley]

This repulse did not check for a moment the activity of the Indians, though for a long time we hear nothing more of Philip.  On the 2d of September they slew eight men at Northfield and on the 4th they surrounded and butchered Captain Beers and most of his company of thirty-six marching to the relief of that village.  The next day but one, as Major Robert Treat came up the road with his 100 Connecticut soldiers, they found long poles planted by the wayside bearing the heads of their unfortunate comrades.  They in turn were assaulted, but beat off the enemy, and brought away the people of Northfield.  That village was abandoned, and presently Deerfield shared its fate and the people were crowded into Hadley.  Yet worse remained to be seen.  A large quantity of wheat had been left partly threshed at Deerfield, and on the 11th of September eighteen wagons were sent up with teamsters and farmers to finish the threshing and bring in the grain.  They were escorted by Captain Lothrop,