" Leaving the Connecticut River
March 8, 1704
Temperature 40 degrees

They marched until the captives could not take another step. Eben dragged Eliza half the way and Sarah dragged her the rest. Mercy and Joseph took turns hauling Ruth. That night they slept like rocks, and in the morning Mercy understood why bears spent the whole winter sleeping. It sounded good to Mercy. "

― Caroline B. Cooney , The Ransom of Mercy Carter