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diff --git a/old/30335.txt b/old/30335.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eb1ff97 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30335.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5984 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wilderness Fugitives, by Edward S. 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: The Wilderness Fugitives + +Author: Edward S. Ellis + +Release Date: October 25, 2009 [EBook #30335] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WILDERNESS FUGITIVES *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank, L Barber and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: "WHAT IN BLAZES ARE YOU AIMING AT?"--Page 168.] + + + + + THE WILDERNESS FUGITIVES + BY + EDWARD S. ELLIS + + AUTHOR OF "DEERFOOT" SERIES, "LOG CABIN" SERIES, "BOY PIONEER" SERIES, + ETC. + + ILLUSTRATED + + THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., PHILADELPHIA, CHICAGO, TORONTO. + + COPYRIGHTED 1893 BY THE PRICE-McGILL CO. + + + + + CONTENTS. + + + CHAP. PAGE. + + I--Alone and Together, 7 + II--Soft and Low, 15 + III--Eavesdropping, 22 + IV--The Course of True Love, 30 + V--A Light Ahead, 37 + VI--The Fragments of the Feast, 44 + VII--The Report of a Gun, 51 + VIII--Mr. Isaac Perkins, 59 + IX--Border Bravery, 67 + X--On the River, 75 + XI--An Unfavorable Omen, 83 + XII--Forced Backward, 91 + XIII--New Peril, 100 + XIV--Diamond Cut Diamond, 107 + XV--A Delicate and Dangerous Task, 114 + XVI--Iroquois Against Iroquois, 121 + XVII--At Last!, 128 + XVIII--The Southeastern Shore, 136 + XIX--The Mohawk Objects, 143 + XX--The Longest Way Home, 152 + XXI--A Curious Discovery, 159 + XXII--Another Fugitive, 166 + XXIII--Doubt and Perplexity, 174 + XXIV--The New Guide, 182 + XXV--The Hiding-place, 189 + XXVI--Curious Proceedings, 196 + XXVII--What Does it all Mean? 203 + XXVIII--Up and Doing, 210 + XXIX--A Startling Check, 217 + XXX--A Merited Fate, 227 + XXXI--The Mohawk Explains, 234 + XXXII--The Fatal Tree, 242 + XXXIII--Captive and Captors, 249 + + + + +THE WILDERNESS FUGITIVES. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +ALONE AND TOGETHER. + + +The reader will recall that at the close of The River Fugitives the +narrative left our friends in a situation, apparently, of safety; and +the belief, on the part of Jo Minturn, his sister Rosa and Ned Clinton, +was strong that, in their flight from the dreadful scenes of the Wyoming +massacre of July, 1778, they had left all dangers behind. They were +confident that, under the guidance of the matchless Mohawk, Lena-Wingo +(temporarily absent in quest of food), the road to security was beset by +no perils worth the mention. + +But, as has also been intimated, they were altogether wrong in this +belief. Brother and sister and Ned Clinton were seated near each other +on a fallen tree, and it was not yet fully dark when the soft tread of a +moccasin was heard on the leaves, and they saw the tall, slim figure of +the Mohawk come forth like some spirit of the forest to ask them their +business in thus invading his domains. The supposition was so general +that he had gone in quest of food, that a common instinct led them to +look to see whether he brought anything of that nature with him. There +was enough light left to show that he carried nothing but his gun. + +"Well, Jack," said Ned, "we thought you had gone out foraging, but if +you did, you didn't make much success of it." + +"Lena-Wingo didn't hunt eat--he hunt something more." + +"Well, did he find it?" asked Rosa, who was more daring in her questions +than the others thought it prudent to be. + +"Yes--he find him." + +"Why don't you bring him here, then, that we may see him?" + +"He gone," was the direct but rather unsatisfactory answer, for there +was no telling to what he referred. + +Rosa was on the point of questioning him further, when it struck her +that if he desired them to know what he had been doing he would tell +them only when he chose. And so she forbore. + +"I hope the result was pleasing to you," ventured Ned Clinton, on what +seemed forbidden ground. + +"When Lena-Wingo look for Iroquois in canoe, he take knife along." + +As this remark was clearly intended in the light of a joke, all felt the +duty of laughing at it, although the mirthful inclination was not very +tremendous, coming from such a grim source. + +"Jo," added the redskin, after waiting for the applause to wear itself +out, "want to see you." + +The young man thus appealed to sprang to his feet, and placed himself +beside the red scout, wondering what he could have to say that he should +keep from the rest. Ned and Rosa saw them talking together for a minute +or two, when they turned, as if to walk deeper into the woods. At that +moment, Jo looked around and called to them in a cautious voice, just +loud enough to be heard: + +"We won't be back for some time." + +This was a curious proceeding, indeed; but there was no use of +protesting against it. The Mohawk had a way of doing as he pleased about +such matters, and it was useless to interfere. When they had been gone +several minutes, it struck Ned that, as they would not be back for +awhile, he was given a chance to converse with Rosa, such as had not +been his since the invasion of the Wyoming valley. + +The consciousness came upon him so suddenly that he was not a little +confused by the problem of how he was to improve the opportunity. True, +he had spent many hours in the company of the beautiful girl, but it +seemed to him that never had he felt as he did then. He was sure that +she must be aware of the unutterably tender affection he held toward +her--a feeling that had grown within the last few days, until it took +possession of his being. Not until the life of Rosa Minturn was placed +in peril did he comprehend how much he loved her. When there was reason +to fear she was in the hands of the Iroquois or the Tory colonel, and +that he might never see her more, then it was that it seemed his heart +must break from grief alone. And when, a short time after, she was found +without a hair of her head injured, his joy was correspondingly +great--so great, indeed, that he was sure all noticed it, even Rosa +herself. + +The couple were seated upon a fallen tree, there being some two or three +feet of space between them. The twilight, which was fairly upon forest +and stream, threw the faces of both in shadow, and Ned was glad of it. +If there was one thing in the world of which he was absolutely certain, +it was that he was never so ill at ease as he was at that moment, it +following, as a matter of course, that Rosa could not but be aware of +it, and that she looked upon him with pity and contempt. She was +wonderfully kind, it seemed to him, and so far as he could judge, showed +no consciousness of the pitiful exhibition he was making of himself. + +"When we once arrive at Wilkesbarre, and you are safe from the Indians +and Tories, I suppose Jack will hasten back to your parents with the +tidings, for it will be a great relief to them." + +"He hasn't said anything to me about it, but it will be just like him, +for he is never content with anything except danger and action." + +"It would have gone hard with you if you had had any one besides him to +lead you through the woods." + +"None is so capable as he when he chooses to exert himself; but I think +he has been a little careless. There was no need of his being caught as +he was in that house when you went to his rescue." + +Although it was too dark for it to be seen, yet a crimson flush +overspread the face of the young scout again at receiving such a +compliment from those fair lips. He checked the protest that rose to his +own with the remembrance of the reproof of Jo, fearing that he might +appear to assume a modesty that he did not feel. + +"Where one has done so much for us as the Mohawk, it would be ungrateful +not to give him what assistance I could. I was as much pleased as was he +that I was able to divert the attention of the Iroquois until he found a +chance to get away. But, Rosa, you know as well as I that they could not +have held him there, for he has been in many a worse situation than +that." + +"That may all be true, Edward, but you do wrong to throw aside all the +credit, as you seem anxious to do. You acted bravely, and you know it. +Jo has told me about it, and he said more than that, too!" + +"I don't know what he could say more than that," said young Clinton in +surprise. + +"He told me that you had a dreadful time in getting away from the +battle. You had to swim the river out to Monacacy island, and the +Indians followed you, and came near capturing both. You acted very +bravely again, as any one who knows you might have been sure you would, +and helped him very much, indeed. I thank you for that, Edward." + +"I don't want to appear in the light of disputant of all that Jo says, +but he gives me more credit in that matter than belongs to me. It was +all we could do, and more than appeared possible, to take care of +ourselves--each of us alone, without thinking of the other. He surely +helped me as much as I helped him." + +"Well, I shall have to wait till I hear what he has to say about that," +responded Rosa, with that persistency so charming in a beautiful woman +when it is in favor of him with whom she is holding her argument. + +The certainty that he possessed the good opinion of this girl, in spite +of his own sense of awkwardness and embarrassment, caused more than one +thrill of delight to pass through the young hero as he listened to the +words--a thousand times more delightful--coming from such lips as hers. + +"I am pleased beyond measure," he said, gathering courage from her +utterances, and the darkness that now veiled their faces from each +other, "to find that I have earned your good opinion, and all that I +ask is that I may continue to deserve it." + +"Why, of course you will," she was prompt to reply. "What could you do +to make any one respect you less?" + +"Well, I might do a great many things that I hope I won't do," he +laughed. "Not to mention my own principles, the fear of displeasing you +would be enough at any time--" + +"'Sh!" interrupted Rosa, in a frightened whisper. "I am sure I heard +some one just then behind us." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +SOFT AND LOW. + + +At the mention of suspected danger, Clinton sprang up and moved in the +direction whence he supposed it came, though he heard nothing of it +himself. It was so dark that he could see but a little way in the woods. +After stealing a few paces, rifle in hand, he paused and listened, +thinking that if any enemies were at hand, they would be sure to betray +themselves by attempting to advance. But the stillness remained +unbroken, and he suspected that Rosa had been mistaken. Even though he +knew not where Jo and the Mohawk were just then, he was sure that they +were at no great distance, and the redskin was certain to discover the +approach of any foe. When five or ten minutes passed he turned about and +rejoined his fair friend. + +"You must have been in error," said he. + +"I _was_ mistaken," she said, with a laugh; "and I was on the point of +calling and telling you what it was." + +"Well, what was it?" + +"Lena-Wingo; he was here a minute ago, and said he had come to see if +all was right, after which he went back to where Jo is waiting for him." + +"How long before they will be here again?" + +"Not very long," said Rosa. "He told me they were not quite ready to +start, but would be shortly; he made a little noise when he was coming, +so as to let us know he was near!" + +"And I didn't hear him. If it hadn't been for you, he would have come +right upon us." + +Ned sat down on the fallen tree beside Rosa. Somehow or other, the space +between the two was reduced almost to no space at all. It may have been +that the young scout was so absent-minded, that he forgot about the +respectable gap that existed a short time before. But be that as it may, +Rosa herself was so absent-minded, also, that she forgot to remind him +of it. So they sat, so near that they could afford to understand each +other without speaking above a whisper. + +Having resumed his seat, Ned sat a while trying to think of something +appropriate to say, but it seemed that all his ideas were scattered to +the winds. When that interruption broke in upon them, he flattered +himself that he was getting along very well--that is, for him--but +now--why, he was never so put to it in all his life. If the innocent +cause of all this misery had not come to his relief, there is no telling +how long the oppressive silence would have lasted. But Rosa was +merciful, or else she became tired of waiting. + +"Edward," said she, in that low, winning voice that was hers alone, +"when Colonel Butler and his Tories and Indians leave the valley, what +are you going to do?" + +"Whatever seems the best for our country. I cannot exactly say what that +will be, but I have thought I would join the Continental Army under +Washington. I so love and revere that great man, that I can fight better +if near him, where I can see his face and hear his voice now and then." + +"I have often thought the same thing myself, but I have never seen him. +Lena-Wingo told me that he has spoken to him many times, and he looks +upon him as if he were some one sent by the Great Spirit to save our +country." + +"He means Heaven when he speaks of the Great Spirit, and he is right; +for he is the man of all others to carry the colonies to their +independence." + +"Have you ever seen Washington?" + +"No. That great pleasure is before me. But I have talked with many who +have, and they have raised my eagerness to the highest point. But," he +added, more thoughtfully, "it would not be right for me to go to his +army and enlist just to fight under him, when I may be needed somewhere +else!" + +"You cannot go anywhere that you will not be needed," said Rosa, in the +same thoughtful voice. "There are too many Tories and Britons, and too +few patriots, in this country. If ever I wished that I was a man it is +now, that I might shoulder a musket, and help fight the battles of my +country." + +"That you cannot do, of course, but you can encourage all who are at +home and able to bear a hand to do so; if I were the greatest coward +that ever lived, your words would drive me into the army, for it would +take more courage to brave them than to face the cannon's mouth, or +cross bayonets with the British regulars." + +"You seem to place great value on my counsel, Edward." + +"So I do; I would rather die than displease you in anything." + +These fervent words were uttered in a low, earnest tone, that Ned would +not have dared to use a few minutes before, when he first took his seat +so close to the idol of his heart. As was perhaps natural, it was the +girl who seemed never to lose her self-command, and who parried every +attempt to broach the subject that was evidently clamoring for utterance +in the heart of the youth. + +"Well, if you value my opinion so highly," she answered, in that +half-frivolous and half-serious tone that was especially tantalizing to +one of his ardent temperament, "I shall be very careful of the advice I +give." + +"You couldn't advise me to do anything except that which is best for +myself and country." + +"I can reply as you did a moment ago--that I could easily do so, but I +have no intention of trying it. Jo tells me that you and he are to go +together?" + +"Of course we shall. We have been friends all our lives, and we may as +well stick together in the army." + +"I am glad to hear that, for it has many advantages--but why talk of +those things now?" + +The girl looked around in the darkness, as if she wondered at the +continued absence of Lena-Wingo and her brother. + +"I am half tempted to lose my patience with Jack!" she said, after a +minute of waiting and listening. "He doesn't seem to be in a hurry at +all; we ought to have been in Wilkesbarre before daylight this morning, +and here it is dark again, and there is no telling when he will be ready +to start." + +"I have no fear of the Mohawk," replied Ned, who thought they might find +a much more interesting subject to talk about. "He will be here in due +time, and is sure to do his part in whatever needs to be done. I think +he has gone in search of that supply of food he was talking about a +while ago. When he gets it he will bring us a good supper, which will +not come amiss to any of us, although I should have preferred to eat it +in Wilkesbarre." + +"We may as well content ourselves here until Jack is ready," said Ned, +keeping his seat as close to Rosa as he conveniently could. "Until then, +remember that I am here, ready to defend you with my life." + +"I know you would, Edward," she responded in a softer, tenderer voice +than the last few words had been spoken. "But I do not want to see the +occasion come." + +"I should welcome it, Rosa, to prove my devotion to you." + +"I need no proof," she answered, speaking so low that he barely caught +the words. + +"How happy your words have made me! Hello! here comes some one at last!" + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +EAVESDROPPING. + + +Both supposed that they heard the footsteps of Lena-Wingo and Jo +Minturn; but a habit taught by the hard experience of the last few days +caused them to cease speaking and to listen. Only a second was needed to +tell them that strangers were approaching them, although, fortunately +they were not heading in a direct line for the place where the lovers +were sitting. Had it been otherwise, it is hard to see how they could +have escaped observation. The men were issuing from the wood and making +for the shore of the river, aiming at a point a few yards above where +Ned and Rosa were stationed. They were walking at a leisurely gait, +evidently with no suspicion that any white persons were within earshot. +Judging from the sound of feet upon the leaves, a half dozen persons +were proceeding without any caution at all, talking as freely as if +together at their own homes. + +The feelings of Rosa Minturn, when she recognized the voice of the Tory +colonel, Butler, may be imagined. He was accompanied by another white +man, probably one of his officers, and several Indians, and he was +talking more freely. In the stillness of the summer night, while they +were so close at hand, it was as easy to distinguish every word uttered +as if the speech was intended for the ears of the eavesdroppers. + +"We have heard so much of the smartness of that Mohawk scout that I +began to think there was something in him," said the principal member of +the party, Rosa identifying him as the detested Butler. "But I have +never seen anything myself that showed up very well on his part. Here he +is on this side of the Susquehanna, when he ought to have been at +Wilkesbarre before daylight this morning." + +"We ought to have been there before that time, even," replied his +companion. "I am sure we could have played the deuce with that place, a +confounded sight better than with Wyoming, for they were so scared that +they were on the run and that's just the time to strike, you know, +colonel." + +"Yes; we might have done something if we had gone over at once, but it +was some time before we learned what was going on." + +"I hear they are not much better yet, and it seems to me that it is not +too late to slip our men across and clean 'em out." + +But Colonel Butler was too wily to consent to any such project, although +there was reason to believe that it might have succeeded, even though +deferred till that rather late hour. + +"It isn't worth our while. There's only one more of the rebels that I +want to lay hands on. Let me get that one and the rest may go." + +"I think I know who it is, colonel." + +"No doubt you do," was the prompt reply. "Any one who has heard me speak +within the last twenty-four hours has found it out. I tell you, captain, +that you don't often see as pretty a rebel as that young Minturn. She +slipped off last night because she found I admired her so much that I +couldn't keep my eyes from her." + +"You're right there, colonel, when you speak of her beauty, for I have +never seen one that could surpass her; I wonder that she don't turn the +heads of all she meets. Perhaps she does, though, and, if you hadn't +foreclosed there, I would be tempted to make a claim myself." + +"It will be dangerous for any man to interfere with me." + +The individual whom he addressed as a captain was heard to laugh at the +words of his superior officer, and he replied: + +"I am sure there is no fear of my trying to intrude myself in that +direction, for I am opposed to the thing on principle." + +"I am aware of that," replied the colonel, the party having halted on +the edge of the river, as if awaiting the coming of some one. "Of course +I had no reference to _you_ when I spoke, but I feel especially angry +toward Red Jack, or Lena-Wingo, and I will give a good deal for his +scalp. He has played the mischief with our plans more than once, and +now, when everything is going along just as I want it to, he comes in +and walks off with the prize." + +"But don't you suppose he was set up to do it?" + +"Certainly; and Colonel Denison was the man who put it into his head. I +can see it all now, though I didn't suspect it at the time." + +"Why don't you shoot him?" + +"I was mad enough to do that; and I believe that if I had met him last +night, after the Mohawk escaped so narrowly being cut through by my +sword, I would have done it. But I have thought the matter over to-day, +and made up my mind that it won't pay. There have already been some +things about this Wyoming business that will make trouble. The Indians +ought to have killed every rebel that wasn't shot down in battle; but +they let so many get away that they will tell all sorts of stories about +us, and when they get to England, they may interfere with some little +plans of my own."[A] + +"Well, if you catch the bird that flew away, you can afford to forgive +the well-intended schemes; for when she is once in your hands, what care +you for others? You tell me, colonel, that the Mohawk did not reach +Wilkesbarre with her to-day?" + +"No. I had word from there at sunset, and they had not been seen +anywhere in the neighborhood; and, as the Mohawk was observed on this +side of the stream near noon to-day, he must still be here." + +"It has been dark quite awhile, and he may have slipped across since the +sun went down." + +"He may, it is true, but it is hardly likely, for the redskins, as a +rule, don't like to do their work until the latter part of the night. +People are too apt to be wide awake in the earlier portion of the +evening; and I am quite sure Red Jack will wait till beyond midnight +before he makes a move in the business." + +"The night promises to be dark, so that when he undertakes to paddle to +the other shore, he will be pretty apt to do it." + +"It isn't likely we could hinder him, if he was on the watch, as I +suppose he will be," growled Butler, reluctant to concede to the redskin +the skill and prowess that he knew properly belonged to him. "But I have +figured on the supposition that he will get safely across with the girl, +so it won't make much difference whether he does set foot on the other +shore or not. If he _does_ get there, though, he will find there is more +than one lion in the path between him and Wilkesbarre. I have some of +the best runners and scouts of the Iroquois on the hunt for the couple, +and it is scarcely possible that they can fail. I go across myself, so +as to be ready to take charge of matters the minute a competent guiding +hand is needed." + +"And you want me to go with you?" + +"You may as well, for matters are dull behind us, and are likely to stay +so for the few days that we shall yet remain. Come along with us, +Captain Bagley, and you will be likely to see some sport before you get +back." + +"That reminds me," said the officer, whose name was just spoken, "that I +heard somewhere from some one that this pretty rebel has an ardent +admirer and lover in the person of a young soldier of Denison's forces, +and that he and a brother of the girl fought like the very deuce in the +battle--" + +"And was killed?" struck in the Tory, with an eagerness that showed how +intense was his hate for the one who dared to love with a pure and holy +affection her whom he had selected as the object of his sinful +admiration. + +"I am sorry to say I cannot give you that information," said the +captain, with a half-laugh at the colonel's eagerness. "Both young men, +I have been told, managed to get through the battle without a scratch, +and are probably somewhere in the valley at this moment--perhaps trying +to help the young lady to get to Wilkesbarre." + +Colonel Butler broke in with an imprecation, as he recalled the +accounts he had received of the affair at the settler's house that same +day, and which left no doubt in his mind that the two young rebels +referred to were acting in concert with the Mohawk scout, Lena-Wingo. + +[Footnote A: After the Revolution, Colonel Butler tried hard to obtain +the honor of knighthood from the King of Great Britain, but failed.] