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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41784 ***
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
+      See 41784-h.htm or 41784-h.zip:
+      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/41784/41784-h/41784-h.htm)
+      or
+      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/41784/41784-h.zip)
+
+
+      Images of the original pages are available through
+      Internet Archive/American Libraries. See
+      http://archive.org/details/wyoming00elli
+
+
+
+
+
+Wyoming Series.--No. 1.
+
+WYOMING
+
+by
+
+EDWARD S. ELLIS
+
+Author of "Young Pioneer Series," "Log Cabin Series," etc., etc.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Philadelphia
+Henry T. Coates & Co.
+
+Copyright, 1888.
+by
+Porter & Coates.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: "He was stopped in the most startling manner that can be
+imagined."]
+
+
+
+
+WYOMING.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+
+On the sultry third of July, 1778, Fred Godfrey, a sturdy youth of
+eighteen years, was riding at a breakneck speed down the Wyoming Valley,
+in the direction of the settlement, from which he saw columns of smoke
+rolling upward, and whence, during the few pauses of his steed, he heard
+the rattling discharge of firearms and the shouts of combatants.
+
+"I wonder whether I am too late," he asked himself more than once, and
+he urged his splendid horse to a greater pace; "the road never seemed so
+long."
+
+Ah, there was good cause for the anxiety of the lad, for in that lovely
+Wyoming Valley lived those who were dearer to him than all the world
+beside, and whatever fate overtook the settlers must be shared by him as
+well. He had ridden his horse hard, and his flanks glistened with wet
+and foam, but though every foot of the winding road was familiar to him,
+it appeared in his torturing impatience to be double its usual length.
+
+Fred Godfrey had received the promise of his father, on the breaking out
+of the Revolution, that he might enlist in the patriot army so soon as
+he reached the age of seventeen. On the very day that he attained that
+age he donned the Continental uniform, made for him by loving hands,
+bade his friends good-bye, and hastened away to where Washington was
+longing for just such lusty youths as he who appeared to be several
+years younger than he really was.
+
+Fred was a handsome, athletic youngster, and he sat his horse with the
+grace of a crusader. Although the day was warm, and his face glowed with
+perspiration, he wore his cocked hat, blue coat with its white facings,
+the belt around the waist and another which passed over one shoulder ere
+it joined the one around the middle of his body, knee-breeches, and
+strong stockings and shoes. His rifle was slung across his back, and a
+couple of loaded single-barreled pistols were thrust in his belt, where
+they could be drawn the instant needed.
+
+During his year's service in the patriot army Fred had proven himself an
+excellent soldier, and the dash and nerve which he showed in more than
+one instance caught the eye of Washington himself, and won the youth a
+lieutenancy, at the time when he was the youngest member of his company.
+
+The ardent patriot was full of ambition, and was sure, should no
+accident befall him, of gaining higher honors. When he tramped with
+several other recruits from Wyoming to the camp of the Continentals,
+hundreds of miles away, one of his greatest comforts was the belief
+that, no matter how the current of war drifted back and forth, there was
+no danger of its reaching Wyoming. That lovely and secluded valley was
+so far removed from the tread of the fierce hosts that they might feel
+secure.
+
+But behold! News came to Washington that the Tories and Indians were
+about to march into the valley with torch and tomahawk, and he was
+begged to send re-enforcements without delay. The Father of his Country
+was then on his campaign through the Jerseys. The British army had
+withdrawn from Philadelphia, where it spent the winter, and Clinton with
+a part of the force was marching overland to New York, with the
+Continentals in pursuit.
+
+The campaign was so important that the commander-in-chief could ill
+afford to spare a man. He knew that Wyoming was not entirely
+defenseless. Colonel Zebulon Butler of the Continental army was
+marshaling the old men and boys, and there was the strong defense known
+as Forty Fort, built by the original settlers from Connecticut, not to
+mention Wilkesbarre near at hand, so that it would seem the settlers
+ought to be able to protect themselves against any force likely to be
+brought against them.
+
+However, Washington told several of his recruits from Wyoming of the
+appeal that had been made to him, and gave them permission to go to the
+help of their friends, though he added that he did not think it
+possible for them to reach the ground in time to be of service.
+
+But a half dozen started on foot toward the threatened point. Within a
+day's tramp of their destination they fell somewhat apart, as each, in
+his familiarity of the country, believed that he knew a shorter and
+quicker way home than the others.
+
+Fred Godfrey was almost in sight of his home, when he was both pleased
+and alarmed by coming upon an estray horse. He was saddled and bridled,
+and though contentedly cropping the grass at the roadside, the
+perspiration and jaded look showed that he had come from the
+battle-ground. It was startling to know that such was the fact, and
+supplemented as it was by the reports of guns, shouts, and the black
+volumes of smoke pouring upward, Fred was filled with an anguish of
+misgiving.
+
+Without stopping to make inquiries or to guess who could have owned the
+estray steed, the young patriot slipped forward, caught the bridle
+before the animal had time to scent danger, and vaulting lightly into
+the saddle, turned the head of the horse toward Wyoming, and striking
+his heels against his ribs, quickly urged him to a dead run.
+
+"I am needed there," said Fred, urging his spirited animal still more,
+and peering down the highway; "you're the best horse I ever rode, but I
+can't afford to spare you now."
+
+Fred Godfrey not only was close to the stirring scenes that marked that
+memorable massacre, but he was among them sooner even than he
+anticipated.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+
+Just here we must turn aside for a minute or two, in order to understand
+the situation.
+
+On the third of July, Colonel Zebulon Butler, of the Continental army,
+had marched forth at the head of his two hundred and odd boys, old men,
+and a few able-bodied soldiers to meet his cousin, the British Colonel
+Butler, with his horde of soldiers, Tories, and Iroquois Indians.
+
+"We come out to fight, not only for liberty," said the patriot leader,
+as the battle was about to open, "but for our lives and that which is
+dearer than our lives--to preserve our homes from conflagration, and our
+wives and children from the tomahawk."
+
+For a time all went well, and Colonel Zebulon Butler began to hope that
+the marauders would be driven off, but his force was unsteady, and some
+of them gave way when they saw their enemies as they swarmed out of the
+woods and assailed them.
+
+The trembling mothers who were prayerfully listening to the sounds of
+battle on the plain above, heard the regular platoon firing which showed
+that all was going well; but, by and by, the increasing yells, the
+dropping shots, the blaze of musketry from the swamp on the left of the
+fighting settlers, where the Iroquois were rushing forth, the
+panic-stricken fugitives coming into sight here and there, white,
+panting and wild, told the dreadful truth. The patriots had been
+overwhelmed by the invaders, who were driving everything before them.
+But a single hope remained--flight.
+
+Some might succeed in reaching the mountains on the other side the
+river, and possibly a few would be able to force their way through the
+dismal wilderness known as the "Shades of Death," and reach Stroudsburg
+and the sparse settlements on the upper Delaware, many miles away.
+
+The moment the patriots began flying before the Tories and Indians, the
+panic spread to all.
+
+It is a historical fact that in the flight the pursuers shot many of the
+patriot officers and soldiers in the thigh, so as to disable them from
+running, and left them on the ground to be finally disposed of
+afterwards, while the Iroquois hastened after the other fugitives.
+
+Many of these were tomahawked in their flight; others fled down the
+river banks in the direction of Wilkesbarre, on the opposite side of the
+river; others made for the mountains back of the battle-ground; still
+others hastened to the protection of the Forty Fort, while a great many
+found a temporary refuge in the undergrowth of Monocacy Island, in the
+Susquehanna. Still others got across the river and plunged into the
+mountainous wilderness and began their toilsome tramp through the
+section I have named, and which is still known as the "Shades of Death."
+
+It was at this hour that Fred Godfrey galloped directly into the
+massacre in his desperate resolve to do all he could to save his
+friends.
+
+He had turned off from the main highway, and was making toward a point
+whence came the sounds of sharp firing, and such shouts as to show that
+some unusual conflict was going on. He caught glimpses of figures moving
+among the trees, but he paid no heed to them, and pressed steadily
+forward over a half-broken path until he was stopped in the most
+startling manner that can be imagined--that is, by a rifle-shot.
+
+Some one fired from the front, and undoubtedly would have struck the
+youthful rider, had not his horse at the very instant snuffed the danger
+and flung up his head. The action saved the life of the rider at the
+expense of the steed, who received the cruel bullet and lunged forward
+and fell to the ground with such suddenness that but for the dexterity
+of Fred Godfrey he would have been crushed.
+
+As it was, the youth saved himself by a hair's breadth, leaping clear of
+the saddle and brute just in the nick of time.
+
+The thin wreath of smoke was curling upward from the undergrowth, and
+the horse was in the act of falling, when a Seneca Indian, in his war
+paint and agleam with ferocity, bounded from the cover, and with his
+smoking gun in his hand and the other grasping the handle of his
+tomahawk, dashed towards the patriot, whom he evidently believed was
+badly wounded.
+
+"S'render! s'render!" he shrieked, coming down upon him as if fired from
+a cannon.
+
+"I'm not in that business just now," snapped out Fred Godfrey, leveling
+and firing his pistol, with the muzzle almost in the face of the fierce
+warrior.
+
+The aim could not have been more accurate. The subsequent incidents of
+the Wyoming massacre were of no interest to that Seneca warrior, for the
+sharp crack of the little weapon was scarcely more sudden than was the
+ending of his career.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+Fred Godfrey did not stop to reload his pistol. He had another ready for
+use, and he unshipped his rifle in a twinkling, and hurried for the
+point where he hoped to gain some tidings of his loved ones. Everything
+was in a swirl, and of his own knowledge he could not tell the proper
+course to take.
+
+He ran through the wood toward the point for which he was making at the
+moment the Seneca Indian shot his horse, but, short as was the distance,
+all sounds of conflict were over by the time he reached his destination.
+
+Among the parties dashing hither and thither, in the blind effort to
+escape the Tories and Indians, who seemed to be everywhere, Fred
+recognized several friends and neighbors. Indeed, since Wyoming was his
+native place, it may be said that nearly all the fugitives were known to
+him.
+
+"Why ain't you with your folks?" suddenly asked a middle-aged farmer,
+who stopped for a moment in his panting flight to exchange a few words
+and to gain breath.
+
+"Can you tell me where they are?" asked Fred in turn.
+
+"They're well on their way across the Susquehanna by this time, if they
+haven't reached the other shore."
+
+"How do you know that?" asked Fred, his heart bounding with hope at the
+news which he was afraid could not be true.
+
+"I saw them go down to the river bank before the fighting begun: Gravity
+told me that just as soon as he saw how things were going he meant to
+run to where they were waiting and take them over in his scow."
+
+"How do you know that he has done so?"
+
+"I don't know it of a certainty, but I saw Gravity making for the river
+bank a while ago, and I've no doubt he did what he set out to do."
+
+This news was not quite so good as Fred supposed from the first remark
+of his friend, but it was encouraging. Before he could ask anything
+more, the other made a break and was gone.
+
+"Oh, if they only _did_ get across the river," muttered Fred, making
+haste thither; "it is their only hope."
+
+And now it is time that you were told something about those in whom the
+young patriot felt such painful interest.
+
+They were Maggie Brainerd, whose father, a leading settler from
+Connecticut, had gone out with the company to fight the invaders of
+Wyoming; Eva, her eight-year-old sister, and Aunt Peggy Carey, the
+sister of the dead parent, and who had been the best of mothers to the
+children for the last three years. Maggie and Eva were the half-sisters
+of Fred Godfrey, between whom existed the sweetest affection.
+
+Maggie was a year younger than Fred, and Aunt Peggy was a peppery lady
+in middle life, who detested Tories as much as she did the father of all
+evil himself. When Mr. Brainerd bade each an affectionate good-bye and
+hurried away with the others to take part in the disastrous fight, they
+huddled close to the river bank, hoping he would soon return to them
+with the news that the invaders had been routed and driven away.
+
+Side by side with the patriotic father marched the servant of the
+family--Gravity Gimp, an enormous African, powerful, good-natured, and
+so devoted to every member of his household that he gladly risked his
+life for them.
+
+Gravity went into the battle with his gun on his shoulder and with the
+resolve to do his part like a man. He loaded and fired many times, but
+at the first sign of panic he broke and made for the river side,
+determined to save the women folks there, or die in the attempt. He lost
+sight of his master, whom he left loading and firing with the coolness
+of a veteran. It did not occur to Gravity that he might do good service
+by giving some attention to the head of the family, who had not half the
+strength and endurance of himself.
+
+Aunt Peggy, Maggie, and Eva waited on the river bank, with throbbing
+hearts, the issue of the battle. When it became certain that the
+patriots had suffered a check, they hoped that it was only for a brief
+time, and that they would speedily regain the lost ground.
+
+While they waited, the smoke from blazing Fort Wintermoot was wafted
+down the valley, and became perceptible to the taste as well as to the
+sight. The fugitives were seen to be taking to the river, fields, and
+woods, and the painted Iroquois were rushing hither and thither,
+gathering in their fearful harvest of death.
+
+"Aunt," said Maggie, taking the hand of Eva, "it won't do to wait
+another minute."
+
+"But what will become of your father and Gravity?"
+
+"They are in the hands of God," was the reverential reply of the
+courageous girl, who had asked herself the same question.
+
+When her loved parent had kissed her good-bye he made her promise that
+on the very moment she became assured of the defeat of the patriots she
+would lose no time in getting as far away as possible. She would have
+felt justified in breaking that pledge could she have believed there was
+any hope of helping her father, but she knew there was none.
+
+Eva was in sore distress, for now that she understood, in her vague way,
+the whole peril, her heart went out to the absent ones.
+
+"Where's papa and Gravity?" she asked, holding back, with the tears
+running down her cheeks.
+
+"They are doing their best to keep the bad Indians away," replied
+Maggie, restraining by a great effort her own feelings.
+
+"I don't want to go till papa comes," pleaded the broken-hearted little
+one.
+
+"But he wants us to go; he told me so, Eva."
+
+"Did he? Then I'll go with you, but I feel dreadful bad."
+
+And she ran forward, now that she knew she was doing what her father
+wished her to do.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+The scene at this moment was terrifying.
+
+The river was swarming with fleeing soldiers, old men, women, and
+children, struggling to reach the other side and get away from the
+merciless hordes assailing them.
+
+Where so many were taking to the river, it would seem that there was
+little hope for the three, who were moving along the bank toward some
+point that would take them out of the rush.
+
+For a time they attracted no special notice, but it was impossible that
+this should continue.
+
+"Oh, the scand'lous villains!" muttered Aunt Peggy, applying her
+favorite epithet to the Tories; "how I would like to wring their necks!
+I've no doubt that Jake Golcher is among them. The idea of his coming to
+our house to court you--"
+
+"There, there," interrupted Maggie, "this is no time to speak of such
+things; Jacob Golcher is among them, for I saw him a few minutes ago,
+and we may need his friendship."
+
+"I'd like to see me--"
+
+"There's Gravity!" broke in Eva, clapping her hands. The other two,
+turning their heads, saw that she spoke the truth.
+
+The bulky negro servant of the family came limping toward them with his
+smoking musket in hand. He was bare-headed, like Maggie and Eva, and his
+garments were badly torn. He was panting from his severe exertion, and
+the perspiration streamed down his dusty face.
+
+"Where's father?" was the first question Maggie asked, as he drew near.
+
+"Can't tell," was the reply; "when I last seed him, he was fightin' like
+all creation, and graderlly workin' off toward the woods."
+
+"Then there is hope for him!" exclaimed Maggie, looking yearningly at
+the servant, as if asking for another word of encouragement.
+
+"Hope for him? Course dere am, and so dere am for you if you hurry out
+ob dis place."
+
+"But where can we go, Gravity? I promised father to try to get away,
+but how can we do so?"
+
+"I'll soon show you," replied the African, rapidly recovering his wind,
+and moving along the bank in the direction of the present site of
+Kingston.
+
+Gravity knew there was no chance for his friends until they reached the
+other side of the river, but it would not do to enter the stream near
+where they then stood.
+
+A portion of the Susquehanna was so deep that it would be necessary for
+all to swim, and, strange as it may seem, the only one of the party who
+could do so was Maggie Brainerd herself. Though Gravity had lived for
+years along the river, he could not swim a stroke.
+
+It was a wonder that the little party had not already attracted the
+notice of the horde swarming along the shores. They must do so very soon
+and Gravity hurried his gait.
+
+"I'm looking for dat scow ob mine," he explained; "if any ob you happen
+to cotch sight ob it--"
+
+Eva Brainerd gave utterance to such a shriek that every one stopped and
+looked toward her.
+
+Without speaking, she pointed up the bank where a hideously painted
+Iroquois was in the act of drawing back his gleaming tomahawk and
+hurling it at Gravity Gimp, who until that moment was unconscious of his
+peril.
+
+The negro held his loaded gun in hand, but the time was too brief for
+him to turn it to account. In fact, at the very moment he looked at the
+redskin, the latter let fly.
+
+With remarkable quickness, Gravity, knowing that the Indian was aiming
+at his head, dropped his shoulders just as the weapon whizzed past, and
+striking the ground, went bounding end over end for a dozen yards.
+
+The Iroquois was amazed by his own failure. He stared for a single
+moment, and then, seeing that the dusky fellow was unhurt, he brought
+his gun to his shoulder, with the intention of destroying the only
+protector the women and children had, so as to leave them defenseless.
+
+But in the way of raising his gun to his shoulder, taking aim and
+firing, Gravity Gimp was five seconds in advance of the noble red man:
+enough said.
+
+"De fust duty arter shootin' off a gun am to load her up agin," remarked
+Gravity, as he began pouring a charge from his powder horn into the palm
+of his hand, preparatory to letting it run down the barrel of his
+weapon.
+
+"Don't wait," pleaded Maggie, greatly agitated by what had just taken
+place, and by the shouts, cries, and reports of guns about them; "if we
+tarry we are lost."
+
+"I reckon I'm too well 'quainted wid dese parts to got lost," said the
+servant, who was really making all the haste he could in the way of
+reloading his gun. In a moment he had poured the powder into the pan of
+his weapon.
+
+"Now we'll trabbel," he said, hurrying again along the river shore. He
+took enormous strides, his gait being that peculiar hurried walk which
+is really faster than an ordinary trot.
+
+It compelled the others to run, Maggie still clasping the hand of Eva,
+while Aunt Peggy forgot her dignity in the terrors of the time and held
+her pace with them.
+
+The truth was that though Gravity was the owner of a scow which he had
+partly hidden at the time he saw the possibility of its need, he was
+afraid it had been taken by others of the fugitives that had stumbled
+upon it.
+
+Less than a hundred yards remained to be passed, and, as that was fast
+put behind them, even the phlegmatic Gravity began to show some
+nervousness.
+
+"I thinks we're gwine to make it," he said, recognizing several
+well-known landmarks; "and, if we does, and gits to de oder shore and
+has 'bout two hundred and fifty miles start ob de Tories and Injins, why
+dat will be sort ob cheerin' like."
+
+All this time the sable guide, although walking fast, limped as if he
+were hurt.
+
+"What makes you lame?" asked Eva.
+
+"I was hit by a cannon-ball on de knee," was the astonishing answer: "it
+slewed my leg round a little, but I'll soon be all right again."
+
+At this moment, when the hearts of all were beating high with hope, a
+rustling was heard among the undergrowth on their right, and the little
+company paused and looked up, expecting to see a dozen or more painted
+Iroquois in their war paint.
+
+The _click_, _click_ of the African's rifle, as he drew back the flint,
+showed that he was ready to do everything to defend those who cowered
+behind him like scared sheep.
+
+To the surprise of each, however, a single man came hurriedly forth. All
+identified him as Jake Golcher, an old resident of Wyoming, but one of
+the bitterest of Tories, whose hatred of his former neighbors and
+friends seemed as intense as that of Queen Esther, or Katharine Montour,
+one of the leaders of the invaders.
+
+He was as much surprised as the fugitives themselves, and he stared at
+them with open mouth, slouch hat thrown on the back of his head, and the
+stock of his gun resting at his feet. He was the first to recover his
+speech, and, with an expletive, he demanded:
+
+"Where did _you_ come from?"
+
+"Am you abdressing your remarks to me or to de ladies?" asked Gravity of
+the man whom he detested, and of whom, even then, he had not the
+slightest fear.
+
+"I'm speaking to all of you," said Golcher, glancing furtively at the
+vinegar face of Aunt Peggy, and bestowing a beaming smile on Maggie
+Brainerd.
+
+Much as the latter despised the Tory, she had too much sense to show it
+at this time. Walking toward him, she clasped her hands, and with an
+emotion that was certainly genuine, she said:
+
+"Oh, Mr. Golcher, won't you help us?"
+
+"What are you axin' him dat for?" broke in Gravity; "we don't want no
+help from _him_."
+
+Aunt Peggy was evidently of the same mind, for though she said nothing,
+she gave a sniff and toss of her head that were more expressive than
+words.
+
+The sallow face of the Tory flushed, as he looked down in the sweet
+countenance of Maggie Brainerd, made tenfold more winsome by the glow of
+the cheeks and the sparkle of the eyes, arising from the excitement of
+her situation.
+
+Bear in mind that the party had gone so far along the bank of the river
+that they were somewhat removed from the swarm of fleeing fugitives, and
+therefore no immediate danger threatened; but the call for flight was as
+loud as ever, and a few minutes' delay was liable to bring down a score
+of Indians and Tories.
+
+To none was this fact more evident than to Maggie Brainerd. In truth,
+she believed that Golcher was at the head of a company within call, and
+she sought to win his good-will before it was too late.
+
+Gravity stood with his gun at his side, the hammer raised, and ready to
+fire the instant it became necessary. One foot was thrown forward, and
+his whole demeanor was that of enmity and defiance.
+
+I may as well say that the servant was trying hard to persuade himself
+that it was not his duty to raise his piece and shoot the renegade
+without any further warning.
+
+It would have been shocking, and yet there would have been some
+palliation for it.
+
+In a short time the African's debate with himself ended in what may be
+called a compromise.
+
+"I'll keep my eye on him while dis foolish conversation goes on, and de
+minute he winks at Miss Maggie, or says anyting dat she don't like, I'll
+pull trigger."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+"Do you want me to befriend you?" asked the renegade, bending his head
+down close to the scared countenance of Maggie Brainerd, smiling and
+trying to speak in so low a voice that no one else could catch his
+words.
+
+"Of course I do; don't you see what danger we are in? Oh, Mr. Golcher--"
+
+"Don't _Mister_ me," he interrupted, with a reproving grin; "call me
+_Jake_."
+
+"Oh, Jake, have you seen anything of father?"
+
+"Where would I see him?"
+
+"Why, he went out with the rest to fight the Indians and Tories, and you
+were with them."
+
+"Oh, yes; I did see him," said Golcher, as though the incident was so
+slight that he had forgotten it for the time: "he fought well."
+
+"Was he--was he--Oh, Jake, tell me?--was he _hurt_?"
+
+"I don't think he got so much as a scratch; he was with three or four
+others, and they were getting in the best kind of work; but you know it
+was no use for any one; I saw that they would be shot down where they
+stood, so I ran up and told your father to follow me; you know that
+nobody dare touch him when _I_ took charge. I led him and his friends
+back toward the mountains and stayed by them till all danger was over,
+and then I bade them good-bye: if they have taken the least care and
+done as I told them to do, they are a great deal safer than _you_ are at
+this very minute."
+
+Maggie Brainerd's heart sank within her. She knew that the story that
+Jake Golcher had just told her was without an iota of truth. He had lied
+so clumsily that he had not deceived her at all.
+
+The very question which he had asked about her parent was proof that he
+had not seen him, and therefore could know nothing of him.
+
+The young lady was shocked, but she was helpless. Her duty was to do her
+utmost for the safety of those who were now with her, and she was sure
+that Golcher could give great help, if he chose to do so.
+
+"Jake," said she, speaking with all the earnestness of her nature, "this
+is a dreadful day for Wyoming; I can hardly realize what has taken
+place; I do not believe that any one on this side of the river is safe."
+
+"Of course he isn't--that is, none of the rebels is; _our_ folks are all
+right."
+
+"Can you save us?"
+
+"I don't know what's to hinder--that is, if I take the notion, but I
+don't feel like doing much for that spitfire of an aunt, that insulted
+me the last time that I called at your house."
+
+"You musn't mind her peculiarities; she is a good woman, and then, you
+know, she is my friend."
+
+"Well, _that_ makes a good deal of difference--that's a fact," remarked
+Golcher, with such a grotesque attempt to look arch and loving, that the
+watchful African, instead of firing upon him as he had meant to do,
+smiled.
+
+"I'm afeard he don't feel berry well; he'll feel a good deal worse if
+Aunt Peggy or me gets hold of him."
+
+"And then," added Golcher, glancing at Gravity, "_you_ heard the
+impudence of that servant."
+
+"Because he is a servant you ought to excuse him; I should feel very
+sorry to have him suffer harm."
+
+"I don't mind taking particular care of _you_ and your little sister
+there, but I would prefer to leave Aunt Peggy, as you call her, and the
+darkey to shift for themselves."
+
+"Then I do not want you to do anything for Eva and me," said Maggie,
+resolutely, feeling that she was throwing away invaluable time by
+holding converse with this man; "God has been better to us than we
+deserve, and we shall leave all with him."
+
+She turned to move off, much to the relief of Aunt Peggy, who had hard
+work to hide her impatience, when Golcher saw that he had gone too far.
+Catching her arm, he said:
+
+"Don't be so fast; where will you go, if you don't go with me?"
+
+"Gravity is our guide."
+
+"I haven't told you I wouldn't take care of you, have I?"
+
+"But if you are unwilling to include _all_ of us, I do not want your
+friendship."
+
+"Then for the sake of _you_ I will save you _all_, though nobody beside
+me would do so; but, Maggie, I'll expect a little better treatment from
+you when I come to your house again."
+
+At this point Golcher saw that the patience of the young lady was
+exhausted. Her companions were ready to chide her for halting to speak
+to him, though the words that passed took but a few minutes. He reached
+out his hand to lay it on her arm, but she drew back.
+
+"Maggie," said he, warningly; "when I came down the river bank, I left
+six Seneca warriors among the trees back there; they are tired waiting
+for me; their guns are loaded, and I have only to raise my hand over my
+head to have 'em fire every one of 'em; if they do it, they will all be
+_pointed this way_."
+
+Maggie Brainerd was sure the Tory spoke the truth.
+
+"You will not do that, Jake, I am sure."
+
+"Not if you act right; follow me."
+
+Maggie reached out her hand as an invitation for Eva to come to her;
+but Aunt Peggy grasped one of the little palms in her own, for she had
+overheard the invitation. When Maggie looked around, her aunt compressed
+her thin lips and shook her head in a most decided fashion.
+
+"_No, ma'am_; Eva stays here: if you want to go off with that scamp you
+can do so, but the rest of us _don't_."
+
+"But, aunt, what shall we do? There's no escape for us unless we put
+ourselves in his care; Jake has promised to see that no harm befalls us
+from the Indians."
+
+"Ugh!" exclaimed the aunt, with a shudder of disgust: "I'd rather trust
+myself with the worst Indians that are now in the valley than with
+_him_."
+
+"Them's my sentiments," broke in Gravity; "we don't want to fool away
+any more time with _him_."
+
+"Then you'll take the consequences," said the Tory, trembling with
+anger. "I offered to protect you and you refused to have me; I'll still
+take care of Maggie and Eva, but as for you others, you shall see--"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+The last few sentences that passed between Maggie Brainerd and Golcher,
+the Tory, were heard, not only by Aunt Maggie, but by the African
+servant.
+
+This was due to the fact that the renegade in his excitement forgot his
+caution, besides which the servant took occasion to approach quite close
+to the two.
+
+A very brief space of time was occupied in the conversation, but brief
+as it was, Gravity was resolved that it should end. He did not believe
+the declaration of Golcher that he had a party of half-a-dozen Senecas
+within call, though it was possible that he spoke the truth; but beyond
+a doubt the savages were so numerous that a summons from the Tory would
+bring a number to the spot.
+
+When, therefore, Jake adjusted his lips for a signal, Gravity bounded
+forward and caught him by the throat.
+
+"Don't be in a hurry to let out a yawp; if dere's any hollerin' to be
+done, I'll take charge of it."
+
+Golcher was as helpless as a child in the vise-like grip of those iron
+fingers. He not only was unable to speak, but he found it hard work to
+breathe.
+
+Dropping his gun, he threw up both hands in a frantic effort to loosen
+the clutch of those fingers.
+
+"Why, Gravity," said the horrified Maggie; "I'm afraid you will strangle
+him."
+
+"And I'm afraid I _won't_," replied the African, putting on a little
+more pressure.
+
+Gravity, however, had no intention of proceeding to extremities, though
+he might have found justification in so doing. He regulated the pressure
+of his powerful right hand so that his victim, by putting forth his best
+efforts, was able to get enough breath to save himself.
+
+"Young man," said Gravity, still holding him fast, "I don't think dis am
+a healthy place for you; de best ting you can do am to leave a little
+sooner dan possible."
+
+"Let--me--let--me--go!" gurgled Golcher, still vainly trying to free
+himself.
+
+"I don't find dat I've got much use for you, so I'll let you off, but de
+next time I lays hand onto you, you won't got off so easy, and bein' as
+you am goin', I'll give you a boost."
+
+To the delight of Aunt Peggy and the horror of Maggie Brainerd, Gravity
+Gimp now wheeled the Tory around as though he were the smallest child,
+and actually delivered a kick that lifted him clear of the ground.
+
+Not only once, but a second and third time was the indignity repeated.
+Then, with a fierce effort, Golcher wrenched himself free from the
+terrible fingers on the back of his neck, and, plunging among the trees,
+vanished.
+
+"Dat ar might come handy," said Gravity, picking up the loaded musket
+which the panic-stricken Tory had left behind him and handing it to Aunt
+Peggy, who asked, with a shudder:
+
+"Do you s'pose I would touch it?"
+
+"Let me have it," said Maggie; "I consider it fortunate that we have
+two guns with us."
+
+It was a good thing, indeed, for Maggie Brainerd, like many of the brave
+maidens of a hundred years ago, was an expert in handling the awkward
+weapons of our Revolutionary sires. With this at her command, the
+chances were she would be heard from before the rising of the morrow's
+sun.
+
+But, if Jake Golcher was a mild enemy before, it was certain he was now
+an unrelenting one. He would neglect no effort to avenge himself upon
+all for the indignity he had received.
+
+The African understood this, and he lost no time in getting away from
+the spot with the utmost speed.
+
+It was now about five o'clock in the afternoon, but it was the eve of
+the Fourth of July, and the days were among the longest in the year. It
+would not be dark for three hours, and who could tell what might take
+place in that brief period?
+
+Extremely good fortune had attended our friends thus far, but it was not
+reasonable to expect it to continue without break.
+
+The Tory was scarcely out of sight when Gravity started on a trot down
+the bank, with the others close behind him.
+
+"Bus'ness hab got to be pushed on de jump," he said, by way of
+explanation; "we ain't done wid dat chap yet."
+
+It was scarcely a minute later when he uttered an exclamation of
+thankfulness, and those directly behind saw him stoop down and, grasping
+the prow of a small flat-boat or scow, draw it from beneath the
+undergrowth and push it into the water.
+
+Such craft are not managed by oars, and Gimp handed a long pole to
+Maggie, saying:
+
+"Use dat de best ye kin, and don't lose no time gittin' to de oder
+shore."
+
+"But what are _you_ going to do, Gravity?"
+
+"I'se gwine wid you, but I'm afeard de boat won't hold us all, and I'll
+hab to ride on de outside."
+
+The Susquehanna is generally quite shallow along shore, and it was
+necessary to push the scow several yards before the water was found deep
+enough to float it with its load.
+
+Gravity laid the two guns within the boat, and then, picking up the
+_petite_ Maggie, hastily carried her the short distance and placed her
+dry-shod within, where she immediately assumed control by means of the
+pole, which was a dozen feet in length.
+
+Aunt Peggy and Eva were deposited beside her, by which time the scow was
+sunk within a few inches of the gunwales: had the African followed them,
+it would have been swamped.
+
+As it was, the faithful negro was assuming great risk, for, as have
+stated, he could not swim a stroke; but the circumstances compelled such
+a course, and he did not hesitate.
+
+"You see, folks," said he, as he began shoving the craft out into the
+river; "dat dis wessel won't carry any more passengers."
+
+Just then he stepped into a hole, which threw him forward on his face
+with a loud splash, his head going under and nearly strangling him. He
+was thoughtful enough to let go the boat, and recovered himself with
+considerable effort, after causing a slight scream from Eva, who was
+afraid he was going to drown.
+
+The freedom from immediate danger ended when the fugitives put out from
+the shore.
+
+The suddenness of the defeat, pursuit, and massacre at Wyoming prevented
+anything like the use of boats by the fleeing patriots, who were beset
+by a merciless foe.
+
+Had the scow been near where the main stream of fugitives were rushing
+into the river and striving to reach the opposite bank, the boat would
+not have kept afloat for a minute. It not only would have been grasped
+by a score of the fugitives, but it would have become the target for
+a number of rifles, which could hardly have failed to kill all the
+occupants.
+
+The stream rapidly deepened, and by and by Gimp was up to his neck and
+moving rather gingerly, with his two broad hands resting on the stern of
+the boat.
+
+Maggie Brainerd stood erect in the craft, pole in hand, and, bending
+slightly as she pressed the support against the river bottom, held on
+until it was almost beyond her reach, when she withdrew it, and,
+reaching forward, placed the lower end against the bottom again, shoving
+the awkward vessel with as much skill as the negro himself could have
+shown.
+
+Aunt Peggy, as trim and erect as ever, was seated near the prow, while
+Eva nestled at her feet with her head in her lap. When they observed how
+deep the scow sank in the water, naturally enough their fears were
+withdrawn from the great calamity, and centered upon the one of
+drowning.
+
+The ancient lady glanced askance at the turbid current, while Eva turned
+pale and shivered more than once, as she looked affrightedly at the
+hungry river that seemed to be climbing slowly up the frail partition
+which kept it away from the fugitives.
+
+Suddenly the feet of Gravity failed to reach bottom, and, sinking down
+until his ears and mouth were scarcely above the surface, he bore
+slightly upon the support and began threshing the water with his feet,
+so that at a distance the scow looked as if it had a steam screw at the
+stern driving it forward.
+
+This rather cumbersome means of propulsion really accomplished more than
+would be supposed. Despite the fact that the African could not float
+himself, he managed his pedal extremities with skill, and the boat was
+quick to respond.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+Meanwhile, Lieutenant Fred Godfrey found himself mixed up in some events
+of a stirring character.
+
+It will be recalled that while hunting for his friends he was told that
+they had taken to a flat-boat, or scow, and were probably across the
+Susquehanna.
+
+If such were the fact, the true course for Fred was to follow them
+without a second's delay.
+
+His informant no doubt meant to tell the truth, but he had given a wrong
+impression.
+
+It was true, as has been shown, that the female members of the Brainerd
+family had started across the river under charge of the herculean
+Gravity Gimp, but Mr. Brainerd himself was still on the side where the
+battle took place, though his son believed he was with the others that
+had taken to the boat.
+
+Fred was making his way as best he could to the river side, when he
+became aware that he had attracted the notice of several Indians, who
+made for him. In the general flurry he did not notice the alarming fact
+till the party was almost upon him. Then he turned and fired among them,
+threw away his gun, and made for the river at the top of his speed.
+
+He was remarkably fleet of foot, and in a fair race would have held his
+own with any Iroquois in Wyoming Valley; but there was no telling when
+or where some more of the dusky foes would leap up and join in the
+pursuit.
+
+It was fortunate, perhaps, that the Susquehanna was so near, for the
+pursuit was no more than fairly begun when it was reached. Knowing he
+would be compelled to swim for life, he ran as far out in the water as
+he could, and then took what may be called a tremendous "header,"
+throwing himself horizontally through the air, but with his head a
+little lower than the rest of the body, and with his arms extended and
+hands pressed palm to palm in front.
+
+He struck the water at a point beyond his depth, and drawing in one
+deep inspiration as he went beneath, he swam with might and main until
+he could hold his breath no longer.
+
+When he rose to the surface it was a long way beyond where he went
+under, and much farther than where the Indians were looking for him to
+reappear.
+
+But they were ready with cocked guns, and the moment the head came to
+view they opened fire; but Fred expected that, and waiting only long
+enough to catch a mouthful of air, he went under and sped along like a
+loon beneath the surface.
+
+Every rod thus gained increased his chances, but it did not by any means
+remove the danger, for it takes no very skillful marksman to pick off a
+man across the Susquehanna, and many a fugitive on that fateful day fell
+after reaching the eastern shore.
