"No; after getting to the other side of the mountains we will work offto the right and strike the regular Stroudsburg trail, and keep to ituntil 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 ofourselves, though I do hope we shall get through without any moretrouble."
As before, the African acted the part of guide. He had tramped throughthese woods so many times that it may be said he was familiar with everyacre. In the preceding winter he and Mr. Brainerd had hunted deer, andboth remembered a romantic spot where there was a natural cavern, notvery deep, which they availed themselves of for shelter when overtakenby a driving snow-storm.
As Mr. Brainerd recalled the place he directed Gimp to conduct themthither, it being his purpose to stay there until night should fullysettle upon the wilderness.
His reason for what might seem a singular step was that the sounds offiring, and the occasional whoops of Indians near at hand, convinced himthat, if they attempted to go much farther while it was so light, theywould be sure to come in collision with some of these savage bands, inwhich 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 isdark, and then Gravity knows the woods so well, he can lead us throughthe mountains to the other side, where we need not hesitate to take themain trail to Stroudsburg."
CHAPTER XV.
"Eva, take the hand of your aunt," said Mr. Brainerd, who saw that hisother daughter was desirous of saying something to him; "and let Maggieand me walk together for a few minutes."
The child would have preferred to stay by the side of her belovedparent, but she did as requested, and her elder sister slipped back,and, as the ground permitted, ran her own arm beneath her father's, andthe two walked together.
"Well, Maggie, what is it?" he asked, tenderly.
The brave girl repressed her distress as best she could, but he detectedthe 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 hopethat 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 tofind out what had become of me, that he returned to the battle-ground atgreat risk to himself. We met, providentially, and found that neitherwas 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 withoutmolestation, for he had learned from a fugitive that you had gottenover. Fred made me promise, while on the way, that if we becameseparated 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 heactually refused."
"Just like my noble brother!" exclaimed Maggie, with a glowingcountenance; "well?"
"Scarcely five minutes later we approached a dense portion of theforest, in which we feared were some of the Indians. Fred had assumedthe leadership before this, and he told me to stay where I was until hecould go forward and learn whether it would do to pick our way throughthat 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 learnedimmediately after, and one of several things may have happened to him.He may have found himself involved in such a network of danger that hewas forced to lie still, not daring to withdraw until night; he may havebeen 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 shefinished 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 notgive up hope so long as this uncertainty exists."
Maggie Brainerd attempted to speak, but failed. The human heart at sucha time reaches the limit of endurance, and she drew her shawl closerabout her, though the afternoon was warm, and the exertion of travelingwas great.
She had no covering on her head, but, like Eva, her wealth of luxurianttresses, as fine as the golden floss on the ripening corn, flowed downand over her shapely shoulders.
"We are in the hands of God," said her father, reverently, as he drewhis elbow closer to his side, so as to press the hand of his daughterwith it; "I waited as long as I dared, and had I not made the pledge Iwould have gone forward to Fred's assistance."
"It was well you did not, for we would have two instead of one to mournfor."
"But where is your courage, child?" he asked, reproachfully; "is thisthe girl who stood up in the flat-boat and used the pole when thebullets were flying about her? Is this she who coolly raised her rifleand fired at those who were seeking her life?"
"I ought to be thankful, and I _am_ thankful, for God has been tenfoldmore merciful to me than he has to scores of others. Our family as yetis unbroken, and, though the way is long and dark before us, we havecause to hope we shall all be saved."
"And there is equal cause to hope for the final escape of Fred," herfather was quick to add.
"I will not murmur anymore," said Maggie, helping him over a boulderthat obstructed their path; "we have enough on hand, without lookingbehind us. It may be that Fred is one of the fortunate few who shallsurvive to tell the dreadful story, but I feel as though we shall neversee 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 youdoubted his ability to take care of himself--you will blush to look himin 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, andespecially after they had entered the more romantic and mountainoussection, they had become somewhat separated from each other.
Gravity Gimp, the colored guide, was fully a hundred feet in advance--apiece of imprudence that should never have been permitted, while Evacame next, Aunt Peggy directly behind her, and Maggie and her fatherwere less than a rod distant from her.
Habakkuk McEwen had disappeared!
That which caught the attention of father and daughter while they wereconversing so earnestly, was a serpent-like "sh!" from the African, who,stopping instantly, turned part way round, and raised his hand in such awarning manner that the four paused, knowing he had made some alarmingdiscovery.
Gravity remained stationary but a second or two, when, in a stoopingposture, he began moving back toward his friends.
At this juncture, and before the little party had fully noticed theabsence of McEwen, he was seen approaching from the left, with such aterrified look on his painted face that his shock hair seemed to bestanding on end.
He advanced much faster than the stealthy African, and he had hardlyreached 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 sonWalter, and Brandt, the Mohawk chief, and Queen Esther are at th
eirhead."
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 decall ob birds in de woods, and I begin to smell a mouse, and I walkedslower like, thinking you folks war right onto my heels. All at once Iseed two Injuns stealing along--"
"Did they see you?"
"No, 'cause dere backs was turned toward me, but I knowed dey warlooking fur us, so I wheeled on my heel, and remarked, '_sh!_' jist tostop you from running ober me; as I done so, de Injuns wanished in dewood, 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 hadbegun 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 lotmore 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, howfar 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 aswe know, on our right, and you must bear off to the left, so as to avoidthem, 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 awhite 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 handson 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 comparativelyshort time before, and he needed no other proof that he had brought ahorde across the Susquehanna for the purpose of wreaking vengeance uponhis family.