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE. + + +Rosa and Ned, without wish or intention on their part, were obtaining +some very interesting information from the Tory leader; and, as the way +was not clear as to a safe method of extricating themselves from the +position of eavesdroppers, they could do nothing more than hold their +peace and allow the entertainment to continue. + +The Tory was enraged by the discovery that Rosa was the beloved of +another, who was probably doing all he could at that moment to assist in +placing her beyond his reach, and to raise himself in her affection by +such a display of devotion. + +"When are you going to cross over?" inquired his companion. + +"Right away--we have waited too long already. The evening is well along, +and we're losing time." + +The sounds which succeeded showed that the party were moving nearer the +river shore, having been standing a few feet off while holding the +conversation. Back in the darkness of the wood, Rosa and Ned were +invisible, while they were able to catch the outlines of the moving +figures when thrown against the dim sky beyond. It was plain that the +party meant to use the canoe in which the girl had spent a portion of +the afternoon, and which, it was intended, should serve as a vehicle to +carry the whites to the other side. + +The redmen were heard placing the boat in position, and the splash of +the paddle was noticed as all took their places, and the oarsman assumed +his duty of guiding the craft, burdened to its utmost capacity, across +the Susquehanna. Colonel Butler, who had been so talkative a few minutes +before, and also accommodating enough to reveal his purposes to those +most concerned, seemed to have gone to the other extreme, for nothing +more was heard from him. Captain Bagley took upon himself the task of +directing the movements of the others, whenever they needed direction. +The canoe, with its occupants, left the shore and was impelled into the +Susquehanna, heading for the other bank, invisible in the gloom of the +night. Before the craft had vanished, however, Ned caught sight of a +couple of figures on the bank immediately in front of where he was +standing with Rosa. + +"'Sh!" she whispered, detecting the fact at the same instant; "they have +left a couple behind." + +At this instant one of the forms turned and advanced toward them, the +distance being so short that he had taken but a few steps when he +arrived. + +"Did you see them?" he asked, when he was at their side. + +"See them? Of course we did," replied Rosa, recognizing her brother, +"and we heard them, too. They've been standing and talking together +right here, close enough for us to hear every word they said." + +"Well, what did they say?" + +"It would be hard to tell what they didn't say," replied Rosa, with +something of her old spirit of mischief. "Colonel Butler is very sweet +on some young rebel, which I am afraid is about my age, and looks very +much like me. He has gone across the river to catch me before I can +reach Wilkesbarre, but I don't see why he need be in a hurry, for I +don't think we'll see that place within a couple of weeks, unless +Lena-Wingo gets in more of a hurry than he is now." + +This "satirical" remark was intended for the ears of the Mohawk, who had +approached during the last few seconds, and who did not lose a syllable; +but it would have taken more bitter words than ever fell from those +sweet lips to stir any resentful feelings in his dusky breast. + +"Talk much," was the only response he made, thereby uttering a truth +which not even the young lady herself would deny. + +"What else did he say?" asked Jo, referring to Colonel Butler. + +"Well, the substance of it all was that he had sent a lot of Iroquois +across the river to cut us off before we can reach Wilkesbarre, and he +has no doubt they will succeed. He goes over himself, so as to be on +hand, I believe, to take charge of me--that is, when _they catch me_." + +"Is that all?" + +"Do you think of anything more?" asked Rosa, addressing Ned. + +"You have given all that was said--that is, all that is worth telling," +answered the young man, into whose brain were burned some utterances +which had not been referred to by his fair companion. + +"If there is anything else," persisted Jo, "why, let's have it; for +though it may seem trifling to you, it may be of importance when weighed +by the Mohawk. Out with all you remember!" + +"I have nothing more to tell," replied Ned, feeling the situation +becoming embarrassing. + +"I forgot something else," added the girl, in a light manner, that sent +the shivers down the back of young Minturn, for his instinct told him +what was coming. "You can't ask me to tell you all the bad words Colonel +Butler used." + +"Not unless you would like to go over them, but let me know what it was +that _caused_ him to speak in that style?" + +"Oh! but he had good cause for it all, for that wicked Captain Bagley +told him there was a young gentleman somewhere that thought all the +world of me, and of whom I thought all the world, and the idea that I +liked anybody else besides him was what made him so angry. I believe you +have _all_ now." + +"Yes, I believe I have," replied Jo, with a low laugh. "Jack and I were +standing almost as close to them as were you and Ned, and we heard their +conversation." + +If the pretty sister had possessed a parasol, she would have made her +brother's head feel the weight thereof. All this was pure jest that +seemed to intrude itself by a law of physiology into the hearts +oppressed so long by grief, dread and anxiety. But there was one heart +upon which the airy words fell with a weight of which the speakers never +dreamed. To Ned Clinton there was something cruel in this reference to +his affection for Rosa. He considered it a sacred secret--perhaps dimly +suspected now by Rosa herself--too sacred, indeed, to be spoken of in +jest by others. + +He knew that his friends meant no unkindness, but it touched him +scarcely the less for all that. He and Rosa had passed a few deep, +earnest words, bearing upon that dream of the future which he cherished +so fondly, and not the words merely, but the tones, the manner and the +occasion gave them a significance which was of the profoundest import to +him; and now to hear the maiden refer to them as she did pained him. Was +it, then, all a jest to her? Did she regard the picture he had faintly +limned as one of those unsubstantial dreams which the young and +ambitious are so fond of drawing, and which can never be realized? Did +she look upon him merely as a friend--a dear one, perhaps, whom she had +known and liked from their early childhood, because they had been +schoolmates, and he and her brother were friends? + +In short, was it not evidence that she merely _liked_, but felt nothing +at all of _love_--that great over-mastering emotion that pervaded and +swayed his whole nature? + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A LIGHT AHEAD. + + +On the eve of starting for their destination they were confronted by a +practical difficulty, necessary to surmount before the journey could be +made. Their enemies had coolly appropriated the boat in which they had +intended to cross the river, and, another must be found for the use of +the fugitives. Ordinarily, this would have been a small matter, but, +coming as it did, it presented a difficulty not easily surmounted. Where +was the canoe to be secured? Lena-Wingo was the one to whom the others +looked to solve the problem, and he undertook it without delay. + +"Stay here," said he. "Lena-Wingo find canoe." + +"If you can manage to get back before to-morrow night," put in Rosa, "it +may save us a deal of valuable time." + +"Lena-Wingo come back soon as can--girl don't talk much." + +"I am glad to hear you speak so encouragingly," she responded, as he +moved off and instantly vanished in the deep gloom of the night. + +Left to themselves, the three had little to do but to wait and hope that +their dusky friend would make good the promise of returning as soon as +possible. + +"It is one of those things that could not be discounted beforehand," +said Jo Minturn, feeling that his sister was becoming unjustly +impatient. "For no one could have dreamed that they would step up at the +moment we were ready to start, and run off with the boat." + +"They must have known nothing about Rosa having occupied it this +afternoon," remarked Ned Clinton, glad of the chance of saying something +that would ward off any approach to the matter that had caused him so +much pain. "Their actions showed they did not suspect what had taken +place while they were gone." + +"Yes; some of them must have taken that boat to the place this forenoon +or early in the afternoon, with the purpose of using it to carry the +colonel to the other shore." + +"Suppose Lena-Wingo doesn't find another canoe?" asked Rosa, who felt +anything but comfortable over the absence of the tried and trusty +scout. + +"It may take him longer than he wants, but he will succeed, you may be +sure of that." + +"I should like to know why you and he went off in that mysterious +fashion a short time ago?" continued the girl, addressing her brother. +"It must have been a very important errand, judging from the way you +managed it." + +"Well, I think it was important, for it was to find something to eat, +and I notice you are pretty sure to be interested in anything of that +nature." + +"Well, did you get any food?" + +"We got on the track of some when Colonel Butler appeared with his +Iroquois, and we had to take a look after them." + +"So you didn't find any, after all," she repeated. "It is about what I +expected when you went away." + +"Don't be too quick to judge us," replied the brother, in a voice that +was meant to signify a deal more than the mere words. "You'll be +surprised before long." + +"The only thing to surprise me will be to see something like haste used +in getting over the river to Wilkesbarre. I suspect that Lena-Wingo will +wait till daylight before making the start, even if he finds a canoe, on +the ground that we ought to have something to eat before starting." + +A few minutes after, while the two were in an earnest discussion, the +Mohawk appeared among them, and said, in his sententious manner: + +"Come with me--walk still--make no noise." + +The fugitives had been in enough danger to render this admonition +unnecessary, but it was a warning which the Mohawk seemed to consider +timely on all occasions, for he was much addicted to using it. It was so +dark in the gloom of the forest that it was a matter of no small +difficulty for the little party to keep together. + +"Jo, you had better take my hand on one side, and you, Edward, on the +other," said Rosa, "it is hard work to get along without help." + +The suggestion was adopted without much perceptible increase of speed, +as it still was necessary to feel their way with great caution to +prevent collisions with trunks and limbs. But the bliss of Ned Clinton; +who shall tell it? He forgot all the misery of a short time before when +the world seemed dismal and full of despair, and was only conscious of +the sweet fact that he held the hand of Rosa Minturn in his own! At the +first touch it seemed that a thrill like the flash of the subtle +magnetic current passed through him, and he would not have cared if the +journey continued for half a dozen miles, so long as this arrangement +lasted. + +The admonition of the red scout was not forgotten, and when they spoke +it was in whispers, while frequent pauses were made, in answer to the +faintest possible "'Sh!" of Lena-Wingo, who was conducting matters with +his proverbial caution. Minturn saw something suggestive in the fact +that their guide was leading them away from instead of toward the river, +for the depths of the wood was not the place to look for the canoe, of +which they stood in so much need just then. He suspected there was +another reason, which would soon become apparent. Ned might have noticed +the same fact and made inquiry about it, had he been capable of +appreciating anything besides the delight of holding the hand of his +beloved. That was happiness enough to last him at least for the time in +which the journey continued, and he cared very little whither their +guide led them, so long as he did not separate him from Rosa. + +Where all was shrouded in such darkness, neither of the fugitives, with +the exception of the Mohawk, was able to keep anything like a knowledge +of the precise course which they were following. The ground was +familiar to all, and indeed there was not one who had not been over it +so frequently that he or she would have identified it in the daytime. +But when all was indistinguishable, in the darkness of the night, they +could only trust to the skill of the dusky guide, who seemed able at any +time to pick his way with unerring accuracy through the trackless +forest. + +In the earlier portion of the evening there was no moon, but after +starting a faint one was observed in the sky, and enough of its rays +penetrated the branches overhead to afford considerable assistance to +the three who were threading their way as best they could in the track +of the Mohawk. A few minutes after the moon was noticed, all were +startled by hearing the discharge of a gun at no great distance on their +left--that is, away from the river. They paused and listened, expecting +something to follow that would explain what the report meant. But the +stillness remained as profound as that of the grave, the night being so +quiet that there was scarcely a rustle among the branches overhead, +while not even the soft flow of the river reached their ears. + +The pause was only a few minutes in length, when the cautious journey +was resumed, still heading some little distance away from the stream +which they were so anxious to cross. Rosa had observed this fact before, +but she felt that it was hardly the thing to criticise the Mohawk when +he was at work; but she was becoming impatient, and might have said +something in the way of protest, but for the discovery that a bright +light was shining ahead of them, which light undoubtedly meant something +of interest to them all. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE FRAGMENTS OF THE FEAST. + + +The instant the light was detected, the attention of all the fugitives +became centered upon it, for it was plain they were journeying in a +direct line toward it, and unless a speedy turn to the right or left was +made, the camp fire, as it appeared to be, would soon be reached. Viewed +as they neared it, it seemed to be simply a fire, and nothing more, +there being so many intervening trees and undergrowth, that nothing +except the light itself was noticeable. But, as a rule, wherever there +was a camp fire there were those who kindled it, and it struck Rosa that +the Mohawk was reckless in advancing upon it; but she held her peace, +certain he would commit no blunder. + +The little party continued advancing steadily until within less than a +hundred yards, when, as if by a common instinct, they halted, with their +eyes bent inquiringly upon the fire. It was more plainly visible than +before, and was seen to be burning brightly, showing that if no persons +were near it, they had been absent but a short time. + +"Stay here--I go look--make no noise." + +With these words, Lena-Wingo moved toward the blaze, and his tall, dark +figure was seen more than once as in its stealthy advance it came +between them and the flames. But, as it neared them, he made a turn +which shut him from sight until a short distance away on his return. The +Mohawk had been absent but a brief time, and when he rejoined them he +said: + +"Come 'long--walk fast--talk if want to." + +This seemed curious advice, but it was accepted, and the fugitives kept +up a constant talk in low tones, until they had halted before the fire +itself. The expectation of Ned and Rosa was to meet some one, most +probably a party of the settlers, who were taking refuge in the woods +until the Indians and Tories should leave the valley; but in this they +were disappointed. Halting directly before the blaze, they looked +around, but saw no one besides themselves. + +"Rosa," said Jo, with a meaning grin, "do you feel as though you can do +justice to a lunch?" + +Then the truth flashed upon her. Lena-Wingo had brought them thither for +the purpose of furnishing them with supper. A protest rose to her lips, +but she checked it, feeling that she had perhaps said too much already. +Certainly if any one in the world ought to have faith in the skill and +devotion of the Mohawk scout, she was that one, and she resolved at the +instant she drove back the complaining words that they should remain +unsaid, not for then only, but for all time. + +"Well, yes, Jo; I _am_ hungry, and if you have anything in the way of +supper, I am sure it will be welcomed by all." + +"How is it, Ned? Do you feel any hankering for eatables?" + +"I do." + +"Well, you shall have that yearning satisfied; when Jack and I went off, +it was in search of food, for we need it, every one of us. Rosa seems to +think we are loitering away our time, but Jack knows what he is doing. +It is an easy matter to get across the river, but when on the other side +our real trouble will begin. Colonel Butler expects us to cross the +stream, and he won't make much effort to prevent us, but what he means +to do is to keep us from reaching Wilkesbarre, and we aren't going to +get there in a hurry, either. Well, don't you see that we are likely to +be in the woods a good while, and we may have to take a long circuitous +route to get out? I shouldn't be surprised if we were two or three days +longer on the way, for when Jack undertakes a job of this sort, he does +it thoroughly, and he isn't the one to spoil it by hurry, no matter what +his companions want him to do. All this being so, it isn't necessary to +tell you that we must have our meals as regular as we can get them. If +we eat a good supper now, we shall be able to pass to-morrow without any +food, but it will go hard without anything in that line." + +"If you will bring out your supper, Jo, and stop your chatter, I will +agree to do the same, but I shan't believe you have anything in the way +of food till I see it." + +The brother kept up a stream of talk, in the way of badinage, asking his +friends to name whatever article of diet they wished, as he could +furnish one almost as well as another. Finally, when the thing had +continued long enough, he produced the supper, and it was a surprise to +Ned and Rosa indeed. While Lena-Wingo was engaged in stirring and +throwing more wood on the fire, Jo removed some fresh green leaves from +a package that had been lying unnoticed near at hand, and within was +found a large piece of roast pig! Furthermore, it was young, tender, +well cooked, juicy and clean. + +The appetites of all were keen, and as they took seats on the ground and +ate as well as they could, with the help of the keen hunting knives of +the party, it would have been impossible to enjoy it more. Nobody but +the Mohawk knew how long it was since he had partaken of food, but had +the period been a week, he could not have shown a keener relish for the +nourishing meat. While employed in this pleasant manner, it was +explained how it came about that they were furnished with this supper. +As Jo had already told his sister, he and the Mohawk started off in +quest of food, when they affected such a mystery in their movements. + +It was no time nor neighborhood in which to look for game, and their +purpose was to hunt some farm-house, where they hoped to find enough of +the stock left to furnish them with one meal at least. While on their +way through the woods, they came in sight of this same camp fire, which +they approached and reconnoitered. The first figure they recognized was +that of Colonel Butler, and next to him was Captain Bagley, his +well-chosen assistant, besides which there were four Iroquois Indians, +whose principal business seemed to be that of roasting a plump pig, +which they had stolen from some settler in the valley. + +Colonel Butler was very loquacious, and talked so freely with the +captain that his purpose of crossing the river speedily became known to +the listening scouts. Some of his references to Rosa Minturn were such +that Jo would have shot him as he sat eating by his own camp fire, had +not the Mohawk interfered and quieted him with the philosophical +observation: + +"Hain't got gal yet--won't get her--talk won't hurt her." + +Although it was certain that the party meant to cross the Susquehanna +that night, probably as soon as the supper was finished, yet it did not +occur to the Mohawk that they intended to use the canoe which was +awaiting the whites. When the Tories and Iroquois completed their meal, +they started for the stream, and Lena-Wingo and Jo followed, keeping +them under scrutiny until they left the shore for the other side. The +party went off leaving their camp fire burning brightly, and as there +was no reason to believe that any of their allies were near little was +feared in returning to the scene and appropriating what was left as +fragments of their feast. + +The friends, therefore, ate with that enjoyment which comes of a sharp +appetite, good food, and the consciousness that they need be in no hurry +to finish. It was the purpose of the Mohawk to place his companions on +the other side of the stream before daylight, but he convinced them that +there was nothing to be gained by hurrying in the business. + +As the weak force at the station of Wilkesbarre would be on guard +against the approach of all enemies, especially during the darkness of +the night, it would be a matter of difficulty, as well as one of extreme +danger, to secure admission at that time. For this reason he preferred +to do that part of his work in the daytime, when he could have an +opportunity to use all his senses, and not be taken at a disadvantage. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE REPORT OF A GUN. + + +There was one matter that caused Ned Clinton so much uneasiness that he +appealed to the Mohawk to know whether some attention should not be paid +to it. That was the report of the gun which they had heard while on the +way to, and only a short distance from, this place. If a gun was fired, +it followed that some one must have fired it, and the probabilities were +the marksman was not far away. Such was the view of the young scout when +he reflected upon the affair. Furthermore, nothing seemed so likely to +attract the notice of friend or foe, at night, as the blazing camp +fire--the most conspicuous object possible at such a time in the forest. + +Lena-Wingo was not the one to forget an occurrence like the firing of a +gun, and when the question was put to him by Ned, he answered in the +most satisfactory manner. Upon his first approach to the camp fire, when +conducting his friends thither, he had made a complete circuit of the +place, walking so far from the blazing sticks that the reconnoissance +was as complete as it could be made. Failing to detect any sign of +danger, he concluded that there was none. The gun whose report they had +noticed he believed was fired by some white man who was lurking in the +neighborhood, in the hope of being able to protect his property, or, +more probably, with a view of securing something in the way of food, it +might be, for a party of fugitives in hiding at no great distance. + +There were many instances of such flight and concealment during the few +days of, and succeeding, the massacre of Wyoming. Parties of men and +women, who had not been demented by the atrocities that marked that +dreadful era in the history of the settlement, were, in some instances, +wise enough to seek some good hiding-place before exhausting themselves +in the frantic efforts to flee. + +By keeping a vigilant watch against the approach of their enemies, and +by studiously avoiding an exposure of themselves, except when forced +thereto, and by stealing out at night in quest of food, they were able +to emerge from the reign of terror far better than hundreds of their +neighbors did. + +Lena-Wingo was positive that the gun which alarmed them was discharged +by a member of such a party, though what his precise reason was for the +conclusion was more than any of the three could comprehend or suspect, +and he did not make it clear to them. And so the supper of roast pig was +eaten in peace, and with an enjoyment that has already been referred to. +When it was finished, Jo said: + +"Now, as there is no telling when we will be able to secure the next +meal--for we can't expect Colonel Butler to keep up his supply of roast +pig--I think we ought to take some of this with us to provide for +emergencies." + +"Where shall we get it?" was the pertinent question of his sister. + +"Why, take along what is left." + +"Have you any left?" + +"Well, no, I haven't any, but I suppose the others have." + +"Take a look, and let us know how much there is!" + +Jo took the look, as suggested, and the result was, as might have been +suspected, there was not so much as an ounce of meat to be found. And +yet, they had eaten every particle they wished, so that a more +well-ordered meal could not have been furnished. + +"What is the use of taking thought for the morrow?" asked Rosa. "Has not +Lena-Wingo proved himself able to provide us with all we want in the way +of food?" + +"There is no denying that, but I only wanted to assist him in a simple +matter; and if we are all to possess such appetites as we have shown +to-night, it may not be an easy matter, after all, to keep up the +quartermaster's supplies. However," he added, cheerfully, "we won't +borrow trouble after the great good fortune that has followed us from +the beginning." + +They succeeded in making themselves comfortable in this respect, though +now and then the manner in which the Mohawk acted caused a doubt to +rise. Instead of sitting still, as did the others, while he was eating, +he frequently rose to his feet and went off in the woods, the direction +from which he reappeared showing that he had been making another of his +reconnoissances of their own position. Rosa explained to her companions +that such was his invariable custom whenever he was in camp, and it was +accepted as a way he had of conducting his own business. + +As the party had secured a meal, the next thing was to find the canoe +with which to cross the Susquehanna, a proceeding that had been delayed +so long that more than one of the little company began to feel a +superstitious fear that it might be they were doomed to stay forever on +this side. This was a duty which, as a matter of course, belonged to the +Mohawk, and, after his usual admonition to his friends about keeping +silent during his absence, he went off again. As there was no telling +how long the red scout would be gone, it remained for the three friends +to content themselves as best they could until his return. This was a +comparatively easy matter, or would have been, but for the memory of +that single rifle shot heard but a short time before reaching this spot. + +"I think the best thing we can do," said Ned Clinton, "is to let this +fire go out, or leave it altogether. We are too conspicuous here, and, +as the night is quite warm, we can stay in one part as well as another." + +"I would rather do it than not," replied Jo, "if we had only asked Red +Jack before he went away; but it seems to be always an unlucky thing for +us when we disregard his instructions." + +"What do you think of it?" asked Ned, turning to Rosa, who, up to this +time, had held her peace. + +"I suppose Lena-Wingo would not be likely to make any objection, and if +he did, I don't see why we should stay here and expose ourselves to +danger on his account." + +"Very well, I agree to that--" + +To the amazement of all, a second report, apparently of the same gun, +broke in upon their startled ears. + +By a common instinct, they sprang to their feet, and started off in the +gloom, expecting to learn the cause of the strange firing. The sound of +some one hurrying rapidly over the leaves was heard by all, and Ned +Clinton whispered to the rest: + +"Quick! Back, out of the way!" + +While the words were still in his mouth, the three retreated into the +darkness of the woods beyond the light of the camp fire, and paused, +waiting, watching and listening. The rustling of the leaves, which had +alarmed them so much a short time before, was heard no more, and the +same oppressive, because suggestive, silence held reign. Who had fired +the gun? At whom was it pointed? Was the marksman a white or red man? +Were there more of the Iroquois in the immediate vicinity, and were they +stealing up to this camp where the little party of fugitives had taken +supper? Were the friends being drawn into a skilfully laid ambush? Such +were some of the questions they asked themselves as they stood in the +darkness of the forest, waiting for the cause of all this apprehension +to come forth and show himself. + +Suddenly the same soft rustling of the leaves was detected and whoever +was the cause thereof was plainly approaching the camp fire. Then a form +issued into view and paused. It was Lena-Wingo, the Mohawk. His friends +instantly gathered about him to learn the success of his errand, and the +explanation of the report of the rifle. + +"You hear gun?" asked the red scout. + +"Of course we did," answered Ned, "and what did it mean?" + +The old grin came back to the face of the Mohawk as he replied: "That +gun fired by white man. He aim at Lena-Wingo!" was the astounding +information he gave his companions. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +MR. ISAAC PERKINS. + + +Grinning in his imperturbable fashion, the Mohawk turned part way round, +and made a signal, evidently for some one invisible to all. Be that as +it may, it was instantly responded to by the coming forward of a man in +the ordinary dress of a farmer settler of the valley. He had an honest +countenance, and was about forty years old. As he came into full view, +so that the firelight fell full upon his face, he was recognized as an +old acquaintance, named Perkins, who lived but a short distance from +where the camp fire was burning. + +"Wall, how are ye all?" he asked in a drawling voice and an accent that +betrayed the fact that he was one of the descendants of the Connecticut +pioneers that built Forty Fort, not a great many years before. "I say, +how are ye all?" he continued, as he began shaking hands round. "I'll be +shot if I expected to see any one of ye folks round here. I say, how +are ye all agin?" + +"Well, Ike," replied Ned Clinton, who was well acquainted with him, and +felt authorized to answer, "we are all right, as you can see for +yourself, and you seem to be equally fortunate." + +"Wall, I s'pose I am," was the hesitating answer, "the main trouble +being that we have been suffering for the last few days from a dreadful +scare; but then we hain't been injured in any way, thanks be to the Lord +for it all." + +"Then you aren't alone--" + +"Yes, I am," interrupted the farmer; "that is, when I'm abroad." + +The precise meaning of this was not clear to the listeners, but Ned +continued without noticing it: + +"I did not see you in the battle, Mr. Perkins." + +"No, thanks be to the Lord for it all, I was able to keep out by running +away, when the battle begun, or rather a little before. I had hard work +to get clear; thanks to the Lord, I managed to do it." + +"Where's your family?" + +"Wall, now, thar's where I've ben specially favored again. You know that +there are three of us--myself, Mrs. Perkins, and Master George +Washington Perkins, aged four years, so I had my hands full in looking +after them; but the second Mrs. Perkins is a remarkable woman, and +possesses an exceedingly powerful mind--an exceedingly powerful mind, +beyond all question. I must give her the credit for the able management +of this enterprise, for she deserves more credit than I. You know how +brave a man I am by nature, and how I have a natural hankering for gore. +Wall, that yearning to be killing some one made me furious to plunge +head first into the battle when it began raging down the valley, and I +started seventeen times--yes, seventeen times--to go in to do or die, I +didn't care which, but Mrs. Perkins had her eagle eye on me, and every +time I made a rush, she rushed also, and caught me by the coat-tails, +and nothing short of an earthquake could have persuaded her to let go. +Wall, to make that story short, she prevailed, and kept me out of the +struggle, thanks be to the Lord for all that." + +"But how did you manage to keep clear of the Indians?" + +"There it was her planning again. She called to mind a spot in the woods +not far away, where, when she was a sweet little girl, she used to play +hide-and-whoop with her playmates, and where she was always able to +secure a hiding that baffled the skill of her young friends, and +straightway it occurred to her that there was the very spot in which to +take refuge, and there we went." + +"Any trouble in getting there?" + +"Nothing to speak of," replied the farmer, in his lofty way. "Of course +the Tories and Indians tried to head us off, but I had a gun, and the +strength of my good right arm, and more than all that, I had Mrs. +Perkins as my second in command, and where was the use of any one trying +to break such a combination as that? We were bound to prevail, and we +never allowed ourselves to be turned aside by any trifles, and we +reached the refuge in safety, and there we are staying, and expect to +stay till things quiet down again." + +"But how did you manage for food?" asked Jo, desirous of testing the +accuracy of the Mohawk's judgment when he declared that the first gun +fired had been discharged by a man in the situation of Perkins while +searching for something to eat. + +"Wall," he said, in the old drawling style peculiar to men who love to +hear themselves talk, "when stealing becomes a matter of necessity, it +ain't stealing any longer, and I have been in the habit of slipping out +on the sly and fetching down some of the stock that's roaming through +the woods without knowing who their master is--thanks be to the Lord for +all that!" + +"Was that you who fired off your gun a little while ago?" + +"I've shot off my rifle twice within the last hour. The first time was +at a hog, and I missed him, for, somehow or other, the rampaging of the +Indians and Tories through the valley seems to have upset everything, +the dumb animals as well--Mrs. Perkins is more nervous than +usual--thanks be to the--I was about to say that the dumb critters know +that something is going on round them that ain't right, and they are as +wild as mad bulls, which is why I come to miss hitting that porker." + +So the rather lengthy reply of the loquacious farmer proved that +Lena-Wingo was accurate in his opinion as to the reason the former shot +was fired. + +"Was your second shot sent after another wild animal?" + +At this question, Mr. Perkins looked meaningly at the Mohawk and +laughed: + +"Wall, no; I don't suppose it would be safe to call Red Jack a wild +animal, but when I caught sight of him, or, rather, heard him moving +through the woods, I set him down as one of the Iroquois, who have made +Mrs. Perkins so nervous--thanks to the--I say I set him down as one of +those villains, and I blazed away." + +"Did you hit him?" + +"Wall, no--thanks to the Lord for it all--for, to tell the truth, I +didn't try, for I don't like to pick off a man in that style without +giving him a little notice, though I'm sorry to say I've had to do it +more than once. I just meant to give him a scare, and I guess I made out +to do that--didn't I, Jack?" + +"Not much scare--don't shoot straight," was the rather uncomplimentary +reply of the Mohawk. + +"Wall, we won't quarrel over that, Jack, for I'm mighty glad I didn't +hurt you. I would have felt very bad if I had shot such a good fellow as +you." + +"Do you know whether there are any more Indians in this neighborhood?" + +"I don't think there are any nearer than Forty Fort; they have been +rampaging up and down the valley for the past two or three days, but +they must have found that I'm around, for they are a good deal more +afraid than they were. But then there was quite a lot of them through +these parts to-day." + +"Did you see Colonel Butler and his party?" + +"Oh, yes," answered the settler, as though he pitied the ignorance of +his listeners, "I have had them under my eye ever since they came out of +the fort. Do you know that I came very near capturing them all?" + +Ned replied that they had no knowledge of such a startling fact. + +"The minute I laid eyes onto them, I made up my mind they were up to +some deviltry, and I watched them--watched them as a cat does a mouse. I +heard that old rascal say something about his looking for the purtiest +lady in the valley, and I knew at once he meant Mrs. Perkins, and that +roused my dander, as you may guess, and I swore I would go for him. I +was so mad that I was determined to snatch the whole party, and I laid +my plans to do it." + +"And how was it that you failed?" + +"By the merest slip in the world. My plan was to follow close behind, +dogging their footsteps, and picking them off one by one till they were +all gone. It would have been a big thing, wouldn't it?" + +"Most certainly it would; and why did you fail?" + +"Wall, I'm just telling you; it didn't take me long to fix up all my +scheme, and I had just drawn a bead on Colonel Butler, having Captain +Bagley in a line, too, so that I was sure to fetch them both, when I +happened to remember that my gun wasn't loaded. I drew off to load it +with an extra large charge, when something must have told them of the +danger that threatened, for they moved off and before I could find them +again it was so dark that they couldn't be found, and so by that narrow +chance they all escaped." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +BORDER BRAVERY. + + +Mr. Perkins having been allowed to relate his own story--in the telling +of which he drew a pretty long bow--his listeners judged it was time to +do something practical. He was asked therefore whether he could inform +them where to lay hands on a boat with which to cross the Susquehanna. + +"Do I know where a boat is?" he repeated, as if surprised at the mere +idea that he could not give the information. "Why, of course I do. +There's one only a short distance from where we are standing this very +minute." + +"Perhaps you refer to the one which Colonel Butler appropriated for +himself," suggested Ned, whose faith in the man was considerably +lessened by what he told them. + +"No such thing; I'll put one in your hands in five minutes, if you will +go with me." + +The three friends looked at Lena-Wingo, as if they wished his opinion +before they assented to the proposal. The Mohawk had been a patient +listener throughout, and he nodded his head and set the example by +leading the way. + +"Go with him--he find boat." + +Mr. Perkins seemed to form an exalted idea of his own usefulness by the +consciousness that he was the real guide for the time being, and he +stalked off like some leader of his clan. The apprehension that he was +misleading them was quieted by the confidence which the Mohawk showed in +his offer. + +"I don't think there's any Indians or Tories about here, and the Lord be +thanked," remarked the settler, who found it about impossible to hold +his tongue when it was once loosed; "but it will be well to act as if +there was danger at every turn now. I advise you all to do like me--and +that is, not to speak a word when on the way through the woods--for I +tell you that it is the easiest thing in the world to let a whole tribe +know your poking round--" + +"Be still!" struck in the Mohawk, evidently angered, where the others +were only amused. "Talk too much!" + +This peremptory summons to put a check to his clatter was accepted in +the most philosophic manner by the individual for whom the command was +intended. + +"That's what I have always maintained," he said. "People are ever +inclined to use their tongues more than they ought." + +"Is your gun loaded?" asked Lena-Wingo, in a more considerate manner. + +"Yes. I have got a double charge in her." + +Thereupon the Indian whispered to Ned Clinton and Jo Minturn to drop +quietly behind, doing it in such a way that their disappearance would +not be noticed by their vaunting leader. The hint was acted upon and +within five minutes from the time it was given, Mr. Perkins was +conducting only the red scout through the forest, while he supposed the +three were directly in the rear of him, awed and speechless by the +stunning observations he was continually making for their benefit. + +"As I was about to remark when you interrupted me," continued the +loquacious settler, "there is no fault more frequent than that of using +the tongue when it should be permitted to rest, and the Lord be thanked +that weakness can never be laid to my charge. When Mrs. Perkins and me +was a-coming to our retreat in the woods, she was so inclined to talk +that I had to admonish her several times it was likely to get us into +trouble. But law me! who ever heard of a handsome young lady that would +take any advice about talking? Mrs. Perkins is very sensitive on that +subject, and she chose to disregard what I said, and what was the +consequence? Why, my friends--it wasn't five--certainly not ten--minutes +after that, while we were picking our way along as best we could--What's +that?" + +The settler paused in his walk and talk, like one who was suddenly +apprised that he was on the brink of some peril. + +"What's that?" he repeated in a whisper, turning his head toward the +Mohawk, who was dimly discernible in the gloom. + +"Iroquois Indian look for you." + +"Good heavens and earth! You don't think so, do you?" fairly gasped the +man, trembling with affright. + +"He Indian--he hear you talk--he come look for you." + +"Oh, heaven! It won't do for me to stay here," whispered the poor +fellow, beginning a cautious retreat that brought him into collision +with the Mohawk, who was standing perfectly still, as if listening for +something that would tell him what the real danger was. + +Lena-Wingo threw him off with such force that he stumbled forward upon +his hands and knees. + +"What the blazes are you doing?" demanded the indignant Perkins, +scrambling to his feet. "What's the use of knocking a feller over that +way?" + +By this time he was erect and gazing, or rather glaring, back into the +gloom, as if to make sure where his man was standing and then demolish +him. But, to his amazement, his man was not to be seen; he had +fled,--driven away, as the settler believed, by the fear of the other +Indians that were so near at hand. Perkins was silent for a moment, not +knowing what he should do. Then he called the name of the Mohawk in a +cautious tone: + +"Hello! Leaner-Winger, where are you?" + +But the silence gave no token, and he pronounced the name of Ned, Jo and +Rosa in turn, without any further success. + +"They've all left me," he muttered angrily. "All of them together +haven't the courage that I have alone. Wall, I can get along without +them if they can without me; but if there are Indians, I'll bet they'll +be sorry they gave me the slip. It ain't every party that's lucky enough +to have a man of my experience and skill and courage to help them out of +trouble--blazes!" + +The bravery of the settler, which had been growing during the silence +succeeding the first alarm, suddenly collapsed when his ear caught a +sound, precisely as if some one was stealing over the leaves toward him. +There must be real danger after all! + +"Who's there?" called Perkins, in a shiver. "If you don't answer I'll +shoot." + +Nevertheless, no answer was evoked by such a threat and the settler made +up his mind that if he could not effect an orderly retreat he must make +some kind of a fight. Accordingly, he peered ahead in the darkness, +seeking a view of the crouching redskin, with the purpose of giving him +the whole charge of the musket. + +"I hope there ain't more than one of them, for if there happens to be," +he said to himself, "I ain't likely to get a chance to reload before +they come down on me. It was an infernal mean piece of business in that +crowd to sneak off that way and leave me in the lurch just when I was +likely to need their help." + +While he was muttering in his endless fashion, he was still retreating +as stealthily as possible, hoping to get far enough off from the +dangerous spot to give himself a chance to make a run for some safe +concealment. He had taken only a step or two, when he was hailed from +somewhere in the gloom ahead. + +"Stop, white man, or me take scalp!" + +The settler paused at this fearful summons and his knees smote together. + +"Wh-wh-what do yo-yo-you want?" he stammered, hardly conscious of what +he was saying. + +"Want your scalp, white man." + +"Thunderation! I hain't got any! My wife pulled out all my hair the +first week we were married. I'm bald-headed, so what's the--" + +"Stop!" broke in the voice of the hidden Indian, who seemed to know that +he was trying to steal away. + +"Well, what do you want?" asked the victim, showing a disposition to +argue the matter. + +"Want your scalp! Come up--hand it to me." + +This was more than flesh and blood could stand. With a howl of terror +the settler whirled around and dashed into the depths of the forest, +never pausing long enough to notice that the voice which addressed such +terrifying words to him was that of Lena-Wingo, the Mohawk. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +ON THE RIVER. + + +After the unceremonious flight of Mr. Perkins, the whites gathered +around the Mohawk and expressed a fear that their little joke had +resulted in the loss of the boat which the frightened settler was about +to place in their possession. But the Indian assured them there was no +loss on that account, as he knew the precise point where, if there was +any boat within reach, it would be found. He proved the truth of what he +said by leading them to the shore of the river, where, sure enough, the +very thing for which they were looking was discovered. + +"I feel like forgiving Ike for all those tremendous yarns he told us," +said Clinton, when the prize was found. + +"Well, I don't think he has suffered any harm beyond a good scaring, +which he deserved," added Rosa, who enjoyed the discomfiture of the +settler as much as did the Mohawk himself. + +When they came to examine the vessel more carefully, however, there was +some disappointment; for, instead of being a neat, clean canoe, like the +one in which the girl had spent a portion of the day, it was a very +ordinary structure, known along the rivers of the eastern part of the +country as a "scow," and which under any circumstances was incapable of +any speed. It was not propelled in the same manner as a canoe, the only +implement being a long pole, so that if they should happen to get beyond +their depth, they would be totally at sea. The only good quality it +appeared to possess was that it was perfectly tight,--a quality not +often seen in crafts of its class,--and the bottom was without a drop of +water. Ned and Jo were so disappointed in the boat that they proposed, +in the same breath, that they should look further before making the +attempt to reach the other side. + +"Suppose we were seen by Colonel Butler or any of his men," said Jo. "We +would be at their mercy. It strikes me as very likely that we may +encounter them, and what will we do, with nothing but a pole to push the +old thing through the water?" + +"I am of the same opinion," said Ned. "It will be a hard task to work +our passage over, any way, not to mention the danger of being seen by +some of the Iroquois. What do you think, Rosa?" + +"I don't fancy a voyage in such a vessel; but the river is not very +wide, and I am afraid that if we stop to hunt up another, to-morrow +morning will find us on this side of the Susquehanna." + +While these words were passing between the three, the Mohawk stood +somewhat apart, silent, grim, and listening. He appeared interested in +what was said, but showed no inclination to say anything until directly +appealed to. + +"Are you satisfied to trust yourself in such a craft?" asked Jo, as he +faced the silent one. "Tell us what you think of it." + +They were now entirely out of the forest, so that the faint light of the +moon enabled them to see each other's faces quite well. When Lena-Wingo +was appealed to, it was natural that the others should look him full in +the face and, as they did so, each saw the old grin with which they were +becoming so familiar. + +"Lena-Wingo say nothing," was the unexpected reply of their guide, who +still leaned on the pole as if waiting for the others to finish their +discussion and enter the boat. + +"But you must say something," persisted Jo; "you don't suppose we are +going to let our haste to cross blind us to the means we use." + +"If want to go over t'other side, Lena-Wingo push over--if don't want to +go in boat, Lena-Wingo wait and get t'other boat." + +This answer was hardly more satisfactory than the first, and Jo refused +to accept it as an answer at all. + +"We aren't going to let you get out that way," continued the young +scout; "we want a reply to the question I put to you." + +Without relaxing the broad grin on his painted face, the Mohawk said: + +"Lena-Wingo take over in this boat, if want to go." + +Jo was half angry, and was on the point of saying something impatient, +when his sister interfered. + +"Lena-Wingo has answered your question, Jo; he says that he will take us +across in this boat, if we want him to, and I'm sure that is as plain +an answer as any one could ask for." + +"It isn't as clear as I want, but if you are satisfied I'm certain that +Ned and I are also, and have nothing more to say." + +"I am not afraid to trust myself in this boat with him, for I am +convinced he wouldn't undertake it if he wasn't confident he could +accomplish the voyage. So go ahead, Lena-Wingo, for there has been so +much delay that we'll never get across if we wait much longer." + +This settled the question, and the preparations for the embarkation +followed immediately. The scow was shoved off a little from the shore, +so that the combined weight would not make it too difficult to move it. +Then Rosa took her place in the furthest part, and her brother and lover +did the same. Lena-Wingo waited till all had arranged themselves, when +he forced the craft clear of the land, and sprang lightly into it, as it +was still moving away into the stream. + +The handling of a pole is not an occupation to which the Indians, as a +general thing, are trained, and it was not to be expected that the +Mohawk would display anything like the skill which he possessed in the +management of the paddle. But Lena-Wingo was one of those individuals, +occasionally seen, who seem to take naturally to any kind of physical +exercise, and he controlled the rather awkward implement in a way that +excited more than one commendatory remark from the two youths who were +watching him. + +This species of craft is intended for water close to the land, and +always where it is shallow, so that the redman was under a disadvantage, +even with all his skill. As the pole was long enough to touch the bottom +in any portion of the stream, there was no fear that he would not reach +the other shore, provided he was not disturbed by his enemies; but when +his companions reflected on what might take place, in case they were +forced to resort to anything like a contest with the Iroquois, they +could not but shudder, and regret that the start was made. + +They had hardly left the land behind them when, as if by a common +impulse, all three of the whites turned their heads and gazed doubtfully +at the shore they were approaching. In the gloom of the night it could +not be seen at all, a dark wall seeming to shut it from view. As the +water deepened, the current became swifter and the task of managing the +unwieldly craft more difficult, though it was hard to see how any one +could have done better than the Mohawk. + +It was impossible to cross in anything like a direct line, and it was +found that they were drifting rapidly down stream. Still, Lena-Wingo +persevered in his calm, unexcited way until the middle of the river was +nearly reached, when it struck both the young scouts that it was hardly +the thing for them to sit idle in the boat while he was toiling so +manfully to work his way over. Ned whispered to Jo that he meant to take +a hand at the pole. + +"Do so," whispered his friend back again, "and when you are tired, I +will try it, for it will tire us all pretty well before we make the +other shore. I am sure you can do as well as he." + +Ned arose at once, and stepping across the length of the swaying craft, +reached out his hand for the pole. + +"Let me help you, Jack; there is no need of wearying yourself out when +we are doing nothing." + +Ned expected that the Mohawk would refuse to let him interfere, but, to +his surprise, he assented at once. + +"Take him--he ain't a paddle," replied the redman, passing the implement +over to him. + +"You are right on that point," laughed the youth as he accepted it from +him, and almost immediately found the truth of the declaration verified +in his own experience. + +They were in deeper water than they supposed, the depth having increased +very rapidly in the last few minutes. But Clinton went at the work +manfully, with the determination to do all he could for the "good of the +cause." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +AN UNFAVORABLE OMEN. + + +Ned pressed the pole into the bottom of the river, which was so far +below that only a few feet of the stick remained above the surface, and +he was forced to lean over the side of the craft to secure any leverage. +Any one who has tried it knows that it is next to impossible to +accomplish much under similar circumstances, and the young scout was of +the opinion that he was not making any progress at all toward the other +shore. + +"We are in the deepest part," said Jo, with a view of encouraging him. + +"And it looks as if we were going to stay there," replied Ned, straining +and pushing at his work. + +"This deep part must be very narrow, and you'll soon be over it." + +"That's the trouble," said his friend, with a laugh, "I am over it, and +don't see that there is much prospect of my getting anywhere else." + +Still he worked and toiled at the greatest possible disadvantage, the +swaying of the boat frequently causing it to baffle all his efforts to +move onward. Several times, when he braced his shoulders, the craft +would sag against the pole with such force as almost to wrench it from +his grasp. + +"Keep heart," called out Jo. "I think you are gaining." + +"In which way?" + +"We're a few inches nearer the southern shore than we were--" + +"When we started," interrupted Ned, showing a very modest estimate of +his own abilities in the way of managing the craft. + +Jo rose and went to the side of his friend, hoping that he might be of +assistance, for he clearly needed something of the kind. + +"Let me take hold," said he, "or we are stuck, as sure as you live." + +"I don't see how you can be of any help to me," answered Ned, who would +have been glad enough to receive it, if there was any direction in which +it could be applied. "You notice the trouble is that it so deep just +here, and the current so strong, that it bothers a fellow amazingly. +Now, if you will get overboard and push the stern you will do some +good, but I don't see that you are going to amount to anything in any +other way." + +"Then I rather calculate that I won't amount to anything at all," was +the sensible conclusion of the other, as he returned to his place beside +his sister and the Mohawk. + +There was reason to believe that the labors of Ned Clinton were not +entirely in vain, even though they were not encouraging. The boat was +certainly progressing, and the height of the pole above the water showed +that the depth was less by a few inches than before. + +It must continue to diminish, and as it did so, the boatman would gain, +in a corresponding degree, his control of the craft. A few minutes after +this the truth became apparent to Ned himself, and he toiled all the +harder, until he regained, in a great degree, his mastery over the scow. + +"Whew!" he exclaimed, as he paused a moment to catch breath. "I feel +like giving a hurrah for me!" + +"You deserve a great deal of credit," said Rosa, "I thought several +times you had undertaken something more than you could accomplish. But +you stuck to it bravely, and if it was only safe, I should like to hear +a cheer for you." + +"Very well; we'll consider it given." + +"If you wait much longer with that pole doing nothing," added Rosa, +looking down stream as she spoke, "I think we'll arrive opposite the +fort, where some of the Iroquois will be sure to see us." + +Once more the pole was thrust against the bottom, and immediately the +craft responded to the impulse, and all felt high hopes of making the +other bank in a few minutes. + +While the light talk was going on, the Mohawk was scanning the shore +they were approaching, for it was all-important that they should strike +it at some point where none of their enemies could see them. Several +times he hushed his companions when they were talking in too +unrestrained a manner, for the sound of anything can be heard a long +distance over the water on a still summer night, and there was danger of +being betrayed in that way. The party had advanced so far by this time, +that the outline of the bank was dimly discerned ahead of them. It was +nothing more than a heavy wall of shadow, showing where the trees came +down to the edge of the water, but it was the kind of shore they wanted +to see. + +"Let me take a hand," said Jo, as he stepped up beside his friend. "You +must be pretty well tired out by this time." + +"I can take the old scow to the land as well as not, but, as you haven't +had anything to do since we started, I'll let you try it awhile." + +Accordingly, Jo pressed the pole against the hard bottom of the +Susquehanna, and the progress continued without interruption until some +half a dozen rods were passed, when operations were suddenly checked by +the Mohawk uttering his warning aspiration: + +"'Sh!" + +This was as effective as if he had called out in a loud voice that the +Iroquois were upon them. Jo paused on the instant, and like the rest +glanced at the Indian to learn what it meant. Up to that moment all, +with the exception of him who managed the pole, were seated on the +gunwale, but the Mohawk, at the instant of uttering the exclamation, +rose to his feet, and was seen to be looking toward the land which was +their destination. Since this placed his back toward his friends, they +could only gaze in the same direction in quest of the cause of his +alarm. + +At first they saw nothing, but in a few seconds the explanation came in +the shape of a light, which resembled a torch carried in the hands of +some one who was walking along the edge of the water. As this light +showed itself near the spot at which they were aiming, it was high time +they halted. The whole party, gazing in the direction of the strange +illumination, made an interesting tableau while drifting down the river. +The torch--if such it was--continued visible but a few seconds, when it +vanished as if plunged into the water. + +Here was another unexpected interference with their plans, and the old +feeling of doubt came to the heart of Rosa Minturn, when she recalled +the extraordinary delay that had attended their attempts to get to Fort +Wilkesbarre, and now when her hopes were high, and they were actually in +sight of the shore, this mysterious light had come to warn them off. + +Lena-Wingo did not stand idle long when they were confronted by such +danger, but turning about, stepped hastily back to where Jo was +awaiting the word of command, and took the pole from him. + +"Must go back--Iroquois heard us coming--watch for us." + +More than one heart sank as these words were uttered, for all felt that +it was a bad omen thus to turn back, when they were so near the land +they were seeking. There was another fact which was equally apparent, +and which caused them no very pleasant reflection. They had very likely +betrayed themselves by their own indiscretion, in talking in tones that +reached the ears of those who were watching for them. No one was to +blame, therefore, but themselves for the unfortunate situation in which +they were placed. + +Jo yielded the pole without a murmur, and the Mohawk applied it with a +power and skill that made the retrogression much faster than was the +progress in the other direction. When the deepest portion of the channel +was reached, Lena-Wingo used the implement with a great deal more +cleverness than Ned Clinton had displayed, and it was crossed in +considerably less time than before. Then, as the more shallow water +came, and the craft was quite manageable, the Mohawk stopped work, and +holding the pole motionless and motioning his friends not to speak or +move, he listened, they also using their eyes and ears to the best of +their ability. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +FORCED BACKWARD. + + +Ear and eye were strained to catch sound or sight that would tell +something of their enemies. All, even the Mohawk, expected to hear the +ripple of the paddles of the Iroquois in pursuit, but the stillness of +the tomb was not more profound than that in which they were now +enfolded. Probably a half mile below them another light was seen +shining, and almost directly opposite was a similar one. It looked as if +the Iroquois were signaling to one another; and, if it so happened that +this scow, with its occupants, was the object of these communications, +the latter might well feel anxiety about their situation. + +Lena-Wingo seemed puzzled to find that there was no evidence of his +enemies being immediately behind them, for he was confident that the +light which had arrested the forward movement of the boat was not only +in the hands of one of the Iroquois, but was intended as a signal to +apprise others that the fugitives had been discovered, and the time had +come to close in upon them. What, therefore, meant this profound +stillness, at a time when the sounds of the most active pursuit ought to +have been heard? Could it mean, after all, that the light was an +accident, and the redmen had seen nothing of the fugitives stealing in +upon them? While the Mohawk was revolving the matter in his mind, Rosa +Minturn uttered a suppressed exclamation: + +"See there!" + +It so happened, at that moment, that she was the only one of the party +gazing in the direction of the shore which they had originally left, and +she alone made the discovery that instantly turned all eyes in that +direction. Exactly at the spot where they would have been landed by the +Mohawk--allowing for the inevitable dropping down stream--was still +another light, resembling the first that had startled them. + +This was complicating matters, indeed, and the alarm of the whites +became greater than at any time since starting. It looked as if they had +not only been detected, but that the Iroquois had quietly perfected +their preparations for capturing them. The Mohawk, as was his +peculiarity under all circumstances, was as cool as ever, and he looked +back and forth as if not particularly desirous of learning who were the +torch-bearers. + +"Don't stand up," he whispered, fearing that some of his companions +would rise to their feet in their excitement. + +There was a possibility that the fugitives had not been detected, though +the probabilities were against such a hopeful fact. It would have seemed +to an uninterested spectator that if the Iroquois were aware that the +party whom they were seeking had embarked, they would have kept them +under surveillance until they learned where they were likely to land, +and then would have made preparations to capture them as they left the +boat. Such was the simplest plan, and it would have been more effective +than any other. That they had neglected to do so was ground for the hope +of the Mohawk that he and his friends were still undiscovered. + +It was equally probable that the redmen on the southeastern shore, +having learned that their game was coming into their hands, had signaled +the fact to their allies across the Susquehanna, so that they might be +prepared for the retrograde movement which was actually made. Under the +circumstances, there was but one thing remaining for the Mohawk to do, +and that was to drift with the current until below the point where the +last light had shown itself, and then to make an effort to land. +Fortunately, the woods were dense at this place, so that if they could +secure a foothold once more, there was a good prospect that this natural +protection could be turned to account. And this was what the guide now +attempted to do. + +Stooping low in the boat, so that his head and shoulders barely appeared +above the gunwale, he held the pole ready to use any instant it might be +required, and patiently awaited the moment when the flat-bottomed craft +should reach the point desired. The excitement was the more intense +because none dared move, and all were in a state of expectancy that made +the suspense of the most trying nature. It seemed to the whites as they +peeped cautiously over the low gunwale of the scow, that the moon threw +double the light that it did when they were in the middle of the river +and anxious to gain a view of the land they were seeking to reach. Again +and again Rosa was sure she saw shadowy figures stealing along in the +darkness, watching them with the keenness of so many lynxes, and quite +as frequently she was equally sure she detected stealthy movements by +the sound of the moccasin-covered feet on the bank. + +Before they were a dozen feet below the point where the light was seen, +it vanished from sight and the gloom enveloped them on every hand. While +this was taken as another ominous sign by the whites, the Mohawk did not +accept it as such. If the torches were meant as signals, nothing was +more natural than that, having performed their duty, they should be +withdrawn. The four parties in the scow maintained their cramped +positions until the boat was a hundred yards below where the alarming +light was seen. At this time, the Mohawk rose partly to his feet still +keeping the greater portion of his body concealed, and the pole was +carefully thrust over the side into the water. + +No noise accompanied the cautious movement, but the others noticed that +the boat felt the impulse at once. Lena-Wingo was using it for its +legitimate purpose, and was gradually, but none the less certainly, +working in toward the land. It seemed to the others that such a +proceeding was dangerous in the highest degree, for the boat, on account +of its size, was likely to attract attention. It was impossible that +the others should keep their own persons out of sight when the situation +was so critical. Ned and Jo closed their hands upon their rifles, ready +to use them at an instant's notice, for to them nothing was more +probable than that they would be called upon to resist an attack as soon +as, if not before, they placed their feet on the shore. + +When they were within a rod or so, the Mohawk ceased work with the pole, +and devoted himself to listening for a short time. Unlike the others, he +did not confine his observations to a single spot, but peered toward +every point of the compass, on the watch for some canoe creeping down +upon them from the other side of the stream. His keen vision was unable +to detect anything upon the surface of the stream itself, but he saw +once more the light that had caused them to turn back from landing. It +was in very nearly the same spot, too, where it was first seen, and, +what was more, it was moving precisely as if intended to convey a hasty +message to parties on the opposite side the stream. + +Lena-Wingo studied the action closely, for he was capable of reading +many of the signs of the Iroquois unknowable to others, and there was a +chance for him to gain important information. The torch was not merely +vibrating as if carried by a person walking along the margin of the +river, but it was swung round in a circle, slowly and impressively, +beginning in this fashion, and increasing until it resembled a fiery +wheel. Suddenly it disappeared, and all was darkness and stillness again +on both sides of the Susquehanna. + +"The whites and the Mohawk scout are on the river, and will try to +return to the shore which they left." + +This was the interpretation of Lena-Wingo, and it was about impossible +for him to make any mistake. The retrogression of the fugitives had been +detected, and the confederates on the bank toward which they were +working their way were notified to be prepared for their coming. +Certainly it was high time that the little party in the scow looked to +what they were doing. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +NEW PERIL. + + +With the hostile Iroquois on both sides the Susquehanna, and the awkward +scow near the shore, it will be seen that the situation of the +fugitives, striving to reach the protection of Wilkesbarre, was not of +an encouraging nature. The Mohawk was confident that he had read the +meaning of the waving torch aright, and that if he expected to reach the +shore immediately behind him, it must be done at once. + +The signal light was scarcely extinguished when he rose to a stooping +position, and applied the pole with all the vigor at his command. It was +astonishing to see the speed he was able to force out of the unwieldy +structure. The foam actually curled away from the bow, and in a few +seconds it ran plump against the bank and stuck fast. + +"Now is our time," said Ned, as he caught the hand of Rosa, who sprang +up at the same instant with her brother. + +"Yes; it won't do to wait a second," added Jo. + +"'Sh! move fast--don't make noise," put in the Mohawk. + +In a twinkling the entire party had landed, and hurried away from the +spot, expecting some of the Iroquois would be there within a very short +time. They were right in this supposition, and were none too soon in +getting away from the place. The Mohawk led the way directly up stream, +keeping close to the shore, but still leaving enough space between them +and the water for the passage of a number of their enemies. + +It was certainly less than three minutes after the landing of the whites +that sounds around them were detected, proving that the redmen were +hastening to the spot. Their failure to be there when the landing took +place seemed to point to the conclusion that they must have failed to +keep track of the craft after receiving the notification from the allies +across the river. The faintest possible "'Sh!" from the Mohawk apprised +his companions that danger was close, and all came to an instant halt. +The sounds of the Iroquois moving near them were slight, but they told +the story as plainly as if the sunlight revealed every form. + +As might be expected, the Indians did not take long to find the scow +that had been abandoned by the fugitives. And when the craft was +discovered it told its own story. The nest was warm, but the bird had +flown. When the Iroquois realized this fact, they exchanged a few words, +which the Mohawk heard and understood, for they were in his own tongue. + +"We have come too late to find the pale faces," said one. + +"They have gone," replied another. "They are hiding in the woods, and we +shall not find them till to-morrow." + +"They cannot cross the big brook," continued one who seemed to be the +first speaker. "When the sun comes to light up the forest, then we will +take their trail and hunt them to their holes, and before the sun goes +down there shall not be a scalp left but on the head of the Flower of +the Woods." + +"And the traitor Lena-Wingo, what shall be done with him?" + +"His scalp shall be torn from his head and flung in his face. Then he +shall be taken to the towns of the Iroquois and tied to a tree, and left +till the birds pick out his eyes. The Iroquois women and children shall +dance around him, and laugh till his eyes are gone." + +This was interesting information to the individual referred to, but it +affected him little. He had heard too many such threats before. + +"Lena-Wingo is cunning as the serpent that crawls in the grass," +continued the Iroquois, who were dissecting him in his own hearing. + +"You do not hear him move when he comes for his prey, or steals away +from the warriors that are hunting him." + +"But Brandt, the great chieftain, has sworn to take the scalp of +Lena-Wingo, and he will do it, unless the traitor runs away from so +great a warrior, as Brandt says he has run when he heard that he was +hunting for him." + +If ever there was an angry Indian, that one was Lena-Wingo, when he +heard these words. The thought of his running away from any one through +fear was a little more than he could stand with composure; and those who +were crouching around him in breathless stillness were surprised to hear +him shift his position and breathe hard, as though struggling to +suppress his emotions. Could they have seen his face at that moment, +distorted as it was by passion, they would have been frightened at his +appearance. His hand clutched his knife and he was on the point of +stealing toward the warrior who had uttered the irritating untruth, when +he seemed to gain the mastery of himself--aided no doubt by the fact +that at the same instant his quick ear caught the sound of a paddle, so +faint that no one else heard it. He was on the alert in a second, for a +scheme flashed through his mind with the quickness of lightning. + +The faint noise showed that several new-comers had arrived on the scene, +and naturally a change in the current of conversation followed. The wish +of Lena-Wingo was to learn where these later arrivals came from--whether +from the other shore or whether they were prowling up and down the bank, +where they were now grouped. To the whites, who could hear every word +uttered, the talk of course was incomprehensible; but the loudness of +the tones, as well as the rapidity and general jangle, led them to +believe they were angry about something that had taken or had failed to +take place, and that had produced a quarrel between them. Such was the +fact, and Lena-Wingo listened to the high words with the hope that they +would lead to blows, in which there would be a good chance of the one +who had slurred his courage receiving his deserts. + +Those in the canoe, it seemed, had been stealing up and down the shore, +on the alert to detect the departure of the fugitives, but, from some +cause or other, failed to do their duty, and they must have been quite +a way off at the time the Mohawk put out his awkward scow. The party on +shore were angry because of the failure, which was certainly a +discreditable one, and they were very ready to accuse their comrades of +being "squaws" on the war-path. The accused were equally ready to charge +the others with being "old women" for permitting the whites to land +under their noses, and to reach cover again. It would be hard to say +which of the companies was most to blame, and, as is the rule at such +times, each berated the other all the more on that account. The prospect +was promising for a deadly quarrel; but one or two in the party appeared +to be cool-headed, and they managed to quiet the rising storm, much to +the regret of the listening Mohawk. + +It being clear to all the Iroquois that Lena-Wingo was too cunning for +them, although he had failed in carrying his charge across the +Susquehanna, it was plain that all his enemies could do was to fix upon +a plan to retrieve their own slip. And so, in full hearing of the leader +of the fugitives, they discussed their different schemes. Lena-Wingo was +not long in learning that there were plenty of his enemies watching both +sides of the river, and that it was to be an undertaking of extreme +difficulty for him to cross with his friends. This did not lessen his +determination, but rather strengthened it, and he inwardly resolved that +he himself would place his three companions on the southeastern shore, +if Colonel Butler had his whole force of Indians and Tories arranged +along the bank to prevent it! + +The consultation between the Iroquois lasted all of half an hour, by +which time they had decided what to do. They would all land and scatter +up and down the river's margin, thus covering as much ground as +possible, and watch for the moment when the whites would come out of +their cover again. In other words, they meant to patrol the beach so +vigilantly that it would be out of the power of the fugitives to leave +their hiding-place without detection and capture. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. + + +All that could be done for a time by the fugitives was to maintain their +position and remain as quiet as the grave until the Indians moved from +their immediate vicinity. The prowling Iroquois were keen-witted, and +although they may have been careless at first, yet they were on the +lookout for the slightest indication of their enemies. Consequently, the +least movement at that time would have been pretty sure to tell them +that the whites, whom they would suppose were hiding somewhere in the +woods, were really close at hand, and within their power. Every one of +the fugitives realized this, and did not stir while the consultation was +going on. + +By some means or other--Ned could never explain how--he had reached out +his hand, at the moment they took these positions, and grasped that of +Rosa Minturn. It seemed to have been one of those instinctive actions +that are natural under certain peculiar circumstances. And so, during +the better part of an hour, he enjoyed the sweet pleasure of feeling +that delicate little hand nestling within his own. + +At last, when the council of war was finished, the soft rustling among +the leaves and undergrowth showed that the Iroquois were engaged in +carrying out the programme they had just arranged among themselves. They +were separating, and the danger now was that in leaving the spot they +would stumble upon the whites themselves who were so near them. Nothing +could be done to lessen this danger on the part of the fugitives, the +only thing remaining for them being to continue the deathlike stillness +until the peril was gone. Lena-Wingo was well satisfied that the +Iroquois did not suspect the proximity of the whites, for the act of +taking refuge so near their enemies was scarcely to be expected. They +would not look, therefore, for them in such a place, and it was a matter +of accident or providential interference that would carry the Iroquois +beyond without learning of the presence of the fugitives. All the +latter--even Rosa herself--understood this danger, and the succeeding +few minutes were exceedingly trying. + +The faint, catlike motion of the redskins proved they were very close, +and likely to come closer any second; and if they happened to turn to +the left but a few feet, it was sure to precipitate the collision that +must be disastrous to the patriots. More than once Ned Clinton was +certain a warrior was crouching so near him that he could touch him by +reaching out his hand. The young scout was possibly correct in his +surmise, for Rosa, who was next to him, was equally sure of the presence +of an enemy, the supposition, in her case, extending even further. Her +eyes were fixed upon the spot where she believed she could detect a dark +form stealing along on the ground, so near that she fancied he must +touch her dress. If she could see the Indian, she knew the eyes of the +warrior were keen enough to discover her presence, from which some idea +of the painful nature of her situation may be ascertained. + +The senses of the girl were preternaturally acute, and still more, she +was no less convinced that she could hear the breathing of the savage as +he crept slowly forward. Fortunately for her, this fearful strain upon +her nerves could last but a few minutes. If the Indian should come to a +halt, she would take it as evidence that he had discovered the presence +of the fugitives, and she would give the alarm to her friends, but so +long as he kept moving, ever so slowly, there was cause to hope he was +unaware of how close he was to the prize for which they were hunting. +The dark form gradually passed from view, and a few minutes later the +straining vision of Rosa was unable to discover anything to excite +alarm, although her ears, for several minutes after, apprised her that +some of the dreaded figures were still making their way through the +undergrowth dangerously near to her and her friends. + +It was, perhaps, a half hour more from the conclusion of the conference +of the Iroquois that they got so far away from the spot that the +fugitives felt as though the peril had lifted so that they could venture +to draw a deep breath and move a cramped limb. However, all waited a +while longer before they dared speak in the most cautious whisper, it +being considered the duty of the whites to wait until Lena-Wingo took +the initiative. Suddenly, in the gloom, it was noticed that the tall +Mohawk was standing perfectly erect, as though looking at something in +the direction of the river. He held this singular position a few +minutes, and then knelt to the earth and applied his ear to the ground. +This was one of his favorite methods when in the immediate vicinity of a +foe, and it rarely failed to add to his knowledge of the movements of +his enemies. While he was thus occupied, his friends patiently waited +until he should be through and ready to direct them what to do. It did +not take him long; for, according to the plans he had heard agreed upon, +every minute only added to the difficulty of the task he had taken upon +himself. + +"Stay here," he whispered, his words being the first uttered since they +crouched down in this spot. "Lena-Wingo go way--soon come back--don't +make noise." + +Every one wondered what the errand could be that should take the Mohawk +away at this critical moment, and Rosa ventured to ask him. + +"Why do you leave us, Lena-Wingo, when there is danger all around?" + +"Won't go far--Lena-Wingo soon be back--stay right here." + +"We've been staying now till we're tired of it, and if you can find +other quarters, I'm sure I will be better satisfied, for one." + +"Soon do so," responded the scout, and without any more explanation he +began a cautious withdrawal from their presence. All were desirous of +knowing what he was after, and they watched him as well as they could. +This, of course, was only for an instant, but it was long enough to see +that he was going in the direction of the river, from which they had +retreated in so much haste. This fact led Clinton to suspect the true +errand of the Mohawk the instant he started. He said nothing of his +belief to his friends, however, as he had no wish to make a blunder, and +the truth would soon become apparent. All were so impressed with the +gravity of the situation, that only a few syllables passed between them +during the absence of their leader. + +As the Indian was not to be seen the three listened with the keenest +attention, hoping to gain something of the purpose of the Indian. But +the silence could not have been more profound had they been the only +living creatures within a thousand miles. They could detect the soft +flow of the Susquehanna, only a few yards from where they were hiding in +the undergrowth. Once, too, the sound of a rifle broke upon their ears, +but it seemed to be a full mile away, in the depths of the forest, and +gave them no alarm, its only effect being to make the solemn stillness +more solemn and impressive, and to inspire a feeling of loneliness that +was almost painful. Once or twice a ripple of the water was heard, such +as might be supposed to come from the movement of an enemy stealing +through the current, but each of the three knew it was not caused by +friend or foe. They had noticed the same thing many a time before, and +knew it was caused by a drooping branch or projecting root, acted upon +by the sluggish current which caused it to dip in and out of the stream. + +And so that which might have excited apprehension in another caused no +alarm on the part of those whose experience in the woods had taught them +better. At the end of ten minutes, perhaps, Ned Clinton detected a +slight rustle at his side, and turning his head to learn the cause, +found that Lena-Wingo had returned. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A DELICATE AND DANGEROUS TASK. + + +Without using the broken language of the Mohawk scout, his mission may +be explained. While the conference between the Iroquois was under way, +he detected sounds that told him a canoe had arrived among +them--confirmed immediately after by the sound of the quarrel already +referred to. The instant he became aware of this, he resolved to obtain +possession of the boat and appropriate it to his own use. Every reason +urged him to do this. One of the most powerfully exciting causes was the +wish--natural to the white as well as the red man--to outwit his +enemies. To capture their canoe would be a brilliant winding up of the +shrewd escape he had made from the parties on the water and land. +Besides this, it had become plain that the only way to get across the +Susquehanna was by using a craft equal in every respect to those +employed by his enemies. + +To venture out again in the scow would be to surrender to the Iroquois, +and, as sharp as was the Mohawk, he could not but wonder that they were +enabled, as it was, to get back after putting out from shore, with all +the chances so against them. He supposed the redmen would leave the +boat lying where it was, while they scattered up and down the shore to +keep watch for the fugitives, should they attempt to repeat the +embarkation. As the scow was moored near to where the canoe was drawn +up, it was to be expected that the Iroquois would hold that place and +its vicinity under close watch. This rendered the task of the Mohawk one +of the most difficult in the world, and all the more relished on that +account. Suffice it to say that he succeeded in reaching the spot, where +he found one of the best canoes of his experience resting lightly +against the bank. A further examination of the craft told the Mohawk +that the boat was his own, having been stolen from a place up stream +where he had left it, not suspecting it was in danger. + +Lena-Wingo was rather pleased than otherwise to learn this, for +it was proof that, if he could secure possession of the little +vessel--abundantly able to contain all the party--he would have +the one of all others which he could manage with his own consummate +skill. The paddle was there, only awaiting a claimant. But in making his +reconnoissance, Lena-Wingo ascertained that an Iroquois sentinel was +stationed within a dozen feet, where he was using his eyes and ears as +only a redskin knows how to use those organs. It was necessary to get +the canoe from beneath his nose before there was any prospect of escape, +and the question was as to how this should be done. + +The Mohawk, with his usual perception, saw that the boat could not be +entered at the point where it now lay, and he so informed his friends. +His plan was to move it some twenty feet or more down stream, where it +would be beyond the range of the sentinel's vision. That accomplished, +he looked upon the rest as a small matter. He instructed them, +therefore, to steal as quietly as they could for about the distance +named down stream, and there await him. This being understood, they +began the cautious movement, while he went back to the still more +difficult task. + +It was an easy matter for the three whites to do as they were bid +without betraying themselves, and it was done in perfect silence, after +which they resumed their waiting, watching, and listening. When +Lena-Wingo reached the river-side again, he found the Iroquois at his +station, where he would be likely to detect the first design upon the +canoe. Then how was the latter to be used by the red scout? There was a +method that would have suggested itself to any one. That was the very +obvious plan of stealing up to the unconscious sentinel, and putting him +out of the way so effectually that he could never disturb them more. + +The reason why the warrior hesitated to employ the method which his +enemies would have been only too glad to use against him was in +obedience to that strange forbearance in his composition, and which +rendered him reluctant to shed blood, unless in legitimate warfare. +There was not a particle of doubt that he could have stolen up to the +guard and dispatched him before he could make a single outcry or apprise +his companions of what was going on. This would leave the coast clear +for him to take the whites aboard and use his own leisure to reach the +other shore. But the scheme he had in his mind would leave the sentinel +unharmed, while its after effect would be almost equal to death itself. +This plan was to steal the canoe away without attracting the notice of +the Iroquois--a proceeding which would be such a disgrace to the warrior +that he was likely to fare ill at the hands of his comrades, who were +exasperated over the failures already made. + +His course of action being decided upon, the Mohawk went at it with his +accustomed caution and promptness. His rifle had been left in the hands +of Ned Clinton so that his arms were untrammeled, and he entered the +water a short distance below where the boat was lying against the bank. +Fortunately, the stream was deeper than he anticipated, rising to his +waist when he was within a yard of the land. This gave him the facility +he desired, as by stooping he was able to hide all but his head, which +was so placed that the canoe, resting high upon the surface, was brought +between him and the sentinel. This concealed him from the sight of the +warrior, and gave him the shelter so indispensable. It then required but +a minute to make his way through the water to the stern of the canoe, +which he cautiously grasped. + +All depended upon the skill with which he managed this part of the +scheme. If the Iroquois should suspect any such attempt, the suspicion +was sure to defeat it. After placing his hand upon the rear gunwale, he +paused for fully a minute and listened. The stillness remained +undisturbed, and it looked as if the way were clear for the daring +attempt. At the very instant that Lena-Wingo began to exert a gently +increasing pressure, his keen sense of hearing told him the sentinel was +moving, and the scout paused before the frail boat had yielded to the +force. + +The Iroquois was approaching the canoe, as if he suspected mischief. + +The boat itself was no quieter than the Mohawk, as he listened to the +advance of his enemy. He could tell what the latter was doing as well as +if he were looking directly at him. He knew he was picking his way to +where the boat was lying, and a minute after, had paused within arm's +length of the same. There he stood while the Mohawk awaited his next +move. + +If the sentinel should step into the craft, it would show that he +intended to look over the stern, in which case the Mohawk held himself +ready to sink below the surface, coming up so far out in the stream that +he would be invisible. But if the Iroquois really suspected any such act +upon the part of the great enemy of his tribe, his fears were removed by +the utter silence. After waiting a little longer, he returned to his +former position with the same caution and silence as before. Lena-Wingo +hardly paused until he was out of the way, when he drew a little harder +upon the stern, and felt it slowly yielding to the force. A few more +minutes of undisturbed action, and he was sure of having the canoe just +where he wanted it! + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +IROQUOIS AGAINST IROQUOIS. + + +Slowly and evenly, as the shadow steals along the face of the dial, did +the Mohawk draw the canoe from its resting place on the dark bank of the +river. One might have stood and gazed directly at it for ten minutes +without suspecting what was going on, it being only when he compared its +situation with what it was a short time before that the difference was +likely to be noticed. If the Iroquois sentinel should be on the alert +for some such strategy on the part of the Mohawk, who was known to all +as one of the most cunning of his race, it would seem that the trick was +impossible. But there was every reason to hope that he did not suspect +it, as his action in returning to his first station after the brief +examination, showed, and the Mohawk acted on this belief. + +The retrograde movement, once started, was not abated till the boat was +drawn clear of the shore and floated free in the water. Then, without +shifting its position as regarded the bank itself, the motion was +continued down the current, until some eight or a dozen feet were +passed. The hopes of Lena-Wingo were high, for the fact that the +sentinel had failed to discover what was going on under his very eyes +indicated that his suspicions were turned in another direction. Even +should he detect the change of position on the part of the boat, there +was reason to hope he would attribute it to the action of the current, +for the motion of the craft was made to imitate such progression by the +cunning Mohawk. + +Something like half the distance was accomplished, when Lena-Wingo made +a change in his own position. Instead of remaining at the stern of the +canoe as he had done before, he changed to the side, so that he could +appear at the front or rear the moment the necessity arose. The reason +for this step was that he had progressed so far that he was determined +there should be no failure. The experiment had in his eyes been an +assured success. If the Iroquois should appear and attempt to interfere, +Lena-Wingo would meet him half way, and dispose of him for all time to +come. Fortunately for the sentinel, he seemed to be unusually obtuse +that night, and allowed the daring scheme to be carried out under his +very nose, without objection on his part. + +The motion of the canoe was not hastened in the least, but continued in +the same steady, uninterrupted manner till the point was reached where +the fugitives were anxiously awaiting the success of the plan of the +scout. The first indication the latter received of what was done, and +the approach of the Mohawk, was his cautious "'Sh!" uttered just loud +enough to reach their ears. Not one of the three had been able to detect +the slightest sound that indicated what the scout was doing, so +skillfully had he conducted the whole affair. Ned returned the almost +inaudible exclamation to apprise their friend that they were expecting +him. A minute later, the Mohawk appeared among them with the silence of +a shadow. + +"All here?" was his rather curious question. + +"All here," replied Ned. + +"Boat ready--come along--make no noise." + +The four stole forward after the manner of those who knew their lives +depended upon perfect silence, and they succeeded in reaching the side +of the stream without alarming the sentinel, who still held a position +dangerously near the fugitives. Rosa was the first to enter, and she +took her place in the extreme end, there being no difference between the +bow and stern of such a craft. Immediately after her came Ned, who +placed himself as close to her as possible. Then followed the Mohawk, +paddle in hand, Jo Minturn locating himself in the prow, so as to give +the Mohawk the best position in which to manage the craft, and to "trim +ship," as the expression goes. + +This was as the red scout wanted matters arranged; and when he grasped +the paddle it was with a greater confidence than he had felt at any time +during the night. But he had entered upon one of the most perilous +attempts conceivable, and he was sure the trick would be detected within +the succeeding five minutes. In fact, it was discovered in less than +that time; for he had no more than fairly dipped the oar in the water +than he heard a low, vibrating whoop from the spot where the Mohawk was +stationed. That sound, as Lena-Wingo well knew, meant danger, and was +intended as a signal for his companions to hasten to the spot--a signal +that was sure to be promptly obeyed when more than a half dozen were on +the alert and waiting for just such a call. It was so distinct that the +whites accepted it as evidence that their flight was discovered, and +pursuit was sure to follow. + +Rosa was much frightened, for she felt they had gone so far that they +could not return, and it was a question whether they would reach the +other side of the river in safety, or be captured on the stream itself, +with the probabilities in favor of the latter. Everything depended upon +the skill and sagacity of the Mohawk, who showed himself equal to the +occasion. At the same instant that the sound mentioned reached his ear, +he dipped his paddle deep into the water, and sent the canoe, with one +powerful sweep, several rods down the bank, keeping so close to the land +that the leaves of the overhanging limbs brushed the heads of the +occupants, and compelled them to duck their heads. This done, he allowed +the boat to rest, while he listened to learn what his enemies were +doing. The sounds that fell upon his ear told him the flight of the boat +had been detected, and there could be no doubt that the whole force of +Iroquois would be engaged in the hunt in the next few minutes. Without +speaking, he dipped the paddle again, and the canoe was driven as far +as before down the stream; but, in this instance, he did not permit it +to rest, continuing the process until he had gone fully a hundred yards +from his starting point. This done, he considered he had reached the +point where he could make a change in the direction, and he headed +boldly out into the river, aiming for the other shore, which had been +their destination so long, and which he was determined to make this +time. + +The skill with which he controlled and swayed the ashen blade was +wonderful. The night was still, without a breath of air stirring the +tree-tops, but the instant the boat left the cover of the bank, the +faces of the whites were swept as if by a gale. At that rate, the other +shore would be made in a very short time, and the action of the Mohawk +indicated that such was his purpose, guided, perhaps, by the hope that +it might be done before the alarm could reach those grouped on that +side. + +But they were as vigilant as the ones who had made the discovery of the +flight, and a whoop that came from some point ahead warned the Mohawk +that the passage was not to be as uneventful as he expected. The worst +of it was, the reply heard by all in the canoe came from immediately in +front, so that they had only to keep on in the direction in which they +were going to run straight into ambush. At this time the fugitives were +near the middle of the Susquehanna, the night being so dark that they +were invisible to any upon either shore, and they were hardly liable to +discovery unless some of their enemies should start out upon the river +in quest of them. It was obviously the duty of the Mohawk to hold that +position, and move up or down stream, as might seem best. The whites +supposed he would continue down the current, but, to their surprise, he +headed straight against it, and sped upward with astonishing speed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +AT LAST! + + +Up to that time the fugitives, although steadily drifting down stream, +seemed to keep directly in the way of the parties whom they were seeking +to avoid; for, no matter where they headed, or at what point they aimed, +they were sure to find some of the Iroquois waiting to receive them. It +looked, indeed, as if the redmen were shrewd enough to make allowance +for this fact, judging from the way the attempt turned out in each +instance. It was the purpose of Lena-Wingo, in heading up stream, to +break through this chain that seemed thrown around them, and there +appeared no other way of doing it. + +Neither to the right nor left turned he, but swinging his paddle +powerfully and noiselessly, he drove the deeply-laden canoe against the +current with a force that sent the water foaming from the prow, the soft +wash and rustle of the current being the only noise that marked this +bird-like flight. Going at such a rate, he did not need much time to +pass over considerable space, and he was still forging ahead in the same +swift fashion when he caught the sound of another paddle. This, then, +was proof that the pursuers did not care to wait till the fugitives +should land, but had sent some of their warriors out to search for them. + +Lena-Wingo recognized the sound as coming from the shore which he meant +to reach, but at some distance below them, which fact was proof of his +wisdom in taking the course he did. He kept up his flight without the +least cessation, and had every reason to hope that the Iroquois were +outwitted, when he was more angered than alarmed by hearing the sweep of +still another paddle--this time coming from a point above where he was, +but on the same side of the river as the former. The Iroquois were +making the hunt hotter than he anticipated. The