+
+Working with his usual energy, Fred Godfrey soon found himself close to
+Monocacy Island, covered as it was with driftwood and undergrowth, and
+upon which many of the settlers had taken refuge.
+
+Almost the first person whom he recognized was the middle-aged friend,
+who told him about the escape of the Brainerd family in the scow that
+Maggie and the servant had propelled across the Susquehanna.
+
+This friend was now able to add that he had seen them crossing at a
+point considerably below the island. He saw them fired at by the Indians
+and Tories on shore, but he was satisfied that no one of the little
+company was struck.
+
+To the dismay of the youth, the neighbor assured him that Mr. Brainerd,
+his father, was not with the company.
+
+This made another change in the plans of the son. Quite hopeful that
+those who had crossed the river were beyond danger, his whole solicitude
+was now for his beloved parent. Despite the danger involved, he resolved
+to return to the western shore, and to stay there until he learned about
+his parent.
+
+Fred was too experienced, however, to act rashly. He carefully watched
+his chance and swam down the stream until he was well below the swarm of
+fugitives, and so managed to reach the shore without detection, or
+rather without recognition, since it was impossible that he should
+escape observation.
+
+Finally, he stepped out of the water and went up the bank, without, as
+he believed, attracting attention, and, suppressing all haste, walked in
+the direction of Forty Fort.
+
+The battle-field, whereon the famous monument was afterwards erected,
+was about two miles above Forty Fort, where a feeble garrison was left
+when Colonel Zebulon Butler marched up the river bank, and met the
+Tories and Indians on that July afternoon.
+
+Fred had landed at a point near the battle-ground, and he was in doubt
+whether to make search through the surrounding wood and marsh, or to
+steal down the river to the fort in the hope of finding his father
+there.
+
+Many of the fugitives in their wild flight had thrown away their weapons
+(as indeed Fred Godfrey himself had done), so that it was an easy matter
+for him to find a gun to take the place of the one from which he had
+parted.
+
+The youth made up his mind to visit the fort, and he had taken a dozen
+steps in that direction, when with whom should he come face to face but
+his beloved father himself?
+
+The meeting was a happy one indeed, the two embracing with delight.
+
+The father had no thought that his son had reached Wyoming, though he
+knew that Washington had been asked to send them re-enforcements.
+
+Fred told the good news about the rest of the family: it was joy indeed
+to the parent, who was on his way to the river bank to look for them at
+the time he met his son.
+
+Mr. Brainerd said that he had fought as long as there was any hope, when
+he turned and fled with the rest. It was the same aimless effort to get
+away, without any thought of the right course to take; but he was more
+fortunate than most of the others, for he succeeded in reaching the
+cover of the woods without harm.
+
+"The best thing for us to do," said the parent, "is to go up the river
+so as to get above the point where, it seems, the most danger
+threatens."
+
+"You mean toward Fort Wintermoot--that is, where it stood, for I see
+that it has been burned."
+
+"Yes, but we needn't go the whole distance; night isn't far off, and it
+will be a hard task to find the folks after we get across."
+
+Accordingly, father and son moved to the north, that is up the western
+bank of the river. This took them toward Fort Wintermoot, which was
+still smoking, and toward Fort Jenkins, just above. At the same time
+they were leaving the scene of the struggle a short time before.
+
+Mr. Brainerd had no weapon, while his son carried the newly-found rifle
+and his two pistols. He had drawn the charges of these and reloaded
+them, so that they were ready for use.
+
+"There's one thing that ought to be understood," said Mr. Brainerd,
+after they had walked a short distance; "and that is what is to be done
+by the survivor in case one of us falls."
+
+"If I should be shot or captured," said Fred, impressively, "don't waste
+any time in trying to help me, but do all you can to get across the
+river, rejoin the family, and push on toward Stroudsburg; for I don't
+believe you'll be safe at any point this side."
+
+"I promise you to do my utmost in that direction; and, if it should be
+my misfortune to fall into their hands, you must not imperil your life
+for me."
+
+"I shall be careful of what I do," said Fred, refusing to make any more
+definite pledge, after having secured that of his companion not to step
+aside to befriend him in the event of misfortune.
+
+Little did either dream that the test was so close at hand.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+
+The two were compelled to pick their way with extreme care, for there
+was no saying when some of the wandering Indians would come upon them.
+It was necessary, as our friends thought, to go considerably farther up,
+before it would be at all safe to cross the river.
+
+They were yet some distance from the point, when a slight disturbance
+was heard in a patch of woods in front, and they stopped.
+
+"Wait a minute or two, until I find out what it means," said Fred; "it
+will save time to go through there, but it won't do to undertake it if
+it isn't safe."
+
+And before Mr. Brainerd could protest, his son moved forward, as
+stealthily as an Indian scout, while the former concealed himself until
+the issue of the reconnoissance should become known.
+
+The old gentleman realized too vividly the horrors of the massacre
+still going on around them to permit himself to run any unnecessary
+risk, now that there was a prospect of rejoining his family; and he
+regretted that his courageous child had gone forward so impulsively,
+instead of carefully flanking what seemed to be a dangerous spot.
+
+But it was too late now to recall him, for he was beyond sight, and Mr.
+Brainerd could only wait and hope for the best, while, it may be truly
+said, he feared the worst.
+
+It was not long before Fred Godfrey began strongly to suspect he had
+committed an error, from which it required all the skill at his command
+to extricate himself.
+
+The wood that he had entered covered something less than an acre, and
+was simply a denser portion of the wilderness through which they had
+been making their way. He had scarcely entered it when the murmur of
+voices told him that others were in advance, and he knew enough of the
+Indians to recognize the sounds as made by them.
+
+It was at that very moment he ought to have withdrawn, and, rejoining
+Mr. Brainerd, left the neighborhood as silently as possible, but his
+curiosity led him on.
+
+That curiosity was gratified by the sight of six of his own people held
+prisoners by a group of twice as many Indians, who, beyond question,
+were making preparations for putting their victims to death.
+
+As seems to be the rule, these prisoners, all of whom were able-bodied
+men, most of them young, were in a state of despair and collapse; they
+were standing up unbound and unarmed, and looking stolidly at their
+captors, who were also on their feet, but were talking and gesticulating
+with much earnestness.
+
+The most remarkable figure in the group was a woman. She was doing the
+principal part of the talking, and in a voice so loud, and accompanied
+by such energetic gestures, that there could be no doubt that she was
+the leader.
+
+She was attired in Indian costume, and was evidently a half-breed,
+though it has been claimed by many that she was of pure Indian blood.
+She was beyond middle life, her hair being plentifully sprinkled with
+gray, but she still possessed great strength and activity, and was well
+fitted to command the Indians, as she did when they marched into and
+took possession of Forty Fort on the succeeding day.
+
+A son of this strange woman had been killed a short time before, and she
+was roused to the highest point of fury. She demanded not only the blood
+of those already captured, but that others should be brought in; and she
+had established a camp in the place named, until a sufficient number
+could be secured to satisfy, to a partial extent, her vengeful mood.
+
+She is known in history as Queen Esther and as Katharine Montour. She
+was queen of the Seneca tribe of Indians--one of the Iroquois or Six
+Nations--the most powerful confederation of aborigines ever known on
+this continent.
+
+Her home was in central New York, where the Six Nations had been ruled
+by Sir William Johnson, the British superintendent, and, among all the
+furies who entered Wyoming Valley on that day in July, there was none
+who excelled this being in the ferocity displayed toward the prisoners.
+
+"That must be Queen Esther," thought Fred Godfrey, as he cautiously
+surveyed the scene; "I have heard of the hecate--"
+
+At that instant a slight rustling behind caused him to turn his head,
+just in time to catch sight of a shadowy body that came down upon him
+like an avalanche.
+
+He struggled fiercely, but other Indians joined in, and in a twinkling
+the lieutenant was disarmed and helpless, and was conducted triumphantly
+into the presence of Katharine Montour, whose small, black eyes sparkled
+as she surveyed this addition to her roll of victims, for whose torture
+she was arranging at that moment.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+Gravity Gimp bore as lightly as he could on the stern of the boat, which
+was already so heavily laden that a little more weight would have sunk
+it below the surface.
+
+But steady progress was made, and everything was going along
+"swimmingly," as may be said, when the craft and its occupants began to
+receive alarming attention from the shore.
+
+The reports of guns, and the shouting and whooping were so continuous
+that the fugitives had become used to them. The whistling of the bullets
+about their ears, and the call of Gimp, notified the ladies of their
+danger, and caused an outcry from Aunt Peggy.
+
+"They're shooting at us, as sure as you live; stoop down, Maggie!"
+
+The elderly lady and little Eva got down so low that they were quite
+safe. Maggie, however, kept her feet a few moments. Looking back toward
+the shore, she saw six or eight Indians standing close to the water and
+deliberately firing at them.
+
+"Stoop down," said Gravity, in a low voice. "I'll take care ob de boat
+and you see what you can do wid de gun."
+
+The plucky girl acted upon the suggestion. Picking up the weapon of the
+African (with which she had shot more than one deer), she sank upon her
+knee, and took careful aim at the group on the shore.
+
+Gravity stopped threshing the water, and twisted around so as to watch
+the result, while Aunt Peggy and Eva fixed their eyes on the group with
+painful interest.
+
+When the whip-like crack of the gun broke upon their ears, the
+spectators saw one of the Iroquois leap in the air and stagger backward,
+though he did not fall.
+
+"You hit him!" exclaimed the delighted Gravity; "dey'll larn dat some
+oder folks can fire off a gun as well as dey."
+
+The shot of the girl caused consternation for a minute or two among the
+group. They had evidently no thought of any one "striking back," now
+that the panic was everywhere. They could be seen gathering around the
+warrior, who was helped a few steps and allowed to sit on the ground.
+
+Dropping the rifle, Maggie Brainerd caught up the pole once more and
+applied it with all the strength at her command, while Gravity threshed
+the water with renewed vigor.
+
+Hope was now re-awakened that the river might be crossed in safety.
+
+In the nature of things, the dismay among the Iroquois could not last
+long. They were joined by several new arrivals, among whom was at least
+one white man.
+
+They saw that the boat was getting farther away, and the fugitives were
+likely to escape.
+
+Gravity, who continually glanced over his shoulder, warned Maggie and
+the rest (who, however, were equally alert), so that when the boat was
+again struck by the whistling bullets no one was harmed.
+
+"Miss Maggie," whispered Gravity, peering over the gunwale, his round
+face rising like the moon under a full eclipse, "you know dere's another
+loaded gun; try it agin."
+
+"I musn't miss," she said to herself, sighting the weapon, "for if ever
+there was a case of self-defense this is one."
+
+All remained quiet while she carefully drew a bead at the foremost
+figure. Before her aim was sure, she recognized her target as Jake
+Golcher.
+
+She was startled, and for an instant undecided; but she could not shoot
+him, even though he deserved it. She slightly swerved the point of her
+piece, hoping to strike one of the Indians, with the result, however,
+that she missed altogether.
+
+"Maggie," said Aunt Peggy, with rasping severity, "I've a mind to box
+your ears; you missed that Tory on purpose; you ought to be ashamed of
+yourself; I'll tell your father what a perjurer you are."
+
+"I could not do it," replied Maggie, smiling in spite of herself at the
+spiteful earnestness of her relative.
+
+"Then load up and try it again."
+
+"Time is too precious to delay for loading guns and shooting at our old
+acquaintances, even if they are Tories."
+
+Aunt Peggy was wise enough to see that Maggie could not be dictated to
+under such circumstances. She, therefore, held her peace, and watched
+the young lady, who applied the pole with a vigor hardly second to that
+of Gravity in his efforts of another kind to force the scow through the
+water.
+
+Under their joint labors the clumsy craft advanced with considerable
+speed, every minute taking it farther from the shots that still came
+from the enemies they were leaving behind.
+
+By and by, the African, while kicking, struck bottom with one foot. With
+the leverage thus obtained, he shoved the boat faster than before.
+
+By this time those in the rear had ceased firing, and the interest of
+the occupants of the craft centered on the shore they were approaching.
+
+The water shallowed rapidly, and soon the head and shoulders of Gravity
+Gimp rose above the gunwale of the scow. He was now enabled to look
+beyond the boat and scrutinize the point where they were about to land.
+
+He had hardly taken the first glance, when he checked the vessel with
+such suddenness that Maggie nearly lost her balance. Looking inquiringly
+at him, she asked, with alarm.
+
+"What's the matter, Gravity?"
+
+"It's no use, Miss Maggie," was the despairing reply; "we may as well
+give up; don't you see we're cotched? The Tories hab got us _dis_ time,
+suah!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+The scow containing the three fugitives was nearing the eastern shore of
+the Susquehanna, when the negro servant, Gravity Gimp, stopped, checking
+the craft by grasping the stern.
+
+At that moment the water scarcely reached his waist, and was shoaling at
+every step, so that the boat was entirely under his control.
+
+He had good cause for his alarm, for, only an instant before, he had
+looked behind him at the group of Tories and Indians on the western
+shore, who had stopped firing, and he saw that several had entered the
+river with the intention of pushing the pursuit through the desolate
+wilderness already spoken of as the "Shades of Death."
+
+The distance between the pursuer and pursued was slight, for the
+Susquehanna is not a very broad river where it meanders through the
+Wyoming Valley, and there remained so much of daylight that the danger
+of a collision with their enemies was threatening indeed.
+
+Still the sight increased the efforts to avoid them, and Gravity had not
+lost his heart by any means, when he looked over the heads of his
+friends to decide where they were to land.
+
+It will be recalled that they had started below where most of the
+fugitives were pushing for the other bank, and the action of the current
+had carried them still lower, so there was reason for hoping they were
+outside of immediate peril.
+
+But the African had no more than fixed his eye on the point, where there
+was much wood and undergrowth, than he noticed an agitation of the
+bushes, and, to his dismay, a tall figure clad in paint and feathers
+stepped forth to view.
+
+He had a long rifle in one hand, and was daubed in the hideous fashion
+of the wild Indian on the war-path.
+
+The fact that he advanced thus openly in front of the fugitives, who had
+been exchanging shots with their foes behind them, was proof to Gravity
+that he was only one of a large party hidden in the bushes, and into
+whose hands he and his friends were about to throw themselves.
+
+Thus it was that the little group was caught between two fires.
+
+Worse than all, the two guns in the scow, with which something like a
+fight might have been made, were empty, and it was out of the question
+to reload them at this critical moment.
+
+No wonder, therefore, when the faithful negro discovered the trap into
+which they had run, that he straightened up, checked the boat, and
+uttered the exclamation I have quoted.
+
+The ladies, with blanched faces glanced from one shore to the other,
+wondering to which party it was best to surrender themselves.
+
+At this time, the warrior in front stood calmly contemplating them, as
+if sure there was no escape, and nothing could be added to the terror of
+the patriots.
+
+"Let us turn down the river," said the brave-hearted Maggie, thrusting
+the pole into the water again; "they have not captured us yet, and it
+is better we should all be shot than fall into----"
+
+Just then the four were struck dumb by hearing the savage in front call
+out:
+
+"What have you stopped work for? Don't turn down the river; hurry over,
+or those consarned Iroquois will overhaul you!"
+
+Unquestionably that was not the voice of an Indian!
+
+And yet the words were spoken by the painted individual who confronted
+them, and whom they held in such terror.
+
+He must have suspected their perplexity, for, noticing that they still
+hesitated, his mouth expanded into a broad grin, as he added:
+
+"Don't you know me? I'm Habakkuk McEwen, and I'm ready to do all I can
+for you. Hurry up, Gravity; use that pole in the right direction,
+Maggie; cheer up, Eva, and how are you, Aunt Peggy?"
+
+No words can picture the relief of the little party, on learning that he
+whom they mistook for an Indian was a white man and a friend.
+
+Habakkuk McEwen was a neighbor, as he had called himself, and came from
+the same section in Connecticut which furnished the Brainerds and most
+of the settlers in the Wyoming Valley.
+
+He had enlisted but a few months before, and, though not very brilliant
+mentally, yet he was well liked in the settlement.
+
+Excepting two individuals--whose identity the reader knows--it may be
+safely said there was no one whom the patriots could have been more
+pleased to see than Habakkuk, for he added so much strength to the
+company that was sorely in need of it, but it may as well be admitted,
+that the honest fellow, although a volunteer in the defense of his
+country against the British invaders, was sometimes lacking in the
+courage so necessary to the successful soldier. However, there he was,
+and the words were scarcely out of his mouth when the scow ran plump
+against the bank, the depth of the water just permitting it, and
+Habakkuk cordially shook hands with each as he helped them out, winding
+up with a fervid grip of the African's huge palm.
+
+His tongue was busy while thus engaged.
+
+"You took me for an Injin, did you? Well, I'm pleased to hear that, for
+it is complimentary to my skill, for that's what I got up this rig for.
+I knowed what the danger was, and it struck me that if I was going to
+sarcumvent Injins it was a good idea to start out like one."
+
+"Have you just arrived, Habakkuk?" asked Maggie.
+
+"Not more than half an hour ago--you see--but let's get away from this
+spot, for some of them loose bullets may hit us."
+
+This was prudent advice, for their pursuers were at that moment forcing
+their way through the river in pursuit.
+
+"Gravity, you know this neighborhood better than I do--so take the
+lead," said the disguised patriot: "and move lively, for I begin to feel
+nervous."
+
+"I kin move lively when dere's need ob it," replied the servant, "and it
+looks to me as if there couldn't be a better time for hurryin' dan dis
+identical one."
+
+Gimp was familiar with the valley and mountains for miles around, and he
+threw himself at once in the advance, the rest following with rapid
+footsteps.
+
+As they hastened toward the "Shades of Death" (and the name was never
+more appropriate than on that eventful night), Habakkuk McEwen explained
+how it was he arrived as he did.
+
+"We fit the battle of Monmouth on the 28th of June, so you kin see I've
+had to travel fast to git here even as late as I did. But a lot of us
+heard that trouble was coming for Wyoming, and we've been uneasy for a
+fortnight. Three of us went to Gineral Washington and argufied the
+matter with him; he seemed to be worried and anxious to do all he could,
+and he said that Connecticut orter lend a hand, as we were her colony,
+but he was after the Britishers just then, and he wouldn't 'low us to go
+till arter the battle.
+
+"Wal, we had a first-class battle down there at Monmouth in Jersey, and
+we and Molly Pitcher made the redcoats dance to the tune of 'Yankee
+Doodle' as they haven't danced since Saratoga and Trenton. Whew! But
+wasn't the day hot, and didn't the dust fly along that road! Well, I
+jus' felt when we had 'em on the run, that if the Susquehanna could be
+turned down my throat, I would stand it for a couple of hours.
+
+"Howsumever, just as soon as the battle was over, and I seen the Gineral
+had 'em, even though Gineral Lee tried to betray us, why, I just pulled
+out and started for Wyoming.
+
+"I didn't wait for the other chaps either, for, somehow or other, I had
+the feeling strong that there wasn't an hour to spare down in these
+parts. I traveled hard, and after crossing the upper Delaware, I heard
+rumors that just made my hair stand on end.
+
+"I knowed that the Tories and Iroquois were on their way, and when I
+stopped at the house of a settler only twenty miles off, I found him
+packing up and getting ready to move to Stroudsburg.
+
+"I tried to persuade him to go back with me and help the folks, but he
+couldn't see why he should desert his own family, even though there was
+scarcely any danger to 'em.
+
+"He was the man, howsumever, who suggested to me that I had better fix
+up as an Injin, and he furnished the paint, feathers, and rig. He helped
+me to get inside of 'em, too, and when he was through, and showed me a
+glass, I acterally thought I was a Seneca warrior for the time, and, if
+I'd had a tomahawk, I'd been likely to have tomahawked the settler and
+his family.
+
+"As it was, I jumped into the air and give out a ringin' whoop, and felt
+mighty savage and peart like; then I struck out for Wyoming, and I've
+done some tall traveling, I can tell you. Everybody that saw me took me
+for an Injin, and gave me a wide berth. Two men shot at me, and I was
+just beginning to think there might be less fun in playing Injin than
+appeared at first.
+
+"Well," added the eccentric individual, "I got here too late to take
+part in the battle, but I'm ready to do all I can to help you out of
+your trouble, which looks powerful serious."
+
+And the little band, as may well be imagined, were grateful beyond
+expression to find that what was first taken to be a dreaded enemy was
+after all a valuable friend.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+It caused Lieutenant Godfrey the deepest chagrin to reflect that, after
+his remarkable escapes of the day, he had been taken prisoner in this
+fashion.
+
+He was in a crouching posture, watching the scene in front, when several
+Seneca warriors returning to camp discovered him, and before he could
+make an effective resistance, he was borne to the ground, disarmed, and
+made prisoner.
+
+But chagrin was quickly lost in alarm, for there could be no doubt of
+the intentions of Queen Esther respecting all her captives.
+
+It was characteristic of the youth that his first misgiving was
+concerning his father, who was but such a short distance behind him, and
+he expected every minute to see the hapless man brought in as his
+companion.
+
+But as time passed, Fred gained hope for him, and, recalling his pledge,
+believed he would keep beyond danger.
+
+Katharine Montour bent her gaze upon the youth, as he came in front of
+her escorted by several warriors, and then she broke into a chuckling
+laugh.
+
+This extraordinary creature was once quite popular with civilized
+people, and she spoke English as well as the Seneca tongue.
+
+"Ha, ha, ha," she added, "you're another Yankee, ain't you?"
+
+Fred had no wish to deny the charge, but he thought best to hold his
+peace. If she were disposed to enter into a fair argument, he could
+maintain his own with her; but the relative situation of the two was
+that of the wolf and lamb in the fable, and, no matter what line he
+might take, or how skillfully he might try to conciliate her, she would
+only work herself into a still more furious passion.
+
+He therefore did wisely in not making any reply, but with his hand at
+his side, and with a stolid, drooping, half-vacant gaze like that of the
+other prisoners, he looked mutely at her.
+
+The attractive appearance of the young lieutenant, and his manly bearing
+when first brought before her, may have suggested to Queen Esther that
+a prisoner of more consideration than usual was at her disposal.
+
+Her exultation, therefore, was the greater, because she would gain this
+additional means of ministering to her thirst for vengeance.
+
+"You Yankee officer?" she asked, peering into his handsome face.
+
+"I am a lieutenant in the Continental army," answered Fred.
+
+"_All_ the captains were killed," was the truthful declaration of the
+queen, "and more of you Yankees shall be killed; do you see these here?"
+she asked, making a sweep with her hand toward the captives. "All of
+them shall die by my hands--yes, by _my_ hands. Do you hear?"
+
+Fred heard, but he did not think it wise to take the negative of the
+question, and he continued to hold his peace.
+
+While the Indians were looking on with that apparent indifference which
+the race can so well assume under the most trying circumstances, Queen
+Esther suddenly whipped out from the folds of her gaudy dress a scalp,
+which she flourished in front of the prisoners. Then, with many
+execrations, she began a weird song and dance up and down in front of
+them.
+
+This shocking scene lasted but a few minutes, when other Indians came in
+with more prisoners, among whom Fred recognized several acquaintances.
+They looked sorrowfully at each other, but said nothing.
+
+The lieutenant counted, and saw there were precisely eighteen, besides
+himself. It must have been that Queen Esther had stopped in this piece
+of woods, and, calling in a number of her Senecas, had sent them out to
+bring in all the captives they could.
+
+She had now secured enough to satisfy her, and she started up the river
+with them.
+
+The hapless ones walked in a straggling group together, while the
+Indians were on either hand in front, and the Queen at the rear, as if
+she wished to contemplate and enjoy the treat in prospect.
+
+Whither they were going, Fred could only guess, but he was certain that
+it was to some spot where torture would be inflicted on the patriots.
+
+The mixed company had progressed something like an eighth of a mile,
+when a sudden confusion occurred in the ranks, and those who looked
+around caught sight of a man dashing through the undergrowth with the
+speed of a frightened deer.
+
+Queen Esther recognized the figure as that of the young lieutenant, and,
+with a shriek of rage, hurled her tomahawk, missing him only by a hair's
+breadth.
+
+At the same moment she called upon her warriors to recapture him, and
+they dashed off with all speed, not needing the incentive of her
+command.
+
+It may be said that in such daring breaks for life as that of Fred
+Godfrey, everything depends on the start. He made such a tremendous
+bound that he was several rods distant before his foes really understood
+what had taken place.
+
+Another piece of extremely good fortune lay in the fact that the woods
+where this was done were quite dense, and in the approaching twilight
+the start gained by the fugitive actually placed him beyond their
+sight.
+
+This by no means insured his escape, for his pursuers were too close on
+his heels, but it gave him an advantage, the importance of which cannot
+be overstated.
+
+Fred, as you have been told, was fleet of foot, and he now did his
+utmost, but he could not hope to outrun those who were so close.
+
+He had gone a short distance only, when he turned to the right, and
+threw himself down beside a fallen tree which lay across his path, and
+he was not a moment too soon.
+
+The next instant, two warriors bounded over the log and vanished in the
+wood. As they were sure to suspect the trick that had been played, Fred
+did not stay where he was. He knew the Senecas would speedily return,
+and he could not elude such a search as they would be sure to make.
+
+[Illustration: "The next instant, two warriors bounded over the log."]
+
+Crawling away from the friendly log, he hurried silently off in a
+crouching posture, and soon reached a point where he felt quite safe
+from detection, though he did not throw his caution aside.
+
+As soon as he felt himself master of his movements he made his way back
+to the point where he had separated from his father; but, although he
+cautiously signaled to him, he received no response, and he concluded
+that he was still in hiding somewhere in the neighborhood, and was
+afraid to answer the calls, if, indeed, he heard them; or he had managed
+to cross the Susquehanna, and was searching for the rest of his family.
+
+In either case it was a great relief to find he had not fallen into the
+hands of Queen Esther, who was certain to be doubly savage, now that she
+had lost the prisoner whom she valued the most.
+
+"If those captives would only made a break," said Fred, to himself,
+"some would get off; but, as it is, they are like dumb brutes led to the
+slaughter, and all will perish miserably--Heaven help them!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+Fred Godfrey was not altogether correct in his dismal prophecy.
+
+Queen Esther, when she found that one of her prisoners was gone, gave
+expressions of fury and resumed the march up the river, her warriors
+keeping closer watch than before to prevent any other escape.
+
+The procession halted near a boulder which rises about eighteen inches
+above the ground, and which may be seen to-day, as it lies directly east
+of the battle monument toward the site of burned Fort Wintermoot, on the
+brow of the high steep bank, which centuries ago probably marked the
+shore of the Susquehanna.
+
+The eighteen prisoners were driven forward until this celebrated boulder
+was reached, which has been known ever since by the ominous name of
+"Queen Esther's Rock."
+
+Here the captives were ranged in a circle around the stone, while the
+queen, with a death-maul and hatchet, proceeded to wreak vengeance upon
+her victims for the death of her son, killed by a scouting party, a
+short time before the battle.
+
+One after another, the white men were seated upon the rock, and held by
+two strong warriors, while the terrible Katharine Montour chanted a wild
+dirge, and, raising the death-maul in both hands, dealt the single blow
+that was all sufficient.
+
+Occasionally she varied the dreadful ceremony by using a keen-edged
+hatchet with her muscular arm, which was as effective as the death-maul
+wielded by both hands.
+
+The work went on until eleven victims had been sacrificed, when one of
+the men, Lebbeus Hammond, was roused by the sight of his own brother,
+who was placed upon the rock, and tightly grasped by two warriors.
+
+It was impossible to do anything for him, but Lebbeus whispered to
+Joseph Elliott:
+
+"_Let's try it!_"
+
+On the instant, they wrenched themselves loose from their captors, and
+bounded down the river bank.
+
+They expected to be shot, and they preferred such a death to that which
+awaited them if they remained.
+
+But the very audacity of the attempt, like that of Fred Godfrey, threw
+the Indians into confusion for the moment, and instead of firing they
+broke into pursuit, without discharging a weapon.
+
+Fortunately for the fugitives, instead of keeping together they
+diverged, Hammond heading up the river. The warriors must have concluded
+that they were making for Forty Fort, and shaped their course with the
+purpose of shutting them off. The fort lay to the south and below, and,
+understanding the aim of the Indians, Hammond turned more directly up
+the river.
+
+He was fleet-footed, and ran as never before; but, while straining every
+nerve, he caught his foot in a root, and was thrown headlong down the
+bank, rolling all in a heap underneath the bushy top of a fallen tree.
+
+He started to scramble to his feet, when, like a flash, it occurred to
+him that there was no safer course than to stay where he was.
+
+Only a few seconds passed, when the Indians approached and began hunting
+for him. How they failed to discover the young man passes comprehension,
+and it was only another of the several wonderful escapes which marked
+the massacre of Wyoming.
+
+The savages peered here and there, drawing the bushes aside, and looking
+among the old logs. The poor fellow heard their stealthy footsteps all
+around him, and caught glimpses of their coppery faces, smeared with
+paint, as they uttered some exclamation and almost stepped upon him in
+his concealment.
+
+Once he was sure he was detected, and he held his breath, fearful that
+the throbbing of his heart would betray him; but the red men moved away,
+and shortly after returned to Queen Esther's Rock to help in the
+executions going on there.
+
+Hammond stayed where he was until all was still, when he crept
+cautiously out, and, swimming the river, made his way to the fort at
+Wilkesbarre, where, to his amazement, he found his companion in flight.
+
+The escape of this patriot was no less extraordinary than that of
+Hammond.
+
+He had also swum the river to the bar on the lower point of Monocacy
+Island, going almost the entire distance under water. Whenever he threw
+up his head for a breath of fresh air he was fired upon, and he received
+a bad wound in the shoulder.
+
+Although suffering severely from it, he persevered and soon reached the
+opposite side, where he found a horse wandering loose and without bridle
+or saddle.
+
+With little effort Elliott succeeded in catching him, and with a bridle
+improvised from the bark of a hickory sapling, he rode the animal to
+Wilkesbarre, where the wound was dressed by a surgeon.
+
+The next morning he went down the river with his wife and child in a
+canoe managed by a boy, and joined his friends at Catawissa.
+
+Both Hammond and Elliott lived many years afterward, and are still
+remembered by some of the old settlers in Wyoming Valley.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+In the mean time the little party consisting of Maggie and Eva Brainerd,
+Aunt Peggy, and the servant Gravity Gimp, and the eccentric New
+Englander Habakkuk McEwen, were improving to the utmost the advantage
+gained by reaching the eastern bank of the Susquehanna.
+
+"I don't want to go away without papa," said Eva, as she looked
+longingly across the river, where the massacre was going on, as shown in
+the smoke of burning buildings, the crack of the rifles, the whoop of
+the Indians, the shouts of fugitives, and the flight of settlers,
+including women and children, who flocked to the river.
+
+Despite the danger, Maggie shared with her sister the most tender
+solicitude for her parent.
+
+"Perhaps he is among them," said she, in a lower voice, to Gravity.
+
+"There's no telling where anybody is," replied the New Englander, "but I
+notice that the Tories and Injins right across from us are watching our
+movements pretty sharp, and it won't do for us to loaf about here many
+days, if we expect to get out with our lives."
+
+"What a pity that Jake Golcher was not shot when we had the chance!"
+exclaimed Aunt Peggy.
+
+"We're likely to get dat same chance agin," said Gimp, impressively,
+"and de next time de one dat don't took it has got to be shot for him."
+
+"If we could do Richard any good," added Aunt Peggy, more thoughtfully,
+"we ought to wait here; but can we?"
+
+McEwen, who was growing uneasy over this delay, shook his head.
+
+"If anybody can show me the way by which we can help him I'm willing to
+stay, but the woods are full of people fleeing, and the savages are
+after 'em. I've no doubt a lot are in Forty Fort, where they'll be safe
+if they've enough to keep the Injins back. There's only one thing left
+for us to do, and that's to run."
+
+He looked inquiringly at Maggie, and the brave girl, with a breaking
+heart, stifled her anguish and nodded her head to signify that she was
+ready.
+
+As courageous as the Roman maiden of old, she could walk straight along
+the line of duty, even though it led over red-hot plow-shares.
+
+Poor Eva put her hands to her face, and the tears streamed through her
+fingers, but she, too, had something of the high courage of her sister,
+and when the latter placed her arm about her and drew her head over upon
+her shoulder, the little girl sobbed for a few minutes only, and then
+cheered up and bent to her task.
+
+"Where do you go?" asked Maggie of Habakkuk.
+
+"I think there is an old trail leading through the mountains and
+wilderness to Stroudsburg, ain't there, Gimp?"
+
+"Dar am," was the response, "and I've been over it twice, so dat I knows
+de way."
+
+"Does it lead through the 'Shades of Death?'"
+
+"It am."
+
+"It's a long road to Stroudsburg, for I came from out that way, and
+it'll be a powerful hard tramp, but I don't think we can do any better.
+These Iroquois have had a taste of victory, and they'll never stop, so
+long as there's a chance to get any more. They'll trail us all day
+to-morrow, and it's my opinion we ain't goin' to get to Stroudsburg in a
+hurry, either."
+
+"Den let's be off," added Gravity, who could not fail to see the
+necessity for such promptness.
+
+"If papa comes across the river," said Eva, who threatened to yield
+again; "won't he cross higher up?"
+
+It struck all that there was some reason in this suggestion, which was
+acted upon without delay.
+
+They made their way up the western shore until some distance above
+Monocacy Island, every eye and ear on the alert.
+
+They saw plenty of fugitives, some on horseback, some wounded, all
+scared half out of their senses, and striving to get as far from the
+valley as possible.
+
+Numerous neighbors and acquaintances were encountered, but naught was
+seen of Mr. Brainerd, and nothing was known of Fred's presence on the
+other shore. He had left the Continental army directly after McEwen, who
+was unaware, therefore, of his coming.
+
+It would not do to tarry any longer. The afternoon was drawing to a
+close, and the whoops and rifle-shots that every now and then were heard
+on the eastern shore proved that the little party in whom we are
+interested were only rendering their situation more perilous by every
+minute's delay.
+
+Accordingly an abrupt turn was made to the right, and they plunged into
+the woods, pushing for the mountains some distance back of the river,
+and aiming to strike the Stroudsburg trail, after reaching the other
+side of the range, which is about a thousand feet in height.
+
+As Gravity Gimp was better acquainted than any one with the wilderness,
+he took the lead, the ladies coming next, while Habakkuk McEwen brought
+up the rear--leader and rear guard each, as well as Maggie, carrying a
+loaded rifle, and on the alert.
+
+"Gravity," said Eva, when they had gone but a short distance, "I
+thought you were lame a while ago?"
+
+"Wal, what ob it?"
+
+"You don't show a bit of lameness now."
+
+To the surprise of his friends, the African laughed heartily.
+
+"Dat war a joke ob mine; I warn't hurt at all, but war jes pretendin'."
+
+"Why did you do that?"
+
+"To fool the Injuns: I war thinkin' dat if dey seed I war lame, dey
+would think I couldn't run, and would lebe me to scoop up arter a while,
+and den I'd get de start on' em. Shouldn't wonder if I done it, too."
+
+There was no discussion of this original strategy, which possibly did
+prove of some benefit to the sable fugitive.
+
+The company pressed on until they reached a point perhaps an eighth of a
+mile from the river, when, as by common consent, a halt was made.
+
+No path was followed, but they had scrambled along as best they could,
+and now paused, where, for the time at least, they were alone.
+
+The sun had gone down, and the question was whether they should pause
+where they were for the night, or whether they should try to get through
+the mountainous ridge before daylight came again.
+
+The question would not have arisen but for the anxiety concerning the
+missing Mr. Brainerd. The ladies, including Eva, seated themselves on
+the ground, while Gravity Gimp and Habakkuk McEwen perched themselves on
+a high, broad boulder, where they could detect the approach of danger.
+
+"Dar's one thing dat troubles me wery muchly," said the African, with a
+worried expression.
+
+"What's that?" asked Habakkuk.
+
+"It'll take us two or free days to reach Stroudsburg, no matter how fast
+we trabbel, and whar's we gwine to got de prowisions on de road?"
+
+This was a serious matter indeed, and it was one which caused many a
+death and much suffering among the hapless multitude that pressed
+through the "Shades of Death," in the direction of the settlements on
+the upper Delaware.
+
+"I've got some bread and meat," said the New Englander, "which I brought
+from a settler's cabin thirty miles away, but I ate a big lot on the
+road and there ain't much left, but what there is goes to the ladies, of
+course."
+
+"Dat's a wery good arrangement," said Gimp, "but I don't see dat it am
+gwine to do dis gemman much good."
+
+"You'll have to do the same as I--_sh!_"
+
+A crackling of the undergrowth startled every one, and Gravity and
+Habakkuk instantly slid off their rocky seats and crouched down, with
+their cocked guns in their hands.
+
+"Scrooch low!" whispered the New Englander; "it must be Injins, and
+that's worse than having nothin' to eat."
