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diff --git a/41784.txt b/41784.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 70b735b..0000000 --- a/41784.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8275 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Wyoming, by Edward Sylvester Ellis - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: Wyoming - - -Author: Edward Sylvester Ellis - - - -Release Date: January 5, 2013 [eBook #41784] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WYOMING*** - - -E-text prepared by Greg Bergquist, Mary Meehan, and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made -available by Internet Archive/American Libraries -(http://archive.org/details/americana) - - - -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 Caesar!" 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 Caesar!" 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 Caesar! 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 WYOMING*** - - -******* This file should be named 41784.txt or 41784.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/4/1/7/8/41784 - - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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