All that was saved from the flames were several pieces of half-burnt pork, the two old muskets, a few half-burnt blankets, one hundred and forty pounds of beaver skin, between two and three hundred weight of gunpowder, the old family Bible and service book, and a trunk containing some papers and old clothes.  The above articles Captain Godfrey and his son, at the risk of their lives, saved from complete destruction.  In an hour the little band of early settlers was reduced from comfortable circumstances to a misery beyond the power of words to express.  Darkness would soon cover the spot of desolation.  But five hours of daylight were left in which escape could be made.  They knew not in which direction to flee for shelter.  The Captain consulted with his brave partner, but all seemed dark; no way of escape presented itself.  To remain where they were during the coming night meant death.  There were only two log houses in the district and they were miles away.  Finally Mrs. Godfrey assembled her shivering children about her and read aloud the twenty-third psalm, and closing the old service book she said to her husband, let us no longer tarry here, let us make haste towards the sloop.  As they were about to start, it suddenly occurred to Mrs Godfrey that Old Mag was missing.  The Captain had not seen her since he placed the musket in her lap.  The children had not seen her since the burning of the house, and Mrs. Godfrey had not seen her after she had taken the musket off her lap.  The old squaw’s absence caused a delay in setting out for the sloop.  As no trace of Old Mag could be found, it was the opinion of both the Captain and his wife, that she had either perished in the flames or had slipped out of the kitchen before the smoke had cleared away and followed the Indians in their retreat.

Neither the Captain nor his wife would leave the locality without making a search for Old Mag.  During the search, Captain Godfrey, whose strength had been severely tested since his arrival at Grimross in July, sank to the ground in a swoon.  At this crisis his wife displayed the greatness of her character.  As troubles thickened about her she seemed to develop qualities that only woman cast in an heroic mould are capable of exhibiting.  She whispered to her husband, “We cannot find Mag, I must save you.”  These words appeared to have a magic effect on the Captain.  He rose to his feet, supported by his wife, and soon after they were staggering on towards the river leading to the lake, followed by their five children, the eldest, who was but twelve, carrying with him his youngest brother, only two years old.

At length they reached the lake, and at this point of the journey Mrs. Godfrey was compelled to order a halt.  She was heavily handicapped, having a large shawl tied across her shoulders filled with the burnt pork and some blankets.  After a few minutes rest they were again tugging along towards their little ark.  As the light of the sun gradually faded away, the little band of colonists tried to quicken their pace, but they tried in vain.  They were so exhausted that it was with great difficulty they kept on their feet.