+
+The five did their best to screen themselves from observation, for, as
+has been said, the most dreaded calamity that could befall them would be
+their discovery by a party of their enemies, numbers of whom, it was
+known, had crossed the river and were scouring the woods for more
+victims of their cruelty.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+One of the most striking features of the massacre in Wyoming Valley, in
+July, 1778, was the number of extraordinary individual escapes on the
+part of the fleeing patriots and panic-stricken settlers. There is no
+episode in American history marked by so many singular, and, indeed,
+almost inexplainable incidents, in this respect, as was that disaster
+which swept over one of the fairest spots that sun ever shone upon.
+
+In the battle there were, on the patriot side, about two hundred and
+thirty enrolled men, and seventy old people, boys, civil magistrates,
+and other volunteers, embracing six companies, which were mustered at
+Forty Fort, where the families from the east side of the Susquehanna had
+taken refuge.
+
+A young man, slight of frame and weak of body, was chased by several
+Indians, one of whom was almost close enough to throw his tomahawk. The
+fugitive, despite his fleetness, was losing ground, when Zebulon Butler,
+one of the last to leave the field, galloped by him on horseback. The
+fugitive caught the tail of the animal, and thus helped, made good
+progress. But the warriors, knowing he could not keep his hold long,
+continued the chase.
+
+Sure enough, the poor fellow speedily lost his hold, and was about to
+give up, when he caught sight of a drunken soldier, lying in the
+wheat-fields. As Colonel Butler went by, he shouted to the stupid fellow
+to fire at the Indians. He roused up, rubbed his eyes, and pointing his
+wabbling musket in the direction where he supposed his pursuers to be,
+let fly.
+
+The leading warrior dropped dead, and his companions, supposing there
+was an ambush in front, turned and ran for life, while the exhausted
+fugitive pitched forward on the ground and was saved. Unfortunately,
+however, this soldier was not the only intoxicated patriot at Wyoming on
+that day.
+
+A wealthy settler, finding a party of Indians at his heels, did his
+utmost to throw them off his trail, but failed, and was in despair.
+
+While still struggling forward he came upon the trunk of a large hollow
+tree, into which he crept. Knowing the red men would soon be along, he
+remained quiet for several hours, scarcely daring to move a limb.
+
+By and by he heard footsteps, and to his consternation, several warriors
+actually sat down on the log itself. The murmur of their voices, as they
+talked together, was audible, and he saw no way by which he could escape
+discovery.
+
+The opening in the log through which he had crawled was in plain sight
+of the Indians, who stooped down and peered in.
+
+The fugitive saw the painted faces, as they strained their eyes to
+pierce the gloom, and he was certain they would detect him as soon as
+they became used to the darkness.
+
+But shortly after he crawled into the refuge a spider spun his web
+across the opening, and the quick eye of the warriors noted it. With
+good reason they accepted it as a proof that no one had taken refuge
+there, and they accordingly left.
+
+The fugitives, whose history we have set out to give, crouched behind
+the rocks in the woods, and tremblingly listened to the approaching
+footsteps, that all believed were those of Indians.
+
+The gathering twilight was already strong enough in the wilderness to
+hide them from the observation of any who might stray to that section,
+and a fight was almost certain to be the result of detection.
+
+It was noticeable that Habakkuk McEwen took more precaution against
+discovery than the African, or even the ladies. He lay flat on his face,
+where no one could see him unless he passed directly by the spot.
+
+He kept whispering to the others to be quiet, and to "scrooch" lower,
+for the Indians are proverbial for their keen sightedness.
+
+The curiosity of the ladies got the better of their prudence, and each
+one peered cautiously from behind the sheltering rock. Aunt Peggy
+besought Maggie and Eva to keep out of sight, but all the time she was
+thrusting her own head forward and drawing it back again in a way that
+was more likely to attract attention to herself than if she remained
+stationary.
+
+"If you girls ain't more careful, some of the scand'lous villains--"
+
+At that instant Eva Brainerd sprang to her feet with a faint scream,
+and, to the horror of her friends, leaped nimbly upon the rock, then
+down to the ground, and ran like a fawn in the direction whence came the
+disturbance, and where the outlines of a dark figure were dimly
+observed.
+
+"Oh, it's papa! my own papa!" exclaimed the joyful girl, who was caught
+in the arms of her no less delighted parent, and pressed to his breast.
+
+"Heaven be thanked!" exclaimed Mr. Brainerd, kissing and embracing the
+fond child again and again, and then, holding her hand in his, he fairly
+ran toward the bewildered fugitives, who had sprung to their feet as
+they recognized him.
+
+Then the laughing, happy Maggie's white arms were thrown around her
+father's neck, and both cried for joy.
+
+Mr. Brainerd was in a sorry plight. His coat, vest, and hat were gone,
+and his draggling garments were dripping with river water, but it was
+his own genial self who stood before them. And when he released his
+daughter, he shook the hand of Aunt Peggy warmly, as he did that of
+Habakkuk McEwen, who was an old acquaintance, and at whose Indian-like
+disguise he laughed.
+
+All were talking, smiling, and congratulating each other for the next
+few minutes, and nothing was thought of the peril incurred in giving way
+to their feelings at such a time, and in such a place.
+
+But there was one still missing--the loved brother, who had gone so
+valiantly in search of his parent. When the latter had told his story,
+Maggie asked:
+
+"Papa, where can Fred be?"
+
+"I hope he is safe; but we cannot be sure of it for some time yet. He is
+a brave, noble boy. I will never cease to be grateful, if he is spared
+to join us."
+
+The father, hiding his own misgivings as best he could, only said that
+he and his son (as he always regarded his step-son), were compelled to
+separate a short time before, on the other side of the river, and since
+a man of his age was able to rejoin his friends, there surely must be
+reason to believe that one so young and active as Fred would soon show
+himself. So all resolved to hope, though their fears made the hope more
+painful than cheering.
+
+"It won't do to stay here," said Mr. Brainerd, when told that they
+thought of camping where they were till morning.
+
+"Is the danger imminent?" asked McEwen.
+
+"The Tories and Indians are continually crossing the river, and there
+must be at least a hundred on this side; their whole purpose is
+massacre. I do not think it possible for us to escape discovery if we
+wait another hour."
+
+"Then let's be off!" said Habakkuk, throwing his rifle over his
+shoulder, and starting in the direction of the mountains.
+
+"Hold on!" interposed Gimp; "Ise de guide ob dis procession, and if you
+takes my place you'll be lost sartin sure."
+
+"All right, go ahead!" assented the other; "only don't be so slow about
+it."
+
+"Many of the poor people," explained Mr. Brainerd, as the party made
+ready to start, "are following the trails through the woods and
+mountains, and they are suffering frightfully--hark!"
+
+As he spoke, the sharp crack of two guns was heard, so close at hand
+that all started and looked behind them.
+
+Nothing however was seen, and the elder added, as they resumed their
+flight, "Others of our friends have done like us and left the trails,
+but without avoiding danger, though they may lessen it."
+
+"But we can't tramp all the way through the woods in this fashion,"
+protested Aunt Peggy, as she caught her foot in a root and narrowly
+saved herself from falling forward on her hands.
+
+"No; after getting to the other side of the mountains we will work off
+to the right and strike the regular Stroudsburg trail, and keep to it
+until beyond the reach of the Tories and Indians."
+
+"That's the doctrine I subscribe to," assented Habakkuk; "Mr. Brainerd,
+you will take charge of the extra gun, which allows one to each man;
+that's three, and we ought to be able to give a good account of
+ourselves, though I do hope we shall get through without any more
+trouble."
+
+As before, the African acted the part of guide. He had tramped through
+these woods so many times that it may be said he was familiar with every
+acre. In the preceding winter he and Mr. Brainerd had hunted deer, and
+both remembered a romantic spot where there was a natural cavern, not
+very deep, which they availed themselves of for shelter when overtaken
+by a driving snow-storm.
+
+As Mr. Brainerd recalled the place he directed Gimp to conduct them
+thither, it being his purpose to stay there until night should fully
+settle upon the wilderness.
+
+His reason for what might seem a singular step was that the sounds of
+firing, and the occasional whoops of Indians near at hand, convinced him
+that, if they attempted to go much farther while it was so light, they
+would be sure to come in collision with some of these savage bands, in
+which event it would be hardly possible to escape the loss of several,
+if not all the party.
+
+"We will take advantage of the natural fort," said he, "until it is
+dark, and then Gravity knows the woods so well, he can lead us through
+the mountains to the other side, where we need not hesitate to take the
+main trail to Stroudsburg."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+"Eva, take the hand of your aunt," said Mr. Brainerd, who saw that his
+other daughter was desirous of saying something to him; "and let Maggie
+and me walk together for a few minutes."
+
+The child would have preferred to stay by the side of her beloved
+parent, but she did as requested, and her elder sister slipped back,
+and, as the ground permitted, ran her own arm beneath her father's, and
+the two walked together.
+
+"Well, Maggie, what is it?" he asked, tenderly.
+
+The brave girl repressed her distress as best she could, but he detected
+the tremor in the voice which asked the question:
+
+"Father, have you told us _all_ about Fred?"
+
+"I saw him a while ago."
+
+"Do you know whether he is alive or--or--dead?"
+
+"Be courageous, my child; I cannot answer that question, but I have hope
+that we shall see him again. He hurried home from the army to help us,
+but arrived too late. Reaching Monocacy Island, he became so anxious to
+find out what had become of me, that he returned to the battle-ground at
+great risk to himself. We met, providentially, and found that neither
+was hurt--a remarkable piece of good-fortune indeed."
+
+"But how did you become separated?"
+
+"We started up the river bank in the direction of Fort Wintermoot,
+believing we would stand a better chance of getting across without
+molestation, for he had learned from a fugitive that you had gotten
+over. Fred made me promise, while on the way, that if we became
+separated I should make no effort to rejoin him--that is, to help him,
+for he must have felt that I could do him no good. I gave the promise,
+and then demanded that he should make me a similar pledge-but he
+actually refused."
+
+"Just like my noble brother!" exclaimed Maggie, with a glowing
+countenance; "well?"
+
+"Scarcely five minutes later we approached a dense portion of the
+forest, in which we feared were some of the Indians. Fred had assumed
+the leadership before this, and he told me to stay where I was until he
+could go forward and learn whether it would do to pick our way through
+that part of the wood, or whether it was necessary to go around."
+
+"Well? well?" asked Maggie, seeing that her father hesitated.
+
+"My boy went forward to reconnoiter--and he didn't come back."
+
+"O, father!" wailed Maggie, "what became of him?"
+
+"You can guess as well as I: there were Indians in there, as I learned
+immediately after, and one of several things may have happened to him.
+He may have found himself involved in such a network of danger that he
+was forced to lie still, not daring to withdraw until night; he may have
+been compelled to go out by another route, or he----"
+
+"May have been captured and killed."
+
+Maggie's eyes were fixed yearningly upon the face of her parent, as she
+finished his remark in a tremulous whisper.
+
+"It may have been so," he added, gravely, "but we cannot be certain.
+Fred is very active, cool, self-possessed, and daring, and I shall not
+give up hope so long as this uncertainty exists."
+
+Maggie Brainerd attempted to speak, but failed. The human heart at such
+a time reaches the limit of endurance, and she drew her shawl closer
+about her, though the afternoon was warm, and the exertion of traveling
+was great.
+
+She had no covering on her head, but, like Eva, her wealth of luxuriant
+tresses, as fine as the golden floss on the ripening corn, flowed down
+and over her shapely shoulders.
+
+"We are in the hands of God," said her father, reverently, as he drew
+his elbow closer to his side, so as to press the hand of his daughter
+with it; "I waited as long as I dared, and had I not made the pledge I
+would have gone forward to Fred's assistance."
+
+"It was well you did not, for we would have two instead of one to mourn
+for."
+
+"But where is your courage, child?" he asked, reproachfully; "is this
+the girl who stood up in the flat-boat and used the pole when the
+bullets were flying about her? Is this she who coolly raised her rifle
+and fired at those who were seeking her life?"
+
+"I ought to be thankful, and I _am_ thankful, for God has been tenfold
+more merciful to me than he has to scores of others. Our family as yet
+is unbroken, and, though the way is long and dark before us, we have
+cause to hope we shall all be saved."
+
+"And there is equal cause to hope for the final escape of Fred," her
+father was quick to add.
+
+"I will not murmur anymore," said Maggie, helping him over a boulder
+that obstructed their path; "we have enough on hand, without looking
+behind us. It may be that Fred is one of the fortunate few who shall
+survive to tell the dreadful story, but I feel as though we shall never
+see him again."
+
+"Tut, tut, your feelings have nothing to do with it; when he rejoins us,
+and learns what a timid creature you were, or rather how strongly you
+doubted his ability to take care of himself--you will blush to look him
+in the face."
+
+"I pray that I may have the opportunity--"
+
+"Hello!" broke in her parent, stopping suddenly, as did all the rest;
+"there's something wrong."
+
+And so there was, sure enough.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+
+While the fugitives were pushing their way through the wilderness, and
+especially after they had entered the more romantic and mountainous
+section, they had become somewhat separated from each other.
+
+Gravity Gimp, the colored guide, was fully a hundred feet in advance--a
+piece of imprudence that should never have been permitted, while Eva
+came next, Aunt Peggy directly behind her, and Maggie and her father
+were less than a rod distant from her.
+
+Habakkuk McEwen had disappeared!
+
+That which caught the attention of father and daughter while they were
+conversing so earnestly, was a serpent-like "sh!" from the African, who,
+stopping instantly, turned part way round, and raised his hand in such a
+warning manner that the four paused, knowing he had made some alarming
+discovery.
+
+Gravity remained stationary but a second or two, when, in a stooping
+posture, he began moving back toward his friends.
+
+At this juncture, and before the little party had fully noticed the
+absence of McEwen, he was seen approaching from the left, with such a
+terrified look on his painted face that his shock hair seemed to be
+standing on end.
+
+He advanced much faster than the stealthy African, and he had hardly
+reached his friends when he exclaimed, in a husky whisper:
+
+"_We're gone! it's all up!_"
+
+"What do you mean?" demanded Brainerd.
+
+"I saw four thousand Injins just now."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"Right out there; I believe Colonel Butler and his villain of a son
+Walter, and Brandt, the Mohawk chief, and Queen Esther are at their
+head."
+
+This wild assertion served to lift part of the load from the listeners,
+but they knew the fellow must have some grounds for his terror.
+
+Before he could explain, Gravity Gimp had a word to say.
+
+"Dere am Injuns all about us; de wood am full ob 'em."
+
+"Tell us the truth, that we may know what to do," commanded Mr.
+Brainerd, sternly, while the affrighted females gathered around.
+
+"I war pushing along," said the servant, "when I heerd something like de
+call ob birds in de woods, and I begin to smell a mouse, and I walked
+slower like, thinking you folks war right onto my heels. All at once I
+seed two Injuns stealing along--"
+
+"Did they see you?"
+
+"No, 'cause dere backs was turned toward me, but I knowed dey war
+looking fur us, so I wheeled on my heel, and remarked, '_sh!_' jist to
+stop you from running ober me; as I done so, de Injuns wanished in de
+wood, but you can make up your mind dey'll be back agin mighty soon."
+
+"And what was it that _you_ saw, Habakkuk?"
+
+"I guess it must have been the same savages," replied McEwen, who had
+begun to regain something of his self-possession.
+
+"Didn't you see any more?"
+
+"No. But when you find two red men, you can feel sartin thar's a big lot
+more at hand; they're the same as rattlesnakes, in that respect."
+
+"It's not so bad as I thought, but the case is bad enough. Gravity, how
+far off is that place in the rocks we're hunting for?"
+
+"Reckon it can't be fur away now."
+
+"We must make all haste to it, then. The Indians seem to be, so far as
+we know, on our right, and you must bear off to the left, so as to avoid
+them, if we can."
+
+"Hold on," interrupted McEwen. "Gimp seen two Injins, didn't he?"
+
+"Dat's de fac'," replied the negro.
+
+"I seen the same number, but in addition, I had a fair glimpse of a
+white man, too."
+
+"Did you recognize him?"
+
+"I did. He was Jake Golcher, the Tory."
+
+"Oh, the scand'lous villain!" exclaimed Aunt Peggy. "I'll get my hands
+on him yet, and the next time, I'll shake the life out of him."
+
+Mr. Brainerd had heard the story of this man's doings, a comparatively
+short time before, and he needed no other proof that he had brought a
+horde across the Susquehanna for the purpose of wreaking vengeance upon
+his family.
+
+He knew that the Tory, who was more guilty than the fiercest of the
+Iroquois, was a discarded suitor of his daughter, and he was to be
+dreaded all the more on that account.
+
+"Quick," said Mr. Brainerd, addressing his servant; "we haven't a second
+to spare; bear off to the left, as I told you, and don't let the grass
+grow under your feet."
+
+It need not be said that no one of them lagged. The very peril from
+which they were fleeing was almost upon them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII.
+
+
+There was no attempt to use caution or care in hurrying forward. Somehow
+or other Jake Golcher had gotten on the track of the little party, and,
+with a number of Seneca warriors, almost as keen of eye and scent as
+bloodhounds, was following them.
+
+Fortunately, the distance to the cave was not great, and the fugitives
+were walking fast, and in the right direction.
+
+The heavy figure of Gravity Gimp kept its place at the front, and with a
+coolness scarcely to be expected, he looked to the right and left as he
+advanced, with the sole purpose of preventing any precious moments being
+lost by going astray.
+
+All heard the bird-calls, whistling, and faint whoops uttered with very
+little intermission, from different portions of the wood, so that it was
+certain the Tories and Indians knew of the flight, and were in sharp
+pursuit.
+
+The African, as we have said, maintained his place well in advance,
+though at times it looked as if Habakkuk would take the lead. But both
+scrambled along, sometimes half falling over the stones which turned
+beneath their tread, or the briers and vines that almost threw them on
+their faces.
+
+Gravity could not afford time to look to his feet, to see where he
+placed the rather unwilling members, for it required all his training,
+as a hunter, to keep his reckoning and to make sure he was taking the
+most direct route to the sheltering cave, upon which all hopes were now
+fixed.
+
+Although McEwen had come a long distance to help repel the invasion of
+the Wyoming Valley, he was accustomed to fight where there was plenty of
+support, and he knew enough of aboriginal ferocity to dread the
+collision that now impended.
+
+Had he known, therefore, the right course to follow, he would have been
+in advance of the others; but as it was, he fretted because he was
+forced to keep on the flank of the negro, whom he was continually urging
+to greater speed.
+
+"As sure as a gun," he said, "those fleet-footed redskins will gobble us
+up in five minutes, if you don't get up more speed than that, Gravity."
+
+"I can't conwerse while I'm tumbling over rocks and splitting 'em to
+pieces wid my head," was the reply. "Don't bodder me, but look out for
+Injuns, and if you see one, just run up to him and lamm him."
+
+"Lamm him!" muttered Habakkuk, more to himself than his companion. "That
+shows the intelligence of his race. He's so dumb at times that he
+crosses the line, and does smart things."
+
+Aunt Peggy was not far in the rear of the two, for she was much lighter
+of foot than they. She got along very well, but she held her lips
+compressed, and her small eyes flashed, when she reflected that the
+whole party were fleeing from the wrath of a man who had lived in the
+valley before the war, who had sat at Mr. Brainerd's table many a time,
+and had presumed, even, to pay court to pretty Maggie.
+
+It was an exasperating thought, indeed, that all this persecution was
+for no cause at all, excepting the depravity of the Tories, who, being
+renegades, were more revengeful than they would have been against a
+foreign enemy.
+
+Mr. Brainerd compelled his two daughters to continue in advance of him,
+though only for a short distance. He expected the appearance of the
+pursuers, and he could not leave the fugitives unguarded in that
+fashion.
+
+He felt that it was the place of Habakkuk McEwen to keep him company,
+and he called to him in a guarded voice. But the fleeing New Englander
+either did not, or would not, hear him.
+
+It was impossible for such a flight and pursuit as this to last for any
+length of time. The advantage was all on the side of the fleet-footed
+Indians, who were so familiar with the woods that they were sure to come
+up with the patriots in a brief while.
+
+The fugitives were hurrying forward, as we have described, when they
+were startled by the whoop of an Indian directly behind them, and so
+close that every one glanced over his shoulder.
+
+As they did so they saw the figure of a Seneca warrior in full view and
+on a rapid run.
+
+It was seen, too, that he grasped a gun in one hand and his tomahawk in
+the other. There could be little doubt that he meant to use one of them
+on the old gentleman at the rear, who could not hold his own against
+such a swift pursuer.
+
+"S'render! s'render! s'render!" called the savage, as he gained rapidly,
+uttering the command in such good English that no one could
+misunderstand him.
+
+"S'render! s'render!--me shoot--"
+
+Mr. Brainerd halted, turned quickly, raising his rifle while in the very
+act of doing so, and when the affrighted but bewildered Indian ran
+almost against the muzzle of his gun, the trigger was pressed.
+
+The red man, with an ear-splitting shriek, bounded in the air and
+stopped pursuing the patriots, while Mr. Brainerd, as he hurriedly
+resumed his flight, was so overcome with excitement as to mutter:
+
+"Now you can shoot and be--!"
+
+"The accusing spirit flew up to heaven's chancery with the oath, and as
+she wrote it down, dropped a tear on the word, and blotted it out
+forever."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+
+The crack of Richard Brainerd's rifle and the death-shriek of the Seneca
+Indian were almost simultaneous, but the redskin was only a slight way
+in advance of the other savages, who, understanding the meaning of the
+report and outcry, dashed forward.
+
+The startling episode caused some bewilderment on the part of the other
+fugitives, seeing which, the eldest called out to them impatiently:
+
+"Push on, there! Push on! the Indians are right on us."
+
+Providentially, the advance were so close to the refuge that Gravity
+Gimp caught sight of the spot, and without looking around, he swung his
+hand over his head and exclaimed:
+
+"Here we am! Here we am!"
+
+"And that's the trouble," growled Habakkuk McEwen, crowding hard after
+him, "if we were only somewhere else, we'd feel a good deal
+better--leastways I would."
+
+Another whoop was heard, then others at the rear, and those who glanced
+back caught sight of several warriors flitting among the trees and
+within the toss of a stone of them.
+
+Brainerd would have fired again had it been in his power, but his gun
+was unloaded and it was impossible to ram a charge home, and pour the
+powder in the pan, without coming to a standstill for a minute or two,
+and such hesitation would be death.
+
+Had the place of refuge toward which they were hastening been a dozen
+rods farther, not one of the fugitives would have reached it alive, but,
+at the critical moment, Gimp, the African, told the joyous news that it
+was at hand, and a general scramble followed.
+
+The servant paused at the head of the elevated path, and turning around,
+beckoned excitedly for the others to hurry, when they were already doing
+their utmost, while he danced about and waited the few seconds necessary
+for them to reach him.
+
+While he was doing so, Habakkuk McEwen suddenly vanished from sight,
+evidently concluding that the "time for disappearing" had come.
+
+He had caught sight of the refuge, and with one bound he went down the
+declivity and was first to enter.
+
+He took a sweeping glance of the interior, and was disappointed, for it
+was not what he expected, but it was far better than the open
+wilderness. He dashed for the narrow path on the outside, to take his
+part in yelling for the others to hurry up, or rather down.
+
+"Be quick! Quick!"
+
+It was Aunt Peggy who came panting into the opening with a rush, and,
+colliding with McEwen, sent him tumbling backwards.
+
+By the time the bewildered New Englander was on his feet again, Maggie
+Brainerd, Eva, her father, and Gravity Gimp came crowding into the
+narrow place, all nearly out of breath.
+
+There was a general looking around in the semi-gloom, and Habakkuk's
+disappointment was shared by those who had not seen the place before.
+
+It was of little account, and, although it might be made to answer as a
+temporary refuge, it could hardly be expected to furnish secure defense
+for an extended time.
+
+Descending a narrow path for twenty feet, and all the time along the
+face of the ravine, as it may be called, they reached a spot which
+looked as if it had been scooped out of the solid stone wall.
+
+It ran back a dozen feet or more, and was about the same breadth and
+height, but the difficulty was that the opening was fully as great, so
+that, viewed from the front, the person or animal who might seek shelter
+there was in plain sight.
+
+The spot was one of the many romantic ones that abound in the mountains
+fringing the Wyoming Valley. The rapidly sloping path that the fugitives
+followed terminated in front of the cave, which, therefore, could only
+be approached from the single direction. Beyond, the path narrowed off
+to nothing, leaving a perpendicular wall of stone for twenty feet below,
+and almost as much overhead.
+
+The ravine on which this bordered was fifty feet across, but directly
+opposite was the weak point of the defense.
+
+A mass of rocks rose fully as high, if not a few feet higher, than the
+cavern in which the fugitives had taken refuge; consequently, if an
+enemy could gain a position behind these boulders, he could fire down
+into the opening, where our friends had no means of protecting
+themselves from the shots.
+
+But it was no easy matter to reach this monument-like pile, though it
+could be done at much risk to the one attempting it. The configuration
+was so peculiar that one man at a time could creep along behind the
+other stones, until a point was almost reached which commanded the
+retreat, though the inmates, by pressing close against one side of the
+cavern, could escape the fire of an enemy.
+
+On the other side there was no means of approach to such a position.
+
+If a foe would climb up the rocks, and steal forward to a certain point,
+an active Indian could make a leap that would carry him to the cover of
+the pile, where he could aim and shoot into the cavern without risk to
+himself, provided he used ordinary caution.
+
+Furthermore, it was unlikely that the Indians, skilled as they were in
+woodcraft, would fail to see this vulnerable point and their own coigne
+of vantage.
+
+In truth they detected it almost on the same instant the fugitives
+hurried into the cavern.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+
+Fortunately both Gravity Gimp and Mr. Brainerd knew the peculiar
+construction of their refuge, and instant precautions were taken.
+
+"Keep back as far as you can," said the elder, "and stay close to the
+wall on the right."
+
+His order was obeyed, Habakkuk McEwen and the African both moving in
+that direction.
+
+"You come too, papa," insisted Eva, catching hold of the arm of her
+father, who smilingly took a step or two.
+
+"Yes," added Maggie, "if we all place ourselves beyond reach, why should
+not _you_ do the same?"
+
+He explained the situation.
+
+"If the Indians get to that mass of rocks opposite, they can shelter
+themselves and shoot into the cavern until there is not one of us
+left."
+
+"But is it necessary for you to stay out there, and draw their fire to
+keep them away from us?"
+
+"Not exactly, but we must see that they do not creep to the spot; before
+doing so, they must pass under our aim, and it will require no great
+marksmanship to prevent them."
+
+Thereupon, directing Gravity and Habakkuk to keep strict watch upon the
+place, with their rifles cocked, Mr. Brainerd deliberately reloaded his
+gun, and shifting his position so as to screen himself from the bullets
+that were certain to be sent into the place, he sat like a cat watching
+for a rat to come out of its hole.
+
+The fugitives talked in low tones, for there was something in the
+uncertainty that was impressive.
+
+Now that they were removed from imminent danger, they could breathe with
+some satisfaction, though sobered by their peril.
+
+"It's all that Jake Golcher's doings," said Aunt Peggy, who was at the
+extreme rear of the cavern, with one arm around the neck of Eva and the
+other inclosing that of Maggie.
+
+"I shouldn't wonder if you are right," replied Maggie; "he must be a
+wicked man indeed."
+
+"Umph!" exclaimed the maiden, with a sniff, "there ain't a more
+scand'lous villain that ever drawed the breath of life, and I know what
+I'm saying, and jus' to think, you had a chance and didn't shoot him."
+
+"But, aunty--"
+
+"Shet up, don't interrupt me," broke in the relative, with a vigorous
+shake of the arm inclosing the neck of Maggie.
+
+"How many times have I told you not to interrupt me when I am talking?
+Don't you know what's good manners?"
+
+"But, aunty," said Maggie, softly, "I don't see how I can talk at _any_
+time without interrupting you."
+
+Eva giggled, but fortunately Aunt Peggy did not catch the full meaning
+of the demure remark, and she said, rather sharply:
+
+"It's easy enough to tell when I'm talking by just listening, and when
+I'm talking you must keep still; but I want you to remember that that
+piece of burglary on your part has got to be settled."
+
+"What do you mean, aunty?"
+
+"I told you you deserved your ears cuffed, and when we get to a place
+where I can do it with some comfort to myself, I am going to cuff them,
+_that_ you can depend on."
+
+There could be no question about the earnestness of these words, and
+Maggie, like an obedient child, said nothing, glad to await the time
+when her aunt should punish her for sparing the wretch who was now
+trying to hound them to their death.
+
+"I don't know but that I deserve it," said the niece to herself, and we
+may as well confess that we are inclined to agree with the views of the
+aunt.
+
+"Oh, that Jake Golcher," she added, with a shiver, "I'd like to get a
+chance at him!"
+
+And just then she would have made it uncomfortable for the Tory, had he
+been within reach.
+
+The truth was, Golcher was one of the worst of the invaders of Wyoming
+Valley. Like many others, he joined a horde of Indians in attacking his
+former neighbors.
+
+As we have intimated, he had sat at the same table with the
+Brainerds--he had been given money by Mr. Brainerd himself, for he was a
+shiftless scamp, hating work like a veritable tramp, and he had never
+received an unkind word from the charitable head of the household, who
+sheltered him many a time when no one else would give him room.
+
+With the egotism of his nature, he had ventured to pay court to young
+Maggie Brainerd, who could scarcely credit his effrontery until he made
+a direct proposal of marriage.
+
+Even then, the high-spirited girl was so touched with compassion for the
+man, that she refused him with all the kindness of her nature--showing a
+feeling, indeed, that would have won the respect of any person claiming
+to be a man.
+
+But he stumped off muttering vengeance, and here he was, less then a
+year later, with a company of red men, seeking the lives of his former
+friends.
+
+Among those who figured in the war of the Revolution, there were none
+so utterly inexcusable as the Tories, who, like all renegades, were more
+bitter in the warfare they made upon the American colonies, than were
+what might be termed our natural enemies.
+
+But for the Jake Golcher named, it may be doubted whether the little
+band of fugitives would have suffered serious disturbance after fording
+and swimming the Susquehanna.
+
+There was enough on the western bank to keep the foe occupied all that
+night and the succeeding day, without crossing to the wilderness to hunt
+for victims.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+
+The days are long during the season of the year of which we are writing,
+it being scarcely dark at the hour of eight o'clock.
+
+Although at the time the little band of fugitives entered the cavern the
+sun was low in the west, and something like twilight pervaded the
+romantic scene, yet a full hour of light remained before night would
+settle on the forest and river.
+
+The evening that was approaching was partly moonlight, and the sky was
+without any vapor, excepting a few clouds in the east, so that it would
+not be entirely dark, but in the woods the gloom promised to be all that
+could be desired.
+
+No doubt the Indians had been quick to detect the vulnerable point, and
+before long some of them would try to steal up behind the pile of rocks
+which gave command of the fugitives.
+
+For that reason Mr. Brainerd stood with cocked rifle, and with his eye
+on the point where such approach must be made, while Habakkuk and Gimp
+were watching with scarcely less intentness, knowing as they did that
+the attainment of the station by a single Seneca would render the
+position of the fugitives "untenable," as the expression goes; that is
+to say, that same single warrior would be able to load and fire his
+rifle in absolute safety to himself, while he picked off every man and
+woman in the hollowed-out portion of the rocks.
+
+Mr. Brainerd impressed this fact on the other two men, and, at his
+suggestion, they helped guard the point.
+
+"It won't do for all of us to fire simultaneously," he said, "for then
+nothing could prevent the Indians charging across, and before we knew
+it, the whole place would be swarming with them."
+
+"How will we know which is to fire?" asked Habakkuk.
+
+"I'll take the first, Gravity the second, and you the third; they are
+not likely to make a rush, though, if they did, they would be certain
+to succeed after losing one or two of their number."
+
+"Won't they take that view any way?" asked the New Englander, who felt
+anything but easy in mind.
+
+"I don't apprehend there will be a combined attempt until after dark.
+All Indians are cowards, and the certainty that the first one or two in
+such a rush are sure to be picked off is likely to keep the whole party
+back, and compel them to try some other plan."
+
+"What will that be?"
+
+"I think they will steal up as near as it is safe, and then, after
+reconnoitering for a time, attempt to get over to the rocks without
+detection. The worst of the whole business is," added Mr. Brainerd, with
+an anxious sigh, "that a single marksman over there will do as much
+injury as a dozen, though he may be longer about it."
+
+"Suppose he does get there?"
+
+"But he _mustn't_," was the quiet answer.
+
+"But suppose he _does_, what then?"
+
+Mr. Brainerd was silent for a moment.
+
+"Then I shall have to send Habakkuk in one direction and Gravity in
+another, to dislodge the Indian before he can shoot."
+
+"My gracious!" muttered McEwen, "that would be sure death to all
+concerned."
+
+"The chances _would_ be against you--that's a fact, but that would be
+preferable to huddling in this place and allowing the redskins to pick
+us off, one after another, without being able to raise a finger in
+defense."
+
+"The state of affairs isn't calculated to raise hilarious laughter on
+our part," was the doleful remark of Habakkuk McEwen.
+
+"Therefore, you see how important it is that we should prevent the
+Indians getting such advantage over us."
+
+There could be no questioning this fact, and the other two renewed their
+watch, like men who knew the need of vigilance.
+
+"I say," remarked the African, as though a new idea had flashed upon
+him, "why don't the warmints wait till it is dark before dey take a pop
+at us?"
+
+"Very likely they will--but it won't do to discount any such
+probability."
+
+"Dat's de opinion ob de undersigned," said Gimp, with a sigh, only dimly
+suspecting the meaning of the words.
+
+"It's _my_ opinion," said Habakkuk, a minute later, "that they won't
+wait till dark unless they find they've got to do so."
+
+"Explain."
+
+"They will venture on something like a rackynoissance, just as Gineral
+Washington does before a battle--and if it looks as though there was a
+show to do something, they'll try it. If they find there isn't, they'll
+wait till dark."
+
+"You are quite right."
+
+The New Englander scratched his head in perplexity.
+
+"Well, I don't see where we are going to make anything by such a course,
+for when night comes they will have us foul, in spite of all we can do."
+
+"We will be at a great disadvantage, but not hopelessly so."
+
+"I don't see why we won't, for what will they want better than darkness
+to help them over?"
+
+"There will be some light to-night, and it requires very little to show
+every portion of the upper part of the rocks--enough light, indeed, to
+demand only a little closer attention on our part. That pile of rocks
+there is something like the 'Umbrella Tree,' over on the top of the
+western mountains: it stands out in such relief, that we cannot fail to
+detect any movement near it."
+
+"Can't they climb up in the rear of them, so as to avoid showing
+themselves to us?"
+
+"It is impossible," replied Mr. Brainerd, who had investigated the
+matter only a brief while before, "that is, the thing is out of the
+question for the present. If we were to be besieged for several days,
+they would then find the means, if they had to send across the river to
+get it."
+
+"And what's to hinder them keeping us here for a week?"
+
+Mr. Brainerd shook his head, though it was hard for him to tell
+precisely why he was so positive on that point.
+
+"I don't see why they can't do it," added the New Englander; "and then
+what would we do for water?"
+
+"And for somefin to eat," interjected Gravity, with a shudder, for he
+was already very hungry: "I say, Haberkick, we orter to have all we kin
+to forterfy us agin such a thing, and, derfore, it's my belief dat we
+orter swaller dat bread without delay."
+
+"And it's my belief that you won't do any such thing," said Mr.
+Brainerd, who knew the value of even such a small quantity of
+nourishment, in view of the long march they expected to make through the
+wilderness to Stroudsburg.
+
+"Any way you can fix it," pursued McEwen, "it's sartin we're going to
+have a mighty hot time--"
+
+At that very moment, before his words were finished, the whip-like crack
+of an Indian rifle was heard, and all three who were looking out over
+the ravine caught the red flash of a gun from the extreme left of the
+opposite side--the point from which the fugitives could protect
+themselves, though it was the most dangerous spot, with the exception
+of the pile of rocks directly opposite.
+
+"I'm hit and done for!" exclaimed Habakkuk McEwen, as he gave a
+convulsive start and threw himself backward.
+
+Naturally enough all were terrified, and Aunt Peggy uttered a scream as
+Maggie sprang forward to the assistance of the wounded man.
+
+Mr. Brainerd was shocked, but he did not lose his presence of mind, and,
+cautioning them to stay as far back as they could, to escape drawing
+another shot, he remained at his post, bending low and keeping close to
+the wall, while he watched the point across the ravine with catlike
+closeness.
+
+"Are you badly hurt?" asked Maggie, with the natural tenderness of her
+nature.
+
+"Oh, I'm done for, dear Maggie; I hoped I should be able to live for
+_your_ sake--but it seems not."