Mohawk stopped paddling +and looked around in the gloom that shut down on every hand, for there +was cause to expect the appearance of other boats, and it was necessary +to watch where his own craft was going. + +"We have got along very well so far," said Jo, who, not having noticed +the evidence of their pursuit, supposed their friend had merely paused +to take his bearings. + +"Pretty well," assented the Mohawk, speaking in the lowest key and +scanning the stream in every direction. + +"Do you think they know where we are?" continued the young scout. + +"Know we on river--they find us." + +Upon hearing these alarming words, Rosa Minturn straightened up and +peered anxiously about, impelled thereto by the manner, more than the +utterance, of the leader. + +"I think I hear the sound of another paddle," she said in a whisper, +turning inquiringly to the Indian. + +"Yes, two boats on water; looking for us; maybe find us." + +"In which direction is this last one that Rosa noticed, and which I also +hear?" asked Ned Clinton, in the same guarded tone. + +Lena-Wingo answered by pointing toward the shore a little above a spot +opposite where they were lying in the stream. + +"Right there--he go 'bout--look for us." + +"Yes, and I see him, too!" added Rosa, the next instant. + +"There he come!" added the Mohawk, making the discovery at the same +moment. "Stoop down, quick! must not see you! Put head low down, so +can't see you--make no noise." + +His command was obeyed at once. The other canoe having approached near +enough to be seen itself, was sure to discover the boat. The heads of +Ned Clinton and of the brother and sister were instantly lowered, so +that they could not be seen from the outside, and they waited with +throbbing hearts for the issue. The occupants of the strange boat +descried the Mohawk almost as soon as he saw them, and as he expected +they headed straight toward him. The action of Lena-Wingo depended for +success on its very boldness, and he went at it with as much coolness +and self-possession as if failure was impossible. + +Lena-Wingo, being a Mohawk, was also an Iroquois, as much as if he were +a member of the Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, or Seneca branch of the +powerful confederation known as the Six Nations. His intention was to +assume the character of a genuine enemy of the white race, and to answer +whatever questions were put to him in a way to mislead their foes. +Still, this trick had been played so often by him, that it required all +the skill of which he was master. It was necessary also that he should +not permit the strange canoe to come too near, else the deception would +be detected. + +As the boat drew nigh, he kept up a slight movement of his paddle, which +caused the craft to glide in a slanting direction from the other. + +"Where are the pale faces?" asked one of the four Iroquois who sat in +the new boat, while the couple were separated by two or three rods. + +"How should Magawan know?" asked the Mohawk in return, in a surly voice, +as if angry that the question was put to him. "The warriors on the land +are squaws, and they do not know how to look for the traitor and the +pale faces. They have let them go again." + +These words were spoken in the Indian tongue, the accent as clear as +that of those who addressed him. There was truth and sense in what +Lena-Wingo said, for it was this very suspicion that the Indians were +not doing as well as they should that led to the canoe being launched +from the other side. + +"But they called to us that Lena-Wingo was on the river in a canoe," +said one of the new-comers, sidling up toward the Mohawk, who was as +cautiously sidling away from him. + +"They spoke the truth if they said the pale faces have gone off again. I +am looking for them." + +"Why does Magawan look for them this way?" + +"To find them," was the quick response. "Are you searching for them?" + +"We have been sent out by Taunwaso, the great chief of the Oneidas, to +find Lena-Wingo, the traitor, and the whites." + +"Why don't you find them, then? If they are not here they are somewhere +else. Go there and find them." + +And, as if he were tired of the conversation, the Mohawk dipped his +paddle lower than before, and deliberately paddled away from his +questioners. The surliness of the repulse made it quite effective, and +the four Iroquois sat for several minutes as if undecided what they +ought to do after such an interview. + +Lena-Wingo knew that he was in great peril, for he believed from the +first that the others were not satisfied with the appearance of things. +He shaped his action on the supposition that they would speedily detect +the trick and start in pursuit. He kept up the river until he had gone +far enough to screen his movements, when he made a sharp bend in the +course he was following, and headed for the bank on his right. There was +another canoe that was also hunting for them, as will be remembered, +and, in case these two should meet, the whole truth would become known +at once. Lena-Wingo was not mistaken in his suspicion that he heard the +two boats at the same time, showing that they were not only very near, +but drawing nearer every minute. + +While the Mohawk was paddling in this fashion, striving to make his +landing-place as far up stream as he could, he knew the two canoes had +joined and that the hottest kind of a hunt was on foot. But there was +not a great deal of water between him and the shore, and he quickly made +it still less. + +"Raise head now--make no noise!" he said, as the water foamed again from +the bow of the canoe. + +As the fugitives obeyed, they saw they were close to the bank, and the +limbs of the overhanging trees were within their reach. Lena-Wingo kept +along the shore for some distance further, when one turn of the paddle +sent the canoe in so sharply against the bank that it stuck fast, and +all were forced forward by the sudden stoppage. The Susquehanna was +crossed at last. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE SOUTHEASTERN SHORE. + + +The Mohawk felt that he had accomplished a great feat in the taking of +the canoe before the very eyes of the Iroquois sentinel set to watch it +and in successfully eluding the pursuit of the others. But the danger +was not yet disposed of, for, at the moment the fugitives stepped from +the canoe, the other two crafts were in swift pursuit, the occupants +having learned the trick played upon them by the wily Mohawk. Although +the canoe of the latter was invisible, yet they were well aware of the +direction taken, and could not avoid a pretty accurate guess as to the +destination of the occupants. Thus it was that they headed almost in a +direct line for the precise point where the fugitives landed, and were +not much behind them in reaching the spot. + +The majority of persons, in making such a flight, would have started for +the depths of the forest without an instant's delay, but the Mohawk +perpetrated a little piece of strategy which proved of inestimable +benefit to him and his friends. At the moment they stepped from the boat +he seized the latter in a strong grasp and gave it a powerful impulse +that sent it far out and down the stream. Although their pursuers were +coming up rapidly, yet they were not quite in sight, and in the brief +interval that must elapse before they could catch a glimpse of the empty +craft, the purpose of Lena-Wingo was perfected. An exultant whoop from +one of the pursuing canoes told of the discovery of the drifting boat, +whose occupants had effected a landing but a second or two before. But +the craft which caused the outcry was several rods below the spot where +it had touched the land, and the fugitives themselves were still further +removed from the water's edge, stealing along in the darkness of the +woods from the Iroquois who were hastily gathering to the spot, apprised +by a dozen signals of what had taken place. + +The Indian, telling his friends to keep on the move and make no noise, +remained in the rear, to learn what his foes intended to do. He saw the +two canoes halt for a moment beside the empty boat, as if they wished to +make sure that it held none of the party for whom they were hunting, +and then they shot their own craft in to the shore, leaving the other to +drift aimlessly down the river. The two which struck the bank did so at +a point something more than a rod below where the other landing had +taken place. There they met quite a number of others who came down from +the woods, where they had been signaling to and answering calls from +those across the stream. Then followed a wrangle, with the same prospect +of conflict that occurred at no great time before. The provocation in +the latter instance was much greater than in the former, for the +fugitives had slipped through the hands of the Iroquois in the most +exasperating manner. But there seemed, also, to be the identical +level-headed ones, who were backed by an authority sufficient to compel +the fiery warriors to keep the peace. The storm of passion subsided +almost as soon as it rose. + +Lena-Wingo was desirous of learning what the party, as a whole, would +do, now that it was clear that the fugitives had succeeded in crossing +the Susquehanna in spite of all the preparations to prevent it; but the +warriors gathered around were so numerous and began to spread out in +such a fashion, that his position became untenable, and he found it no +easy matter to get out of his rather uncomfortable quarters and to +rejoin his companions, who were awaiting him some little distance off. +All were in high spirits over the success of the strategy of the Mohawk, +but they could not shut their eyes to the fact that in one sense they +had crossed the Rubicon. As there was no turning back, they must press +forward. + +With many whispered congratulations over the discomfiture of the +Iroquois, the fugitives hurried forward until they reached the spot +where they felt free to say what they chose without danger of being +heard by their pursuers. The Mohawk was at the head of the little party +and conducted them to the edge of a large clear space, where grain had +been growing. As there was every convenience for sitting down and +enjoying a comfortable rest, they paused, and for the first time that +night felt the pleasure of knowing that there was nothing to be feared +from the Tories and Indians. + +"Lena-Wingo, you're a brick!" exclaimed Jo Minturn, taking the liberty +of slapping the grim Indian a resounding blow on the back. "I couldn't +have done that thing better if I had taken the contract myself." + +The guide did not resent this familiarity, though at times it would have +offended him. + +"Iroquois get mad," he replied, with his usual grin. "When Iroquois get +mad, then Lena-Wingo get glad." + +"Yes; I suspect you were inclined that way, from what I've heard of your +dealings with those people." + +"Recollect that we haven't reached Wilkesbarre yet," put in Rosa, "and +it isn't wise to rejoice until we're well out of the woods. It seems to +me that the hardest part of the work still lies before us." + +"Gal speak right," assented the Mohawk, with an approving nod. "Iroquois +all round--look everywhere." + +"It strikes me that is what they've been doing for the past few days," +added Jo, who was not to be discouraged. "But they haven't made a +success of it, so far." + +"It seems to me," said Ned, addressing Jo, but meaning his words for +Lena-Wingo, "that when the approaches to Wilkesbarre are guarded so +closely it will be wiser for us to go somewhere else." + +This scheme had been freely discussed by the two young scouts, and they +had arranged that it should be introduced in this manner for the purpose +of learning the views of the Mohawk. + +"I have thought of the same thing," replied Jo, as if it were the first +time it had been mentioned in his hearing. "And it does look as if it is +risking a great deal to push right through the woods in this way, when +there are hundreds of other paths by which we can escape the Iroquois." + +"It would be a good trick on Colonel Butler, when he has arranged his +redskins and Tories so that he is sure we will walk right into their +hands, for him to learn that we have gone somewhere else." + +"It can be done," said Jo, carrying out the plan fixed upon some time +before. "We have already shown them that there is no use of their trying +to stop us, when we have made up our minds to do something,--I mean +Lena-Wingo more than us,--and so we can afford to retire and leave them +to themselves." + +"If they can't stop us," said Rosa, "what, then, is the use of acting as +though they had done so?" + +"See here," said her brother, turning rather sharply, "I thought Ned and +I had arranged without your help." + +Not one of the three imagined that Lena-Wingo was quick enough to take +the cue from what was thus said by Jo, but such was the case. The Mohawk +held his peace and listened, but he was not deceived. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE MOHAWK OBJECTS. + + +"I forgot," Rosa answered, laughingly; "but you must try to put a little +more logic in what you say." + +"Logic!" repeated the young man. "What does a woman know about logic? +However, we will discuss that some other time. Just now I'm busy with +the new idea of Ned's. There's a good deal in what you said," he added, +addressing his companion again, "and the more I consider it, the more +favorably am I inclined. We can continue up the Susquehanna till we go +so far that there's no danger from the Indians, and, when we believe the +way is clear, we can come back. Colonel Butler is not going to stay long +at Wyoming, for he dare not. He don't know how soon there will be a +gathering of the forces that will swoop down on him, and he'll get out +while he can. Consequently all we have to do is to remain invisible +until he leaves." + +"Nothing easier in the world," was the prompt remark of Ned, backing up +his friend. "Jack, here, can keep out of their reach with no trouble. It +would be a great relief to your parents, too, to know that Rosa is not +running such a risk as it will be to try to get into the fort at +Wilkesbarre." + +"How angry Butler will be!" exclaimed Jo, with as much zest as if he saw +the villain tearing his hair on account of his disappointment. + +The plan of the young scouts was pretty well unfolded by this time, so +that both were satisfied the Mohawk knew what the opinions were, and was +able to give his own for the asking. Calm consideration of the +proposition of the friends and companions must lead one to speak of them +favorably. Colonel Butler knew that the fugitives were aiming for +Wilkesbarre, and had taken every precaution to secure their capture. +Nothing could be more certain than that they could not enter, nor even +approach within range of the fortifications of that place, without +encountering some of these redmen or Tories. It would seem, therefore, +that the most foolhardy thing for the whites to do was to persevere in +the effort to reach that place in the face of such danger. There were +plenty of other directions that could be taken, and the plan suggested +by the youths in their brief conversation was only one of the many that +suggested themselves whenever they thought of the subject. Jo Minturn, +believing their wishes had been sufficiently uncovered by what had been +said, now addressed himself directly to the Mohawk: + +"Lena-Wingo, you heard what we said; now I should like to know what you +think of it." + +"Nonsense." + +There it was! an opinion about which there could be no misunderstanding. +There was enough moonlight for the young scouts to see each other's +faces, and they stared in blank dismay. The next thing they did was to +look at Rosa, who was trying hard to restrain her laughter. + +"You ought to be satisfied," she said, "without scowling at me that way; +you asked Lena-Wingo what he thought of your plans, which you and Ned +fixed up between you, and he told you in one word." + +"That's the trouble; he didn't take quite as many words as we would have +liked to hear. If he had talked the whole thing over, we would have +gained a chance to argue, and perhaps convince him." + +The Mohawk, as a matter of course, heard all that passed between his +friends, and he seemed to think the time had come for him to put in an +additional word or two. + +"All nonsense," he said, by way of introducing the subject. "The +Iroquois say Lena-Wingo shan't go to Wilkesbarre--all lie--Lena-Wingo +_will_ go there--Iroquois say Lena-Wingo shan't take gal there--all +lie--_will_ take gal there--Iroquois say Lena-Wingo run away from +Brandt--all lie--_never_ run away." + +These broken sentences contained the secret of the Mohawk's course of +action. It had now become a matter of pride with him, and since the +Tories and Indians had made such elaborate preparations to prevent the +fugitives reaching Wilkesbarre, he was fired by the resolve that the +lines should be passed through, and the maiden placed safely behind the +fortifications at that town. In making this determination he did not +forget the interests of Rosa. He knew what he was doing, and was sure +that he could accomplish it with safety to her, though he felt there +was a possible doubt about running the two young men through the +environing danger. + +He saw, as well as his companions, that the plan proposed by them was +attended with little danger, but when a scheme was in that shape it lost +all attraction for him. To escape the Iroquois by dodging or running was +attended, in his estimation, with a certain ignominy that made it +repulsive to him. He was naturally elated in reflecting how neatly he +had just outwitted them, and that fact was not calculated to lessen his +confidence in his own prowess. + +"Well, Lena-Wingo," said Jo, when the ripple of fun had died out, "you +seem to have made up your mind on the subject, and I suppose there is no +use of arguing with you." + +"No use," was the response of the Indian. + +"If that's the case," added Ned, "we may as well dismiss it, and find +out what is to be done." + +"Go to Wilkesbarre," said the Mohawk, as if he were determined there +should be no misunderstanding of his position. + +"I understand that, but the night must be pretty well gone, and it won't +do for us to sit here for two or three days, so I would like to know +what the next step is to be." + +Ned Clinton expressed the wish that was on the tongue of his two +friends, and they listened eagerly to the reply. The Indian straightened +up his form, so that his slim, tall figure looked slimmer and taller +than ever, and he took a minute or two to gaze into the gloom before +answering. + +"We go back yonder," he said, pointing in the direction of the mountains +which form the southeastern boundary of the valley of Wyoming. "We go +yonder--stay there--find way to go to Wilkesbarre." + +The whites correctly interpreted this as meaning that he believed it +prudent, in view of the fact that the direct approach to the place was +so closely watched, to use some strategy to secure an entrance, the +point in his mind being merely to beat the Iroquois, without considering +the means by which it was done. In the range of mountains stretching to +the southeast of the valley, where the Mohawk had taken Rosa many a time +on a hunt, were numerous places offering secure hiding for the fugitives +from the hunt of the enemies. It was the intention of Lena-Wingo to +conduct his friends to that neighborhood, as he explained further, and +then look over and watch the ground so carefully that he could commit no +mistake when he did make his move. So soon as he should see the way +clear, he would take Rosa to the shelter before the Tories and Indians +could learn what he was trying to do. + +Lena-Wingo spoke with so much quiet confidence that his listeners could +not but feel something of the same spirit. As for Rosa, she favored his +plan, and so expressed herself. The Indian had made his resolve before +that, but he was as firm as the rock of Gibraltar, reinforced by her +endorsement. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE LONGEST WAY HOME. + + +The little party of fugitives occupied the position on the margin of the +grain-field for an hour or so longer, discussing the past and arranging +their plans for the immediate future. As they had the time, the Mohawk +took pains to explain some of his movements made on the other side of +the river, and also when they were engaged in stealing across, which +movements none of the party understood at the time. It was necessary at +this stage of the proceedings for all to comprehend as fully as possible +the plans that were now to be followed in the game, where the stakes +were life itself. + +Lena-Wingo assured them that with the coming of daylight the Iroquois +would use every exertion to capture them, as it had also become a matter +of pride on their part to outwit the Mohawk, with whom they were really +making the fight. Some of them would hunt and follow the trail of the +party, and every approach to the Wilkesbarre fortifications would be +guarded by their best warriors. Such being the case, Ned and Jo were +more convinced than ever that their plan of giving up this method was +wise, but they said nothing, for they knew it was useless. + +While they were talking the growing light in the eastern horizon +apprised them that day was near, and that it was unsafe to wait longer. +All instantly rose to their feet, looking upon the face of the warrior +for direction as to what they were to do. Before he could speak, the +sound of a rifle was heard, causing a start of alarm on the part of his +companions. The latter noticed that the direction of the report was from +the river, and, as it seemed, from the very spot where they had left it. + +"What is the meaning of that?" asked Ned. "Can it have--" + +Bang! bang! bang! came several other reports in quick succession, +showing that something serious was going on. Every voice was hushed, and +they looked in each other's faces, and then stared at the Mohawk as if +they would read the explanation in his painted countenance. At the first +glance there was nothing that could give them a clue on those bronzed +features, as seen in the early light of the morning. The Indian was +also listening and waiting till he could hear and learn more before +saying anything. The firing lasted until it sounded as if a skirmish was +going on close at hand. Could it be that a party of fugitive patriots +was engaged in a fight with a lot of Tories and Indians? + +When the firing had continued in a desultory way for several minutes, +the whites caught the sound of whoops, showing that the redmen had a +part in the trouble. The instant these cries fell on the ears of the +Mohawk, his dark face lit up with a gleam of satisfaction, the +expression of delight being noticed by all. + +"What is it, Lena-Wingo?" asked Rosa. "Are they Iroquois and white folks +that are fighting?" + +"No, not that." + +"What then?" + +"Iroquois fighting Iroquois." + +So his wish was granted, after all. The warriors had fallen into battle +among themselves, with a sure benefit to the fugitives. Hence it was +natural that the Mohawk, after being disappointed twice on the preceding +night, should listen to the sounds of the strife with genuine pleasure. +It looked as if with the coming of daylight the Iroquois had discovered +that some of their number had blundered in the hunt for the Mohawk in a +way that could not be forgiven. A deadly quarrel was the result, with +the certainty that more than one of their bravest warriors would bite +the dust before it could be terminated, even by the chiefs and leaders +themselves. The fight lasted but a short time, for it was a fierce fire, +which must exhaust itself speedily for want of fuel. + +The Mohawk, however, heard enough to convince him that execution had +been done, and his rejoicing was not interfered with through any fear +that it had been quieted down as were the other two impending +disturbances. But the morning was advancing, and the hours were as +precious to the fugitives as to the Iroquois. The probabilities were +that the revengeful enemies would soon be on their track, and the whites +had but to remain where they were a short time longer to fall into their +hands. + +At the moment the noise of the conflict between the Indians ceased, +Lena-Wingo, who had maintained the standing position from the first, +moved off in a southerly course, looking around as a signal for his +companions to follow him. They were heading toward the range of +mountains which bounded the Wyoming valley on the southeast, and which +loomed up dark and frowning in the gray mist of the early morning. + +This route led them over cultivated ground and through woods, where it +seemed to the whites they might halt and find all the shelter they could +need. But the Mohawk pressed straight on, his destination being the +mountains themselves. The guide of the party kept away from the +cultivated portions of the valley as much as possible, for it was +dangerous to approach any body of men, or the places where they were +likely to be found. Lena-Wingo was in his own territory, and it was his +intention to manage the business without asking for or accepting any +suggestions from his friends. + +The company had advanced something like a half mile when the morning was +fairly upon them--another of those clear, mild summer days common to +this latitude at that season of the year. They were approaching rising +ground, and soon began ascending to a higher level than that which they +had been treading for some time. The Indian still stuck to the forest, +for he felt a confidence in its shadows such as the open country could +not afford. + +While progressing in this manner it was noticed by the youths that he +led them over as rough and stony paths as possible, and that at the same +time he stepped as carefully as he knew how--no doubt with the purpose +of hiding their tracks from the too curious Iroquois. + +Lena-Wingo evinced no objections to his companions talking together as +they picked their way along, provided they kept their voices below +"concert pitch"--a precaution which they were sure to remember, in view +of what they had passed through so recently. For all that, the Mohawk +advanced with a confidence which at times resembled recklessness, and +Ned Clinton more than once was on the point of remonstrating with him. +But he held his peace, through fear of offending him. The journey was +continued in this fashion, the party walking quite rapidly until they +were well into the rising ground of the mountains, when a halt was made. + +It was a good omen that the whites had been able to go thus far without +encountering any of the Iroquois, and they were not a little cheered +thereby. But the fact remained--and it took somewhat from their +rejoicing--that they were further from Wilkesbarre at the time of +halting than they were at starting. It was because they had gone away +from instead of toward their destination that accounted for their +immunity from disturbance. Still, it is the longest way home which is +often the surest, and the Mohawk, in conducting his companions in that +direction, was only carrying out a plan which he had formed while on the +other side of the Susquehanna, and of which this was but the preliminary +step. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +A CURIOUS DISCOVERY. + + +"Stay here," said the Mohawk, as soon as they halted; "Lena-Wingo go +look for Iroquois--soon be back--don't go away--don't make noise, +listen--watch, don't go away." + +"But suppose some of them come down upon us, Jack?" asked Ned, +determined to understand the situation as fully as possible. + +"Keep out way--won't come down--stay away." + +"Well, if you are enough satisfied to give me a written guarantee, +that's all there is about it. How long do you expect to be gone?" + +"Not long--soon be back." + +This was not very definite, but it was all the Mohawk would say, and +without any more words he took his departure, walking back over the +trail which they had been following since leaving the river. + +"I can't understand why he is sure that no one will make a call on us +while he is gone," said Jo Minturn to Ned, as the three once more +seated themselves, this time on a fallen tree. + +"The only reason that suggests itself to me is that he believes we are +so far off the track of the Iroquois that the only possibility that can +lead them this way is by their discovering our trail, and if they +attempt that, they will run against him, as he is going backward over +it." + +"That seems to be a pretty good reason, but he may miss it, +nevertheless. There may not be much danger of an invasion from any other +direction, and yet there's no telling, either, from what point of the +compass these wretches may come." + +"You ought to have explained all that," said Rosa. "I am quite sure that +Lena-Wingo would be grateful for all the instruction you can give him in +the ways of the woods. But you know he is so much younger than you, and +has had so little experience, that you must be charitable, and not judge +him too harshly." + +Jo laughed and shook his head at his sister, who persisted in "touching" +him up on every occasion. + +"As we are to stay here indefinitely," said Ned, "there can be no harm +in taking an observation and learning something for ourselves." + +"How are we to do it?" asked his friend. + +Ned pointed to the towering trees which stood on every hand. + +"Climb up among those branches; what better outlook can one ask than he +can get among those limbs?" + +"What a nice target a man would be, too, if an Indian should catch sight +of him!" said Rosa, as she looked up at the leaves gently swaying in the +slight morning breeze. "But after what Lena-Wingo said, I don't think +there's much to be feared of that, and I look upon your idea as a good +one, Edward." + +"If my sister considers the idea a good one," said Jo, "that settles it, +and you need have no further fear." + +"Of course not," was the prompt assent of Ned, who moved to the tree +which he had selected as his lookout. + +As there was a remote possibility that some such a contingency as the +one intimated by their fair companion might occur, Jo and Rosa stationed +themselves beneath the tree to guard against surprise, Jo holding his +gun ready, while Ned left his own piece in the hands of Rosa, who, +should the occasion arise, knew how to employ it effectively. It was +the work of a few minutes for the athletic young man to make his way to +the top of the tree, which was one of the tallest in the neighborhood, +and gave him the opportunity he wished. Ned remembered the words of +Rosa, which, uttered in jest as they were, contained a good deal of +sense. While making his way among the limbs, he frequently paused and +carefully scrutinized the ground below, on the lookout for lurking +Indians. + +The most rigid scrutiny failed to reveal anything alarming, and reaching +as high a point as was prudent, he settled himself among the luxuriant +branches, and then, like the shipwrecked mariner, looked long and +searchingly over the waste around him. + +Peering to the northward, from his elevated perch, Ned saw the stretch +of woods, cultivated fields, the broad, smoothly-flowing Susquehanna, +with the faint view of the ruins of Fort Wintermoot and of Forty Fort +beyond. The view was a lovely one, as seen in the clear sunlight of this +summer morning, and it was hard to realize that the fair vale had been +desecrated within so brief a time by the merciless white and red men, +who had not yet left the valley. No wonder that the beauties of this +enchanting spot have drawn the tribute of the poets of the Old and New +World. + +Ned Clinton had often gazed on the attractions of his native vale, and +he appreciated them always, but he restrained the admiration which he +might have felt at any other time. The first glance over the extended +scene failed to discover any signs of life; but when he had looked +again, he detected the figure of a canoe crossing the river, the +distance making it appear but a speck, while the number of occupants was +indistinguishable. To the southwest, almost in the line of the +Susquehanna, he observed a black cloud resting like a smirch of dirt +against a clear, blue sky. This, he had no doubt, was the smoke from +some conflagration of the night before. + +The little primitive town of Wilkesbarre, with its rude fortifications, +lay also along the bank of the river, but owing to some intervening +trees of tall growth, standing close to the fort, the view in that +direction was not as complete as in others. Having scanned the outer +boundaries of the field, Ned attended to those portions which lay nearer +to him. It was a long time before he could fix upon any spot that +promised to give him information of friend or foe. Nothing could be +seen of Lena-Wingo, who was pursuing his investigations in his own way, +and was not likely to return until he had accomplished something upon +which to base an intelligent course of action. But by and by, as the +youth was scanning a point two or three hundred yards away, his eye fell +upon something which promised to give him the very knowledge he was +seeking. + +In an open space at the distance mentioned, he observed a large flat +rock, which had nothing peculiar in its appearance, but which, it was +evident, was being used by some one as a means of concealment, while he +in turn took a survey of the young man in the tree. Ned was under the +impression that no matter how much he played the sentinel, he was +invisible to all outsiders that might be attempting to steal toward him +and his friends. It happened that he glanced directly at the object at +the moment that a man, whose dress showed him to be of the same race as +the young scout, rose to his feet, stood a second or two, and then +dropped down out of sight again. His action was such as a man would make +when he suspected that some one else was trying to obtain a closer +scrutiny than was agreeable. Ned was not a little puzzled by what he +witnessed. He looked down to his friends, and spoke in a careful +undertone: + +"Keep a sharp lookout; I have discovered something which I want to study +a while." + +"All right," called back Jo; "manage your end of the rope as you ought, +and we'll take care of ours." + +Left thus free, the sentinel devoted himself to the task of watching the +movements of the stranger, and learning what his intentions were in +conducting himself in the manner described. + +"He can't get away from where he is without my seeing him," was the +reflection of the watcher, "and if he means mischief, I shall detect it +in time to prevent his hurting us." + +The stranger at this period was invisible, as he must continue to be so +long as he kept behind the rock; but it was hardly likely that he would +stay there long. + +"It may be he is some fugitive like ourselves," added young Clinton, +"and he doesn't feel certain enough of our identity as yet to trust +himself within reach." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +ANOTHER FUGITIVE. + + +At the end of five or ten minutes Ned Clinton, with his eyes fixed upon +the broad, flat rock, was sure he saw the figure of a man behind it. It +was only the top of his head, thrust a little above the edge of the +stone, as if the stranger were seeking a view of the one who was +watching him without his purpose being detected. The slouched hat and +the eyes and forehead were in plain sight for a minute or two, when they +sank down again and all was as before. + +"If he is a friend," thought Ned, "he is very timid, or he has a queer +way of showing his good will." + +The distance between the two was too great for either to do anything in +the way of shooting, but the youth was inclined to send a rifle shot in +that direction, as a challenge for the strange craft to come out and +show its colors. + +He called down to Jo again, to watch for the approach of any foe, for he +was compelled to give close attention to this particular stranger, and +another might steal up beneath the very tree without the one in the +branches detecting his danger. In this way nearly an hour passed without +any change in the situation, and the fugitives began to look for the +return of the Mohawk, he having promised not to stay away long. + +"I wish he would come," said the watchman, to himself, "for it wouldn't +take him a great while to find out what that fellow is driving at. I +don't see that I have much chance of learning without his help." + +If there was any opportunity for the stranger to withdraw, Ned would +have suspected the man had done so, but he was satisfied it was +impossible for him to elude him in that way, and consequently he must +still be behind the rock. Clinton at last grew tired and called to Jo +that he was about to fire his gun, to compel the stranger to let him +know who he was and what he wanted. Before doing so, he scanned the wood +in his immediate vicinity, fearing that some other questionable +character had stolen near enough to take a shot at him. + +He was relieved, however, when after the closest search he was unable to +find any cause for fear. There seemed to be no grounds for further +delay, and pointing his weapon at the spot where he had last seen the +head, he took a quick aim and pulled the trigger. It was a strange +coincidence that at this very instant the man was in the act of rising +to view again, and the poorly aimed shot, even when the distance was so +great, came near proving fatal to the stranger. The smoke was scarcely +wafted from the muzzle of the rifle, when the man sprang up from behind +the rock, and standing erect, called out in a voice that penetrated far +beyond the point aimed at. + +"What the mischief are you trying to do?" + +"I was trying to make you show yourself," replied the amazed Ned +Clinton, "and that seemed to be the only way to do it." + +"Well, I can't admit that I fancy that style of saying how-de-do to a +fellow. Why don't you sing out to him and ask him what he is after?" + +As the individual asked this question in the same loud voice, he +unhesitatingly stepped from behind his concealment and began walking +toward the one that had used him as a target. Ned accepted this +proceeding as a proffer of good will, and although he was not quite +satisfied, yet he began descending the tree, so as to be on the ground +to meet him. He had barely time to acquaint Jo and Rosa Minturn with +what had occurred, when the stranger appeared at the base of the tree +and seemed not a little surprised to meet another young man with his +handsome sister. + +The new-comer was a man apparently in middle life, with a yellow, shaggy +beard, reaching nearly to his eyes, dressed in rather tattered garments, +that had more of the look of the farmer than the military about them. +His face, so far as it could be seen, was by no means a pleasing one; +the eyes were of a gray color, but with a strange, restless glitter. His +appearance would lead one to set him down as a vagabond settler--one who +was so lazy that he spent the greater part of his time in hunting the +woods for game, or searching the streams for fish. + +He was sharply scrutinized as he came to view, while he, in turn, keenly +surveyed the fugitives. + +If he were a settler, as he appeared to be, there was not one of the +three who remembered seeing him before. To Jo Minturn there came a faint +impression that he had met him at some time, though he could not recall +where or when it was. But the stranger quickly recovered from the +temporary embarrassment he showed upon finding himself confronted by +three, where he expected to see only one person. + +"Well, now, I am glad to meet you," he said, in a hearty way that +suggested the Mr. Perkins whom they had met when on the other side of +the river. "I cotched sight of that young man climbing a tree, though I +couldn't satisfy myself for a long time whether he was a friend or foe. +I suppose you know me, don't you?" + +Ned answered for the others: + +"I have no recollection of having ever seen you before." + +"Why, I remember you very well. You are Ned Clinton, and that young +gentleman is Jo Minturn, with his sister Rosa." + +"You are certainly right, as far as that goes, but you are none the less +a stranger to us for all that!" + +"My name is Worrell, and I am a settler, living about a mile up the +river. I have often seen your father--both of them--at Forty Fort." + +"That, I suppose, is where you have met us, also?" + +"Yes, and at your homes near there. I do a great deal of hunting, and +have sold Mr. Minturn and Mr. Clinton a good deal of game." + +"How is it you didn't recognize me when you saw me in the tree?" + +"I couldn't make sure, because I couldn't get a fair look at you." + +"How is it, too, that you are abroad at this time, when the Indians and +Tories are playing havoc in the valley?" + +"That's just the reason," was the ready response of Worrell. "A party of +them came so near my home that I had to dig out. That was day before +yesterday, and I have been roaming about the woods ever since, not +daring to go back home again." + +"What did they do with your family?" + +"I haven't got any family, so there was nothing done with them." + +"What were you doing when you observed me?" + +"I had just reached that rock and had sat down to rest myself, when I +was scared by happening to look toward you and seeing you climbing the +tree. I have been dodging the redskins and Tories all of two days, and +have had pretty sharp work, I can tell you, and a good many narrow +escapes. I had three scrimmages with redskins, and came so near losing +my scalp in the last case that I have been mighty careful ever since as +to how I went up to a stranger and shook hands with him till I was +pretty sure he was a friend, which is why I waited so long with you." + +"Well, you were cautious, indeed, but perhaps it was as well, for one +can't be too careful at such a time as this." + +"Then I take it you're dodging the same parties that I am?" said +Worrell, taking a seat on the log, as if he meant to unite forces with +the little party. + +"Yes," replied Ned Clinton, willing to tell their new companion all +their purposes, and glad of his company. "Yes, we set out for +Wilkesbarre, but there are so many Indians in the path that we find the +task a hard one." + +"Are you alone?" + +"Not exactly," was the answer. "We have an Indian scout with us." + +"Who is he? Lena-Wingo, the Mohawk?" + +"The same." + +It may have been fancy on the part of Rosa but at that moment she saw an +expression flit over the small part of the man's face that was visible, +that she thought betokened disappointment at these words. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +DOUBT AND PERPLEXITY. + + +The fugitives felt like congratulating themselves upon the acquisition +of so valuable a man as the patriot Worrell. A hunter like him, who had +spent years in wandering through the woods, must be acquainted with all +those places that were the most available as a means of concealment. +There were many retreats which had proven of the greatest benefit to +other fugitives, but they were those that had been seized upon in the +frenzy of flight, when the thirsting pursuers were as eager as those +whom they were hunting, and the slightest incident was frequently +sufficient to turn aside the human bloodhounds. But something had now +become necessary, for there was the danger of a carefully managed hunt +by the Indians themselves, in which case the whites would need to take +advantage of every expedient possible. What more likely, therefore, than +that this man could give them the very assistance they needed in that +respect? + +The thought occurred to Ned Clinton and Jo Minturn at the same moment. +Rosa remained seated when he came up, bowing politely to the stranger, +but contenting herself with merely looking on and studying him as best +she could. She was not much disturbed until she saw the expression of +disappointment on the upper part of his face when he learned that +Lena-Wingo, the Mohawk, had charge of the party and was expected soon to +return. The opportunity of studying the character of the man from his +face was limited on account of the shaggy, luxuriant beard; but woman +has an intuitive perception, which avails her more than the reasoning +power of man; and, although the maiden felt it was possible she was +mistaken in what she saw there, the impression remained that he was one +who ought to be regarded with distrust, if not suspicion. And yet she +determined to say and do nothing that could interfere with any plans of +her companions. She felt that she had already said much in that +direction, and well convinced as she was that they were abundantly +qualified to take care of themselves, it seemed to her the crisis was +too grave for her to delay any movement by objections for which she +could give no valid reason. + +"You've had that Mohawk to help you ever since you left Forty Fort?" was +the inquiring remark of Worrell, in answer to the information of Ned +Clinton that the Indian was a member of the party. + +"Yes; we couldn't have gotten along without him. There can be no doubt +that we would have fallen into the hands of the Iroquois long ago but +for his presence." + +"Me and Red Jack--though I believe he likes his name of Lena-Wingo the +best--have been on many a hunt together, and he beats anything I ever +saw." + +"There is no cause for his being otherwise, when he has spent so many +years as a hunter and scout. The Iroquois would give a great deal to +secure his scalp." + +"You can just bet they would, and so would Colonel Butler, Captain +Bagley or any of the Tories. You know that the fellow has done too much +against the scamps to be forgiven. But where has he gone?" + +"He is off taking a look through the neighborhood to see how the land +lies, and what is the best thing for us to do." + +"When do you expect him back?" + +"We expect him from this time forward till he comes, but there is no +telling when that will be. He is master of his own motions, and will +return, I suppose, when he deems the hour is best for him to do so." + +"I found that out long ago, but you don't know where he has gone?" + +"No more than you. You seem interested." + +"Well, Red Jack and me are old friends, and if I knowed where he was I +might go out to hunt him up and give him a point or two about the lay of +the land in these parts." + +"I suppose you are acquainted with it all?" + +"Well, I ain't the man to boast, and don't know that it is bragging to +tell the truth. But if there is a spot I don't know all about in this +neighborhood I'm ready to pay a good reward for a sight of the same." + +"It seems to me you might be able to do us a good turn." + +"I'll do anything in the world for you and the lady, if I have the +chance. What have you in mind?" + +"We feel that, as long as we occupy this position, we are in danger of +being swooped down upon by the Iroquois--" + +"You can bet on that! Didn't I tell you a minute ago how many narrer +escapes I made while poking round in these woods? Why, it ain't an hour +ago since I saw three Indians that must have been some of the painted +Iroquois who are looking around for you!" + +"Is that the case?" asked Jo Minturn, rising to his feet and walking +closer to their visitor. "How far off were they?" + +"Not more than a quarter of a mile at the most, and it took careful work +on my part to keep out of their way." + +The youths looked at each other with something like dismay, while Rosa +became deeply interested. + +"There can scarcely be a doubt that they were hunting for us," said Jo, +in an undertone that was intended to escape his sister, but of which +every word reached her ear. "It isn't a pleasant situation, with +Lena-Wingo gone, and no one knowing when he will be back. He is the +shrewdest fellow in the world, but no one is smart enough to save +himself from mistake at all times. Who knows but that he has gone in +just such a direction that he will escape seeing the very Indians from +whom the visit is most likely to come?" + +"I think that we had better get this fellow to take us to some good +hiding-places where we can place Rosa--at least, till the Mohawk comes +back. I don't believe he has any idea of trying to run into Wilkesbarre +while it is day, but is getting up some plan for stealing in at night +with her." + +"It does look that way, which means our waiting in some place of hiding +till the time shall come to make the attempt." + +"And this isn't much of a hiding-place, when the minute I climbed a tree +I was seen by Worrell, there." + +"It makes Lena-Wingo angry," continued Jo, who felt a hesitation about +running directly in the face of the well-known wishes of the dusky +scout, "for us to disregard his instructions on a point like this; but I +think if he understood the chance we have of helping him in this matter +he would be glad for us to avail ourselves of it." + +"Well, I can't see that there is any great risk run in allowing Worrell +to conduct us to shelter. This will never be of any use to us, and I +can't feel safe here one minute after what he has told us. I propose +that we get him to find us other quarters." + +"I'm favorable to the plan, because he is a good hunter, and while +Lena-Wingo is operating in one direction, he may be of help in the way, +also, of getting food for us." + +And so it was that, look at the matter in whatever light they chose, it +seemed a wise step for them to call in the services of the straggling +patriot that had joined them in the rather curious manner already told. +The only hesitation with the young men came from the consciousness that +they were sure to violate either the expressed or understood command of +the Mohawk. But they argued themselves into a justification of the step +by the manifest advantages to be gained in taking it. + +"Find out what Rosa thinks about it," finally suggested Ned, when the +two had gone over all the arguments to each other. + +Jo stepped over to where his sister was sitting and put the question to +her. + +"Whatever you think best," was her answer. "I don't feel, Jo, that I am +competent to give advice." + +"There can be no doubt that it is the best thing for us to do, but we +hesitate because it will be a direct disregard of the wishes of +Lena-Wingo himself." + +"If the move is for the best, he will find no fault with you. But, Jo, +are you sure that if you put yourself under charge of that man it _will_ +be for the best?