He knew that the Tory, who was more guilty than the fiercest of theIroquois, was a discarded suitor of his daughter, and he was to bedreaded all the more on that account.
"Quick," said Mr. Brainerd, addressing his servant; "we haven't a secondto spare; bear off to the left, as I told you, and don't let the grassgrow under your feet."
It need not be said that no one of them lagged. The very peril fromwhich they were fleeing was almost upon them.
CHAPTER XVII.
There was no attempt to use caution or care in hurrying forward. Somehowor 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 asbloodhounds, was following them.
Fortunately, the distance to the cave was not great, and the fugitiveswere walking fast, and in the right direction.
The heavy figure of Gravity Gimp kept its place at the front, and with acoolness scarcely to be expected, he looked to the right and left as headvanced, with the sole purpose of preventing any precious moments beinglost by going astray.
All heard the bird-calls, whistling, and faint whoops uttered with verylittle intermission, from different portions of the wood, so that it wascertain the Tories and Indians knew of the flight, and were in sharppursuit.
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 bothscrambled along, sometimes half falling over the stones which turnedbeneath their tread, or the briers and vines that almost threw them ontheir faces.
Gravity could not afford time to look to his feet, to see where heplaced the rather unwilling members, for it required all his training,as a hunter, to keep his reckoning and to make sure he was taking themost direct route to the sheltering cave, upon which all hopes were nowfixed.
Although McEwen had come a long distance to help repel the invasion ofthe Wyoming Valley, he was accustomed to fight where there was plenty ofsupport, and he knew enough of aboriginal ferocity to dread thecollision that now impended.
Had he known, therefore, the right course to follow, he would have beenin advance of the others; but as it was, he fretted because he wasforced to keep on the flank of the negro, whom he was continually urgingto greater speed.
"As sure as a gun," he said, "those fleet-footed redskins will gobble usup 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 topieces wid my head," was the reply. "Don't bodder me, but look out forInjuns, and if you see one, just run up to him and lamm him."
"Lamm him!" muttered Habakkuk, more to himself than his companion. "Thatshows the intelligence of his race. He's so dumb at times that hecrosses the line, and does smart things."
Aunt Peggy was not far in the rear of the two, for she was much lighterof foot than they. She got along very well, but she held her lipscompressed, and her small eyes flashed, when she reflected that thewhole party were fleeing from the wrath of a man who had lived in thevalley 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 wasfor no cause at all, excepting the depravity of the Tories, who, beingrenegades, were more revengeful than they would have been against aforeign enemy.
Mr. Brainerd compelled his two daughters to continue in advance of him,though only for a short distance. He expected the appearance of thepursuers, and he could not leave the fugitives unguarded in thatfashion.
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 Englandereither did not, or would not, hear him.
It was impossible for such a flight and pursuit as this to last for anylength of time. The advantage was all on the side of the fleet-footedIndians, who were so familiar with the woods that they were sure to comeup with the patriots in a brief while.
The fugitives were hurrying forward, as we have described, when theywere startled by the whoop of an Indian directly behind them, and soclose that every one glanced over his shoulder.
As they did so they saw the figure of a Seneca warrior in full view andon a rapid run.
It was seen, too, that he grasped a gun in one hand and his tomahawk inthe other. There could be little doubt that he meant to use one of themon the old gentleman at the rear, who could not hold his own againstsuch 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 couldmisunderstand him.
"S'render! s'render!--me shoot--"
Mr. Brainerd halted, turned quickly, raising his rifle while in the veryact of doing so, and when the affrighted but bewildered Indian ranalmost against the muzzle of his gun, the trigger was pressed.
The red man, with an ear-splitting shriek, bounded in the air andstopped pursuing the patriots, while Mr. Brainerd, as he hurriedlyresumed 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 asshe wrote it down, dropped a tear on the word, and blotted it outforever."
CHAPTER XVIII.
The crack of Richard Brainerd's rifle and the death-shriek of the SenecaIndian were almost simultaneous, but the redskin was only a slight wayin advance of the other savages, who, understanding the meaning of thereport and outcry, dashed forward.
The startling episode caused some bewilderment on the part of the otherfugitives, seeing which, the eldest called out to them impatiently:
"Push on, there! Push on! the Indian
s are right on us."
Providentially, the advance were so close to the refuge that GravityGimp caught sight of the spot, and without looking around, he swung hishand over his head and exclaimed:
"Here we am! Here we am!"
"And that's the trouble," growled Habakkuk McEwen, crowding hard afterhim, "if we were only somewhere else, we'd feel a good dealbetter--leastways I would."
Another whoop was heard, then others at the rear, and those who glancedback caught sight of several warriors flitting among the trees andwithin the toss of a stone of them.
Brainerd would have fired again had it been in his power, but his gunwas unloaded and it was impossible to ram a charge home, and pour thepowder 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 dozenrods farther, not one of the fugitives would have reached it alive, but,at the critical moment, Gimp, the African, told the joyous news that itwas 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 doingtheir utmost, while he danced about and waited the few seconds necessaryfor 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 thedeclivity and was first to enter.