+
+This was rather startling, but, under the alarming circumstances, much
+was to be overlooked.
+
+"I hope you are not so seriously hurt as all that," ventured Aunt
+Peggy, whose sympathy for the man led her to disregard her own safety,
+for she placed herself close to him, and necessarily in the same spot
+where he stood when he fell.
+
+"Oh, go away," persisted Habakkuk, "I don't want anybody near me but
+Maggie; take my hand, dear, and let me--"
+
+"See h'ar, dat's enough ob dat," broke in Gravity. "You ain't hurt any
+more dan I am; dere's de bullet, and it nebber touched ye."
+
+As he spoke, he picked up a piece of lead, jagged and flattened, which
+had struck the rocky wall directly over the shoulder of Habakkuk,
+without so much as scratching his skin.
+
+The New Englander stared at the battered lead held over his face by the
+grinning African; then he clapped his hand to his breast, where he
+supposed he was hurt, came suddenly to a sitting position, scrambled to
+his feet, and picking up his gun, exclaimed:
+
+"I should like to see the chap that fired that shot, for it's just as
+bad to scare a fellow to death as to shoot him."
+
+Despite the gravity of the situation, a general smile went round the
+little party, and even Mr. Brainerd himself, who was closely watching
+for the appearance of the warrior, preparatory to his leap over the
+narrow chasm, turned his head with a light laugh and said:
+
+"There's enough likelihood of being struck without making any mistake
+about it."
+
+Gravity Gimp sat down on the flinty floor, and leaning back, opened his
+mouth tremendously, and laughed till he shook all over.
+
+Habakkuk glowered on him and said:
+
+"If you'll only keep that mouth open in that style, it will catch all
+the bullets that can be fired into the cavern."
+
+At that, Gravity spread his great jaws farther apart, until there seemed
+danger of their absorbing his ears.
+
+"Yah, yah, dat's de fust time I ever knowed a man killed by a bullet dat
+nebber touched him."
+
+Maggie Brainerd bit her lips, while Aunt Peggy gave her usual sniff and
+said:
+
+"It's the easiest thing in the world for some folks to make fools of
+themselves without knowing it."
+
+McEwen sought to divert the ridicule of his friends by his assiduous
+attention to matters outside.
+
+Stationing himself close to Mr. Brainerd, who was lying on his face with
+his rifle cocked and extended in front, he also raised the hammer of his
+gun and whispered:
+
+"Sh! I thought I saw an Injin's top-knot then!"
+
+"Look out he doesn't shoot you wid it," laughed Gimp. "Dere's no tellin'
+what dey'll fire wid, and--"
+
+"That's enough of that," interposed Mr. Brainerd, sternly. "This is no
+time for mirth. There _are_ Indians out there, and I saw the head of one
+but a second ago."
+
+"What did I tell you?" demanded Habakkuk. "You won't feel like laughing
+a few minutes from now."
+
+At this moment perfect silence fell on all, for they saw that Mr.
+Brainerd had discovered something unusual and alarming.
+
+More than that, he was taking deliberate aim at some object, only
+pausing long enough to make sure that when he fired the ball should not
+miss.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI.
+
+
+The finger of Mr. Brainerd was pressing the trigger, and the hammer with
+its cumbrous flint was on the very eve of descending, when he suddenly
+released the pressure, and gave utterance to a peculiar half-chuckle.
+Those who were gazing along the line of direction indicated by the
+gleaming rifle-barrel, saw at the point where the Seneca was expected to
+appear, something which looked very much like the forerunner of that
+interesting person.
+
+It was the top-knot and crown of an Indian, with several gaudy feathers
+projecting slightly beyond the wall of rock, the appearance suggesting
+that he was gathering himself for a spring.
+
+This was the belief of the patriot, and, confident that at such a short
+distance he could not miss, he was about to fire, when there came a
+flash of suspicion that a sharp, but by no means original, trick was
+being tried on him.
+
+The action was not precisely that of a real Indian while trying to peer
+around a dangerous point, and most probably was intended to draw the
+fire of the sentinel.
+
+As soon as the bullet should leave the ready rifle, the waiting warrior
+would either leap or run the few intervening feet, and reach the
+vantage-ground before the other two rifles in the company could be aimed
+and fired.
+
+"Why don't you shoot?" whispered Habakkuk, "you've got him dead sure."
+
+"_That isn't an Indian_," was the response, "but there will be one in
+sight pretty soon. All of you keep well back out of the way, where there
+is no danger of being hit, and leave this fellow to me."
+
+The situation of the settler was trying. Lying flat on his face, with
+his gun cocked and pointed toward a certain spot, he watched with such
+intensity that in the fading light his sight threatened to fail him.
+Odd, flickering figures danced before him, and sometimes rock, wood, and
+sky were so jumbled together, that he had to glance in another
+direction, until he could recover his visual strength.
+
+The wily Seneca, having failed to draw his shot, was now likely to
+attempt some other stratagem.
+
+Furthermore, the massacre of Wyoming was still going on, and this
+formidable body had not the patience to shut themselves out from their
+share in it.
+
+In one sense it was tying themselves up to remain for hours, besieging a
+little company of fugitives, and, therefore, they were likely to display
+less indifference to the passage of time than is the rule with their
+race.
+
+Such was the conclusion of Mr. Brainerd, and we may as well say he was
+correct.
+
+All at once the figure of an Indian warrior was seen against the sky,
+and the next instant he made a leap like a panther, his fine athletic
+form with his legs and arms gathered being seen for an instant
+apparently poised in mid-air, as he made his swift bound for the point
+behind the column of rocks, which, once secured, placed the life of
+every one of the patriots at his mercy.
+
+But, while the lithe Seneca hung thus, for one moment, between heaven
+and earth, he emitted a screech, his limbs were thrown out convulsively,
+and, striking the point at which he aimed, he rebounded like a ball, and
+went tumbling to the bottom.
+
+Mr. Brainerd had fired at the very crisis, and his aim was unerring.
+
+"Let me have your gun," said he, reaching for the weapon in the hand of
+McEwen, while he kept watch of the point where the Seneca had appeared
+and disappeared with such suddenness.
+
+The New Englander passed the rifle to the settler, saying:
+
+"It won't fail you."
+
+"Please reload mine."
+
+Habakkuk did as requested, and they exchanged weapons again.
+
+The supposition of Mr. Brainerd was, that the shot he had fired would
+keep the Indians at bay for a considerable while, though he knew better
+than to trust to any such probability.
+
+The gun that had served him so well was in his grasp again, and a
+feeling of self-confidence came with it.
+
+Much less time had passed since the disaster to the patriots on the
+other side the Susquehanna than would be supposed; but, while the
+settler lay stretched out on the rock, watching for the second Indian,
+he became aware that he was watching by the aid of moonlight and
+starlight alone.
+
+It was all the harder to keep close guard, but it was indispensable, and
+he doubted not that when he pulled trigger a second time another Seneca
+would take a header down the ravine.
+
+Some fifteen minutes passed, when Mr. Brainerd either saw, or fancied he
+saw, a precisely similar fluttering movement as preceded the leap of him
+who fell a victim to his marksmanship.
+
+He held his gun pointed, the hammer raised, and his finger on the
+trigger, ready to fire the second it should become necessary.
+
+He was not kept waiting; sooner than he anticipated, the crouching
+figure shot out into the air, as if propelled from a catapult, and,
+with the same remarkable aim, the patriot pulled the trigger at the
+moment the warrior was at the arch of the brief parabola.
+
+But, to his consternation, the powder flashed in the pan, and no
+discharge followed the dull click of the flint.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII.
+
+
+With the body of the Seneca covered by the rifle of Mr. Brainerd the
+latter pulled the trigger, at the very moment the body was in mid-air,
+but the gun was undischarged.
+
+Habakkuk McEwen, in his flurry, had rammed down the bullet first, and
+the weapon was useless until the ball was extracted.
+
+Where the elder had shown such vigilance, it was singular that he had
+forgotten to take a very simple precaution--he should have had the
+African or New Englander covering the same point, and arranged that one
+should fire with him.
+
+The intervening space was so brief there was no excuse for missing, and
+such a catastrophe could have been averted.
+
+But though Mr. Brainerd's piece failed him, the second Indian emitted
+the same shriek, and went sprawling to the bottom, shot directly through
+the body.
+
+"What the mischief have you done with my gun?" demanded Mr. Brainerd,
+flinging the weapon behind him; "let me have the one in your hand;
+there's something wrong with mine; draw out the charge and fix it."
+
+"My gracious!" exclaimed the astounded Gimp, "what does _dat_ mean?"
+
+"What does _what_ mean?"
+
+"Why did dat Injin turn back summersets, and whoop it up in dat style,
+when your gun flashed in de pan?"
+
+"_Somebody_ shot him."
+
+"But who was he?"
+
+Mr. Brainerd made no reply, for he had none to make. Some unknown friend
+had fired the second shot, that prevented the warrior obtaining a
+foothold where it would have been fatal to the whites.
+
+As to the identity of the friend, that could not be guessed.
+
+The explanation upon which all agreed was, that some other settlers--one
+or more--had taken shelter somewhere in the vicinity, and had fired,
+either as a matter of self-protection, or for the benefit of those in
+the cavern.
+
+Precisely how it should become necessary for some one to shoot the
+warrior, as a means of defense, was more than could be explained.
+
+Another strange fact about it was, that Maggie Brainerd and Aunt Peggy
+insisted that, instead of being discharged from some point beyond and on
+the other side of the rocks, the marksman was perched directly over the
+heads of those in the cavern.
+
+Where there were so many boulders and trees, the short echoes might well
+produce confusion, but the two ladies were positive that the man was
+immediately above them.
+
+Gravity Gimp was inclined to the same opinion, and Mr. Brainerd was
+puzzled more than ever.
+
+"I not only heard the gun," said Maggie, with great positiveness, "but I
+heard the man himself moving up there."
+
+"That is impossible, my daughter," protested her father, feeling it had
+now become safe, for the first time, to relax his vigilance.
+
+"Not at all," she replied, "you can hear plainly through a solid
+substance, and I caught a sound made by that man's shoe scraping over
+the rocks."
+
+It was scarcely credible, and yet, knowing Maggie for the clear-headed
+girl that she was, her father could not doubt her assertion.
+
+It was a vast relief to discover they had such an ally so close at hand,
+though there remained the element of doubt as to how much further his
+help would extend.
+
+Twilight was ended at last, and the solemn night brooded over the scene.
+
+"Better to be shot to the death here where we are," was the thought of
+Mr. Brainerd, "than to fall into their hands, and such shall be our
+fate, if it comes to a choice between the two."
+
+But for all that, the conviction was strong upon him that the only
+possible hope for him and his dear ones was to get them all out of that
+place, and well on the way through the "Shades of Death," before the
+rising of the morrow's sun.
+
+They could not leave during the daytime, when, under the full glare of
+the noonday sun, and with such leisure at their command, the Indians
+would find some way of intrenching themselves behind the column of
+rocks, without being exposed to the fire of the sentinel or sentinels,
+as the case might be.
+
+Besides this, it was hardly to be expected that the unknown friend would
+be able to hold his own position in the daytime.
+
+But how to leave the spot was the all-important question.
+
+It would not do to move up the path by the way they came, for, even with
+the protecting shadow, they would be seen and would walk into the web,
+like so many flies.
+
+As the path ended at the front of the cavern, no progress could be made
+in that direction, but the patriot believed that by picking his way down
+the rocks to the bottom of the ravine, as he was certain could be done,
+some new route might be opened.
+
+It was necessary, however, to make a reconnoissance before venturing
+forth. Who was the right person to do it?
+
+Beyond question, Habakkuk McEwen was the man.
+
+"See here," said Mr. Brainerd, coming to the point at once, as was his
+custom, "it may as well be understood that if we remain until the sun
+rises there will be no hope of our ever getting away."
+
+Perfect silence followed this remark, and waiting only long enough for
+it to produce its effect, he added:
+
+"Some one must steal out of the cavern, and learn whether any path is
+open by which we can get away. I would not hesitate to go, but our
+safety depends on guarding this point, where one of them may appear.
+Gravity is too slow, and I must therefore request you, Habakkuk, to act
+as our scout."
+
+"Well, well!" exclaimed the startled man. "It'll never do for _me_ to go
+down among the Injins."
+
+"You needn't go down among them--but are to make sure whether there is a
+chance for us to steal away, under the protection of the shadow which
+now incloses us."
+
+"I'd like to oblige you, but it won't do--why," he added, starting up
+with the idea, "it always makes me dizzy to go prowling around in the
+moonlight. I'd be sure to fall over the rocks and break my leg, and
+then how would you feel?"
+
+"Sorry because it wasn't your neck," retorted Mr. Brainerd, who
+concluded that the man was not such a re-enforcement after all, as he
+appeared from his own account to be; "your presence with us is an
+incumbrance, and I should be highly gratified if you would depart and
+never show yourself again. I will go myself."
+
+He called to Gravity to take his place as sentinel, with his gun pointed
+out where the foe was likely to appear, but Eva, Maggie, and Aunt Peggy
+would not permit any such course.
+
+The father had gone to the verge of endurance during the day. He was
+past fifty, quite bulky in figure, and about the only qualification he
+possessed for the self-appointed task, was his courage.
+
+The three compelled the old gentleman to yield, and Maggie, with the
+shrewdness natural to her sex, turned to Habakkuk, who was standing at
+one side, and laying her pretty hand on his shoulder, said:
+
+"Habakkuk, you think a good deal of me, don't you?"
+
+He held off a second or so, while she turned her winsome face up to his
+in the gloom. He meant to sulk and compel her to coax him, but his heart
+gave a big jump at the touch of that hand, and, when he was able to see
+very faintly that countenance so close to his own, it was more than he
+or any sensible person could stand.
+
+His face suddenly expanded into an all-embracing grin, and he made
+answer:
+
+"Think a good deal of you, Maggie, you dear, sweet, angelic angel. Why,
+I worship the ground you walk on; all I came here for was to see you. I
+don't care a blamed cent for the others."
+
+"If you think so much of me, then, won't you take some risk for my sake,
+as well as that of the others?"
+
+"Of course I will; it will delight me--"
+
+"Then do as father requested you."
+
+"And go prowling outside among the Indians and Tories?"
+
+"Of course."
+
+"I'll be hanged if I will!" was the response, as Habakkuk stepped back;
+"a chap hain't got but one life, and if I should lose that, what good
+would I ever be to myself or any one else? You wouldn't be able to
+become my bride."
+
+"But it will be dangerous to stay here, and if you go out and be careful
+it may be the means of saving us all."
+
+"I tell you, dear Maggie, I would do so if it wasn't because I know I
+would become dizzy; it would be sure to come on me; I feel it coming on
+me now--there! catch me--hold me--"
+
+He staggered toward her, throwing out his arms, and trying to measure
+the distance so as to fling his grasp about her, but she stepped back,
+and he went to the ground.
+
+"Keep away from me!" she said, disdainfully; "if there is any creature
+in this world which I despise, it is that person who speaks a falsehood
+to escape duty."
+
+"You'll be sorry for this some day, dear Maggie."
+
+She stamped her foot so angrily, and her father showed such a
+disposition to interfere, that he checked himself.
+
+"I don't see why I ain't de gemman after all dat's to do dis thing,"
+said Gravity.
+
+Habakkuk McEwen slapped him on his broad shoulder.
+
+"The idee exactly! one reason why I thought best to decline--though I
+didn't say so--was through the fear of hurting your feelings, Gravity--"
+
+"Dat needn't trouble you; you kin go now, and I won't feel slighted."
+
+"You've an advantage over us all, for you're so black that wherever you
+go you will carry the darkness with you, and the Injins will see nothing
+but so much shadow gliding along."
+
+"Dat may all be, but s'pose dey should take a notion to fling their
+tomahawks into de shadder, what will become ob _dis_ person?"
+
+"If you are careful, you won't be hurt; if it wasn't for my weakness of
+dizziness, I would jump at the chance--"
+
+"If I hear anymore such stuff," interrupted Mr. Brainerd, "I'll pitch
+you neck and heels out of here."
+
+"Then I guess you won't hear any more," was the prudent thought of
+Habakkuk.
+
+As the African was so willing to go, it was decided to permit him to
+make the attempt.
+
+The head of the party based little hope on the venture of his servant,
+and indeed doubted whether they would ever see him again, but, for that
+matter, there was little choice between the situation of any one or two
+of them.
+
+Calling Gravity to him, his employer said:
+
+"You show a great deal more courage and manliness than most of your
+acquaintances give you credit for. I can only tell you to do your best,
+as you always do."
+
+"How shall I got away widout being seed?"
+
+"That's the trouble, but you know this side of the ravine is in deep
+shadow, and I think if you move slowly up the footpath we followed in
+coming here, you won't be seen."
+
+"Dat's jis what I'll do, den--good-bye." And before any one suspected
+it, the African was gone.
+
+As the faithful fellow was running such risk, Mr. Brainerd crept
+forward, and with some danger to himself thrust his head and shoulders
+out, so as to watch the actions of his servant.
+
+Gimp assumed a crouching posture, and began moving up the narrow,
+sloping path like the shadow that creeps over the face of the dial.
+
+"I wonder whether it is possible to see him," the elder one asked
+himself, with a pang of fear, as he looked across the brief intervening
+space; "it hardly seems credible that they would leave the door wide
+open in that manner."
+
+But speculation was useless: Gimp was outside the cavern, and if really
+detected by the watchful red men, he was beyond help.
+
+Mr. Brainerd could hear the rustling of the African's body as he slowly
+glided along, often loosening the dirt and gravel with his hands and
+knees, and sending it rolling down toward the mouth of the cavern, but
+there came no sign from the rocks beyond, where it was believed the main
+body of their enemies was gathered.
+
+Like a huge turtle the bulky negro climbed the steep path, until his
+outlines were lost in the gloom as he neared the top, and his master
+drew back into the cavern and wondered what it could mean.
+
+If a man could walk from the cavern in that fashion, why might not the
+entire party, one after the other, file out in the same manner?
+
+This was a natural question, but the settler was too wise to believe the
+attempt was feasible.
+
+There would be nothing extraordinary in the fugitives' going to the top
+of the path without molestation, but it would be absurd to suppose they
+could walk off into the woods undisturbed, when such a vigilant foe was
+in watch for them.
+
+The American Indian does not prosecute his warfare in that fashion.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII.
+
+
+The experience of Gravity Gimp, after reaching the outside of the
+cavern, was remarkable in more than one respect.
+
+When he found himself creeping up the narrow path, to the high ground
+above, and realized that he would make a capital target for one or a
+dozen of the Seneca sharpshooters, his teeth fairly rattled, and he
+would have retreated, but for his affection for the members of the
+Brainerd family.
+
+"'Spect dere's two hundred ob 'em a-settin' in a row on a log up dere
+and waitin' for me, and when I come along dey'll each one hit me ober de
+head wid de butt end ob dere tomahawks, and by de time dey gots frough
+I'll hab de headache so bad dat I'll be as dizzy as Haberkick down
+dere."
+
+Gravity paused for a minute, and then resumed creeping forward. Within
+the succeeding ten minutes he had reached the high level ground above,
+without sight or sound of an Indian.
+
+No wonder he was mystified, for it occurred to him, naturally enough,
+that if he could pass out unchallenged in that fashion all the others
+might do the same, and what seemed to be a very perilous situation might
+thus resolve itself into nothing of the kind.
+
+He came near turning back and inviting his friends to follow him, but
+fortunately he changed his mind and decided to go farther, before
+believing that the cloud had lifted.
+
+"Dere don't seem to be anybody loafing 'bout here," he muttered, "and
+I'll promenade a little further."
+
+He now began cautiously moving over the same ground he and his friends
+had hurried along when so hotly chased by the Indians.
+
+Only a short distance was passed in the deep shadows of the trees, when
+he paused, still mystified.
+
+The question presented itself as to how he was to accomplish anything
+that could benefit those whom he had left behind, for if they should
+seek to leave the cavern during the night, there was no other way, so
+far as he could judge, excepting that which he himself had taken.
+
+"It must be dat the Injuns are down on de oder side de ravine, and I
+think dere's where I'll take an observation."
+
+No task could be more delicate than this, and Gravity, with all his
+shrewdness, was unfitted to undertake it. There were scouts, who under
+the circumstances, would have gathered all the knowledge desired, and
+would have placed themselves among their enemies without detection, but
+the African was a different kind of personage.
+
+He picked his way along the wood above the cavern, and had gone less
+than two rods beyond, when he stopped to gaze about him. The gloom was
+so dense that he could see very little, excepting when he looked across
+the ravine, where the moonlight fell and where the mass of rocks, so
+dreaded by the fugitives, was in plain sight.
+
+He saw nothing there which could enlighten him, but his heart nearly
+stood still, when he not only heard a movement behind him near the
+point where the path to the cavern reached the high ground above, but
+despite the gloom detected several dark figures moving stealthily about.
+
+That these were Indians there could be no doubt, and the conclusion was
+inevitable that they had seen him come out and had allowed him to pass
+by them without molestation.
+
+Being now between him and the shelter, his return was cut off, and no
+matter what important discoveries he might make, he had no means of
+telling them to his friends.
+
+"I might have knowed dere would be some goings on like dis," he said,
+with a throb of alarm. "De best thing I kin do is to strike out for
+Stroudsburg alone, widout waitin' for de folks."
+
+Though he might have been justified in this course, yet his conscience
+would not permit it, and he started again, with the purpose of
+passing around to the other side of the ravine, and making a closer
+reconnoissance of the spot where he was certain of finding enemies.
+
+This required a long detour, and a full half-hour passed before he got
+across the short ravine and began climbing up the other side, near
+where the Indians were known to be only a short time before.
+
+As might have been anticipated, he went wrong, and got into the worst
+trouble of his life.
+
+He had seen nothing more of the Senecas, but several faint whistles he
+recognized as signals passing between them, and he should have
+understood, from what had already taken place, that his movements were
+watched by the wary foe.
+
+He was climbing a narrow passage, and was, perhaps, a dozen feet above
+the bottom of the ravine, when, to his dismay, a sinewy warrior sprang
+up in front of him, as though leaping out of the ground itself, and with
+tomahawk raised and a guttural exclamation, made for him.
+
+The assault was so sudden that Gimp had no time to use his rifle, but he
+was not taken altogether at fault. Dropping the weapon, he recoiled a
+step or two and escaped the implement as it came down with a vicious
+whiz.
+
+Before the warrior could recover or retreat, the African threw both
+arms about him, and, lifting him as though he were an infant, flung him
+headlong into the ravine below.
+
+"Dere! guess dat'll jar you a little--"
+
+But, to his amazement, a second brawny Indian appeared directly where
+the other had first shown himself, and he was immediately followed by
+others, who, it was plain, were pushing up through a narrow passage for
+the purpose of capturing the African.
+
+The latter had succeeded so well a minute before, that he again resorted
+to the same tactics, and, catching hold of the first warrior he could
+reach, he hurried him after the first. Then the next was treated in the
+same manner, and, for the time, Gravity Gimp became a sort of sable
+geyser or miniature volcano, throwing into the air sprawling Seneca
+Indians with a vehemence that was as picturesque as it was amazing.
+
+The exercise of hurling full-grown men aloft, regardless of how high
+they go, and in what posture they strike, is an exhausting diversion, no
+matter how powerful the gymnast who engages in it.
+
+Thus it came about that the herculean African speedily found that he had
+his hands more than full, and his terrific efforts so told upon him that
+he grew more sluggish in his movements, until at last he was fairly
+smothered with the crush of warriors, and, despite his fierce
+resistance, was made prisoner.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV.
+
+
+Meanwhile the fugitives in the cavern were placed in a situation almost
+as grave as that of Gravity Gimp himself.
+
+The departure of the latter created a stir that lasted some minutes
+after Mr. Brainerd drew back and whispered to his friends the fact that
+the servant had reached the ground above, and was unmolested.
+
+"He must pass over the spot where the man stood who fired the shot,"
+said Maggie Brainerd, "and he ought to find out who he is."
+
+"Provided the stranger remains there, which isn't likely."
+
+The reader knows that this hope was disappointed, for the negro saw
+nothing of the man nor did he once think of him, while making the
+reconnoissance that resulted in his own capture.
+
+"Now," said the father, who felt as though his responsibility had
+increased since the departure of the African, "Aunt Peggy, you must keep
+yourself and the girls as far back and away from the mouth of the cavern
+as you can, for there's no telling when a stray bullet may come in."
+
+"I will see that we are all out of harm's way, while we are here," said
+Habakkuk McEwen.
+
+"There's no doubt of that as far as yourself is concerned, but your
+personal safety is not a matter of concern to any of us here."
+
+"But, Richard," ventured Aunt Peggy, coming close to the elbow of her
+brother-in-law, "what are _you_ going to do?"
+
+"I shall stay where I am, at the mouth of the cave, watching that point
+yonder. It won't do to relax our vigilance, for a single minute of such
+neglect may prove fatal."
+
+"But you will be struck, if a shot is sent into this place."
+
+"No one is safer than I; do you see?"
+
+As he spoke he indicated a large, long stone, some twenty or more inches
+in length and a third as thick.
+
+"It's a loose piece of the rock, which I chanced upon. I laid it in
+front of me across my line of vision to rest my gun upon. That gives me
+an easy position, while I have a good breast-work."
+
+"But don't you have to look over the line of protection, so as to keep
+good watch?" asked Maggie.
+
+"There must be a certain amount of danger, no matter how well we are
+protected."
+
+But there was one fact which Mr. Brainerd, with all his forethought,
+failed to take note of: his anxiety was so great that he believed he
+could do without sleep for a week, and yet he should have known that if
+he undertook to lie down on his face and keep watch, no solicitude nor
+effort of the will could keep him awake.
+
+The only recourse is that of continual motion, as is the case with the
+sailor on watch or the sentinel on guard at night.
+
+In fact, no posture could have been more wooing to the gentle goddess
+that steals away our senses ere we are aware.
+
+The females, as Mr. Brainerd had suggested, withdrew to the rear of the
+cavern, placing themselves at one side where no bullet could reach
+them, unless fired from the mass of rocks that the father was watching
+with such close attention.
+
+Habakkuk McEwen, located near them, attempted a conversation, but no one
+showed any disposition to take part, and Aunt Peggy invited him so
+energetically to keep quiet that he complied.
+
+As Mr. Brainerd lay extended on the flat, rocky floor of the cavern,
+with his gun cocked and pointed outward, he asked himself more than one
+question which he could not answer.
+
+Looking as hopefully as he might at the situation, he saw no ground for
+encouragement.
+
+Gravity Gimp had departed, and he did not believe he would be able to
+come back. In this belief the settler was correct, for the African never
+placed foot in the cavern again.
+
+He had gone, taking one of the guns with him, and so much power of
+defense was abstracted from the little party without any possible
+return.
+
+Although Habakkuk McEwen seemed at first to be an acquisition, yet the
+cowardice shown a short time before so displeased Mr. Brainerd that,
+despite the necessity of union, he forbore almost entirely to have any
+communication with him.
+
+Stretched out thus in the rocky shelter, with his gun thrust forward and
+his eyes fixed on the danger-point, the stillness became oppressive.
+
+The deep, hollow roar of the forest, the soft murmur of the river, the
+distant crack of a rifle, and the shout of some wild Indian or flying
+fugitive--all these came to the listener with impressive distinctness.
+
+But, at the same time, as I have shown, the situation was favorable to
+slumber, and ere the watcher suspected it, his eyes closed and his
+senses floated away.
+
+He breathed so softly that none of his friends suspected he was
+sleeping. Indeed, almost at the same time, Habakkuk drifted into
+dreamland, his loud breathing being audible to all who were awake.
+
+Eva Brainerd, with her head resting in the lap of her loved sister,
+slept like an infant, but Maggie and Aunt Peggy kept as alert as when
+they were in the small boat, pushing across the Susquehanna. No two
+persons could realize the peril of their situation more than did these
+two, who talked in low tones, and speculated as to what was the best
+thing to do, if, indeed, they could do anything at all.
+
+Mr. Brainerd did not sleep long, his senses coming back to him as softly
+as they had departed. When fully himself, his position was the same as
+taken at first. His gun was still pointed toward the column of rocks,
+that was more plainly visible than before, now that the moon was higher
+in the sky.
+
+He felt as though he had been sleeping for hours, though in reality it
+was no more than fifteen minutes, and a shudder passed over him at the
+consciousness that a hundred red men might have leaped across the chasm
+in front without danger to themselves.
+
+He could only hope that such advantage had not been taken of his
+remissness. Hearing the faint murmur of Maggie and Aunt Peggy's voices
+as they spoke to each other, he was on the point of turning to ask them
+a question, when something like a shadow flitted across the space which
+he was guarding.
+
+He rubbed his eyes and looked again; another and then another whisked
+by, like the flight of birds, and then he awoke to the fact that, while
+he lay there, with his loaded and aimed rifle, three Indian warriors had
+leaped across the opening that separated them from the mass of rocks
+which commanded the situation.
+
+Even supposing none had made the leap while the watcher was asleep, it
+was certain that the number named had secured the shelter, and now they
+could pick off every one in the cavern at their convenience, without
+risk to themselves.
+
+"I don't see any use of trying to hold out," muttered the watcher, in
+the bitterness of spirit; "at such a time as this, when the wretches get
+started, it seems as though everything favors them. I thought since that
+shot came so opportunely, that we would receive more help from the same
+source, but he, too, has slumbered, and while he slept--"
+
+"Father," broke in Maggie, "I hear some one overhead, just where that
+person was when he fired his gun."
+
+The girl was right, for her parent detected it at the same moment: it
+was as if some one were scraping his feet over the upper surface of the
+rocks, though it was impossible to imagine the meaning of his action.
+
+Then as the three listened, they thought he was gradually working toward
+the edge of the ravine, until suddenly the sound stopped.
+
+No one spoke, and all were fairly holding their breath, when, to their
+dismay, a pair of feet, quickly followed by a pair of shapely legs,
+appeared in front of the cavern, slowly descending, and bringing more of
+the owner in sight.
+
+Some one was lowering himself from the top of the ravine, with the
+purpose of dropping in the path in front and entering the cavern!
+
+"It is an Injin," called out Aunt Peggy; "why don't you shoot him,
+Richard, before he kills us all?"
+
+At that instant the stranger dropped with a light bound, and, looking
+around in the gloom, asked:
+
+"Are you all here?"
+
+The moment he spoke, the voice was recognized as that of Fred Godfrey.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV.
+
+
+Words cannot picture the amazement and delight of the little company in
+the cavern, when their strange visitor, who descended so suddenly upon
+them, was recognized as Fred Godfrey.
+
+Mr. Brainerd, when the fortunate shot was fired some time before, felt
+just the faintest suspicion that it might be his son; but he said
+nothing to the others, through fear of exciting hopes that could only be
+disappointed.
+
+Maggie, herself, thought of Fred, and prayed that it might be he; but
+she, too, held her peace--and now here, was her daring brother among
+them.
+
+It required but a few minutes, after greeting his relatives, to tell of
+his extraordinary escape from Queen Esther, and his prolonged hunt for
+his friends. From what passed between him and Mr. Brainerd while making
+their way up the western shore, he suspected that when he should join
+his family, some such manner of flight would be adopted.
+
+He knew of this romantic place in the rocks, but it never occurred to
+him until after he had wasted considerable time in hunting for traces of
+them.
+
+He had visited the spot more than once in his hunting excursions through
+the Wyoming Valley, and it did not take him long to learn the condition
+of affairs.
+
+He conducted this delicate business with such skill that his presence
+was never suspected by his enemies, and he did his utmost to keep it
+concealed. He ventured on one or two signals, with a view of apprising
+Mr. Brainerd of his proximity, but, if that gentleman heard him, he
+suspected the calls were made by the Indians, and therefore paid no
+attention to them.
+
+Understanding the peril which threatened his friends, Fred extended
+himself on the rocks above the cavern, and held the gun that he had
+taken from the dead body of a soldier, pointed toward the spot.
+
+Just before he was ready, Mr. Brainerd shot the warrior, and then Fred
+leveled his piece for the next one. Thus it was that, instead of one
+rifle, there were two aimed at the second savage, and when the first
+flashed in the pan, the other completed the business.
+
+This was providential, but Fred was wise enough to see that nothing like
+permanent safety could be gained by that kind of defense.
+
+He ventured on another reconnoissance, and it was while he was thus
+engaged that Gravity Gimp emerged from the cavern, and walked straight
+into the trap set for him.
+
+"How was it you managed to get down here?" asked Mr. Brainerd.
+
+"I used a grape-vine," replied Fred; "it took me a considerable while to
+arrange it, and I came near slipping my hold and dropping to the bottom
+of the ravine, as it was."
+
+"Was it a wise proceeding?" continued the father.
+
+"I hope so."
+
+"Why did you not come down the regular path?" inquired Maggie; "Gravity
+seemed to have no difficulty in going away by it."
+
+"There must be at least half a dozen Indians up there; they could have
+captured him without trouble, but they allowed him to get so far away
+that they calculated you would not suspect the danger, and might try to
+follow him, in which case every one of you would be in their hands this
+minute."
+
+This information was startling, and the listeners were silent. Fred
+added:
+
+"You can understand how great the risk was which I ran, and it is hard
+to explain why they didn't discover what I was doing."
+
+"Perhaps they did."
+
+"They would have fired on me had they known it; but there is so much
+deep shadow above, and they were so unsuspicious of any such proceeding,
+that I succeeded."
+
+"It was a daring act, indeed, but what is to be the issue?"
+
+"I saw that it would not do for you to remain until morning. If
+to-morrow's sun finds you here, you are doomed. You have no means of
+obtaining any food or water, and they can converge a dozen rifles on
+you, for they will gain the position from which we kept them a while
+ago."
+
+"They have already done so," said Mr. Brainerd. "I saw, and was unable
+to prevent them."
+
+"That settles the matter, then; we must get out of this place within the
+next two hours, and be well on our way toward the Delaware by daylight.
+We can't venture up the path, and, therefore--hello! What's that?"
+
+In taking a backward step at that moment, Fred placed his foot directly
+on the stomach of Habakkuk McEwen, who lay flat on his back, sound
+asleep.
+
+The New Englander emitted a groan, and sprang to his feet.
+
+Several minutes passed before everything was understood.
+
+Fred apologized, and shook hands with him, as well as he could in the
+gloom, and Habakkuk then became a listener to the all-important
+conference that followed.
+
+Fred, in making his reconnoissance, had discovered that Jake Golcher was
+the leader of the Indians.
+
+The coolness with which Fred Godfrey discussed the situation had the
+effect of inspiring his friends with something of his courage.
+
+He stood erect while talking, and Maggie leaned on one arm, while Eva,
+fully awake now, clung to the other side. Even Aunt Peggy relaxed from
+her usual reserve, and only expressed displeasure when the young man
+said that he saw Golcher and failed to shoot the "scand'lous villain."
+
+Habakkuk possessed sense enough to take no part in the conference,
+feeling that he had forfeited all consideration in such a matter.
+
+"The moon is working around in the sky," said Mr. Brainerd, "so that I
+am afraid we shall not have the shadow until morning."
+
+"Consequently we must not wait; nothing is to be expected from Gimp, and
+we may as well venture at once."
+
+There could be no disputing this decision, and all waited for Fred to
+make known his plan.
+
+It was very simple, though of course attended with peril: he proposed
+that the grape-vine which had served him so well should now be used to
+assist each to the bottom of the ravine, where, in the deep shadow that
+prevailed, they would do their utmost to steal out into the open wood,
+and so pass over the mountain.
+
+It seemed impossible to do this without detection from the Indians, who
+were besieging the fugitives, but desperate as was the risk, no one
+hesitated. In fact, Habakkuk McEwen proposed that he should go first.
+
+"I can look around and see whether everything is all right; and if it
+isn't, I'll let you know, and you needn't come."
+
+"Instead of being the first, you'll be the last," said Mr. Brainerd,
+curtly.
+
+Habakkuk thought it not worth while to argue the matter, and he replied
+not to the severe stricture of the elder.
+
+Fred Godfrey now ventured to the mouth of the cavern, where the vine was
+still dangling, the lower end being invisible in the darkness below.
+
+From the platform in front of the cavern to the bottom of the ravine was
+something like twenty feet--not a very great distance, but too great
+for any one to let himself drop to the flinty floor below.
+
+"The end of the support reaches half-way," said Fred, "and each must
+fall the remaining distance. If we are all careful, no harm will be
+done."
+
+"Is it securely fastened above?"
+
+"It would not have sustained me were it not. There is one thing that
+must be borne in mind," added Fred, speaking to all, "and that is, that
+no matter what happens, no noise must be made. The least exclamation
+will be heard by the Indians, some of whom are probably still at the
+upper end of the path, and if they suspect what is going on, failure is
+certain."
+
+All were so desirous of leaving the place without delay that the
+directions of Fred seemed almost superfluous.
+
+When the young man was about to lower himself by the vine, Brainerd
+touched his arm and said:
+
+"My recollection of that ravine below is that there is no way out of it;
+why not, therefore, climb upward instead of going down?"
+
+"It won't do; the only ones in this party beside myself who could reach
+the top in that fashion are Maggie and Eva. With your age, you couldn't
+draw yourself half-way up, even with help."
+
+As silently as a shadow, the young patriot drew in the crooked vine
+which still dangled in front of the opening, and, flinging his gun back
+of his shoulder, where it was held in place, he grasped the support. The
+next minute those standing in the gloom behind him observed the dark
+figure, with legs drawn up, slowly descending, as if he were going down
+a well.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI.
+
+
+The suspense was painful; not a whisper was exchanged, and the ear was
+strained to catch the sounds which they dreaded, and yet which seemed
+certain to come.
+
+Even the youngest of the party could not understand why it was some of
+the Senecas could be so near, and fail to detect them.
+
+Mr. Brainerd leaned forward, and peering down into the dense shadow,
+fancied he saw the crouching figure going lower and lower, until the end
+of his support was reached.
+
+The father was holding the vine, as if to steady it, when it suddenly
+jarred in his hand, and seemed to draw up as though relieved of a heavy
+weight.
+
+Such was the fact; just the faintest possible thump reaching his ear at
+that moment: manifestly, it was caused by the feet of Fred Godfrey as he
+dropped lightly to the bottom.
+
+A soft and barely audible "_st, st!_" followed, and told the truth that
+one of the little company at least had made the descent in safety.
+
+The understanding was that Mr. Brainerd should be the next. He had
+already secured his gun to his back, so as to leave his arms free, and
+he now wrapped his legs about the sinuous support and gripped it tightly
+with his hands, saying not a word to his friends as he began sinking out
+of sight.
+
+His descent was a different matter from that of his predecessor. He was
+not so strong and active, while his body was more bulky; in fact, Fred
+Godfrey, as he looked anxiously upward through the shadows, was
+oppressed by the misgiving that the vine would give way under the
+additional weight, and bring woful disaster.
+
+But his father did better than was anticipated, even by himself. He
+blistered his fingers, and wrenched his muscles, but he went downward
+steadily, and without any break or noise, until he found the end of the
+vine in his grasp.
+
+"It's only a short distance," whispered Fred, who was able to touch his
+hand; "let go."
+
+The elder did as directed, and the next second stood erect beside his
+son, only slightly jarred by his leap.
+
+"I'm relieved beyond expression," said Fred; "I knew the hardest task
+would be for you to get down."
+
+"I don't know why you should think so," said Mr. Brainerd, half
+jocularly, "when you knew my strength and activity."
+
+"But you are the heaviest, and I feared your weight would break the
+vine."
+
+"And having sustained me it is good for the rest."
+
+"Undoubtedly it is; _st, st!_"
+
+The signal was understood by Aunt Peggy, who, a minute later, came down
+the vine with very little effort.
+
+Eva was next, and but for the danger, it would have been rare sport to
+slide down such a frail support in that fashion, and, under similar
+conditions, Maggie would have found it equally jolly.
+
+As it was, Mr. Brainerd and his family let themselves to the bottom of
+the ravine with much less difficulty and trouble than was feared.
+
+Only Habakkuk McEwen remained above.
+
+"There's no use waiting for him," said Aunt Peggy, in an undertone;
+"he's no help to us."
+
+"It would be cruel to leave him there," interposed Maggie.
+
+"Of course _you'd_ object," snapped the vinegary Aunt Peggy; "he is as
+worthless as Jake Golcher himself."
+
+"Keep quiet," interposed Mr. Brainerd; "there's too much talking here."
+
+"You are correct," added Fred; "all this is out of order--there comes
+the fellow now."
+
+The words spoken had been in whispers, but they were not needed, and
+nothing now was heard but the scraping of Habakkuk's legs against the
+vine which he was descending.
+
+The attenuated limbs were becoming dimly visible, when the New Englander
+seemed to become tired, for he uttered an aspiration now and then as
+though seeking to hold his breath.
+
+Fred shuddered, for a listening Indian can hear such a noise a long way
+on a still night.
+
+"Keep quiet," commanded Fred, forced to speak dangerously loud; "hold
+your breath."
+
+McEwen tried to obey, but the explosion, when it came, was worse than
+before.
+
+"He is either a fool, or is seeking to betray us into the hands of the
+Indians," muttered the indignant youth, speaking hot words, that meant
+more than he intended.
+
+The next minute Habakkuk reached the limit of the vine, and let go, with
+the purpose of dropping to the ground; but, as if fate was determined to
+interfere, he caught his trousers, and was instantly inverted, his head
+hanging downward, while his feet pointed toward the stars.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII.
+
+
+"Great Cæsar!" exclaimed the terrified McEwen, as he began swinging back
+and forth, head downward, like a huge pendulum; "won't somebody set me
+right side up?"
+
+"Not another word," whispered Fred, catching him by the shoulders and
+jerking him loose, "or I'll dash you head-first on the rocks."
+
+With some difficulty, the troublesome New Englander was placed on his
+feet, and finally the whole party stood erect at the bottom of the
+ravine, unharmed and hopeful.
+
+"If we are captured, it will be due to the presence of a natural-born
+idiot with us," said Fred; "listen!"
+
+It seemed at that moment as if a dozen owls were calling to each other
+from different points in the woods. One or two sounds came from the
+rocks overhead, near where the path terminated its ascent, and must have
+been uttered by those who were seen there by Godfrey a short time
+before.
+
+"They have discovered us," he added, "and it is now do or die."
+
+Not another word was spoken, and the youth led the way along the ravine
+without any definite idea of where he was going, or whether there was
+any chance of escaping what might be the very trap into which their
+enemies were seeking to lure them.
+
+The ground was rough and stony, and they scrambled forward like a party
+of mountain tourists in a great hurry.
+
+Fred Godfrey maintained his place at the head, Maggie and Eva close
+behind, while Aunt Peggy, Mr. Brainerd, and Habakkuk McEwen followed.
+
+When they had gone less then a hundred yards, all were relieved by
+finding they were steadily rising.
+
+If this peculiarity continued, they must soon reach the level ground
+above, and, in the darkness, would be able to go a good distance before
+morning.
+
+But it was almost idle to hope, for the thought was scarcely in their
+minds when the whole party were brought to a standstill by coming
+squarely against the solid wall.
+
+"Is this the end of the path?" asked Brainerd, observing the dilemma
+that checked them.
+
+"I hope not--but let's look. Those signals going back and forth across
+the valley refer to us. I believe the whole Indian force know what we
+have done, and are arranging to capture us."
+
+The probabilities pointed that way, and, when several minutes' hurried
+search failed to find an outlet to the ravine, which now narrowed until
+the two sides met, something akin to despair took possession of the
+fugitives.
+
+"It's my belief," ventured McEwen, "that the best thing we can do is to
+open negotiations with the Senecas, with a view of obtaining honorable
+terms. What are your views, Mr. Brainerd?"
+
+"That the best thing for you to do is to hold your peace."
+
+"Such is my own theory," added Fred, who had no patience with the
+fellow. "Hello!"
+
+As he spoke he made an upward leap, and catching the slight projecting
+ledge of rock, to the amazement of the others, drew himself up and
+secured stable footing. A few seconds were spent in a hasty survey, when
+he dropped nimbly beside them again.
+
+"I think there is a way out," he whispered; "but we can't climb up there
+alone--that is, all of us: we have got to have help."
+
+"And that cannot be obtained."
+
+"Yes, it can; the grape-vine is just the thing; I can fasten one end of
+that above, and then assist every one to the top."
+
+"But it will be too dangerous for you to go back--"
+
+"Wait right where you are," broke in Fred; "don't move or make any
+noise; I won't be gone long."
+
+And before any more objection could be made he vanished in the shadow.
+
+Standing thus, with all their senses on the alert, they heard sounds
+that were anything but reassuring.
+
+The notes of the whip-poor-will and the dismal hooting of owls came from
+different portions of the wood. Whether or not the Indians knew
+precisely what the fugitives had done, they were unquestionably aware
+that something unusual was going on.
+
+A minute's reflection could not fail to show to all their hapless
+situation. It may be said they were literally walled in, with their
+enemies perched on the rocks on every hand, able to hold them there as
+long as they chose.
+
+However, no one was disposed to give up effort while any grounds for
+making such effort was open.
+
+As there was no saying how long the fugitives would be forced to wait
+for the return of the lieutenant, they sat down on the rocky seats,
+taking care that they kept in the dense shadow that had served them so
+well.
+
+Eva nestled by her father, and had placed her hand in his, and was in
+the act of asking a question, when the sharp report of a rifle was heard
+above their heads, and only a short distance off.
+
+The instant thought was, that Fred Godfrey had either shot some one, or
+had been fired at himself.
+
+But Mr. Brainerd was sure that the report came from the pile of rocks
+that commanded the cavern just vacated by them. This was a vast relief,
+but all shuddered to think what the results would have been had the
+weapon been discharged only a few minutes before.
+
+With the bullet sent from such a point, it could not have failed to do
+execution, for it will be recalled that the fugitives, while preparing
+to start, were exposed to any bullet that might be sent into the
+opening.
+
+The supposition was, that though the red men could not see any of the
+whites on account of the deep shadow to which we have referred more than
+once, they knew the location of the cavern itself sufficiently well to
+fire directly into it.
+
+It will be seen, as a consequence, that such a shot, sent fifteen
+minutes earlier, must have caused the death of one, at least, of the
+company.
+
+But, after all, would it have been anything more than anticipating by a
+few hours their certain fate?
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII.
+
+
+Meanwhile, Fred Godfrey was making the most of his opportunities, and
+the grass did not grow under his feet.
+
+The distance passed over by himself and friends was so slight, that he
+was back beneath the cavern within a couple of minutes after bidding
+them such a hasty good-bye.
+
+No one could have been more alive to the situation than he, who halted
+directly under the place that had sheltered him and his friends for a
+brief while, and looked and listened.
+
+"Can it be that they really know nothing of our flight?" he asked
+himself. "It seems impossible that, after following us and guarding the
+approaches so closely, such can be the truth."
+
+So it appeared, indeed, and Fred was not without a pang of apprehension
+that Jake Golcher and his Indians were playing a game, in which they
+were sure to win.
+
+But it was too late to speculate now, and pausing only a moment, he
+leaped forward, caught the end of the vine and climbed it hand over
+hand. His activity and strength enabled him to ascend like a sailor, and
+a moment later he stood within the cavern that he had left but a short
+time before.
+
+Nothing was to be gained there, and grasping the support he went on
+upward.
+
+Such a method of ascent is exhausting, and he was tired, when, at last,
+he stood on the level ground above.
+
+As circumstances forbade the use of the vine by which he had come up,
+and by which he must descend again, he began hunting as best he could
+for another, which he speedily found. This was carefully cut and
+trimmed, and then he dropped it over the ravine, and in the stillness he
+plainly heard the rustling as it struck the bottom.
+
+While thus engaged, the rifle was fired from the rocks across the gorge,
+Fred seeing the flash, so that he knew the point it came from. At first
+he was sure he was the target, but concluded that such was not the case.
+
+Filled with misgivings, he crept a few steps in the direction of the
+head of the path that came up from below, and listened. He was afraid to
+go any closer, but he was as certain as if he saw them, that several of
+the Indians were clustered there, awaiting the occurrence of some
+expected event.
+
+"There's some mystery in this business that I fail to grasp," added
+Fred, as he caught the sound of guns and the faint whoops of the Indians
+and Tories on the other side the river. "It is possible that most of
+them have withdrawn, unwilling to linger when there are so many victims
+awaiting them in other places, but I can hardly believe it, since Jake
+Golcher leads them."
+
+Moved by an anxiety that forbade him to keep still, he once more swung
+himself from the rocks, supported by the thick, strong vine that had
+served them all so well, and it required only a brief time to reach the
+bottom.
+
+Everything, so far as he could judge, was in proper form, and he
+hastened up the ravine, rejoining his friends, who naturally were in a
+fever of anxiety over what seemed his prolonged absence.
+
+"Now that you have got the vine," said his father, "I have been puzzling
+myself ever since you left, to understand how you are going to use it."
+
+"It doubtless strikes you as absurd as the idea of using the one by
+which I had to climb up the rocks and come down again, but I am hopeful
+there is a way."
+
+"I shall be glad to learn it."
+
+"But that shot--who fired it?"
+
+"One of the Indians, I presume."
+
+"Was it not aimed at you?"
+
+"I think not; but, if it was, you see it missed me, so it is a question
+to which we need give no thought."
+
+All drew a breath of relief when Fred made known that no trouble had
+been experienced from the red men, who were believed to be in the
+immediate vicinity of the upper end of the path.
+
+The lieutenant now explained that his plan was to mount the shoulders of
+Habakkuk McEwen, and thus reach a projection on the rocks, by the help
+of which he hoped to attain a still higher point, or rather shelf, from
+which it would be an easy matter to climb to the level ground above, and
+push their way toward the distant Delaware River.
+
+The feat was too difficult for the rest of the party to accomplish,
+which explains why the grape-vine became so necessary. With the aid of
+that, and with Fred tugging above, there was reason to hope that the
+ascent would be made with little trouble.
+
+Accordingly, Habakkuk McEwen, without any protest, stood up against the
+wall, and Fred, with gun and vine secured, so as to leave his limbs
+free, mounted to his shoulders with the ease of an acrobat.
+
+Then, straightening himself, he groped about with his hands, and was
+fortunate in finding a broad ledge within easy grasp. It was a difficult
+matter, even with such help, to draw himself up, but by great care he
+managed to do so, and then found that by a similar maneuver he could
+reach the ground above, where the way was clear to the woods.
+
+This was gratifying, and, dropping the end of the vine to his friends,
+he whispered for Mr. Brainerd to seize it and to begin to climb.
+
+It was a hard task, and, had the support given way, doubtless the old
+gentleman would have been killed or grievously hurt, but he struggled
+and was pushed up by Habakkuk, and the vine was tugged at by Fred above,
+until at last the panting father reached the ledge and stood beside his
+son.
+
+[Illustration: "It was a hard task."]
+
+As there were now two to use their strength in lifting, Aunt Peggy, Eva,
+and Maggie had but to grasp the support, when they were drawn up without
+any effort on their own part. Habakkuk came last, and he tried so hard
+to assist, that it may be said he went up feet first, sawing the air so
+vigorously with his legs that they appeared on the ledge before his body
+reached it.
+
+But the fugitives were all there at last, and something like genuine
+hope began to stir every member of the company.
+
+"Now," said Fred, "we have the same experience to go through, and we
+shall reach solid ground above. I will go up as before."
+
+Only a small part of the moonlight found its way to the spot where they
+were crouching, and they felt it would not do to stay longer.
+
+Slowly and carefully Fred went up the rocks, and all saw him safely
+reach the level ground, where he vanished.
+
+At the instant he did so they caught a peculiar sound, as though a
+slight struggle was going on, but it instantly ceased, and, though the
+friends were alarmed, they said nothing, thinking that perhaps Fred had
+stumbled over some obstruction in the dark.
+
+"_St, st!_"
+
+The signal which he made before reassured all, and drove the thought of
+danger from their minds.
+
+The same order was repeated; Mr. Brainerd grasped the vine, and, helped
+both above and below, gradually surged upward until he, too, went over
+the edge of the ravine, as it may be called, and vanished.
+
+Maggie started, when she again heard a curious movement above, as if
+made by a scuffle, and her heart throbbed with the suspicion that
+something was wrong.
+
+"I tell you," she whispered, "there's trouble up there."
+
+"No, there isn't," replied Aunt Peggy, "I suppose--there!"
+
+The same sibilant call as before was repeated, and the elderly lady
+showed her faith in her own assertion by catching hold of the vine, and
+allowing herself to be pulled up as her predecessor had been.
+
+Maggie and Eva were left with Habakkuk, who was plainly nervous, though
+it might be hard for him to explain why.
+
+"Do you feel skeart?" he asked, in an undertone, as the rope of natural
+growth came dangling about their heads.
+
+"Yes," said the elder sister; "didn't you notice a strange noise after
+Fred and father got up?"
+
+"I don't know, but there is something queer; they don't seem to show
+themselves after they reach the top; it looks to me as if they tumbled
+over into some hole--ah!"
+
+As the signal was heard the three looked up and caught the dim outlines
+of a head. There was not enough light to identify it, but had the
+moonlight fallen upon it, those who stood below would have observed that
+the face did not belong to any one of their three friends.
+
+With misgiving, Maggie grasped the support and went up; then Eva
+followed, and, last of all. Habakkuk McEwen stood alone.
+
+He paused in doubt a minute or so, but when the vine swung within his
+reach, he seized it, muttering:
+
+"I may as well follow the crowd."
+
+And he did.
+
+The instant he arrived at the top he was seized by several Seneca
+Indians, and the astounding truth then dawned upon him that not only he,
+but every one of the party, had climbed squarely into the trap set for
+them, and, without a single exception, were prisoners in the hands of
+the very red men they were trying with so much skill to avoid.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX.
+
+
+It will be admitted that the little party of fugitives whose fortunes we
+are following displayed great skill in escaping the Tories and Indians,
+who, on that "day of desolation," wrought such ruin in the Wyoming
+Valley.
+
+A wonderful good fortune attended them up to a certain point, and yet
+the humiliating truth must also be admitted, that, from the moment they
+rushed pell mell into the friendly cavern in the rocks, they were
+outgeneraled by the Senecas, under the leadership of the Tory, Jake
+Golcher.
+
+It looked, for a time, as if the success of the patriots was to be
+crowned by the most brilliant achievement of all, in stealing out of the
+ravine under the very noses, so to speak, of their vigilant enemies; and
+yet, despite their caution and well-directed audacity, which never
+overreached themselves, every movement, even to the slightest, was
+known to the redskins, who carried out their own scheme with even
+greater subtlety and skill.
+
+When Fred Godfrey reached the ground above he detected nothing
+suspicious, and, making the vine secure, turned and signaled to his
+friends to follow him.
+
+It was at that instant he was seized by two powerful warriors, one of
+whom threw his arm about his neck, and jerking his head back, nearly
+strangled him. The lieutenant was caught at such disadvantage that he
+was helpless, but he struggled with all the strength possible, and
+attempted to utter a cry of warning to his friends.
+
+But his hands were pinioned behind him, a dusky palm was glued over his
+mouth, and some one said in very good English:
+
+"If you speak a word, you're a dead man!"
+
+He was dragged back into the wood, where his wrists and elbows were tied
+with as much care as if he were worth all the other prisoners taken that
+day in Wyoming.
+
+It required but a few seconds to complete this performance, and while
+it was going on two other Senecas were tugging away at the vine, to
+which Mr. Brainerd was clinging.
+
+The old gentleman was altogether unsuspicious, and he came sprawling
+over on the ground with considerable emphasis.
+
+"I don't see the necessity of yanking a fellow out of his boots," he
+laughed, in a guarded voice. "It will hardly do to be so ardent with the
+others--"
+
+At that point in his remarks he was pounced upon, and served very nearly
+the same as his son. He fought as fiercely: but the Indians were
+prepared for it. He was run back in the wood behind the lieutenant, and
+the two condoled with each other--their chagrin being inexpressible.
+
+Then came Aunt Peggy, whose figure was so light compared with that of
+Mr. Brainerd, that she was literally whisked to the top of the ground,
+seeming to drop from some point above.
+
+"Maggie said there was something wrong," remarked the voluble lady; "but
+I'm sure there wasn't anything very queer that I heard If there are any
+of them Injins anywhere in the neighborhood I'd just like the chance--"
+
+The wish of the lady was gratified, for at that moment two figures
+appeared beside her, as if they had sprung through a trap-door: and one,
+who was gifted with an exceptional amount of waggery, actually leaned
+over and kissed her cheek.
+
+"You scand'lous villain!" gasped Aunt Peggy, too much horrified to speak
+above a whisper: "ain't you ashamed of yourself?"
+
+With which exclamation she struck him on the side of the face, with a
+vicious vigor that gave out a report like the crack of a pistol.
+
+"I'll teach you how to insult a lady--"
+
+Her words were stopped at this point by a dusky hand that was pressed
+over her mouth and held there despite her frantic struggles, and she was
+forced back to where her two friends were prisoners.
+
+Maggie Brainerd went up the rocks with much distrust, as will be
+remembered, and, as it was, she was so suspicious that she would not
+have gone at all but for the fact that father and brother had preceded
+her, and no matter what their fate must be, she wished to share it with
+them.
+
+"If they have fallen into the hands of the Indians, I have no wish to
+remain away from them."
+
+She peered into the gloom as sharply as she could and was not kept in
+suspense.
+
+She offered no resistance, and quickly joined those who were overtaken
+by disaster.
+
+It was much the same with Eva, although she struggled with great energy
+and narrowly escaped violence, as did Aunt Peggy, when she chastised the
+audacious Seneca.
+
+Habakkuk McEwen, as we have stated, was in a quandary, but he ascended,
+his feet going over the ledge first. Such an approach to a foe is not
+disquieting, and he was caught at greater disadvantage than any of the
+others.
+
+He tried hard to throw himself over the rocks, but was prevented; and
+thus it was that the capture of the entire party was completed.
+
+"Great Cæsar!" exclaimed Habakkuk, as he joined his friends. "The
+height, and length, and breadth, and depth of this failure is the most
+stupend'us I ever heerd tell of."
+
+And no one said him nay.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX.
+
+
+It is necessary at this point that some attention should be given to the
+predecessor of our friends in captivity--Gravity Gimp.
+
+The particulars of his capture will be recalled, it being somewhat
+similar to that of his followers, inasmuch as he was pounced upon and
+overwhelmed before he could make any effectual resistance, though, for a
+time, he kept things "moving."
+
+But he was forced to succumb at last, and was led away by those whom he
+had fought so bravely, and into whose hands he dreaded falling aware as
+he was what fate awaited him.
+
+"Be keerful," he called out, limping heavily, "I've got a game leg, and
+I want yer to play light on it."
+
+Whether they understood his words or not is a small matter; but the
+American Indian is accustomed to the language of gesture, and when the
+African limped forward, as though unable to bear half the weight on one
+limb, they could not mistake what it meant.
+
+The gun of the captive was taken from him, and, as he was such a
+miserable pedestrian just then, his hands were not bound behind him, as
+was the case with the prisoners afterwards taken.
+
+Ordinarily, the rough usage given his captors during the struggle would
+have resulted in serious injury to some of them; but the Iroquois were
+too sinewy, lithe, and graceful on their feet to fare ill, and they
+gathered about him, with something akin to admiration, when he was
+conducted farther into the mountain, where they had a large camp-fire
+burning.
+
+"I s'pose eberybody makes mistakes," muttered Gravity, moving slowly
+along; "leastways I'm purty sartin I made a wery big one, when I got too
+cur'us to know what dese willains was up to."
+
+No indignity was offered him on the walk to the fire, which was burning
+a couple of hundred yards away, but he felt that nothing like mercy was
+to be expected from his captors.
+
+The negro had proven his coolness and courage in more than one instance
+that day, and Maggie Brainerd asked herself whether the loyal fellow
+really knew what fear is.
+
+But when Gimp reached the camp-fire, and saw Jake Golcher with other
+Indians grouped around him, his heart gave a throb of terror.
+
+He knew that wretch too well to make any mistake concerning him. It was
+Gimp who, but a few hours before, had visited the worst kind of physical
+indignity on the Tory, who now possessed the chance to repay him.
+
+Jake was sitting on a fallen tree, leaning forward with his elbows on
+his knees, and his chin in his hands, looking into the glowing embers,
+and apparently only half listening to the guttural conversation going on
+among the Indians about him.
+
+He had spent so much time with the Seneca branch of the Iroquois, that
+he understood their tongue quite well. But, as he slowly puffed at his
+short clay pipe, his thoughts were far away.
+
+Most likely he was recalling the incidents of the day, that were a
+source of mixed pleasure and pain to him.
+
+"The overthrow of the rebels was complete," he muttered, his face
+lighting up with passion. "It'll be a good many years before Wyoming
+will get over this, and I've got even with a lot of them that hain't
+used me well. There's Parker, who called me a lazy loafer two years ago,
+because I wouldn't pay him a little money I had borrowed. Well, I
+settled up with him to-day, and he'll never call anybody else such a
+disrespectful name agin.
+
+"Then there's Sam Williams, that I used to go out hunting with, and who
+was considered a pretty good chap by some folks. He used to lend me
+money, and never cared whether I paid him back or not; but he undertook
+to lecture me once on my dooty, and said, if I didn't go to work, I
+never would be anybody, I've got too much spirit to stand any such
+insults as that, and, when I come on him to-day, I settled with him."
+
+Dreadful thoughts were these to find such expression, and the renegade
+was silent a minute, until it seemed as if Satan got still a stronger
+hold upon him.
+
+"But there's _one_ man close by that I would give a thousand prisoners
+for," he added, puffing spitefully at his pipe, "and it looks as if I'm
+going to have him. Providence does favor the truly good," added the
+miscreant. "I've got the whole party penned up in a hole, and if they
+get away from us it will be the biggest thing of the kind ever done in
+these parts.
+
+"I want to get hold of that Gimp, that stole my gun and gave me such a
+kicking that I feel six inches taller than ever before, and have to be
+mighty careful about settin' down. He's a sort of giant, but if we lay
+hands on him there'll be mighty little of him left when we get through.
+
+"There's Maggie Brainerd, the prettiest gal that ever left Connecticut
+and settled in the Wyoming Valley. I knowed her when she was a little
+one, and then she was so purty that people used to stop her in the road,
+to kiss and admire her.
+
+"She always acted kind toward me, and I used to think she was kinder
+tender and loving, and I b'leve now I might have got her, if that
+half-brother of hers, Fred Godfrey, hadn't come along and set her agin
+me."
+
+The brows of the Tory contracted at the recollection of something that
+burned in his memory.
+
+"A year ago, he was down here in the valley, and I feared there wasn't
+much chance for me with Maggie, so I thought I would shame him before
+the town to that extent he would never show his face in it again. He was
+talkin' in the store to a lot of our neighbors, and had enlisted, and he
+thought every young chap oughter. I said I didn't b'leve he had enough
+courage to fire a gun at a red coat, when he said he had enough to fire
+me out, if I didn't keep a civil tongue in my head.
+
+"That's just what I wanted, for I had been building up my muscle for two
+weeks, with the very idee of whalin' him, and I sailed in.
+
+"Wal," added the Tory, with a sigh, "the fight was over afore I'd fairly
+got into it. I come out of the winder with a sash round my neck, and if
+I hadn't struck agin Aunt Peggy, who was walkin' by, my neck would have
+been broken off short. I didn't get over that lambastin' for a month,
+but Fred Godfrey little thought when he jined the crowd in laughin' at
+me, that he had sealed his doom."
+
+The face of the Tory flushed, for he was sure that he had the best
+reason to believe that he spoke the truth.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXI.
+
+
+"Yes," added Jake, with a sigh of something like pleasure; "it looks
+very much as though I've got a chance to even up my accounts with 'em
+all. The folks are having a good time on t'other side the river, and
+to-morrer, when Forty Fort surrenders, Wyoming will be wiped out so
+clean that the only way of telling where it has been will be by the
+ashes.
+
+"I've got a lot of the best Senecas that ever took the war-path, and
+I've promised them the biggest kind of a reward if they succeed in
+scooping in the whole party. Queen Esther told 'em to go with me and do
+just as I directed, so they're bound to show the stuff they're made of.
+Gray Panther is their chief, and he's directing 'em, and he beats any
+Injin I ever heard tell of for downright cunning, and is as good as a
+bloodhound on the trail."
+
+Thus it was that, although Jake Golcher was the nominal head of the war
+party, the renowned chief, Gray Panther, was guiding operations, and it
+is to that remarkable Seneca Indian that the success of the redskins in
+out-generaling the fugitives was due.
+
+"I know that Maggie came near pegging out with a broken heart when her
+mother died, three years ago," continued Golcher, "and she is so
+attached to her father, brother, and sister, that she will do anything
+in her power to save harm coming to them."
+
+This fact could not fail to suggest the course that had taken shape in
+his mind long before.
+
+"We will capture them all; then I'll make known my terms: Maggie must
+agree to marry me; she will do it, too, if she makes the promise, and
+I'll agree to let all the rest go. I'll keep my word so far as the old
+man and Eva, and I guess the Aunt Peggy, is concerned; but there's two
+that I'll wipe out--Fred Godfrey and that Gravity Gimp.
+
+"I may have to promise to let up on 'em, but I can fix it with Gray
+Panther, so they'll be _accidentally_ killed; but I'll never feel easy
+till they're both underground. As for that nigger--" And taking out his
+pipe, he ground his teeth together, and clenched the fingers of the free
+hand, and then, looking up, saw Gravity Gimp, the African, standing
+before him.
+
+"Good-evenin'," said the servant, bowing low, and making a salaam with
+his broad hand, inasmuch as he was without his hat; "I hopes I finds yer
+werry well dis ebenin."
+
+Jake Golcher sprang to his feet, and his pipe dropped from his hand. It
+often happens that the very person of whom we are thinking turns up
+before us, but, although there was nothing supernatural in the
+appearance of the African, the renegade was startled for the moment into
+believing that such was the fact.
+
+Quickly recovering, he muttered something, and sitting down again on the
+log, picked up his pipe, took a puff or two, and looking at the lame
+African, asked:
+
+"Where did you come from? I thought you was Satan."
+
+"Dat's purty rough on Satan; but I's Gravity Gimp, at your sarvice, and
+if it am all de same I'll sot down on de log beside yer, being dat I've
+got a tremenjus game leg."
+
+As he spoke, Gravity limped to the fallen tree, and took his seat a
+short distance away, uttering a groan of pain, and nursing the limb as
+though his torture was great.
+
+Jake Golcher was sure he never saw such impudence, but he concluded to
+humor the fellow for a while, until he could extract some information
+from him.
+
+He was sorry his leg had been injured, for he would have liked to make
+him run the gauntlet, and now the suffering to which he should be doomed
+would have to take a different character.
+
+The Tory first asked the Indians some questions, and gathered how the
+powerful negro had been captured. It was done under the direction of
+Gray Panther, whose hand appeared in many a skillful achievement that
+evening and the day following.
+
+Golcher learned from the same chief that every movement of the fugitives
+had been noted, and that the whites had been deceived to such an extent
+that they were likely to walk into the trap the Senecas had set for
+them.
+
+Jake was favorable to making an open attack on the whites, but the
+sachem assured him they could all be taken without the loss of any more
+warriors, and so it was left to the chief.
+
+There was only one point in which the Senecas were at fault, and that
+was respecting the man who fired the second shot, that killed the Indian
+as he was leaping for the rocks from which to shoot at the fugitives.
+
+They supposed it was discharged from within the cavern, and were unaware
+of the fact that Lieutenant Godfrey was so near his friends without
+being with them.
+
+They did not learn of his cautious descent, and only discovered his
+presence among them after the capture of the African and the start made
+by the fugitives to leave the ravine.
+
+Golcher was much interested in the news, and he urged Gray Panther to
+spare no effort to make his success complete, assuring him of a big
+reward, in addition to the praise of Queen Esther, who at that moment
+was engaged on the other side the river in torturing a number of
+prisoners.
+
+The chief assured him that he had no cause for uneasiness, and then,
+turning about, withdrew with his warriors, leaving only a single one
+with Jake Golcher to guard the prisoner.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXII.
+
+
+While the conversation was going on between the Tory and Gray Panther,
+Gravity Gimp was rubbing and nursing his "game leg," with many sighs and
+groans, which he took care should be heard by those around him, while at
+the same time it did not annoy them.
+
+"Sprained it, I s'pose," remarked Golcher, deeming it best to keep back
+his intentions toward the negro until after he should have extracted all
+the information he could.
+
+"Wuss dan a strain," said Gravity, looking ruefully down at the limb and
+rubbing it with one hand.
+
+"How can it be worse than a strain?"
+
+"It's busted."
+
+"You talk like a fool--what do you mean by bustin' a leg?"
+
+"I mean dat it ain't no use any more--ain't wuth nuffin to dance de
+double shuffle wid."
+
+"How did you hurt it?"
+
+"Got struck by a cannon-ball dis arternoon--but I recovered from dat
+slight inconwenience, and I strained and broke it in two or three places
+a little while ago."
+
+"How?"
+
+"In flingin' Injins ober de rocks, I wrenched it."
+
+The explanation was not very clear to Golcher, but he was satisfied the
+limb was badly sprained, and he cared nothing further. It rendered what
+might have been a dangerous prisoner comparatively harmless, which was a
+good thing while the main party of Indians were away, engaged in
+entrapping the fugitives, whose possession was so much more valuable.
+
+"All you folks got into the cavern, down among the rocks over there,
+thinkin' you was safe, didn't you?"
+
+"We crept in dar not 'cause we thought it war safe, but 'cause it war
+the bestest thing we could do."
+
+"Do you know anything about Fred Godfrey?"
+
+"Yes; he hab de honor ob my 'quaintance."
+
+"That isn't what I mean: do you know where he is?"
+
+"I tink he am ober on de oder side ob de riber slewing Injins and
+Tories."
+
+It will be recollected that Gravity left the cavern before the
+lieutenant put in his appearance, and the African therefore knew nothing
+of his presence with his friends.
+
+"Wal," growled Golcher, finding it hard to repress the anger that was
+gnawing at his heart; "the trouble to-day has been that too many of the
+rebels got slewed themselves; if it hadn't been for that, things would
+have gone different; but that Godfrey will be with the party up in the
+rocks afore long."
+
+"Guess you're 'bout right, Massa Golcher."
+
+"Do you know," suddenly asked Golcher turning on the negro, "that we're
+going to have every one of that party afore daylight?"
+
+"No, I didn't know it; did you?"
+
+"They'll be here inside of two hours, and then there'll be fun."
+
+"Reckons dere'll be a little fun afore you cotches 'em."
+
+"They're in the rocks, but we can rout them out whenever we want to;
+they think we don't know what they're doing, but Gray Panther hasn't
+missed anything."
+
+"I noticed that Massa Brainerd didn't miss either, when he plugged dem
+Injuns dat was trying to sneak in behind the rocks."
+
+"See here," exclaimed Golcher, turning upon him; "you'd better keep a
+civil tongue in your head."
+
+"Dat's all right--I was jes' joking wid you--but, if you hain't any
+'bjection, Massa Golcher, I'd like to know what yer gwine to do wid me?
+Am yer gwine ter take me up in York State and put me to work on a farm?"
+
+"If you live a couple of hours longer, you'll be put through the
+sprouts."
+
+"Put frough de sprouts," repeated Gimp, as if to himself; "wonder what
+dat means."
+
+While this conversation was going on, the Indian who was keeping guard
+was seated on the other side the fire in a lounging attitude, and his
+head now and then bobbed down on his breast in a way that showed he was
+partly asleep.
+
+Gravity Gimp did not appear to notice him, but he saw every movement,
+and, without appearing to do so, hitched a little closer to the Tory.
+
+The latter seemed to conclude that nothing more was to be gained from
+the negro, and he ceased asking him questions.
+
+The servant groaned and rubbed his leg with every appearance of great
+pain.
+
+"Massa Golcher," said he, with a groan, "I'd be much obliged to yer, if
+you'll jes pull off my shoe and rub dat ankle for half an hour."
+
+And as he made this astounding request he moved still nearer, and thrust
+his enormous shoe almost in the face of the renegade, who turned
+savagely upon him.
+
+"I'll teach yer manners, you black--"
+
+He rose to his feet and whipped out his knife as he spoke, but Gimp also
+came to the standing position, and he was a little quicker than the
+Tory. Golcher had drawn his weapon, but before he suspected the design
+of his assailant, Gimp lowered his head and ran like a steam-engine
+straight at him.
+
+The iron-like skull struck Golcher "'midships" and knocked him over
+backwards, his heels going up in the air, while he described an almost
+complete somersault, with the breath gone from his body.
+
+The drowsy Seneca roused up just in time to witness the performance, and
+to see the same battering-ram charging down upon him.
+
+He turned to leap aside until he could draw his tomahawk, but he was a
+second too late, and the projectile took him in the pit of the stomach,
+and banged him against a neighboring tree with such violence that the
+breath left his body also, and there is reason to believe it never
+returned.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIII.
+
+
+There was not a particle of lameness in the movements of Gravity Gimp as
+he went through this programme, but his actions were like those of an
+athlete.
+
+Catching up the gun of the prostrate Indian, he was off like a shot,
+running with the speed of a deer among the trees, and with great risk,
+for the darkness was too dense to permit him to see where he was going.
+
+"Dat ere pertendin' dat I was lame was a stroke ob gen'us," he muttered,
+with a huge grin, as he slackened his gait somewhat, "and, if it hadn't
+been for dat lameness, I'd been 'sassinated.
+
+"Shouldn't wonder if dey did scoop in all de folks," he added, with a
+pang of fear, "and if dey does, why Aunt Peggy must go to buttin' de
+Injuns ober de same as I done. _Sh!_"
+
+He listened for sounds of pursuit, but there was none, and he drew a
+sigh of relief, hoping that his friends were in as safe a situation as
+he.
+
+Gray Panther, chief of the Senecas, conducted his portion of the
+programme, as we have already seen, with cunning and skill.
+
+Fred Godfrey, Richard Brainerd, Maggie and Eva, Aunt Peggy, and Habakkuk
+McEwen were his prisoners, and within five minutes after they became
+such they were started, under the charge of the warriors, for the camp,
+where Jake Golcher was expecting them.
+
+The hands of the males were tied behind them so securely that they felt
+there was no possibility of freeing themselves. Their weapons were
+removed, as a matter of course, but no one of the three females was
+offered any indignity by the Indians, who were carrying out the
+instructions of Jake Golcher himself.
+
+Since the captors did not seem to feel any objection, several of the
+whites ventured on a few words. Habakkuk, however, as he stumbled along
+over the obstructions at the rear, felt in anything but a conversational
+mood, and for a time held his peace.
+
+"These are the most scand'lous purceedings that I ever heard tell of,"
+ventured Aunt Peggy, in her snappish way.
+
+"You are right," said Fred Godfrey; "it is the most terrible reverse I
+ever saw."
+
+"Oh, I don't mean that."
+
+"What do you refer to?"
+
+"That Injin actually tried to kiss me--didn't you see him?"
+
+"No, I wasn't aware of it."
+
+"I gave him one slap that he'll remember, I reckon!"
+
+The situation was too solemn for Fred to utter the remark that would
+have come to his lip at any other time. He therefore directed his next
+words to Maggie, who was close to her father, and holding the hand of
+Eva.
+
+"This looks pretty bad, Maggie," said he, in a low voice, "and it is
+hard to find we were mistaken, when I was so hopeful that we had passed
+all danger."
+
+"So it is, but how many of our friends and neighbors have fared still
+more ill!"
+
+"They are to be envied," said Mr. Brainerd, speaking for the first
+time, "for their woe is ended, and ours is to come."
+
+"There may be hope," remarked the daughter, though it must be confessed
+she saw none; "we must not despair."
+
+"It is well enough to talk about hoping on forever," said her father,
+who seemed more dejected than the others, "but every man that is born
+must sooner or later reach the hour when hope is ended: we struck the
+hour and minute just now."
+
+"I'm disposed to hold out as long as any of you," said Fred Godfrey,
+"but I must own that I feel about as you do."
+
+"And so does every one," added Mr. Brainerd, "for the days of miracles
+passed long ago; some of our escapes to-day came about as close to the
+miraculous as they could well do, and that may have led us to expect
+unreasonable things."
+
+At this juncture Gray Panther seemed to think there was too much
+conversation going on, and in broken English he ordered all to keep
+their tongues still.
+
+No one of the prisoners regretted the command, for it was a dismal
+thing to talk when their hearts were so oppressed.
+
+The route they followed was through the wood, that was stony and rocky,
+and in the deep shadows it was anything but pleasing work. The captors
+kept close to the captives, so as to prevent any break for freedom on
+their part.
+
+The distance was not far, but it was not yet passed, when something took
+place which caused some alarm, though none of the prisoners could tell
+what it was.
+
+One of the Indians in front uttered a peculiar signal, which caused a
+halt on the part of every Seneca. Gray Panther hastened forward.
+
+It was idle for Godfrey to look for any interference in their behalf,
+but he did feel, for a few brief seconds, something akin to such hope.
+
+But Gray Panther speedily returned, and the march was resumed, with the
+same stillness and care as before.
+
+What the cause of the interruption was, became known to none but the
+Senecas themselves.
+
+A few minutes later, the glimmer of a light was seen among the trees,
+and as the faces of the party were turned in that direction, they knew
+it was the camp-fire that was their destination.
+
+Only a few steps more were passed when the entire party, with the
+exception of the African servant, stood in the presence of Jake Golcher,
+the Tory.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIV.
+
+
+After a courageous struggle against the Indians, the fugitives, as I
+have shown, were taken prisoners.
+
+It was a singular scene, as the six whites, the men having their hands
+bound behind them, came out of the gloom of the wood, and, under the
+escort of more than a dozen Seneca warriors, approached the camp-fire,
+where Jake Golcher, the Tory, awaited them.
+
+Mr. Brainerd, who walked close to Fred Godfrey, said, in a low voice,
+
+"Under Heaven, my son, you are our only hope; if you see a chance, no
+matter how desperate, take it."
+
+"I will," was the low answer; "I shall make a break before the last
+scene comes."
+
+As the party emerged into the light thrown out by the burning wood, the
+chief interest of the captors seemed to center in Habakkuk McEwen, for
+the reason, as the reader will recall, that he was partially disguised
+as an Indian. The fact that such was the case had been noted, of course,
+by his captors, who seemed to be in some doubt as to the cause, but not
+until now did they gain a good view of him.
+
+The place where the camp-fire was burning was a small natural clearing,
+with a fallen tree lying extended one side, so as to afford a seat for a
+score of persons, if they chose to use it.
+
+The fugitives were brought up and arranged in front of the log, Mr.
+Brainerd standing first, McEwen second, Fred Godfrey third, while Aunt
+Peggy, Maggie Brainerd, and Eva supported each other.
+
+Even the whites themselves looked at the eccentric New Englander with
+some curiosity, for only the females had seen him by the light of day.
+His dress was of that mongrel character, worn alike by frontier Indians
+and white scouts, while his face still retained the paint that had been
+daubed on it by his friend, miles away in the wilderness.
+
+The little company were placed in the order named, standing so that the
+reflection of the firelight revealed every countenance with the
+distinctness of mid-day, when, as we have intimated, there was a general
+scrutiny of Habakkuk, who stood the ordeal well.
+
+He threw his shoulders back, and tried hard to look like an Indian
+warrior, all unconscious of the curious eyes bent upon him.
+
+The Senecas were grouping themselves in front, when Gray Panther uttered
+an exclamation that drew attention to him. He had stumbled over the
+inanimate figure of the warrior whom he left to guard the colored
+prisoner for Jake Golcher.
+
+At the same moment the Tory himself rose from the farthest end of the
+log, bent over as though suffering great pain, while his face was pale
+as ashes. He said to the chief that it had all been caused by the negro,
+who was supposed to be helplessly lame, but was only feigning it. He
+developed into an animated pile-driver with such suddenness that the
+warrior who received his full attentions would never recover, and Jake
+himself felt much doubt whether he should ever feel entirely well
+again.
+
+Such creatures as Golcher are the most abject of cowards when in the
+presence of death, and while he lay on the ground, gasping for breath
+and certain that the blow received from the iron skull of the African
+had finished him, he became altogether a different man from what he had
+been during life.
+
+He was repentant, and begged Heaven not to punish him for his
+multitudinous sins. He pledged himself that if the little patriot band
+should fall into his hands he would release every one, and conduct them
+beyond the dangerous neighborhood.
+
+Alas, for human resolution! Immediately after making the pledge he began
+to rally, and as he came back to his natural self his good intentions
+were scattered like thistle-down in the wind. By the time the captives
+were ranged along the log in front of him he was the same malignant Tory
+that he had always been.
+
+The discovery of the dead body of the Indian caused some confusion among
+Gray Panther's band, and there was considerable lamentation, during
+which the prisoners were partly forgotten.
+
+Fred Godfrey was watching like a cat for his chance, and twice he was on
+the point of making a break. Had his hands been unfastened he would have
+done so, but he waited for what he hoped would be a more favorable
+opportunity.
+
+A guard of two warriors took charge of their dead comrade, while the
+others again centered their gaze upon the New Englander, who stood the
+scrutiny with the same assurance as before.
+
+Jake Golcher, rising to his feet, came painfully down the line, and
+without paying any attention to the others, stopped in front of McEwen,
+whom he scrutinized a full minute, both standing motionless and looking
+squarely in each other's eyes, without uttering a syllable.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXV.
+
+
+Jake Golcher and Habakkuk McEwen were evidently old acquaintances, and
+the Tory seemed to be trying to identify him through the paint that was
+daubed over his countenance in such a loose fashion.
+
+Suddenly the Tory broke into a laugh and exclaimed:
+
+"It's him, as sure as creation! I thought it when I first set eyes on
+you. Where did you come from, and why are you got up in that flowery
+style?"
+
+"Sh! sh! sh!" exclaimed McEwen, contracting his brows and shaking his
+head; "I don't want these folks to know who I am. Don't speak my name."
+
+"And why not?" asked the other, with another laugh, as he came closer to
+the captive.
+
+"They think I'm a friend to 'em; they don't know I'm a Tory that come
+into the valley to raise partic'lar mischief with the settlers."
+
+Jake Golcher immediately became very sober and drew still closer to
+McEwen, still gazing sharply into his face. Then he asked in a low
+voice, which, however, was distinctly heard by the whites, so perfect
+was the stillness at that moment.
+
+"Do you expect me to believe that?"
+
+"You kin do as you please about it, but I've been with Colonel John
+Butler's forces for three days."
+
+"Where was you during the battle this afternoon?"
+
+"_I was there_," was the unblushing response; "I was out yesterday with
+a scouting party under Ke-fi-ke-fa, the son of Queen Esther, who was
+shot by a party of settlers."
+
+Whether Habakkuk spoke all truth or not, the Tory knew he uttered it so
+far as concerned the son of Katharine Montour, queen of the Senecas. Her
+son was killed on the day preceding, as declared by the prisoner, and it
+was that cause, as I have already intimated, which served to excite her
+to such a pitch of fury during the battle and massacre.
+
+Jake Golcher looked at him again with the same searching gaze, as
+though he was partly convinced and sought to make sure by reading his
+countenance.
+
+"What made you paint yourself up in this fashion?"
+
+"So as to be took for an Injin."
+
+"What did you want to be took for an Injin for?"
+
+"Wouldn't I have more chance to do hot work?"
+
+"I don't see why," was the response.
+
+"Wal, if you had been near me you would have seen. I scared these folks
+half to death, but, when they found out who I was, they was dreadful
+sweet onto me. That give me the chance I wanted with them, and then when
+the Senecas and our own boys seen me, they didn't interfere, so I had a
+free path to travel."
+
+"How comes it you're in this scrape?"
+
+"I got in among these folks so as to turn 'em over to you, and if it
+hadn't been for me you'd never got 'em neither."
+
+"How do you make that out?"
+
+"I knowed they meant to fight hard in the cavern, as they showed by
+picking off a couple of your warriors, but I got 'em to come out and
+move off up the ravine, knowing sartin sure they would walk into the
+trap that you had sot for 'em."
+
+Jake Golcher seemed to be astounded at this statement, and his manner
+showed he was half persuaded there was some truth in it. If the fellow
+was really a Tory like himself he had no wish to harm him, but he was
+not fully persuaded, and he turned to Mr. Brainerd.
+
+"You heard what he said, didn't you?"
+
+"Not being deaf, I did."
+
+"Do you know whether he speaks the truth or not?"
+
+"I don't know, and what's more I don't care; I know one thing, he didn't
+render us the slightest help, and in my opinion there is only one bigger
+coward and scoundrel in the country, and that's yourself."
+
+Mr. Brainerd looked the Tory straight in the eye as he uttered these
+defiant words, and the latter winced under the indignation of an honest
+man.
+
+Golcher stood for a moment irresolute, his eye wandering up and down
+the line, until it happened to rest on Aunt Peggy.
+
+"Oh, don't you wink at me that way, you scand'lous villain," she
+exclaimed, shaking her head; "if you say a word to me, or come any
+nearer, I'll scratch your eyes out!"
+
+The Tory moved a little farther off.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVI.
+
+
+Fred Godfrey, as may well be supposed, was amazed at the words of
+Habakkuk McEwen, but he believed the fellow was simply descending to
+this subterfuge in the hope of saving his life.
+
+Understanding the nature of the man as well as he did, he could not find
+fault, and he made an effort to help him, without telling a clear
+untruth.
+
+"I can say that before and after I joined my friends, he behaved very
+differently from the others."
+
+"How?"
+
+"He was asked to do several things for their benefit and refused, and he
+favored this attempt to get away by leaving the place where we had taken
+shelter in the rocks."
+
+"That's because he was too cowardly to do anything else," broke in Mr.
+Brainerd.
+
+"Did lie fire either of those shots that brought down a couple of our
+men?"
+
+"I believe not-did he, Mr. Brainerd?"
+
+"No; he can't shoot well enough to hit a flock of barns ten feet off,
+and he shivered so with fear he couldn't hold his gun in hand."
+
+"That's a lie!" exclaimed Habakkuk, who began to feel hopeful; "I had a
+dozen chances to pick off some of the red men and I wouldn't do it,
+'cause I was their friend."
+
+"Wal, I'll 'tend to you after awhile," said Golcher, puzzled by the turn
+matters had taken. "You folks may sit down on the log a while, and I'll
+'tend to another matter."
+
+During this curious conversation the Senecas were grouped on the other
+side of the camp-fire, so that the faces of captors as well as captured
+were shown in the glare of the blaze, upon which more wood was flung.
+
+Fred Godfrey regretted this, having resolved to make a break whenever
+the chance presented itself, for there was no mercy to be expected for
+him. The Senecas were impatient, and he was well aware that Jake
+Golcher hated him with a hatred that would stop at nothing in the way
+of suffering.
+
+If convinced that the death of a soldier would be his, he would have
+stayed and died, like the brave youth he was.
+
+But once away and he might do something for those who were dearer to him
+than his own life.
+
+While he stood listening to the conversation recorded, he sought to
+finish that which he had tried to accomplish all the way thither--that
+was, to loosen the bonds that held his elbows and wrists as if they were
+bound with iron.
+
+He could not make any progress, and he began to feel as though he had
+deferred the step too long. He thought to have overturned his immediate
+guards, and dashed in the woods, before reaching the camp of the
+Senecas.
+
+This was destined to be an eventful night to all concerned. The Tory had
+taken a step toward Maggie Brainerd, with the manifest intention of
+addressing her, when a new-comer appeared on the scene, in the person of
+an Indian runner from the other side of the river.
+
+It was evident he came from high authorities, with orders. From what
+followed, it is probable that the leaders of the Indians and Tories felt
+there was need of additional forces on the western bank, to complete the
+work of which much still remained to do.
+
+Forty Fort, which contained many of the settlers, and women and
+children, had not yet surrendered, and the massacre could not be
+completed so long as a remnant of the patriots held out.
+
+That such was the errand of the runner appeared from the fact that he
+addressed himself directly to Gray Panther, who the next moment summoned
+Golcher to his side, and the three held a brief conversation.
+
+The captives naturally fixed their attention on them and noticed that
+they gesticulated, and the Tory indulged in a number of expressions in
+English that were of a vigorous nature.
+
+Some of the Senecas sauntered over in front of the sorrowful group, and
+looked at them with natural curiosity. Habakkuk McEwen, on account of
+his fantastic dress and paint, still attracted the most notice, and some
+of the warriors ventured on a remark or two in their own tongue, but he
+made no answer, and did his utmost to maintain a dignified bearing.
+
+"Habakkuk," said Fred Godfrey, in a low voice, "what did you mean by
+telling that wretch such a story?"
+
+"Sh! keep quiet," replied McEwen, in an undertone, and without looking
+toward the one he was addressing; "you know it's my only chance."
+
+There was a moment of silence, when both Fred and his father were
+disposed to suspect the fellow of treachery, but second thought
+convinced them that he meant well enough, and was only making a natural
+effort to gain the favor of the man who held his life in his hands.
+
+It was in accordance with the natural instinct of the fellow, who was
+more than willing to resort to any artifice that promised to avert the
+doom hanging over his head.
+
+It is scarcely necessary to say that he was the only one who would ask
+mercy at the hands of Jake Golcher, or who would pretend any sentiment
+other than an utter abhorrence of him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVII.
+
+
+The conference between Golcher and the chief, Gray Panther, was
+vigorous, even if brief. Orders of such a positive nature had been sent
+that it was probable neither dared disregard them.
+
+The Seneca chief called eight of his warriors about him, said something
+in his guttural fashion, and then he and they disappeared in the wood.
+
+It looked as if they had been commanded to cross the river and join the
+main force on the western bank in some important enterprise.
+
+This left precisely eleven Indians, so far as could be seen, with Jake
+Golcher to carry out his designs. When Fred Godfrey realized the size of
+the force, he said in an undertone to his father:
+
+"If we only had our guns now, we could make a good fight against them."
+
+"But we haven't--so what's the use of talking of an impossibility?"
+
+It was apparent to the fugitives, who were watching everything, that
+Golcher himself was a little uneasy over the shape matters had taken.
+Instead of going to where the captives were sitting on the fallen tree,
+he stood apart with two of the warriors, discussing something with as
+much earnestness as he had talked to Gray Panther.
+
+The meaning of this was soon made plain, when he came over, and,
+addressing Habakkuk McEwen, said loud enough for all ears:
+
+"We've concluded to move camp."
+
+"What's that for?" asked the New Englander.
+
+"None of your business," was the reply, given with equal promptness.
+
+The anxiety of McEwen to gain the good-will of his master, however,
+would not permit him to hold his peace, and he hastened to interject
+several questions.
+
+"I say, Jake, ain't you going to unfasten these twists of wood that are
+cutting my arms almost in two? I think them Injins must have took a
+couple of hickory saplings to bind me."
+
+"I ain't satisfied about you, yet," said the Tory, in that hesitating
+manner that showed he was pretty well convinced that his prisoner, after
+all, was what he professed to be, although, for some reason, he chose to
+restrain his indorsement to him.
+
+"Wal, you orter be," growled Habakkuk; "I'm the best Tory in the Wyoming
+Valley; and this is a purty way to sarve me."
+
+The renegade smiled, as if he rather liked that kind of talk, but he did
+not make any move to relieve his captive of his bonds. Within the next
+three minutes the entire party were moving through the wood toward some
+point of whose locality the prisoners had no idea.
+
+Mr. Brainerd was glad, for he was hopeful it would give Fred the
+desperate chance for which he was waiting. During the last few minutes
+the father had regained some degree of hope, and he looked to the daring
+young lieutenant to give a good account of himself, should any opening
+appear.
+
+As for Fred, himself, he was on the alert; but it must have been that
+the subtle Jake Golcher suspected the truth, for he took extreme
+precaution.
+
+The ladies walked in front this time, with a couple of Indians on either
+side, McEwen and Brainerd came next, while Fred was honored with four
+warriors, who were as wide-awake as cats. The one on his right and the
+one on his left kept a hand on his shoulder, so as to detect the first
+move; and, as his wrists and his elbows were securely held together, it
+was inevitable that the first instant he made a break, no matter how
+skillfully done, that instant he would be killed.
+
+Fred could not fail to see this, and he was too wise to give any pretext
+for violence toward him.
+
+"They will not keep such close watch all the way," he thought. "We have
+a considerable distance to walk, and I shall have the chance after a
+little while--hello!"
+
+To his chagrin the halt was made at that moment.
+
+Hardly had the shadowy figures come to a standstill, when one of the
+Senecas dropped on his knees and began using a flint and steel, sending
+out a shower of sparks like that seen from an emery-wheel. In a few
+seconds a bright fire was under headway.
+
+The Indians had simply changed their quarters--that was all. The curious
+thing about it was, the two places were no more than a couple of hundred
+yards apart, and were so alike that but for the starting of the new
+fire, the captives would have believed they were the same.
+
+The meaning of this movement was a mystery to those chiefly concerned,
+but they could do nothing less than accept it.
+
+When the camp-fire was crackling and threw out a bright glow in every
+direction, the resemblance to the spot just vacated was found to be
+still more striking.
+
+There was the fallen tree, upon which the companions in captivity seated
+themselves, looking questioningly in each others' faces, but they now
+heard the plash and murmur of some small waterfall, that was not in
+their ears a brief while before. That was about the only proof that
+they had really made a change of base.
+
+Under the directions of Jake Golcher, the fuel was heaped upon the fire,
+so that it was practically mid-day so far as captors and captives were
+concerned.
+
+Mr. Brainerd looked reproachfully at Fred and said, in a low voice:
+
+"I didn't expect to see _you_ here when we stopped."
+
+"And I hoped I wouldn't be, but there has not been the ghost of a
+chance."
+
+"I don't see when or where we shall get a better one; I don't propose to
+sit here and let them tomahawk us to death, as Queen Esther did with
+those poor wretches this afternoon."
+
+"We may not be able to prevent it; but as I made an effort then, so I
+will this time, when worst comes to worst."
+
+"What in the name of the seven wonders was this change made for?"
+
+"I can scarcely form an idea, but there must have been some cause."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXVIII.
+
+
+For a time Jake Golcher paid no attention to the whites, but watched the
+Senecas, while they plied the roaring fire, as though it gave him a good
+deal of satisfaction.
+
+In counting the Indians, Fred Godfrey saw that two were missing, but
+before he formed any guess as to the cause of their absence they
+reappeared, their coming announced by the terrific squealing of a young
+pig, that they had managed to steal somewhere.
+
+As they entered the circle of light, they were seen to be holding a
+plump little porker between them, while he struggled fiercely and
+emitted screams like the shriek of a locomotive whistle.
+
+It was a piece of good fortune that they were enabled to secure such a
+prize, when so many of the fugitives from Wyoming almost perished with
+hunger.
+
+The cries of the little porker were soon hushed in death, and he was
+dressed with considerable skill. Conveniences not being at hand for
+scalding him, it became necessary to prepare him for the table without
+that desirable process.
+
+When he was ready for the coals the latter were raked out, and Aunt
+Peggy was invited to come forward and display her skill.
+
+"I'd like to see me cook for you scand'lous villains," she snapped out;
+"I would do it if I had a lot of p'ison to put in the meat, but not
+otherwise."
+
+Her refusal probably would have ended in serious consequences to
+herself, but Mr. Brainerd and Maggie urged her to comply, all saying
+they were extremely hungry, and in no other way would they be able to
+secure any food.
+
+In deference to their wishes she stepped forward, and, being furnished
+with a keen hunting-knife by one of the warriors, plied it with the
+skill for which she became famous years before.
+
+The pig was in prime condition, and, if properly prepared, would have
+made an enjoyable delicacy for the table.
+
+But time and circumstances did not favor elaborate cookery, and Aunt
+Peggy, in grim silence, cut off slices that were nicely broiled by being
+skewered with green sticks, and held over the glowing coals.
+
+In a few minutes a thin steak was browned and ready for the palate.
+
+"I'll take that, old woman," said Jake Golcher, reaching out for it.
+
+"I'd like to see you get it," said the lady, whipping it away from him;
+"you good-for-nothing, scand'lous villain, don't you know that ladies
+orter be waited on fust?"
+
+And with these scarifying words, she walked over to Maggie and Eva, and,
+cutting the steak in two, handed half to each.
+
+"That's just what I was going to do," growled Golcher, annoyed by the
+broad grin that illuminated Caucasian and American faces alike.
+
+"You know it's a falsehood," replied Aunt Peggy, in the same peppery
+style; "you're too mean ever to think of anything decent and
+Christian-like, you vagabond--oh-h-h-h, how I ache to get hold of you!"
+
+The Tory fought rather shy of her, for in sooth she was a lady to be
+dreaded.
+
+Eva Brainerd walked straight to where her father sat, and said:
+
+"Papa, I shall not eat a mouthful until you do."
+
+"I can't eat very conveniently with my hands tied behind me, but I shall
+never consent to devour that and allow you to go hungry."
+
+"But I can get more of Aunt Peggy."
+
+"Perhaps so and perhaps not."
+
+"Then we will eat it between us. There, you take a bite and I will do
+the same, and we will keep it up until nothing is left."
+
+"That _is_ a good arrangement," replied her parent, smiling at the
+ingenuity of the affectionate child, and complying with her request.
+
+He took a good mouthful, and she followed. Eva forced the last bit upon
+her father, who, in spite of himself, was compelled to eat fully
+two-thirds of the piece, which, after all, was the proper thing to do.
+
+Before the feast was finished Aunt Peggy had another slice ready, which
+was handed over to Maggie, who walked directly to where Fred Godfrey
+sat on the log.
+
+"Brother Fred, this is for _you_."
+
+He consented to share it with her as their parent was doing with little
+Eva, and of course she complied.
+
+While this scene was going on the Indians were lolling near at hand,
+smoking their pipes, and exchanging a few guttural grunts. They were all
+on the ground, evidently in a more patient mood than Jake Golcher, who
+stood a short distance back from the camp-fire, scowling and angry, that
+he should be compelled to stand still and see the captives fed, while he
+was hungry and unable to obtain a mouthful.
+
+Even Habakkuk McEwen was not forgotten, Maggie ministering to his wants,
+though, of course, she did not alternate the feasting as she did with
+Fred. Habakkuk asked her to do so, but she refused so pointedly that he
+did not repeat the request.
+
+"This is interesting," muttered the angered Tory to himself, as he
+looked on; "that pig belongs to us, and we've got to set back and let
+them rebels swaller it before our eyes. I'll be hanged if I'll stand
+it."
+
+He was fast working up to a dangerous point of anger, which was not
+mollified when he noticed that Aunt Peggy herself now and then placed a
+large piece in her mouth, after which her jaws worked with great vigor.
+
+"See here, old woman," he called out, "that pork don't belong to you,
+and I reckon it's about time the owner got some."
+
+He did not approach her, but he looked as savage as a sharpened
+tomahawk.
+
+Aunt Peggy made no reply and acted as though she heard him not; but, had
+any one noticed her closely, he would have seen her jaws working more
+energetically than ever, while her eyes took on a little sharper gleam
+than before.
+
+She, too, was rapidly reaching an explosive mood, although the
+particular individual against whom she felt the rising anger failed to
+take warning.
+
+"She's the worst hag I ever seen," muttered Jake, glancing askance at
+her, but still keeping a respectful distance.
+
+The Senecas sat somewhat apart in the same lolling attitudes, and some
+of them looked as if they anticipated what was coming.
+
+A minute later, Aunt Peggy finished another slice, which she asked
+Maggie to take.
+
+"Thank you, auntie, we have enough," replied our heroine, Eva saying the
+same.
+
+"I think I could eat a few pounds more," remarked Habakkuk, "but I would
+prefer to see Mr. Golcher get something. He is a good fellow, and orter
+been sarved first."
+
+"If none of you want it, I'll eat it myself," observed the ancient
+maiden, who thereupon began disposing of it.
+
+"That's gone about fur enough!" exclaimed Golcher, striding toward her;
+"some folks haven't got no gratertude, and I'll teach you--"
+
+As he uttered this threat, or rather partly uttered it, he was at Aunt
+Peggy's elbow in a wrathful mood. All at once, she whirled about, and
+sprang at him like a tigress.
+
+"You'll teach me manners, will you? There! Take _that_! and THAT!"
+
+The attack was so unexpected that Golcher threw up his empty hands in a
+weak way, and lowered his head, closing his eyes and trying to retreat,
+but she had grasped his long, straggling hair, and it came out by the
+handfuls.
+
+Instantly all was confusion. Mr. Brainerd laughed, and the Senecas, as
+they sprang to their feet, made no effort to interfere. Indeed, there
+was strong reason to believe they enjoyed the strange scene.
+
+Aunt Peggy scratched and pulled with the most commendable enthusiasm,
+and her victim howled with pain.
+
+"Take her off!" he shouted, "or she will kill me!"
+
+Eva and Maggie ran forward, but the Indians actually laughed, and the
+two girls were unable to restrain her until she had spent her vengeance.
+Her victim was in a sorry plight, and in his blind retreat he tumbled
+backward over the log, springing instantly to his feet, and actually
+dashing off in the darkness.
+
+"There!" gasped Aunt Peggy, "I've been aching to get my hands on you,
+and now I feel better!"
+
+At this juncture several of the Senecas uttered excited exclamations,
+for the discovery was made that during the hubbub one of the prisoners
+had escaped, and his name was Fred Godfrey.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXXIX.
+
+
+Aunt Peggy Carey "builded better than she knew."
+
+In her fierce attack on the Tory she administered well-merited
+punishment, leaving him in a demoralized condition, so thoroughly
+whipped, indeed, that for several minutes he was dazed and not himself.
+
+Her friends trembled to think of the vengeance he would visit upon her
+for the act, but the good lady herself seemed to have no apprehensions,
+and, turning about, she carefully arranged her hair and bonnet, and
+resumed cooking slices from the carcass of the pig, intending now to
+wait upon the Senecas, who had been kind enough not to interfere while
+she attended to the other important duty.
+
+What the next step would have been was hard to guess, but for the sudden
+discovery which we have made known.
+
+One of the captives was found to be missing, and he was the most
+important of all, being no less a personage than Lieutenant Fred
+Godfrey.
+
+The instant Aunt Peggy assailed Golcher the youth saw that the
+opportunity for which he was waiting had come, and he took advantage of
+it.
+
+The uproar for the moment was great. The captives on the log sprang to
+their feet, and the Senecas fixed their attention on the couple, seeing
+which, Mr. Brainerd said to his son:
+
+"_Now's your time, Fred!_"
+
+He turned as he spoke, and saw the lieutenant vanishing like a shot in
+the gloom. When the warriors noted his absence, he was at a safe
+distance in the wood.
+
+Fully a half-dozen Senecas sprang off in the darkness, using every
+effort to recapture the prisoner, who could be at no great distance, no
+matter how fast he had traveled.
+
+Had Fred given away to the excitement of the occasion, and lost that
+coolness that had stood him so well more than once on that dreadful
+afternoon and evening, he hardly would have escaped recapture before he
+went a hundred yards; for the Iroquois were so accustomed to the ways
+of the woods, they would have seized such advantage and come upon him
+while he was in the immediate neighborhood.
+
+They believed he would continue running and stumbling in the darkness,
+and thus betray his whereabouts.
+
+And that is precisely what Fred Godfrey did not do.
+
+He ran with all speed through the woods, tripping and picking himself
+up, and struggling forward, until he was far beyond the reach of the
+light of the camp-fire, when all at once he caught the signal whoops of
+the Indians, and he knew they were after him.
+
+Then, instead of keeping on in his flight, he straightened up and
+stepped along with extreme caution, literally feeling every foot of the
+way.
+
+Thus it was he avoided betraying his situation to the cunning warriors,
+who, in their apparently aimless pursuit, used their ears, and indeed
+every sense at their command.
+
+It was because Fred himself did the same that he eluded those on his
+track. Listening, he heard the approach of one of the Iroquois. Instead
+of hurrying away he stopped, and backing against a tree, stood as
+motionless as the trunk itself.
+
+The dense summer vegetation overhead prevented a single beam of
+moonlight reaching him, so that he was secure from observation, so long
+as he retained his self-possession and made no blunder.
+
+His nerves were under a fearful strain within the next three minutes,
+for, as if guided by fate, not one but two of the Senecas dashed through
+the wood, and instead of going by, halted not more than six feet from
+where he stood.
+
+Why they should have stopped thus was more than he could conjecture,
+unless they really knew where he was and were sure they could place
+their hands on him when they wished.
+
+It was hard to understand how this could be, and Fred refused to believe
+it, though the actions of the Indians were certainly remarkable.
+
+What more trying situation could there be? It was like some nightmare in
+which the victim sees the foe swiftly approaching and is without the
+power to move so much as a finger.
+
+But Fred did not lose heart. If they had learned where he was, he meant
+to use his feet and not to yield so long as he could resist.
+
+He tugged at his bonds, but they were fastened so securely that he could
+not start them. To loosen them so as to free his hands must necessarily
+be the work of some time, and he knew how it could be done, when he
+should be free of his enemies.
+
+But the bonds, when two of the Senecas were at his elbow, were torture,
+and but for his strength of will he could not have avoided an outcry.
+
+Fortunately, the suspense lasted but a few minutes. The Indians stood
+silent as if listening, and during that ordeal Fred scarcely drew his
+breath.
+
+Then they exchanged some words in the gruff, exclamatory style peculiar
+to the red men, and again they paused and listened.
+
+The other pursuers could be heard at different points, for most of them
+uttered several cautions but well-understood signals, some of which were
+answered by the two at Fred's elbow.
+
+"Why should they stop here," thought he, "when they have every reason to
+think I am threshing through the wood and getting farther away each
+minute?"
+
+Just then they began moving off, and immediately after, he caught the
+dim outlines of their figures as they crossed an open space and vanished
+in the woods beyond.
+
+Fred Godfrey did not stir for several minutes, but at the end of that
+time he became satisfied that his whereabouts were unknown to the
+Senecas ranging through the wilderness in search of him, and he ventured
+to leave the tree.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+
+
+For a single minute Mr. Brainerd was on the point of following in the
+footsteps of Fred, and making a break for freedom: that was at the
+height of the general confusion, when the majority of the Indians
+started in pursuit.
+
+Possibly such a prompt course might have succeeded, but he allowed the
+critical moment to pass, through fear that some additional cruelty would
+be visited on the heads of those whom he left behind.
+
+When Aunt Peggy resumed her culinary operations, the patriots sat down
+again on the log, excited and fearful that the events of the last few
+minutes would precipitate the crisis they had been dreading for hours.
+
+Habakkuk McEwen was alarmed, but he could do nothing more than give
+expressions to his sympathy for the victim of the old lady's wrath,
+while he regretted, with an anguish which cannot be described, his
+failure to get away with Fred Godfrey, who, as it seemed to the New
+Englander, was the born favorite of fortune.
+
+"Thank God!" was the fervent exclamation of Mr. Brainerd, as he
+compressed his lips, "Fred is beyond their reach."
+
+"Are you sure of that?" asked Maggie.
+
+"Sure of it!" repeated her parent, turning his gaze on her, while he
+smiled grimly. "Of course I am. When he escaped the clutches of Queen
+Esther to-day he had no darkness to help him, and the rascals were at
+his heels. Yet he got away safely, and he never would have fallen into
+their hands again but for his anxiety to help us. Now he is out there
+somewhere in the woods, where it is as dark as Egypt, and do you suppose
+he is the fool to allow them to take him again? Not by a long shot."
+
+Maggie was immeasurably relieved to hear these words of her parent,
+which, it may be said, removed every fear for her brother from her
+thoughts.
+
+"But, father," she added, "what can he do, with his arms bound?"
+
+"Faugh! what's that? We are tied with green withes or vines that hurt
+like the mischief, but it will take only a few minutes to rub them
+against the corner of a stone or rock and separate them. Have no fears
+about Fred," continued her father, "these red skins can whoop and yell,
+and howl and crack their heels together, but they'll never have another
+such a chance to scalp Fred Godfrey as they had a little while ago."
+
+Relieved of this dread, Maggie's anxieties were centered upon her
+friends.
+
+Her heart bled for her father, who sat as proudly upright and defiant as
+though at the head of a brigade of men; but she could only pray and
+utter brave words, in the hope of cheering him.
+
+Poor Eva was so terrified that she cried continually. She clung to her
+beloved parent, and, fortunately, as yet none of her captors made any
+objection. She was determined to stay by him to the last.
+
+The American Indian admires bravery as much as does his civilized
+enemy, and it needed no student of human nature to see that the few who
+remained were as much disgusted as amused with the sorry figure cut by
+their Tory leader in his affray with Aunt Peggy Carey.
+
+This was proven by their refusal to interfere, and by the grins that
+appeared among them when the comedy was going on. But they were under
+the leadership of the same Tory, and, when he came stumbling back from
+his fall over the log, and the lady resumed culinary operations, the
+Senecas became as owlishly glum as seems to be their nature.
+
+They were helped in this feeling by the flight of Lieutenant Godfrey,
+the prisoner most prized. As it was, the entire party came near starting
+for the young man, but, unfortunately, they checked themselves in time
+to prevent a stampede on the part of the rest of the captives.
+
+Jake Golcher, as we have said, came back dazed and pretty well subdued.
+A great deal of his straggling hair had been removed by Aunt Peggy, and
+his countenance gridironed by her vigorous finger-nails.
+
+He dropped down in a collapsed condition at one end of the log, removed
+from the captives, who, like the Indians, looked at him askance, half
+disposed to laugh outright, despite the alarming danger.
+
+In the mean time, Aunt Peggy was broiling the slices of tender pig with
+such care that she had a couple finished.
+
+"There," she exclaimed, as she tossed the two in the direction of the
+Senecas, "I like to see hog eat hog, and you might as well begin."
+
+The facetious red men scrambled, like a lot of school-boys after a
+handful of marbles, and had they been so many wolves, the food could
+hardly have disappeared with greater celerity.
+
+Paying no attention to the Tory, who sat on the fallen tree with his
+head drooping forward and his eyes fixed on nothing, the warriors
+started a curious scene.
+
+Approaching quite close to Aunt Peggy, they crowded and pushed each
+other, eagerly waiting when she should be ready to fling them the prize
+for which their stomachs yearned.
+
+All were on their feet, and their black eyes, and quick, fidgeting
+movements, showed that their souls were in the business, or fun, as it
+might be termed.
+
+There can be little question that, incredible as it may seem, the action
+of Aunt Peggy had rendered her somewhat of a favorite with the Indians.
+It is just such people who admire the vim and bravery of any
+one--especially when not expected.
+
+There can be no means of knowing, and yet it is safe to suspect, that
+the most reverential of these Senecas was the warrior who had received
+such a ringing slap in the face when he dared to touch his painted lips
+to the virgin cheek of Aunt Peggy.
+
+Such is human nature the world over. The red men laughed and tumbled
+about, as they scrambled for the bits of meat, while even Aunt Peggy's
+features relaxed into a grim smile, when she looked upon the amusing
+performance.
+
+It was no more than natural that as she had gone up in the estimation
+of these dusky warriors, the one who had been vanquished sank
+correspondingly low.
+
+Strange complications might result from this condition of affairs.
+
+Perhaps a dozen or more slices of the pig were broiled and tossed among
+the struggling red men, by which time their appetites were so well
+attended to that they lost a great deal of the vigor with which in the
+first place they scrambled for the food.
+
+But during this same time, which was only a few minutes, Jake Golcher
+was rapidly regaining a correct idea of the situation, and it was not
+long before he raised his head and surveyed the scene with interest.
+
+He straightened up and watched them a brief while, when the stinging
+scratches on his face reminded him of the episode in which he had cut
+such a sorry figure.
+
+"She beats ten thousand wildcats," he muttered, glaring at Aunt Peggy,
+who just then was smiling at the efforts of the Indians to seize the
+slice of young pork she tossed toward them.
+
+"I don't understand how it was she knocked the spots out of me in that
+style; it must have been her awful temper, and because she come at me
+afore I knowed anything about it."
+
+Very probably the causes named had much to do with the result.
+
+"Why didn't some of them Senecas pull her off? It's just like 'em to be
+pleased with it, and I'm sure the rebels busted themselves with laughter
+to see me catch it."
+
+Jake Golcher seemed to be quite correct in gauging the feelings of those
+around him.
+
+Sitting on the fallen tree, he muttered:
+
+"These warriors have all been put under me, and they've got to do what I
+tell 'em to do; we've played the fool too long in sparing 'em. They
+ought to have been put out of the way before this. Let me see--I'll fix
+it this way."
+
+He first looked at Aunt Peggy, toward whom he felt a hatred
+inconceivable to any one not in his situation.
+
+"I'll settle with _her_ for this; it will be just like the Senecas to
+refuse to burn her at a tree, because she is such a she-panther; but
+I'll give her a touch of the knife myself, that will prevent her ever
+pulling out half my hair agin.
+
+"I'll keep the two gals there, for they'll stick together, and I'm bound
+to bring that proud Maggie Brainerd to terms. If she'll do the right
+thing by me I'll let up on her father that I hate worse than p'ison. As
+for that long-legged Habakkuk, I don't know what to think of him; it may
+be he's one of us, though I have my doubts. I'll wait and see; but won't
+I level things up with that 'ere Fred Godfrey? Wal, I should rather
+guess so. I'll make sure he's out of the way. I s'pose he's sittin' over
+there wondering when his turn is comin'. He won't be kept wondering
+long."
+
+Wishing to gratify his nature, he leaned forward and peered around Mr.
+Brainerd to see how Fred Godfrey was taking it.
+
+But he failed to discover the young man.
+
+Making sure he was not on the log, Golcher rose to his feet and stared
+here and there in a hurried search for the youth.
+
+He was invisible, and, with a vague fear, the Tory strode to Mr.
+Brainerd.
+
+"Where's that son of yours?"
+
+"Well, sir," was the response, "I judge that by this time he's about
+half a mile away in the woods, and safely beyond the reach of all the
+warriors and Tories that ever had their hair yanked out by an elderly
+lady not in the enjoyment of very rugged health!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLI.
+
+
+It need not be said that Fred Godfrey improved his opportunity to the
+utmost.
+
+Having eluded the Senecas who were so close behind him, it was not
+likely he would run any risk of being caught on their return. In fact,
+he might have considered himself beyond danger, and yet the narrowest
+escape of all occurred only a few minutes afterward.
+
+Anxious to gain the utmost time possible, he was picking his way with
+great care, when he stepped upon a stone that turned under his foot, and
+he narrowly escaped falling.
+
+Immediately he caught a birdlike call near him, and his quick wit told
+him it was a signal from one of the warriors searching for him.
+
+Fred made an abrupt turn, and going a rod or two, halted precisely as
+before--that is beneath a large tree, and stood close against the
+trunk.
+
+And standing thus, he noticed the same sound once more, this time
+answered from a point directly behind him.
+
+He could do nothing but stand still, and he knew how to do that equal to
+a living statue. Only a few yards in front was an open space, where the
+moonlight revealed objects without exposing himself to observation.
+
+Thus it was that the youth detected two Indians, who came out of the
+wood on the other side and stopped, as if they were posing for
+inspection. They talked for some minutes in their own tongue,
+gesticulating earnestly and then walked toward him.
+
+He quickly shifted his position to the other side of the tree and peered
+around, but, when they came into the shadow, nothing could be seen of
+them.
+
+"I believe they know where I am," thought he, "and are amusing
+themselves at my expense."
+
+Such seemed to be the case, for once more the red men stopped and were
+actually within reach of him. Since the arms of the latter were still
+fastened behind him, it can well be understood how he dreaded
+discovery, his chief fear being that the painful throbbing of his heart
+would betray him.
+
+But the good fortune that had attended him on the other side the river
+did not desert him now. The Senecas hovered about him only a minute or
+two and then moved away, this time taking a direction that led toward
+the camp-fire--an indication that they had given up the pursuit.
+
+Pausing only long enough for them to pass beyond hearing, Fred resumed
+his flight, with the same care he had used from the first.
+
+He was now more hopeful than ever, but almost instantly received another
+warning that it is never safe to shout until you are "out of the woods."
+
+He judged he was fully two hundred yards from the camp-fire which he had
+left so hurriedly, when he found himself in such darkness that he once
+more stopped until he could gather some idea of his location and of the
+points of the compass.
+
+Listening closely, he caught the gentle flow of the small waterfall and
+of the Susquehanna on his right, from which direction also came the
+occasional reports of guns and the shouts of Indians. This convinced him
+he was facing south, and that his back was turned toward his friends.
+
+It was no pleasant discovery to find the same ominous sounds proceeding
+from his own side the river; but, having left them in such a situation,
+this alarming fact was scarcely noticed.
+
+"The first thing for me to do is to get these withes off my arms and
+wrists," he said, poking around with his feet for some sharp-cornered
+stone. "I've stood this--"
+
+To his dismay, a figure approached in the gloom. There were just enough
+scattering rays of moonlight to show it, and its movements made certain
+the fact that he (the stranger) had discovered him.
+
+"I shall have to use my feet," was the thought of Fred, as he braced
+himself; "and I will give him a kick that will do something--"
+
+"Am dat you, leftenant?" came in the form of a husky whisper, as the
+figure stopped a few feet away and tried to peer through the gloom.
+
+Fred Godfrey almost shouted with delight, for the question revealed the
+identity of Gravity Gimp.
+
+"Thank Heaven!" was the exclamation of the young man. "I hadn't the
+remotest idea of meeting you, Gravity."
+
+"Let's shake on it," chuckled the African, groping forward with his huge
+palm, which he shoved into the face of the pleased Fred, who said:
+
+"If you'll be kind enough to cut these bonds that hold my arms
+immovable, I'll shake both hands."
+
+"Of course; where am dey?" asked the equally happy negro, poking around
+with his immense jack-knife. "I'se so glorious dat you mus' 'scuse me if
+I cut off de wrong things. I can't hold myself. Dar, I knowed it!" he
+added, slashing away; "dat's your leg dat I have hold of, and I do
+b'leve dat I've cut it half off. Begs pardon, leftenant, and I'll hit it
+after a while."
+
+But no such blunder had been committed, and, under the manipulation of
+the jack-knife, the withes that had bound the arms of Fred Godfrey were
+speedily cut, and he swung his hands about and sawed the air with great
+relief.
+
+"My gracious! but that's good!" he exclaimed. "I was so wretched that I
+believe I would have gone wild if I hadn't been freed."
+
+"Why didn't you gnaw 'em off?" said Gimp. "You've got good 'nough teeth
+to walk right through anything like dat."
+
+"That may be, Gravity; but with my hands tied behind me, I couldn't very
+well get at them with my teeth."
+
+"I didn't thunk ob dat--but you could hab fixed it easy 'nough."
+
+"In what way?"
+
+"Jes' stood on your head--dat was de way to reach 'em."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLII.
+
+
+It is idle to attempt to picture the feelings of Jake Golcher, when he
+learned from Mr. Brainerd, one of the captives, that Fred Godfrey had
+escaped but a few minutes before.
+
+Weakly hoping there was some mistake, he turned to one of the Indians
+and demanded the truth. He got it in the shape of information that
+several of the fleetest warriors were hunting for the fugitive, and
+there was hope he would be brought in speedily.
+
+The renegade stood a few seconds, and then began striding up and down in
+front of the camp-fire, indulging in imprecations too frightful to be
+recorded.
+
+All this time Mr. Brainerd was so delighted that he forgot his own
+grief. He knew how great was the disappointment of the man, and he was
+pleased thereat, for, recalling the chastisement received from the hands
+of Aunt Peggy, it can be safely said that matters had gone ill with
+Golcher, since the lady began cooking for her captors.
+
+By and by he exhausted himself, and then paused in front of Habakkuk
+McEwen and demanded:
+
+"Why didn't you stop him when you seen him running away?"
+
+"I didn't see him," was the truthful reply of the fellow, who was mean
+enough to add: "If I had, you can just bet I'd stopped him, even if my
+hands was tied."
+
+"Why didn't you yell for me as soon as you found out he had gone?"
+
+"I did yell," was the unblushing answer, "but there was so much
+confusion nobody noticed me, and the Injins was off after him as quick
+as he started."
+
+"Just then Aunt Peggy was attending to you," Mr. Brainerd remarked, "and
+you were so badly used up that you wouldn't have noticed an earthquake
+had it come along."
+
+Maggie looked beseechingly at her father, while the Tory glowered on him
+like a thunder-cloud.
+
+But for his anxiety to win the good will of the pretty maiden, he would
+have struck down her parent where he stood. The latter acted as though
+he had given up all hope, and was trying to retaliate to some extent on
+him whom he detested.
+
+"See here," said Habakkuk, with a flirt of his head and a confidential
+air, "ain't you going to cut them things that are tied about my arms?"
+
+"What'll we do that for?"
+
+"So's to let me loose," was the logical answer; "you know, Jakey--"
+
+"There, don't call me Jakey," interrupted the Tory.
+
+"Well, Mr. Golcher--"
+
+"Make it plain 'Jake.'"
+
+"Well, Jake, as I was going to say, I'm your friend, and have been ever
+since I knowed you, and you know it; if you'll let me loose I'll 'list
+under you; I'm already got up Injin style, and will sarve as one of your
+advanced scouts."
+
+"Shet up?" interrupted Golcher; "I don't b'leve you're anything more
+than a rebel, and if we'd done as we orter, the whole caboodle of you
+would have been wiped out before the sun went down."
+
+While the Tory was indulging in these expressions he continually glanced
+at Maggie Brainerd, occasionally taking a step toward her. It is at such
+times that a woman is quick to perceive the truth, and with the natural
+instinct of her sex, she looked at him in turn, and with that smile of
+hers that was really resistless, said:
+
+"Jake, come here a minute, please."
+
+In a flutter of surprise, he approached, with a smirking grin.
+
+"What can I do for you, dear Maggie?"
+
+"I'll be much obliged if you will cut those bonds which trouble father.
+He has suffered so much to-day that he is irritable, and I hope you will
+pardon him."
+
+This was an audacious request, and took Golcher aback somewhat, but
+there was no refusing the prayer.
+
+So, with the best grace possible, he stepped forward, hunting-knife in
+hand, and cut first the wire-like withes that held Habakkuk McEwen
+fast, and then did the same with those of Mr. Brainerd.
+
+"I'm very much obliged," said the grateful Habakkuk; "you're very kind,
+and after this I'm your servant."
+
+Angry as was Mr. Brainerd, he had better sense than to quarrel with his
+good fortune, and he thanked the man who loosened his arms, while at the
+same time he concluded to hold his peace for the time.
+
+"Fred is beyond their reach," he thought, "and so is Gravity Gimp, and I
+judge one of them had a gun. True, that isn't much, but there is no
+saying what will be done with it, for both are as brave men as ever
+stood in battle.
+
+"If Fred only had the chance, he would be heard from very soon. But
+there is none whom he can rally to our help. Ah, if he could but pick up
+a half-dozen soldiers, what a raid he would make through this camp! But
+wherever there are any of our soldiers they are wounded, killed, or so
+scared that they are an element of weakness.
+
+"I can not help feeling some hope, and yet my reason tells me that
+there is no ground on which to base it."
+
+Having complied with the request of Maggie Brainerd, Golcher felt
+authorized to approach her with a statement of his own proposition.
+Accordingly, he walked to the farther end of the log, and motioned for
+her to join him. She thought it best to comply, and did so, sitting down
+within a foot or two of him.
+
+"You see," he said, with his smirk, "I've done what you axed me to do."
+
+"You have, and I thank you for it."
+
+"That's all right; there ain't nothin' mean about me, for all some folks
+choose to slander me. Now, I s'pose you'd like to have your father and
+the rest of them folks let go?"
+
+"I have been praying for that ever since the Indians captured us."
+
+"Wall, I've been thinking 'bout settin' you all loose to take care of
+yourselves."
+
+"Oh, if you do, Mr. Golcher--"
+
+"Thar, thar," he interrupted, with a wave of the hand; "call me 'Jake'
+when you speak to me."
+
+"I'll be grateful to you, Jake, as long as I live, and so will they."
+
+"That's all very well; but gratertude ain't going to do me much good,"
+said Jake, with another grin. "I orter have some reward, Maggie."
+
+"So you will; the reward of an approving conscience, which is beyond the
+price of rubies."
+
+"I know all 'bout that," said he, slinging one leg over the other, after
+which he nursed the upper knee and swayed the foot back and forth; "but
+that don't satisfy me. I want more."
+
+"We have a little farm, you know; I'll give you my share in that, and
+father, I'm sure, will pay you everything he can get together."
+
+"Yes, but that ain't enough, Maggie."
+
+"What else can we do?" she asked, despairingly, while her sex's
+intuition told her what he was hinting at.
+
+"I want _you_," he said, bending his head close to her, while she
+recoiled; "if you'll be my wife, I'll let your father, Eva, yourself,
+and even Aunt Peggy, go; if you don't, the Senecas shall tomahawk them
+all."
+
+Maggie Brainerd knew this was coming, and she asked herself whether it
+was not her duty to be offered up as a sacrifice, to save her beloved
+friends. Would there be any more heroism in doing so than had been
+displayed before by thousands of her sex?
+
+She was prayerfully considering the question, when her indignant father,
+who had heard it all, broke in with:
+
+"Tell him no--a thousand times no! If you don't, you are no daughter of
+mine!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.
+
+
+Gravity Gimp and Lieutenant Fred Godfrey were in high spirits, for each
+had been highly favored by fortune. They were beyond sight of the
+camp-fire and had thrown the pursuing Iroquois off the track, so that,
+with ordinary care, they were out of personal danger.
+
+But this elation could not last. Could they forget that within a stone's
+throw their friends were in peril, and unless soon rescued would be
+beyond all help?
+
+"We have only one gun between us," said Fred, "and I don't see any
+prospect of getting another."
+
+"I thinked maybe we mought find one, somewhar in de woods," said Gimp,
+"but I guess dere ain't much show for dat. You am de best shot, so I'll
+be wery much obleeged if you'll take charge ob dis rifle."
+
+Fred accepted the weapon, feeling that before any great harm could
+befall those in the Indian camp, the bullet nestling in the barrel would
+be heard from.
+
+"We will steal up as near as we dare," said he, "and watch our chances."
+
+"I doesn't see dat I can assist you, to a wery alarming extent," said
+Gimp, "so if you doesn't object, I'll go on a scout."
+
+"Go on a scout? What do you mean by that?"
+
+"Ise an ijee; I'll take a look around, and when I want you I'll just
+whistle this way, and you'll understand."
+
+Fred had little faith in the proposal, but fortunately he did not
+object, and a minute later Gimp was gone.
+
+Left to himself Fred stealthily approached the vicinity of the camp,
+fully alive to the delicacy of his mission.
+
+He was resolved that if detected, and this was likely to occur, since a
+number of the Senecas were still absent and would soon be returning, he
+would not be retaken.
+
+"There will not be a shadow of hope, if I fall into their hands again,
+and I may as well make it lively for a while."
+
+A few steps farther and he reached a point from which he obtained a
+clear view of the Indian camp.
+
+He saw Aunt Peggy busy with her culinary duties, while the group of half
+a dozen Indians were as eagerly watching and scrambling for the brown
+slices as if they were so many wolves.
+
+By and by Jake Golcher cut the withes that bound the arms of Habakkuk
+McEwen and Mr. Brainerd, and began talking with Maggie while Fred
+watched with the deepest interest the singular camp.
+
+"I think there'll be some mischief done pretty soon," thought the youth,
+after watching the scene for a moment; "and, if so, I must take a hand."
+
+He had stationed himself by the side of a tree with large spreading
+limbs, and he now resorted to the odd plan of climbing a short distance
+and seating himself among the limbs.
+
+"I've got just as good a view here," he said to himself, "and, if it
+becomes necessary to shoot, they won't be apt to look in this place for
+me."
+
+At the same time it occurred to him that if the flash of his gun should
+be noticed, and his whereabouts discovered, he would be in the worst
+possible situation.
+
+Parting the limbs, so as to give him the view he wished, he held his
+weapon ready to fire any instant, while he closely watched proceedings.
+
+No better aim could have been required than that now given him; he could
+cover every one in the party, and the distance was so short that it was
+impossible to miss.
+
+"I ought to shoot him," he muttered, as he looked at Jake Golcher, while
+sitting by Maggie Brainerd and talking with such earnestness; "it is he
+who has followed us, and but for him the party would be well out of
+danger by this time."
+
+The young lieutenant was angry enough to shoot a dozen Tories, had the
+chance been his; but when he sighted along the gleaming barrel of his
+rifle, on which the firelight fell, he could not bring himself to the
+point.
+
+"Yes; I ought to do it," he added, "but I can't feel right in picking
+off a man in that fashion. No; I'll wait till he gives me a better
+excuse."
+
+The watcher knew what passed between Maggie, Golcher, and Mr. Brainerd,
+when the last came up and uttered his indignant protest, almost as well
+as if he had overheard the words themselves.
+
+"Jake has proposed to let the whole party off, provided Maggie will
+marry him, and before she can decide (for he knows if she makes the
+promise she will keep it, if they both live), father is giving the Tory
+a piece of his mind. He's doing it in a style, too, that can't be
+misunderstood."
+
+This little scene lasted but a few seconds, when Mr. Brainerd resumed
+his seat on the log, close to his daughter, as if he would protect her
+from any more such advances.
+
+All this was noted and understood by the watcher in the tree, when the
+latter was recalled to his own situation by a slight rustling below.
+Looking down, he was able to see by the light of the camp-fire the
+figure of a Seneca Indian, as he walked softly in the direction of the
+camp.
+
+No doubt he was one of the warriors that had been hunting for Fred, and
+who failed to find him.
+
+The latter was so near his enemies that he could follow the motions of
+the Indian until he joined his comrades, or, rather, went up to Golcher,
+who straightway began questioning him about the search for the young
+patriot.
+
+Whatever their answers might have been, it is scarcely to be presumed
+they added much to the peace of mind of Mr. Jacob Golcher.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.
+
+
+After the indignant protest of Mr. Brainerd, Jake Golcher concluded to
+let the matter rest for the time.
+
+"The old fellow is pretty sassy and independent, but I'll take it out of
+him before he's two hours older. I wish Black Turtle would come in."
+
+He referred to one of the most treacherous and cruel warriors of the
+Seneca tribe--a savage whose atrocities had given him prominence even
+among a people noted for their cruelty, and the identical redskin who
+was in his mind at that moment came out of the wood and approached the
+Tory leader.
+
+Black Turtle was the warrior who passed under the tree in which Fred
+Godfrey was perched.
+
+Golcher now believed that he had been lenient, and he resolved to force
+the issue that had already been delayed too long. Without heeding the
+other warriors, who were laughing and scrambling for the slices of meat,
+Black Turtle at once went up to the white man, with whom he held a brief
+but pointed conversation.
+
+He first told that they had hunted hard for the Yengese, or Yankee, and
+had failed to find him--a piece of superfluous information, and then
+Black Turtle, who seemed to be a subordinate chief, asked in an angry
+voice why the whites sitting on the log had been spared so long.
+
+On the other side the river the Indians allowed few of the Yengese to
+live any longer than they could survive the blows of the tomahawk, and
+there was no reason why such partiality should be shown these who had
+crossed the Susquehanna.
+
+This declaration was supplemented by the warrior drawing his tomahawk,
+and announcing that he meant to finish the job at once.
+
+But this was a little more than Jake Golcher wished. There was one of
+the captives, at least, whom he desired to protect until certain, one
+way or the other, about her disposition toward him.
+
+If her father were removed, the Tory believed the daughter could be
+brought to terms through her affection for her sister and aunt.
+
+"So long as the old chap is alive," reflected Golcher, "so long will he
+prevent her consent. But, if he is gone, and she finds that the only way
+to save Eva and her aunt is to accept me, she will do it, though there
+will be a big lot of blubbering and praying and all that sort of stuff.
+Therefore, the best thing is to get her father out of her path: she will
+be pretty well broke up by that."
+
+It was now necessary that Black Turtle should be appeased in some way,
+and Jake Golcher, without hesitation, made known his purpose.
+
+It was, in short, that Black Turtle should move off in the woods, as if
+he had no thought of evil in his mind, and when beyond sight, make a
+stealthy circuit, so as to get in the rear of the parties sitting on the
+log.
+
+He was then to steal up and drive his tomahawk into the skull of the
+unsuspecting Mr. Brainerd. The Indian would utter his whoop, if so
+inclined (the disposition to whoop at such a time is irresistible with
+his race), and dart off in the woods.
+
+He was to stay until matters should become quiet around the camp-fire,
+when he might come back and play the innocent warrior, or the avenger,
+as he chose.
+
+Black Turtle entered upon the dreadful business with the cunning
+peculiar to his nature. He sauntered off in another direction, passing
+by the group of Senecas on the other side of the fire, without so much
+as drawing an inquiring look from them.
+
+Fred Godfrey, from his perch in the tree, saw this action of the
+redskin, but with no suspicion of its meaning.
+
+He thought he would probably continue his hunt for the lieutenant, whom
+he, and all the others, had not been able to find.
+
+The conduct of Jake Golcher was as cruel as that of Black Turtle.
+Without resenting the indignant words of Mr. Brainerd, who seated
+himself beside Maggie and tried to cheer her, the Tory sauntered off and
+stood grimly watching the curious actions of some of the warriors, who
+were still struggling for the crumbs that fell from Aunt Peggy's
+aboriginal table.
+
+He thought it best not to say anything more to the fugitives. He had
+made a blunder, and no words of his just then could right it. He had
+decided that there had been already too much talk, and it was time for
+action to take its place.
+
+The position of the Tory was such that he could see every one in camp,
+but he glowered out from his ugly brows on the mournful party that still
+sat on the fallen tree, and not only at them, but he was watching the
+wood immediately behind Mr. Brainerd.
+
+He knew the point where Black Turtle would be likely to appear, and he
+did not wish to miss the tragedy.
+
+"Things look rather curious there," muttered Lieutenant Godfrey, from
+his perch in the branches of the tree. "Why is Jake Golcher watching the
+folks so closely? Is there some mischief afloat?"
+
+At that instant he detected a movement in the undergrowth behind
+Brainerd, the position of Fred being the best possible to see what was
+going on in that spot.
+
+The firelight was thrown over the fallen tree, and reached some distance
+beyond, so that the figure of Black Turtle, as he rose like a shadow to
+his feet, was plainly shown.
+
+One glance at the warrior told the whole truth to the watcher, whose gun
+was already cocked and pointed in that direction.
+
+Black Turtle had selected his own position, and, slowly drawing back his
+sinewy arm, he aimed straight for him who never dreamed of his peril.
+
+The savage gathered his strength for the throw that was to inflict death
+upon an innocent man.
+
+But Black Turtle made a slight mistake.
+
+[Illustration: "But Black Turtle made a slight mistake."]
+
+Before the weapon could leave his fingers the sharp report of a rifle
+broke the stillness, followed instantly by the death-shriek of the
+savage, as he flung his arms aloft and fell forward, almost against the
+log on which the Brainerd family were sitting.
+
+The scheme of Jake Golcher and Black Turtle was indefinitely postponed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLV.
+
+
+The shock terrified the whole camp.
+
+Aunt Peggy dropped the piece of meat she was cooking, and sprang back
+with a gasp. The other Indians, accustomed as they were to violence,
+stared in blank wonder, while those on the fallen tree leaped to their
+feet and gazed at the figure of the Indian as he lay on his face, with
+his tomahawk clenched in his vise-like grip.
+
+Jake Golcher was dazed, and neither spoke nor stirred until Maggie, in
+the very depths of her agony, ran to him and exclaimed:
+
+"What is the meaning of this? Was he seeking father's life? If he was,
+it was _you_ who told him to do it!"
+
+The Tory looked in the white face of the girl, and said, in a surly
+voice:
+
+"I didn't know anything about it."
+
+"Oh, Jake," she continued, talking rapidly, and in such mental distress
+that every eye was fixed upon her; "if this is _your_ work, a just God
+will punish you for it. Father has never sought to injure you. We are
+neighbors, and belong to the same race--"
+
+He attempted to turn away, but she caught his arm, and faced him about.
+
+"You shall hear me. If you want human lives, take _mine_--take Eva's,
+but spare his gray hairs; do him a wrong, and as sure as our Heavenly
+Father reigns above, a punishment shall come to you. Show him mercy,
+treat us as human beings, and you will thank Him to your dying day that
+He led you aright, when you went so far astray."
+
+The father would have gone forward and drawn her away, but he was held
+by her soulful eloquence.
+
+She staggered back and would have fallen, had not Aunt Peggy, who, after
+all, was the most cool-headed one in the party, seen what was coming and
+caught her in her arms.
+
+Half-supporting and half-dragging her, she got her back to the tree,
+where she gently seated her.
+
+Poor Maggie threw her arms around the good woman's neck and gave way to
+hysterical sobbing, while her aunt tried to soothe her.
+
+Mr. Brainerd sat like a statue, but his lips trembled, and it required
+all the power of his will to keep from breaking down as utterly as did
+Maggie herself, who, flinging one of her arms around weeping Eva,
+gathered her and their aunt in an embrace, and surrendered to her
+tempest of grief.
+
+The Senecas looked on, but if there was any glimmering of tenderness in
+their nature it did not struggle to the surface, and the trees around
+them could not have betrayed less emotion.
+
+As for Jake Golcher, he scanned the picture with darker passions than
+those of the savages themselves.
+
+He did not stir, but, when he saw Habakkuk McEwen look inquiringly at
+him, he beckoned him to approach.
+
+The frightened fellow sprang to his feet and hurried across the short
+space, eager to do anything to win the favor of the other.
+
+"Do you know who shot that Indian?" asked the Tory, in an undertone.
+
+"I haven't the least idea."
+
+"It was Fred Godfrey; he is somewhere near. The shot sounded out
+yonder"--pointing in the proper direction--"and, if you want to save
+your life, you must go out and bring him in."
+
+"I'll do it," said McEwen, catching like a drowning man at a straw.
+
+He turned about to start upon his strange errand, when Golcher commanded
+him to stop.
+
+"How are you going to do it?"
+
+"Catch him by the neck and heels, and drag him along."
+
+"Don't you see the Senecas are starting off to hunt him up?"
+
+It was true. The red men quickly recovered from the shock, and, knowing
+who fired the shot, were stealing off into the woods in search of the
+youth, who had given proof of his presence near them.
+
+Almost every one was able to tell the point whence came the familiar
+bullet, and it will be understood that Fred Godfrey took his life in his
+hand when he interposed to save his father.
+
+"I don't believe they will find him," said Jake Golcher, alluding to the
+Senecas, who were moving off in the darkness; "but you can join him,
+because he takes you for a friend; go out in the woods, signal to him,
+and when you find him, get him to come nigh enough to be catched. You
+can do it, and if you succeed, you shall be spared. Don't think," added
+the Tory, significantly, "that because we let you jine in the hunt you
+can slip off in the dark."
+
+"Oh, I never thought of such a thing," protested the New Englander. "I
+always keep my promise, and I'll bring him back."
+
+"There isn't one of these folks that can get away, for the Senecas are
+all around us. Gray Panther will soon be here with twenty more, and then
+we shall have 'em all."
+
+If this were the case, Habakkuk might well have asked why Golcher wished
+him to join in the search. But if such a question came to the mind of
+McEwen he did not utter it.
+
+"If you try to run away you'll be brought back here and tomahawked
+inside of half an hour; do your duty, and I'll take care of you; after
+you get out there in the dark you can signal to him in such a way that
+he'll show himself, and then you must prove your smartness by getting
+him to come with you to some p'int where we can pounce onto him. Do you
+understand?"
+
+"It's all as plain as the nose on your face," said Habakkuk.
+
+"Then be off with you!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVI.
+
+
+Habakkuk McEwen entered upon his strange mission with ardor. A few
+seconds carried him beyond sight of the fire, and he pushed forward
+until fully two hundred yards distant, when he paused, and listened.
+
+He heard nothing of the Iroquois, who could not be far away.
+
+"Over yonder lies the trail that leads to Stroudsburg," he said to
+himself, "and this is the first fair start that I've had since getting
+into this neighborhood. Such a promise as I made ain't binding; the way
+Fred Godfrey has been going on, I think he's able to take care of
+himself, and it's about time I did the same. I'm off for Stroudsburg,
+and nothing short of an earthquake shall stop me _this_ time."
+
+And thereupon he started like a frightened deer through the dark woods,
+with the resolve that when the morrow's sun should rise he would be
+many a mile to the eastward, and far beyond the reach of Jake Golcher
+and his Senecas.
+
+Meanwhile, Fred Godfrey, having done such good service for his friend,
+was equally alert in making the most of it. He did not forget that the
+sound of his rifle would direct the Senecas to the spot whence it came,
+and should he remain five minutes in the tree he would be at their
+mercy.
+
+Consequently, the smoke had scarcely risen from the muzzle of his
+weapon, and the death-shriek of bloody Black Turtle was yet echoing on
+the air, when he came down as nimbly as a monkey and hurried from the
+spot.
+
+The shot that he had fired was one of those unexpected things that
+startled the Senecas into temporary inaction, just enough to serve a
+quick-witted person like Fred Godfrey.
+
+He was loath to leave the vicinity of the camp, but self-preservation
+commanded it, and he did not pause until a safe distance away.
+
+His dread was that the Senecas would take revenge upon the whites for
+the death of their comrade, and the youth meant to return to a position
+that would enable him to interfere again, even though the risk were
+tenfold greater than before.
+
+But Fred had not listened more than a couple of minutes when he was
+detected by an Indian, who must have followed him some distance through
+the woods.
+
+"Ugh! S'render--me kill!" growled the savage, bearing down upon him with
+upraised tomahawk.
+
+"Surrender, eh? That's the way I surrender!"
+
+And, to the terror of the red man, he found the muzzle of a pistol
+placed against his nose.
+
+"Ugh! no shoot--me good Injun--ugh! Good Yengese!"
+
+And the valiant fellow, ducking his head, and dodging from side to side,
+like the Digger Indians of California, in the vain effort to distract
+the aim of his enemy, went threshing through the wood without any regard
+to noise or dignity.
+
+Lieutenant Godfrey could have stopped his career without trouble, merely
+by pressing the trigger; but he did not do so. He was a civilized
+soldier.
+
+"Go in peace," laughed Fred, putting his weapon away. "Heaven knows I do
+not wish to take human life!"
+
+As the youth had now reached a point where he could feel safe from his
+pursuers, he proceeded to reload his rifle.
+
+In the darkness it required care, and was a task compared to which that
+of breech-loading of to-day is nothing. The few beams of moonlight that
+had disclosed him and the Seneca to each other helped him to pour out
+the powder from the horn around his waist, and to adjust the quantity in
+the pan of his flintlock.
+
+"If I continue this picking off of warriors, one at a time," muttered
+Fred, "I will be able to thin them out before morning."
+
+He was reminded of the delicacy of his position, by hearing low
+whistling on his right.
+
+"Doubtless that is the one I drove away," was his reflection. "He wants
+to call some of his brothers before I leave, so he can reward me as an
+Indian likes to reward one who shows him mercy. But, hello!"
+
+Like a flash came the thought that the peculiar signals that had been
+going on for some minutes were not those of an Indian, but of his
+friend, Gravity Gimp.
+
+"I do believe it is he, calling to me," said the lieutenant, as he
+stationed himself in the shadow of a tree, and, holding his weapon ready
+for use, cautiously answered the hail, which sounded clear and distinct
+on the still summer night.
+
+Instantly came the reply, and then he replied in turn, so that
+communication was established, and whether the other was a friend or
+foe, it became evident that he was approaching.
+
+The lieutenant did not feel free from fear, for he was aware of the
+subtlety of the foes against whom he was contending, and nothing was
+more natural than that they should resort to such a simple artifice to
+mislead him.
+
+He therefore ceased answering the call when it came close, but held
+himself ready to fire and withdraw the instant he should detect the
+deception.
+
+A figure was dimly seen in a small, moonlit space in front, advancing
+upon him in a crouching posture. Fred fastened his eyes on the shadowy
+outlines, and he grasped his gun with both hands.
+
+Just then the half-bent man straightened up, and, with a relief that was
+delightful, Fred recognized the form of Gravity Gimp, who had been
+hunting and signaling so industriously for the last fifteen minutes.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVII.
+
+
+Lieutenant Godfrey and Gravity Gimp shook hands warmly, for they were
+overjoyed to meet in this manner, after their enforced parting a brief
+while before.
+
+"It's a wonder that your signaling did not bring some of the Senecas to
+you," said the young officer.
+
+"Dat's jist what it done."
+
+"And how did you manage it?"
+
+"When dey come I left, and I took such a path dat if dey tried to
+foller, dey run agin de trees, or fell ober de rocks and broke dar
+necks."
+
+"Well, Gravity, you heard my gun, and I'll tell you how it was."
+
+Thereupon the lieutenant gave the particulars of the taking off of the
+vengeful warrior known as Black Turtle, the Seneca, the African
+listening, meanwhile, with open mouth and staring eyes.
+
+"Dat's wery cheerin'," said he. "Some ob dem Senekers am so stupid dat
+you've got to knock dere heads off afore dey knows anything; but,
+leftenant, I's got 'portant news to tell you."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"Dar's somebody out in de woods dat ain't Injuns."
+
+"Explain what you mean?" said Godfrey, with a thrill of hope.
+
+"Afore you fired dat gun, and when eberyting was still, I heerd somebody
+talking out dare; dey kind ob whistled, like I's been doing, den I heerd
+whispers, and den de sound ob feet."
+
+This was stirring news, indeed, to Fred. If it so proved that these
+strangers were white men, he might be able to rally them to the attack
+of Golcher and his Indian allies.
+
+But, alas! if they should prove to be that portion of the band which
+withdrew a short time previous, their presence would settle forever all
+prospects of a rescue.
+
+"How far off are they?" he asked.
+
+"Only a short distance; foller me."
+
+"Don't forget, Gravity," said the lieutenant, as he started with him,
+"that we're likely to run afoul of some of the Senecas, who are out
+hunting for me."
+
+"I understand dat."
+
+A few minutes later the African came to a stop, and said, in a husky
+undertone:
+
+"Dis am de spot."
+
+It was hard to imagine how the servant could identify it, for it was in
+the shadow of the trees, though a small, natural clearing was in sight,
+that itself being the guiding landmark.
+
+But nothing was seen or heard that could justify the declaration of
+Gravity, who stood intently listening.
+
+"I don't hear nuffin'," said he, a moment later. "I guess dey hab gone
+to sleep, and am snorin'. You ain't skeered, be you, lieutenant?"
+
+"What is there to scare us?" asked Fred.
+
+"I don't know ob nuffin, but I thought mebbe you knowed."
+
+Just then Gimp got down on the ground, and pressed his ear to the earth.
+Immediately he called out:
+
+"I hear footsteps--plain as day--jes' listen!"
+
+Fred Godfrey knelt, and, Indian-like, touched his ear to the ground. As
+he did so, he caught sounds as if made by the feet of persons moving
+near them.
+
+"I believe they are white men--God grant they are! Don't make any noise
+and we will soon find out."
+
+Although he had little experience as a woodman, Fred believed, from the
+peculiarity of the slight noises that reached his ear, that they were
+those of his own race.
+
+As a quick way to settle it, though it was an act of imprudence, he
+called out, in a guarded voice:
+
+"Halloa there, friends!"
+
+"Halloa; are you white?"
+
+"Yes--"
+
+"What's de use ob lyin' so shamefully as dat?" broke in Gimp; "if I'm
+white den you're black."
+
+"I declare, Gravity, I forgot all about it!" laughed the lieutenant, and
+then, raising his voice, he said:
+
+"We are one black and one white, fugitives from Wyoming, and hunting for
+friends."
+
+"That hits us," was the response; and the next moment, to the surprise
+and delight of Godfrey, seven men came to view in the small moonlit
+clearing, and waited for him to advance and show himself.
+
+He lost no time in doing so, and, as briefly as possible, explained how
+it was he and the African were there, and how necessary it was that help
+should be immediately sent their friends, in the custody of Jake
+Golcher, the Tory, and his Senecas.
+
+"Now you're shouting," was the hearty response of the leader of the
+seven, who announced his name as Dick Durkee; "that's what we're here
+for, though we're a little behind time."
+
+"Where did you come from?"
+
+"I live pretty well back in the country toward Stroudsburg, and I heered
+two days ago that trouble was coming into Wyoming Valley. You see I got
+the matter so straight from a friendly Indian that I knowed there could
+be no mistake. It worried me so that I couldn't sleep, and I told my
+wife that I was bound to take a hand in it. So I scoured through the
+country and got my six friends, all true and tried, and set out. We got
+here only a little while ago, when things looked so squally that I
+concluded to stop and find out something before going furder; that's the
+way it stands."
+
+"Then you will help our friends out of their trouble?"
+
+"That's just what we come for, and we don't propose to back out now."
+
+"Give me your hand on that!" exclaimed the delighted Fred.
+
+While the two were saluting each other in this effusive fashion, Gravity
+Gimp walked out in front of them on the clearing, and solemnly pressing
+the crown of his head against the ground, elevated his enormous feet in
+the air, and chuckled as he kicked:
+
+"Reckon dere's gwine to be somethin' like a s'prise party for Mr. Jacob
+Golcher!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII.
+
+
+A most unexpected piece of good fortune had befallen our friends, in the
+appearance of Dick Durkee, with his six sturdy companions, all armed and
+ready for an encounter with the Tories and Iroquois.
+
+Learning that young Fred Godfrey had been a lieutenant in the
+Continental army, they insisted on putting themselves under him, at
+least so long as they were engaged in hostilities.
+
+"Very well," said the youth, "I will accept the responsibility, because
+I know I have brave men to lead; but the work will be short."
+
+As every minute was precious, and there was no saying what form of
+cruelty the captors of the fugitives might inflict, the plan was
+speedily arranged.
+
+The camp was so near, that they expected to reach it within ten minutes,
+after which the question between them and the Senecas would be decided
+in one-fifth of that time.
+
+They were on the eve of starting in Indian file, when a furious
+threshing was heard, and a panting form plunged directly among them,
+stopping abruptly with an exclamation of fear, when he saw the figures
+around him.
+
+"Can any of you gentlemen tell me whether this is Wilkesbarre or
+Stroudsburg?" he asked, recoiling as if uncertain whether he was with
+friends or foes.
+
+"Why, Habakkuk," said Godfrey in return; "why, are you in such a hurry
+that you can't stop?"
+
+"Well, well, well," muttered the terrified New Englander, recognizing
+his friend; "I was on my way to Stroudsburg, and didn't expect to meet
+you here, leftenant; what's up?"
+
+"What has caused you to take such a sudden start?"
+
+"I got the chance and I took it; I thought, from the rate I was going,
+that I ought to be pretty well nigh there by this time."
+
+"The journey is still before you; but, when I left the vicinity of the
+camp, you were a prisoner."
+
+Habakkuk was loath to explain the strange cause of his presence in the
+woods, but, finding he was among friends, he finally told the story.
+
+His listeners of course were astonished, for it seemed incredible that
+Jake Golcher should do anything of the kind.
+
+"Since he sent you out to take me back," said Lieutenant Godfrey, "you
+must keep your word and produce me before him."
+
+"But, leftenant, such a pledge ain't binding on one, is it?"
+
+"It is when I help you carry it out, and that is precisely what I will
+do."
+
+The New Englander was amazed, as well he might be, and Fred, not wishing
+to trifle with the poor fellow, who had been so buffeted by good and ill
+fortune during the day, explained how the plan could be executed without
+risk to him.
+
+It cannot be said that Habakkuk took kindly to the project, even then,
+but in the presence of Durkee and his woodmen, he could not well
+refuse.
+
+He was assured that he would be well taken care of, and, as time was
+valuable, the company started without delay.
+
+Where every one understood the necessity of silence, they moved along
+like so many phantoms.
+
+Gravity Gimp's knowledge was so thorough, that even in the gloom,
+relieved only now and then by a few beams of moonlight, he recognized
+the landmarks, and gave great help to Godfrey, who more than once was at
+fault.
+
+After progressing in this labored manner for some distance they came
+upon a well-beaten path, where it was much easier to travel than in the
+unbroken wood.
+
+They had not far to go, and were beginning to slacken their speed, when
+all were startled by hearing some one approaching from the front. Each
+man noiselessly stepped out of the path, and, with their guns grasped,
+awaited the issue.
+
+The first supposition was that they were Indians, and, excepting through
+fear of complicating matters in camp, the strangers would have been
+assailed at once.
+
+But at the very moment the two forms, as they proved to be, were
+immediately opposite, one of them was heard to speak:
+
+"By gracious! Jim, this is the most dangerous latitude I ever was in."
+
+This expression identified them, and Fred spoke in a guarded voice:
+
+"Hold on, friends; don't be alarmed."
+
+Naturally the strangers were frightened, and showed a disposition to
+break into headlong flight, but Durkee and his comrades quickly stepped
+into the path and surrounded them.
+
+By the time this was done, the couple realized they were among friends,
+and they made themselves known.
+
+They were two men who were in the Wilkesbarre Fort during the battle and
+massacre of the afternoon, and they had come up the eastern shore of the
+river to learn whether they could be of any help to the numerous
+fugitives at Wyoming.
+
+They soon found it was too late to do much good, but they lingered in
+the vicinity and exchanged shots with several parties of Tories and
+Indians.
+
+They prowled around after dark, when they saw matters going so ill that
+they concluded there would be no safety in returning to Wilkesbarre,
+where a panic had probably set in. They were now on their way to
+Stroudsburg, which was a haven of hope to so many fugitives in that
+flaming day and the following one.
+
+They gladly agreed to join the rescuers, and, as each had a good rifle
+and ammunition, they were a most desirable re-enforcement.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIX.
+
+
+By this time the short July night was drawing to a close, and there were
+signs of the coming dawn in the east. All through the solemn darkness
+the massacre had continued, and scenes were enacted on both sides of the
+Susquehanna which the pen has never placed on paper, and which to-day
+come down to us only in the shuddering legends of those who looked upon
+and survived to tell of them.
+
+Among the miscreants none was more inhuman than Jake Golcher, the Tory.
+But for his strong admiration of the pretty Maggie Brainerd not one of
+the little party of fugitives would have survived capture for fifteen
+minutes.
+
+He was not the first, as he shall not be the last, bad man who has been
+restrained from evil by the sweet beauty of some maiden who,
+unconsciously to herself, has woven her subtle web around him.
+
+Had she walked up to him and promised to be his wife on condition that
+every one of her friends should be released, he would have complied,
+though he might have resorted to treachery afterward to gratify the
+demand for revenge on the part of his Indian allies.
+
+But the father of Maggie had repudiated his claim, and the point at last
+was reached when he was forced to see that every one of the fugitives,
+including Maggie herself, looked upon him with unspeakable loathing, and
+they would die before humbling themselves to him.
+
+"What's the sense of my fooling longer?" he growled, standing sullenly
+apart and glowering upon them; "they hate me worse than Satan himself,
+and if Maggie should pledge me her hand, that old father or the brother
+of her'n wouldn't let her keep her promise. The Injins have got so mad
+at my soft-heartedness that they begin to 'spect me, and they've gone
+over to t' other side the river to have their fun there, 'cause there
+ain't much prospect of gettin' it here."
+
+The renegade spoke a significant truth, and, looking around, he was able
+to count precisely six Senecas who remained with him. Some of the others
+who were out hunting in the wood might return, but the chances were
+against it, and more than likely they had gone off to join in the orgies
+of which we only dare hint.
+
+Striding across the brief space, Jake Golcher paused in front of Maggie
+Brainerd and said:
+
+"You have had more mercy to-night than you had a right to expect, and
+more than you'll get any longer."
+
+"Why do you talk to me thus?" asked the scared maiden, who could not
+fail to understand what he meant; "why do you feel such hatred of us who
+have never showed aught but kindness to you?"
+
+"Bah!" interrupted the Tory, angrily; "why do you get over that stuff to
+me? I want no more of it. The time for begging mercy has gone by. If you
+had treated me right a while ago it would have been well--"
+
+"Oh, Jake, how can you?"
+
+The agonized girl was about to rush forward and throw herself on her
+knees before the man, when her father, with flashing eye, interposed.
+
+"Maggie, I forbid you to speak a word to such a scoundrel as he. Sit
+down and keep silence."
+
+The obedient girl complied, as she would have done had she known that
+death was to be the penalty.
+
+She placed herself beside Eva, and the two, wrapping their arms about
+each other, wept in silence.
+
+Aunt Peggy, as if conscious the crisis had come, ceased her cooking and
+softly seated herself beside them, without a word.
+
+Mr. Brainerd, proud and defiant as ever, sat bolt upright on the fallen
+tree, with arms folded, looking as keenly as an eagle in the face of the
+being whom he execrated above any of his kind.
+
+The Senecas watched them all, and it was easy to detect the signs of
+impatience among them, for they had been baffled too long of their prey.
+
+As Jake Golcher retreated a step or two the Indians uttered a short
+exclamation of surprise, as well they might, for two figures strode
+for-toward out of the gloom in the light of the camp-fire.
+
+One of them was Habakkuk McEwen, who led by the arm Lieutenant Fred
+Godfrey, the latter stepping briskly, while a strange half-smile hovered
+about his handsome mouth.
+
+Mr. Brainerd and the rest of the fugitives were thunderstruck, and
+totally at a loss to understand the meaning of the spectacle.
+
+Fortunately, they were not kept long in suspense.
+
+The face of Habakkuk was wreathed in an all-embracing smile, though
+there was a certain delicacy in his position that prevented his smile
+becoming contagious.
+
+"Well, Jake, I've brought you your man!" called out Habakkuk, in a voice
+tremulous with triumph and fear.
+
+"You have done well," replied Golcher, as soon as he could recover his
+breath; "you have done better than I expected."
+
+"It's all right now, then, ain't it--that is, with me?"
+
+"Certainly; you've earned your freedom and can go. These Injins won't
+hurt you."
+
+Golcher made a wave of his hand to the warriors grouped around and
+uttered an exclamation that insured immunity to the eccentric New
+Englander.
+
+The latter wheeled about and walked straight toward the woods where his
+friends were awaiting him.
+
+One of the most difficult things for a brave man to do is to stride
+deliberately off, without decreasing or augmenting his gait, when he has
+every reason to believe that someone is taking careful aim at him, and
+that if he doesn't get beyond range in a brief while he is certain to be
+punctured.
+
+The expectation of receiving a bullet from the rear will make the chills
+creep over the most courageous person, and give an impetus to his gait
+like the actual prick of a bayonet.
+
+Habakkuk McEwen walked only a dozen steps when he was so impressed by
+the situation, that he forgot his identity. With a howl he sprang
+several feet from the ground and dashed off at the top of his speed
+into the woods, muttering:
+
+"I'll be hanged if I can stand it; I believe every Injin squattin' there
+was taking aim at me."
+
+Fred Godfrey and Jake Golcher at last stood face to face, and by the
+light of the camp-fire looked steadily in the eyes of each other.
+
+"I'm here," said the lieutenant, in his ordinary voice, though he
+carefully measured his words: "Habakkuk McEwen has kept his pledge, and
+now I'd like to know what you are going to do about it."
+
+"You would like to know, eh? Wal, I can soon tell you. I'm going to turn
+you over to these Senecas you see around you; one of them is throwing
+wood on the fire now; that's for you. More than one rebel has been
+roasted, and you are none too good to be served the same way."
+
+"So you intend to burn me to death, Jacob, do you?"
+
+"Intend to! I'm going to do so, sartin sure--that is, I'm going to boss
+the job, but I've promised to let the redskins have the fun of the
+thing."
+
+"That's the idea, is it? And after I'm disposed of, what then? That is,
+what is to be done with my friends there?"
+
+"I've no 'bjection to saying," replied the Tory, speaking loud enough
+for all to hear, "that the old fellow there and that she panther, Aunt
+Peggy, will be served the same way. The two girls will be taken back to
+York State with us, and sort of adopted by the Senecas."
+
+All the individuals referred to heard these words, but no one moved or
+stirred. It may truthfully be said that they were so overcome for the
+moment that they were speechless.
+
+"That's an imposing programme, Jacob, but, somehow or other, I think
+there will be a hitch in carrying it out."
+
+"You think so, eh? Wal, you'll see mighty soon that there ain't no
+mistake about it. The fire is burning and about ready--"
+
+"Jacob," said Fred Godfrey in a low voice, but with such significance
+that the Tory was transfixed, "I hoped that you would say and do
+something that would give me excuse for believing you less a miscreant
+than you are, but you have persisted in shutting out all merciful
+thoughts--"
+
+"Wh-wh-what d-d-do you m-mean?" stammered Golcher, beginning to feel a
+giving away in his knees.
+
+"Do you suppose I was such a fool as to allow Habakkuk McEwen, one of my
+best friends, to bring me back a prisoner to you? You showed your idiocy
+in sending him out for me; but it is scarcely credible that you could
+really think he would ever show himself again. But he has, and here I
+am--
+
+"And now, Jacob, I have the pleasure of informing you that you are at
+_my_ mercy, and I have only to raise my hand--so--to have you riddled
+with bullets."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER L.
+
+
+As Lieutenant Fred Godfrey slowly raised his hand, as if it were the
+signal for his friends to open fire, Jake Golcher collapsed.
+
+Sinking down on the ground, as limp as a rag, he began begging in the
+most pitiful tones for his life. Indeed, he groveled so in the dirt that
+all the whites who looked upon him found their feelings of hatred
+turning to disgust and pity.
+
+Fred Godfrey was disappointed, and, stepping back a pace or two, gazed
+on the miserable craven as he would upon a dog he had caught stealing
+sheep, and which was then cringing at his feet.
+
+Instead of waiting until the patriot had proven the truth of his
+declaration, the renegade succumbed at once. It is hard to kick the
+wretch who clasps your knees, and the lieutenant, who was determined to
+rid the world of the man as soon as he had made the declaration of his
+purposes respecting the captives, found his resentment gone.
+
+Mr. Brainerd, with an expression of scorn, sprang up from the log and
+strode over to his son.
+
+"In Heaven's name, let him go, Fred! Kick him out of sight, for he
+hasn't the manhood to stand up and be shot like a man."
+
+"Get up!" commanded Fred, catching him by the collar of his coat, and
+jerking him to his feet: "I want to speak to you."
+
+But Golcher was no sooner on his feet than he went to pieces again,
+groaning and whining, and begging for that mercy that he had so often
+denied to others.
+
+Again the lieutenant yanked him to the upright position, and, finding
+him collapsed as before, he cuffed his ears until they tingled,
+shouting:
+
+"Stand up, or you're a dead man!"
+
+Finally, after wabbling about several minutes, Golcher summoned enough
+strength to keep his feet, though in a shaky condition; and finding he
+was not to be executed immediately, he managed to grasp the situation.
+
+"I was going to say--What do you mean, Gravity?"
+
+This sudden question was caused by Gimp, the African, who, with a
+chuckle, ran forward from the darkness that was beginning to give away
+before the approach of day, and, jamming his head down in the ground
+between Godfrey and Golcher, threw his huge feet in the air, and began
+kicking with such recklessness that one of them struck the lieutenant in
+the breast, nearly knocking him over, while the other sent the Tory
+recoiling some distance.
+
+"Can't help it!" exclaimed the happy African; "Jake Golcher's s'prise
+party dat was to hab arriv, hab arroven, and me and Aunt Peggy feels
+like standin' on our heads, and kickin' de limbs off de trees."
+
+Gravity used his feet rather too vigorously, and, swaying beyond the
+point of nature's gravity, came down on his back with a resounding
+thump; but he did not mind it, and leaping up, ran to the fallen tree,
+where he sat down among his friends with the most extravagant
+manifestations of joy.
+
+It is not to be supposed that the six Senecas remained idle spectators
+of this extraordinary scene. They were quick to comprehend what it
+meant, and had they but maintained guard for the preceding hour or two
+with their usual care the surprise could not have been effected.
+
+But, if any warriors could feel warranted in believing themselves beyond
+danger of molestation from white men, it was those Indians who took part
+in the Wyoming massacre.
+
+When they grasped their guns and glanced around, their eyes encountered
+a strange sight. It seemed as if a score of men had sprung from the
+ground like so many visions of the night, and every one of the Iroquois
+who used his eyes saw a gun leveled at him.
+
+Had the scene occurred in Texas to-day, it would have been said that
+Dick Durkee and his foresters "had the drop" on the Tory and his
+Iroquois.
+
+The latter saw they were caught, and they preserved a masterly
+inactivity, pending the negotiations between the two parties.
+
+There was a threatened complication that might turn the tables again,
+and this time against the patriots. Some of the Senecas were absent and
+were likely to come back. Gray Panther might be among them, and in such
+an event the whites were likely to find themselves between two fires.
+
+"You poor fool," said Fred, when Golcher got into such shape that he
+could understand what was said to him; "stand up like a man, or I'll
+shoot you!"
+
+"Yes--yes--yes, I--w-w-wi-ll; what do you want?"
+
+"I want to make an agreement with you, and it's got to be done mighty
+quick or not at all."
+
+Thereupon the Tory straightened up wonderfully; but, happening to look
+about him and to catch sight of the patriots standing, as it seemed
+everywhere, with their guns leveled, he was seized with another fit of
+shivering, and it was some time before he could compose himself.
+
+"You see," said the lieutenant, "that you are at my mercy, and I'll
+treat you better than you deserve. I have but to give the signal, as I
+told you a minute ago, and ten seconds from now there wouldn't be a
+Tory or red Indian standing alive in this camp. Every one of you is
+covered, but I'll agree to let you and them withdraw, on condition that
+you do so without a second's delay."
+
+"I'll do it--I'll do it!" gasped Golcher; "I'll give you an escort to
+Stroudsburg, or anywhere you want to go."
+
+"I rather think you won't," was the reply of Godfrey. "You have escorted
+us altogether too much as it is. Thank Heaven, we are in shape to take
+care of ourselves now."
+
+"Wal, I'm ready to do whatever you want; fact is, leftenant, I never
+meant one-half I said about you, and I ain't half as mean as--"
+
+"Not another word!" commanded Fred. "We'll attend to business now."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LI.
+
+
+Lieutenant Fred Godfrey expected such a reception from Jake Golcher as
+would give him a suitable excuse for opening fire on the Tory and the
+Senecas, but the panic of the leader disarmed his enmity, and really
+forced the arrangement that was now carried out; one that, it may be
+said, was intensely disagreeable to Dick Durkee and his comrades, who
+were unwilling to spare such miscreants.
+
+But the lieutenant was the commander, and there was no rebellion against
+his orders.
+
+"Bring your warriors up here," ordered Fred, and Golcher made a sign for
+the Senecas to approach.
+
+They moved forward a few paces, but, mistrusting the purposes of the
+patriots, refused to come further. Golcher berated, and ordered them to
+advance, telling them--what they already knew--they were covered by the
+guns of the whites.
+
+But they stood sullenly apart, and began moving in the direction of the
+river.
+
+At this moment Dick Durkee called out:
+
+"Lieutenant, shall we fire? We've got every wretch of 'em fast."
+
+"Keep them covered, but don't shoot unless they raise their guns,"
+called Fred, who was embarrassed by the unexpected turn.
+
+"May I go with 'em?" asked Jake Golcher, in a cringing voice, beginning
+to back away from his dreaded master.
+
+"Yes, go; and I pray Heaven none of us may ever look on your face
+again."
+
+Fred should have been prepared for what followed, inasmuch as no one
+understood the treacherous nature of Tory and Indian better than he,
+but, as we have intimated, he was confronted by an unexpected condition
+of affairs, and was caught off his guard, so to speak.
+
+He saw the warriors withdrawing, and already entering the wood on his
+left, while he stood in the full light of the camp-fire, calmly watching
+the movement.
+
+"Fred, move away from there," called out his father; "you are too good a
+mark for them."
+
+Fortunately, the young man stepped back and to one side, placing himself
+near Dick Durkee, who stood with cocked rifle, fairly quivering with
+rage, because he was forced to hold his fire.
+
+Fred himself had his pistol at command, but he was without any rifle,
+having handed his over to one of his friends, when he went forward with
+Habakkuk McEwen.
+
+The Indians were in the fringe of the wood, when all the former
+prisoners, who were sitting on the fallen tree, sprang up, and began
+moving away.
+
+At this juncture one of Durkee's men shouted:
+
+"Look out! They're going to shoot!"
+
+The words were yet in his mouth, when Jake Golcher, with unparalleled
+treachery, raised the gun that he had caught from one of the Senecas,
+and aimed directly at Maggie Brainerd.
+
+His position was such that only her father understood his purpose, and
+he sprang forward to shield his daughter, throwing himself before her at
+the very moment the Tory discharged his gun.
+
+With a groan of pain, the brave parent staggered a few steps and fell
+heavily to the ground.
+
+"Just as I expected," exclaimed Dick Durkee. "Give it to 'em, boys!
+Don't spare one!"
+
+With incredible celerity the Iroquois fired their guns almost
+simultaneously with the Tory, and then darted off like so many shadows
+through the wood, the dim morning light being insufficient to betray
+them in the thick undergrowth.
+
+But Dick Durkee and his men returned the volley instantly, and sprang
+after them.
+
+Fred Godfrey had not noticed the fall of his father, but, with his whole
+soul aflame at the outrage, he dashed toward the wretches, pistol in
+hand, determined to wreak vengeance on the party, who, he well knew,
+were inspired to the deed by Golcher himself.
+
+On the edge of the wood, where the Senecas had stood for a single
+moment when they fired their guns, two of their number were stretched
+lifeless, proving that the return volley had done some execution.
+
+The settlers charged through the undergrowth without any regard to order
+and the peril into which they might precipitate themselves.
+
+Had Gray Panther and his warriors appeared on the ground at that crisis,
+in all probability he would have drawn the entire party into ambush, and
+cut them off to a man.
+
+But the fleeing force was too small to attempt a stand, or any such
+tactics, and they devoted themselves entirely to getting away.
+
+They were more expert in this than their pursuers, and scattering--as is
+the custom of the red men to this day, when closely pressed--each used
+all his energy and cunning in flight.
+
+Dick Durkee and his men, including Fred Godfrey, went crashing and
+tearing ahead, glaring in front and to the right and left in quest of a
+target, but finding none, until, when the blind pursuit had lasted
+fifteen minutes or more, it dawned on those concerned that it was idle
+to attempt anything more.
+
+Then they stopped for breath, and, turning about, began straggling back
+toward camp.
+
+Fred Godfrey would have been the last to rejoin his friends had he not
+been seized with a dread that something might go wrong with those who
+were left defenseless.
+
+He therefore hastened, and in the gray light of the morning came upon a
+scene of sadness.
+
+Richard Brainerd, his step-father, lay on his back, with his head in the
+lap of Maggie, while Eva was weeping over him, and Aunt Peggy was
+standing beside them, her face streaming with tears.
+
+Gravity Gimp was rolling on the ground in an agony of sorrow, for he saw
+what was apparent to the young man--the loved father and master was
+dying.
+
+Fred knelt by his side, and taking a whisky flask from the rough but
+kind-hearted Dick Durkee, pressed it to the white lips of the sufferer.
+
+"It's no use, Fred," said he, with a sad smile; "I'm done for. Jake
+Golcher fired that shot, but he meant it for Maggie, and not for me.
+I'm close to death."
+
+"I hope it isn't as bad as that," said Fred, through his tears, his
+manner showing he could not believe his own words.
+
+"It's as well that I should go," said the old man, rallying slightly;
+"and I'm thankful that the rest of you escaped. Good-bye, Fred."
+
+The youth took the hand that was already growing clammy and limp, and,
+returning the pressure, could only murmur:
+
+"Good-bye, good bye; would that it had been I, rather than such a noble
+father as you have always been to me."
+
+Gravity Gimp, rousing to a sense of the situation, rushed forward with
+irrestrainable grief, and shook the hand of his master, bending over and
+kissing his forehead.
+
+Aunt Peggy did the same, and then came the last, sad parting scene
+between the father and his loved daughters.
+
+The murmured words were heard only by Maggie and Eva, who treasured them
+up in after-years as the most precious mementos of their lives.
+
+When the mild, loving eyes of the parent gradually grew dim, they rested
+upon the tearful faces of the two girls; and, as he entered the land of
+shadows, his last memory of the world he left behind was illumined by
+those two yearning countenances, whose kisses were pressed upon his
+lips. And the dark angel, reaching out his hand, took that of the
+patriot, and led him through the shadowy valley into the bright realms
+beyond.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LII.
+
+
+Among the most eager pursuers of the treacherous Tory and his Seneca
+allies, was Habakkuk McEwen, who had withdrawn to the rear of the
+settlers that held the Indians at their mercy during the interview
+between Jake Golcher and Fred Godfrey.
+
+The natural timidity of the new Englander led him to do this, but he was
+so infuriated by the act of the party, that he lost all thought of
+personal danger, and charged through the wood at the very head of the
+avengers.
+
+McEwen had no rifle, but he quickly supplied himself with one. Catching
+sight of a Seneca who had fallen before the volley of Dick Durkee and
+his comrades, he snatched the weapon from his rigid grasp and sped along
+like a deer.
+
+He had ammunition, and a hasty examination showed that the gun was
+unloaded. With a coolness hardly to be expected, McEwen stopped in his
+pursuit and deliberately recharged the rifle, which seemed to be a fine
+weapon.
+
+"I don't want to be catched without anything to help myself with," he
+said to himself, resuming the chase.
+
+This was conducted in such a blind, headlong fashion, that Habakkuk
+speedily found himself not only out of sight of the Indians, but of his
+comrades, who were threshing in different directions, some of them
+shouting like madmen.
+
+"I think they'll make for the river," concluded the New Englander, after
+a moment's pause, "and I'll keep on till I reach the water myself."
+
+As the flush of the first excitement wore off, Habakkuk began to doubt
+whether he was doing a prudent thing, in chasing a whole war party in
+this single-handed style.
+
+"I'll take a little pains that they don't get after _me_," he thought,
+beginning to use more caution in his movements.
+
+It was a considerable distance to the Susquehanna, but he pushed on, and
+just as the gray light of the morning was penetrating the wilderness
+and spreading over the water, he caught the familiar gleam of the
+beautiful stream.
+
+Looking across, he paused in silent contemplation of the familiar scene.
+Naturally, he first noticed that landmark so well remembered by old
+settlers, which was known as the "umbrella tree," on account of its
+peculiar shape, and which was visible a long distance, standing as it
+did on the mountains of the western shore.
+
+But he was withdrawn from viewing the general features of the landscape,
+by the sight of the heavy smoke that rested like a pall on the other
+bank. It partly shut out from sight the straggling houses, most of which
+were smoldering ashes, and suggested the awful desolation that had been
+wrought in Wyoming Valley during the few hours that had passed since the
+memorable battle was fought near Forty Fort.
+
+"I've no doubt pandemonium was let loose there last night," muttered
+Habakkuk, "and it was a good thing for us that we got across when we
+did, and a much better thing that Dick Durkee and his men j'ined
+us--Hello!"
+
+He was standing where his body was pretty well screened, and was
+wondering that he saw no one moving, when he was alarmed by a splash in
+the water a short distance above him.
+
+Fearful of being discovered, Habakkuk crouched down, and cocked his gun.
+
+"It must be some of the scoundrels, who are everywhere; I hadn't orter
+been quite so rash--"
+
+At that moment some one sprang into the river, and, wading out a short
+distance, began swimming for the other shore.
+
+The timid patriot did not dare look out at him until he had gotten some
+distance away, when he peeped through the undergrowth, and scrutinized
+the head and shoulders that were moving rapidly across the stream.
+
+Then, to his amazement, he recognized the man as Jake Golcher, the Tory,
+who had wrought all this ruin and sorrow; though Habakkuk was far from
+suspecting the whole result of the shot of the renegade.
+
+"By the great Cæsar! it's him," gasped Habakkuk, trembling with
+excitement; "and that gives me a chance to win some laurels with the
+other folks, especially with pretty Maggie."
+
+Assuming a kneeling position, he took the most careful aim of his life
+at the unsuspecting ingrate, and when certain there could be no miss,
+pulled the trigger.
+
+There was no flash in the pan nor miss of aim. The career of Jake
+Golcher ended then and there, with a suddenness and freedom from
+suffering that were mercy compared to what he deserved.
+
+Habakkuk McEwen lingered long enough to make certain that there was no
+mistake, and then he stealthily reloaded his rifle before stirring from
+the spot. He was apprehensive when several Indians appeared on the other
+shore and showed some signs of an intention to cross the stream.
+
+This was enough for McEwen, who scrambled out of his hiding-place, and
+scarcely paused until he reached the camp, where he came upon the
+sorrowful scene to which we have already referred.
+
+Mr. Brainerd was no more, and the mourning friends, having rallied from
+their first shock of grief, were preparing to leave the spot, which for
+a while to come must be one of exceeding great danger to them.
+
+After some consultation, Fred Godfrey, Dick Durkee, and Gravity Gimp
+tenderly lifted the body and carried it to a mass of rocks but a short
+distance away.
+
+Had they possessed a shovel they would have given it burial until they
+could return, but that was impossible.
+
+Accordingly, it was laid away in a natural sepulchre, and the boulders
+were so piled around it as to prevent disturbance from animals; then all
+bade it a tearful adieu, and the faces of the little party were turned
+toward the far-off settlements of the upper Delaware.
+
+Already the sounds of firing and the shouts of Indians were heard from
+the other side of the Susquehanna, while terrified fugitives were
+continually encountered.
+
+Some of these were in such sore extremity that they were taken charge of
+by Fred Godfrey and Dick Durkee. Maggie and Eva Brainerd were so melted
+by their own sufferings that they found it impossible to pass by any of
+the poor beings without doing their utmost to relieve their distress.
+
+And among all the fugitives that hastened in such horror from the
+Wyoming settlements that day, there were many who had been smitten in a
+more cruel manner than the loving daughters, but there was not one whose
+woe was deeper than theirs.
+
+Eva and Maggie bore it like the heroines they were, and but for their
+pale faces and swollen eyes no one would have suspected the depth of
+their anguish. They said nothing to show it, but were as busy and
+thoughtful for the others as though all were their brothers and sisters.
+
+Aunt Peggy was silent most of the time, but now and then her hard
+features quivered with emotion, and she uttered anathemas against those
+who had wrought all this mischief and sorrow.
+
+Gravity Gimp was the most demonstrative of the company, his sobbing and
+lamentations more than once bringing tears to the eyes of the others.
+
+When Habakkuk McEwen made known that he had ended the career of Jake
+Golcher there was not one who would believe him; but, fortunately for
+the New Englander's reputation, his declaration was confirmed in an
+unexpected manner.
+
+One of Dick Durkee's men was late in joining the party that started away
+that morning, but when he came he said that he, too, was stealing along
+the river bank, though a considerable distance above where Golcher
+entered it. As soon as he identified the Tory he raised his gun to
+shoot, but when he pulled the trigger he discovered that there was no
+charge in the weapon.
+
+With an expression of impatience he proceeded to correct his mistake,
+and was in the act of pouring powder in the pan when the crack of some
+one's else gun sounded just below him.
+
+The woodman could not see who fired it, but he saw the Tory throw up his
+arms and disappear, so that a second shot was unnecessary. He tarried,
+however, some time longer, and observed three Indians who swam out into
+the river in search of the body, showing that they, too, knew who it
+was.
+
+This settled the question; and henceforth Habakkuk McEwen became a sort
+of hero among his comrades, who shook him by the hand and congratulated
+him on the service done his friends.
+
+The vanity of the fellow was flattered, and when he attempted to explain
+his previous conduct it was accepted good-naturedly; so that, before the
+day was over, he came to the conclusion that he was in point of fact the
+bravest and most dashing member of the company, and the one who ought to
+be the leader.
+
+The mountains were passed in safety, and it was not without some
+misgivings that the party entered that desolate stretch of wilderness
+several times referred to as the "Shades of Death."
+
+What was dreaded more than anything else was the want of provisions,
+which was sure to cause suffering.
+
+Habakkuk McEwen was the only one in the company who had a particle of
+food, and when that came to be distributed among eight or ten women
+that had been gathered about them, it was scarcely more than an
+aggravation of hunger.
+
+Our own friends, it will be remembered, had eaten a substantial meal of
+young pig the previous evening, and were in much better form than many
+who had fled from Wyoming, and had partaken of no food during the
+previous twenty-four hours.
+
+The sufferings of the fugitives from Wyoming in passing through the
+"Shades of Death" were dreadful, as is always the case where such large
+bodies flee in a panic.
+
+Many children were born, and perished in the wilderness. Strong men lay
+down and died, and the bones of the victims marked every mile of the
+way.
+
+But there were many who survived, and one bright summer morning all our
+friends reached the hamlet of Stroudsburg, so far removed from the scene
+of massacre that every cause for alarm had passed.
+
+There were fugitives before them, and the hospitality of the villagers
+was taxed to the utmost, but they gladly met every demand.
+
+The weather was so mild that much suffering had been saved the settlers,
+whose trouble rose mainly from the lack of food.
+
+In Stroudsburg were old friends and relatives of the Brainerds, who did
+everything in their power for them. It was arranged that Maggie, Eva,
+and Aunt Peggy should stay with them indefinitely until there could be
+no risk in going back.
+
+The anxiety of the brother and sisters was that the body of their father
+should be laid away in proper form, and Fred Godfrey and Gravity Gimp
+went back to Wyoming for that purpose.
+
+When the sad duty was finished they once more made their way to
+Stroudsburg, where the young patriot bade his friends a tender adieu,
+after which he started to join the Continental army under Washington.
+
+Habakkuk McEwen went with him, and, despite a manifestation of his
+natural timidity now and then, made a good record. Both he and Fred, who
+had become a captain, were present at the surrender of Yorktown, which
+ended the struggle of the colonies, and established the independence of
+the United States of America.
+
+When they returned to Wyoming the settlements had recovered, to a great
+extent, from the visitation of the Tories and Indians three years
+before.
+
+The Brainerd homestead, which was partly burned, was restored to a
+substantial condition, and Gravity Gimp was as big and strong and
+devoted as ever.
+
+The rich soil needed but to be "tickled with a plow" to "laugh a
+harvest," and it yielded bountifully. There had been several incursions
+by Indians, during one of which the little girl, Frances Slocum, was
+taken off by a party of Delawares. Her wonderful history is part of that
+of Wyoming.
+
+But the Brainerd family suffered nothing further. Eva had grown into a
+blooming girl when Captain Fred Godfrey came back and joined them at the
+old homestead. All in due time, he took for his bride one of the
+blue-eyed lassies of Wyoming, and Maggie and Eva were equally fortunate
+in securing the best of partners for life.
+
+Peace folded her gentle wings over the scene of the stirring events that
+took place more than a century ago, and the thunders of war have never
+awakened the echoes along that part of the Susquehanna since.
+
+May it ever be thus throughout our fair land, to the end of time.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+THE NEXT VOLUME OF THE "WYOMING SERIES" WILL BE "STORM MOUNTAIN."
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41784 ***