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE NEW GUIDE. + + +Minturn looked in the face of his sister a moment, as if he would read +her very thoughts. Then he asked in a whisper that not even Ned Clinton +overheard: + +"Do you mistrust him, Rosa?" + +She regretted her words, and answered: + +"I ought not to have said it, Jo, but I didn't like his looks when he +first joined us; have you ever seen him before?" + +"I think I have, though I can't recall the place or occasion." + +"Well, that makes a different matter of it; do as you think best." + +Believing that his sister had come to his view of the case, Jo so stated +to Ned, and there was no further hesitation. While this little +conference was going on, Worrell remained seated, acting as if he had no +concern in the matter. He busied himself in examining his rifle, and +making sure it was in order. A minute or so before Jo was prepared to +make a definite proposition to him, he rose to his feet, and assumed an +attitude of intense attention, as though some faint signal had fallen on +his ear. Then as the young scout turned to address him, he spoke first: + +"Well, I guess I'll have to bid you good-morning." + +"And why so?" asked Jo, in some surprise. + +"To tell the truth, this is too dangerous a place to stay any longer. I +hear sounds in the woods that lead me to think there are some of the +redskins not very far off, and I prefer to dig out; maybe it'll be safer +and better for you to wait till Lena-Wingo comes back, and he'll get you +out better than I can." + +"No one could do better than the Mohawk if he were only here, but the +trouble is he isn't here just now, and we've come to the conclusion that +it is not safe to wait for him. Where do you mean to go?" + +"Oh, there's a little hiding-place up here a way, where I'll crawl into, +for, when I'm in there, you may trot out all the redskins in the valley, +and I'll go to sleep while they're hunting. I don't care if Lena-Wingo +is among them. I ca'c'late to spend some time there till the Indians +get a little scarcer." + +"What will you do for food?" + +"I've got _that_ fixed," replied Worrell, in a voice and with a manner +that implied there was nothing to fear on that score. + +"Well, if you will allow us to go with you--" + +"Allow you!" exclaimed the man, in a gushing mood. "Haven't I been +wanting you to go with me ever since I stopped and found in what trouble +you were? Why, come along, and I'll put you in a place where you can +stay a month, if you want to, without a living soul finding out where +you are." + +"We'll do it, and be forever grateful for your kindness; but you say +even Lena-Wingo will be unable to find out where we are hiding. We must +let him know where we are when he returns and misses us." + +"That can be fixed. When we see him looking for us, we can step out and +let him know we are around, and he'll be there in a second, of course." + +"All right, then; lead the way." + +The man placed himself at the head of the party, Jo following, while Ned +and Rosa brought up the rear. The first move of Worrell impressed the +youths in his favor, for he headed toward the mountain close at hand, a +course that would suggest itself to one who was hunting a hiding-place. +It looked as if he understood his business, and knew where to take them +to find what they wanted. There was no material change in the appearance +of the forest through which they were making their way, except that it +grew somewhat rougher and more difficult to traverse, though the company +continued to journey without any hesitation in their rate of progress. + +They pushed along for quite a distance in this manner, when their guide +halted, as if he had again detected something that did not suit him. He +stood with his head bent in the way they noticed before starting, but +said nothing. + +"What's up now?" asked Jo, who thought they might as well understand +everything as they went along. + +"It's queer," replied their companion, in a low voice, "but I've fancied +once or twice that I heard signals in the woods just such as have caught +my ear when I knew the redskins were looking for some of us. Night +before last, I picked up a poor chap--Tom Haley, a settler living near +me, and was on my way to another place to hide him, when we heard the +same sort of sounds, and we stopped to listen to 'em, but we hadn't +stood more than five minutes when they come down on us. The first notice +we had was the banging of about a dozen rifles, and that was the last of +poor Tom. I was lucky enough to get away, but I don't want to meet any +more neighbors like that." + +This was not cheerful or soothing information, and the three fugitives +felt anything but comfortable. + +"Haven't you heard the sounds?" asked Worrell, addressing the three. + +None of them had noticed anything, and Rosa asked: + +"What do they resemble?" + +"Nothing so much as the faint call of the whip-o'-will, so low and soft +that the ear can hardly catch it." + +"It is strange that you should be the only one to notice it," she +continued; "are you sure that you weren't mistaken?" + +"It may be I was, but my experience with the Iroquois has made me very +suspicious; but I do hope I was off the track, for it may prove a bad +thing if I wasn't." + +"Do you hear it now?" + +"Hark! let us listen." + +All stood motionless, and scarcely breathing. But nothing resembling the +sounds described by their guide was noticed. + +"It _does_ look as if I was mistaken," said Worrell, brightening up. "I +hope I was." + +"It could be very well the other way," said Ned Clinton. "The Indians +may have made a dozen calls to each other, but they were not likely to +keep it up very long. A few signals would accomplish all they want." + +Nothing was to be gained by argument over the question, in which all was +conjecture, and they moved on once more. It was not five minutes before +their guide paused again, but it was only for a moment, and he said +nothing. He acted as if he fancied he caught something suspicious, but +seeing the whites with the appearance of attention, concluded he was +mistaken, so long as nothing of the kind fell upon their ears. By that +time the afternoon was well advanced, and the day was somewhat warmer +than before. + +None of the fugitives had gained a moment's sleep during the preceding +night, while the exhaustion and privation of the past few days were so +severe that they experienced the need of rest and food. Ned and Jo felt +that the man could not do them a greater favor and kindness than to lead +them into some retreat where they could recuperate in this +respect,--sleep being needed more than anything else. Jo turned about +while they were walking cautiously forward, and whispered to Ned +immediately behind: + +"Watch the route we take." + +Ned nodded his head to signify he understood him. At intervals they +reached and crossed small spaces of natural clearings, where Rosa and +the youths scanned all the country that could be brought under their +field of vision. In no instance were these very extensive, and the view +resulted in nothing tangible as regarded the movements of their enemies. +Much of the ground which was passed was rough and covered with stones. +Upon these they stepped so carefully that they left a trail which it +would require the keenest eye of the Indian warrior to detect and +follow. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE HIDING-PLACE. + + +Twenty minutes or more was consumed by Worrell, in conducting the +fugitives to the hiding-place, where he promised they should be secure +from all molestation from their enemies. In making this journey they +walked slowly, often pausing to examine the ground passed over, and to +listen for those unfavorable signals which the straggling settler was +sure he heard from the Iroquois. Thus it was that, in spite of the time +consumed in making the expedition, they were really at no great distance +from the starting point, and both Ned and Jo were confident that they +could retrace their steps without difficulty. + +"Here we are!" + +As the guide uttered these words, he paused before a mass of boulders, +or large stones, where there was an abundance of undergrowth, and the +trees were so numerous that the view in all directions was almost cut +off. + +"I see we are here," responded Ned. "But what for?" + +"Here is the hiding-place I told you about." + +"Where?" + +All three were looking inquiringly around, but their eyes saw nothing +that could explain why the man called this a place of concealment. + +"Do you mean that we are to crouch behind some of these stones, just as +you did behind the rock, when you found I was looking at you?" asked Ned +Clinton, with a laugh. + +"Not exactly. Wait and I'll show you." + +He walked forward a few steps further and turned to the right, +approaching a large stone that looked heavy enough to require the +strength of a Hercules to stir it. Nevertheless, with one hand he turned +it aside, it being so nicely poised that there was no trouble in using +it as a door on hinges. Drawn back, the astonished whites saw the +entrance to a cave beyond. The indications were that, at some remote +time, the stones had been placed in position by a party of aborigines of +the country, and used by them as a retreat or dwelling. + +"It is the very place," said Rosa; "for I have been inside." + +"You? When?" asked her brother. + +"Lena-Wingo brought me here one day last fall, when we were caught in a +storm in these mountains!" + +"What kind of a place is it?" + +"There could be no better one for us. I thought of it this morning, and +spoke to Lena-Wingo about it." + +"What did he say?" + +"He replied that he would probably take us here, if he found we had to +keep out of sight for awhile." + +"That is well, then. Mr. Worrell has done for us what the Mohawk meant +to do later in the day." + +"I don't know that I would not have proposed to you that we should come +here after he left, if I had been sure of finding my way, but I wasn't." + +"Is the interior comfortable?" + +"It is in warm weather, for none of the sun's rays can enter, and the +stones seem to give it coolness." + +"As dark as a wolf's mouth, I suppose?" + +"Not at all. There are several windows, made by crevices between the +stones, which let in enough light to help us see where we are." + +"The young lady speaks the truth," said Worrell. "She has been in and +remembers all about it." + +"How came you to find it when it is so well concealed?" + +"I was hunting a bear in these mountains some two years ago and wounded +him, when he started to retreat. I followed him as fast as I could, when +he put straight for this heap of stones, and he would have got away if I +hadn't come in sight just in time to see him pull that door aside with +one paw and start in. I gave him a shot as he was doing so, and it +finished him before he could get out of my reach." + +The reports of the cavern being so favorable, the fugitives were glad to +avail themselves of its shelter without further delay. Ned Clinton was +the first to explore the retreat, he being obliged to assume a stooping +position to enter it. As soon as he was inside, he called to the others +to follow, and Worrell himself obeyed, Jo going next, while Rosa came +last. + +The place was not a disappointment in the least when viewed from the +inside. The windows of which Rosa spoke proved sufficient to give all +the light they could ask, and more than the young scouts expected to +see. Besides, when they were fairly within it was noticed that the roof +ascended, while the floor was lowered to that extent that they could +easily stand at their full height--a luxury which any one in their +situation would have appreciated. It was dry, and there was nothing to +make them uncomfortable. Expressions of delight came from all, excepting +him who had taken them to the retreat. He seemed to enjoy listening to +the praise bestowed upon his choice. + +"Ah! if some of the poor fellows who were fleeing from Monacacy and the +woods, after the battle," said Ned, "could have stumbled upon this they +would have been safe." + +"And even if they had been seen," added Jo, "they could have turned it +into a fort itself, and held out against ten times their number." + +"Then why can we not make the same use of it?" asked Rosa. "It will +serve us if Colonel Butler happens to discover where we are hid." + +"He isn't going to discover us," put in Worrell, with a confidence which +gave the youths greater faith in their safety than before; but which, +strange to say, impressed Rosa in the opposite manner. + +It was the manner rather than the words that grated on her +sensibilities, and she found her old mistrust of the man deeper than +before. It struck her that he was too ready to declare they were now +beyond the reach of Colonel Butler and his men. It was like parrying a +blow before it was struck, though the young men readily saw in the words +which called out the remark sufficient cause for the same. With this +suspicion came a conviction that, despite the critical position in which +they seemed to be placed, when awaiting the return of the Mohawk, they +had committed a perilous blunder in leaving the spot where he would +expect to find them. + +"I said there was no danger of our being discovered by Colonel Butler or +any of his men; but maybe that was putting it too strong, for I suppose +that we are always in danger as long as them redskins are within a dozen +miles of us; but what I meant to say was, that there ain't any spot +anywhere among these mountains where you can feel safer from the enemy +than here." + +This is what he ought to have said in the first place, as it seemed to +Rosa, and yet the after effect of the words was almost as if they had +been uttered at the right time. A strange compound is that which goes to +make up the emotions of man and woman; for with the expression just +given, Rosa Minturn experienced something like a revulsion of feeling, +and reproved herself that she should have suspected the man at all. She +saw in him nothing but a simple-minded hunter-settler, who was a +fugitive for the time being like themselves, and was anxious to befriend +them to the best of his ability. The most circumspect and devoted ally +would have acted as he did. Because he was dressed in rather shabby +attire, and was unattractive in person, should she doubt his loyalty? +Had she not lived long enough to learn that "the rank is but a guinea's +stamp," and that, though repulsive without, he might be "a man for a' +that?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +CURIOUS PROCEEDINGS. + + +In the twilight of the underground apartment, the figures of each were +dimly discernible, but there was abundance of room for all to circulate +without interfering with each other. Ned conducted the girl to the +furthest extremity of the cavern, where it would seem that the couches +of the ancient occupants had been placed. + +"You are wearied and tired," said he, in a tender voice. "Let me beg you +to use your chance while it is here. Recline in the corner and Jo and I +will keep watch." + +"But you and he need rest as well as I!" she protested. "Why not seek it +now?" + +"Perhaps we may. I will talk to him, but don't think of us. Here seems +to be some sort of blanket." + +At this moment Worrell called out: + +"You'll find a blanket near where you are standing. I left it a few +weeks ago when I was hunting in these parts." + +Everything seemed to be as they wished, and Rosa accepted the +invitation, which was emphasized by her own sense of its need. She sat +down on the blanket, with her head resting against a large stone behind +her, just as she had sat many a time in the old armchair at home, and +she had scarcely assumed the position when she sank into slumber. + +"Well, now you are here," said Worrell, as Ned Clinton came back from +where Rosa was reclining, "how do you mean to pass the time?" + +"Jo and I, here, are half dead for sleep, and if we can put in a couple +of hours or so, it will make new fellows of us." + +"What's to hinder? Why don't you lay down and sleep all you want to?" + +"It looks like running great risk for all three of us to commit +ourselves to slumber when the Indians might steal in and nab every one +of us." + +Worrell laughed. + +"I never seen anybody so backward about asking a favor as you. If I +hadn't pumped that out of you, you two would have sat here winking, and +blinking, and nodding for hours, just 'cause you had a notion in your +heads that there was some danger in going to sleep." + +"We may take turns about it," said Jo. "But we could not consent that +all of us should be unconscious at the same time." + +Again the fellow laughed, as though it was all a capital joke. + +"I put in ten, good, solid hours of slumber here last night, and I can't +do any more of it before midnight, if I was to be paid a thousand pounds +for it." + +"And you are willing to stay here a couple of hours while we sleep?" + +"Nothing will give me greater pleasure." + +"I don't know how we shall ever pay you for your kindness." + +"By never saying nothing about it. Come, we're losing too much time; +you'll get no sleep at all if you never stop talking. Lay down at once, +for I ca'c'late you ain't partic'lar about having a straw bed, nor very +soft pillers." + +Again expressing their gratitude to the man for his repeated kindness, +Ned and Jo stretched themselves upon the flinty floor, and quickly +glided into the land of dreams. Slumber, indeed, they all needed, for +the most athletic and hardened frame, the toughest and most enduring +system, must have time in which to recuperate the exhausted energies. +Five minutes from the time Ned Clinton spoke the last words to the +settler, the latter was the only one within the cavern who possessed his +senses. In the far corner scarcely visible in the dim light of the +place, reclined the lovely Rosa, and nearer, in full view, were +stretched the forms of her two friends--all handsome and attractive, but +as helpless as so many babes. + +For a brief while after the slumber of the whites had come upon them, +Worrell, the straggling farmer, sat near the entrance of the cavern, the +stone which served as a door being partly drawn aside, so that a flood +of light made its way through, and fell directly on his countenance. It +was a curious scene--the three unconscious forms, while the fourth was +wider awake than ever. He was sitting at the very entrance, the light +which streamed in striking him in such a way that all was in shadow +excepting his hat, shoulders, and face. The slouched head-gear was +thrown back, showing a low forehead, while the hair that lay in matted +and spiked masses on and around his crown was of a grizzled brown +color--that which dangled from beneath his hat when he met the young +scouts being of as fiery a red as were the whiskers themselves. + +So curious an exhibition proved that it was never done by the hand of +nature! The whiskers themselves looked genuine, until a movement of the +hand caused a displacement, such as could not have taken place, had they +been attached to the face by a natural growth. + +The man muttered impatiently, glanced toward the sleeping forms of the +youths, and drew back into the shadow until he could set all right +again. Then, satisfied that they were in too deep slumber to notice his +actions, he leaned forward, throwing his head and shoulders into the +sunlight as before. And why sat he there so close to the opening of the +cavern? Was it that he might the better hear the sound of danger when it +came that way? Was it that he meant that his ward and watch should be as +faithful as if it were his own loved ones whom he was guarding against +the approach of wolves or ravening beasts? It might be all this--it +might be otherwise. + +A few more minutes passed, and he turned and looked toward the young men +with a piercing, penetrating glance, as if something aroused his +suspicion. He did not stir as he pronounced the name of Ned Clinton in +quite a loud voice, repeating it several times, and doing the same in +the case of Jo Minturn. The slumber of both was too deep to be disturbed +by such trivial causes, and he received no answer. + +"I don't believe they're playing possum," he muttered to himself, +staring distrustfully toward them. "But it won't do to make any blunder +right here." + +To prevent any error, he rose softly and walked to where they were +sleeping. Brief listening told him that their regular breathing was not +feigned, but he leaned over and shook each in turn by the shoulder, +pronouncing their names in louder tones than before. The slumber +continued undisturbed. A muttered exclamation escaped the man again, one +expressive of pleasure at the discovery. + +"They'll sleep till to-morrow morning if nobody comes along to wake 'em +up. The trouble is with that deuced Mohawk, who has a way of turning up +just when he isn't wanted. But I don't think he'll get a chance to put +his finger in this pie." + +He looked over in the gloom toward the corner where he could catch the +outlines of the head of Rosa Minturn, as it rested against a large +stone. Then he appeared to be of the opinion that the time had come for +action of some kind. He moved to the cavern door but did not stay there; +with scarcely a pause, he stooped down and speedily placed himself on +the outside of the mountain retreat. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? + + +As soon as Worrell found himself on the outside of the cavern, he walked +rapidly for a hundred yards or so, taking a direction at right angles to +that which he followed when conducting the fugitives to the retreat. His +gait became almost a run until he reached an elevation, when he paused, +as if to make a survey of a portion of the country spread out below him. + +"The sun is almost overhead," he muttered, as he looked up to the sky +with an impatient expression, "and I am all of an hour behind time, but +this is one of them things that can't be fixed just as you want it, and +I don't see why it should make any difference." + +He was gazing at the section which lay spread out at his feet, and was +between him and the Susquehanna. His eyes first roved in a quick, +restless way over the broad stretch of woods and clearings, as if +seeking for some object upon which to rest. At the end of a few minutes, +his gaze became fixed upon a place where stood a small house in the +middle of a clearing. It evidently belonged to one of the settlers in +the Wyoming valley, who had been smitten with the panic which drove so +many from their homes, and had fled without taking any of his stock with +him, or destroying his property to prevent it falling into the hands of +the enemy. + +The manner of Worrell showed that he awaited some person or signal in +connection with this house, but he was disappointed. The tomb itself +could not have been more deserted and desolate, and he gazed until sure +there was nothing on or about it which was intended for his eye. + +"That's the way it always is," he muttered. "I have got everything fixed +just as I promised, and now they turn up missing at the very time they +ought to be on hand. I suppose I've got to hunt 'em up, and that may +take me till dark, by which time that Mohawk will put in his oar." + +He spent a few more minutes searching for something which did not +appear. Then he advanced to a small tree that grew on the edge of the +open space where he had halted, and drawing a large red handkerchief +from his pocket, bent down a small sapling and tied the silk to it. As +the little tree flew back to its upright position, there was enough +breeze to make the signal rise and float in the wind. The man stood off +a few paces, and watched it. + +"I can't improve on that," he said to himself. "If they will only look +this way, they can't help seeing it, and it will tell the story; but the +trouble is, there is no knowing when they will take the trouble to look +this way. Faugh! why didn't they leave the whole thing to me? It would +have been ended by this time, and there would have been no after-clap, +but this waiting and bother is what will upset the whole arrangement +unless they come up to time better than they are likely to do." + +Impatient as he was, he was obliged to content himself, while he kept an +unremitting watch on the house and its surroundings, occasionally giving +vent to his feelings by a series of expletives. In fact, Worrell, who +now showed himself to himself, as it may be said, was altogether a less +prepossessing character than the one who had so kindly conducted the +fugitives to the hiding-place in the woods, and bidden them sleep while +he watched over their slumbers. Suddenly he started. He had discerned +something for which he was waiting. Moving to the edge of the open +space, he gazed with the keenness of one whose life depended upon making +no mistake as to what he saw. The house which engaged so much of his +attention was a quarter of a mile distant. The wonder was how he +distinguished anything so far off with enough certainty to determine its +character; but he had done so. + +"Better late than never," he muttered; "though it looked awhile ago as +if it was to be never. Yes," he added, a moment after, "they are there, +and it won't take them long to find out that I am here." + +So it proved; for, in a few minutes there was an answering signal waving +from an upper window of the house in the form of a handkerchief of a +white color, swung by the hand of a man instead of the wind, as in the +former case. + +"I don't know as there's any use of my waiting any longer," he growled, +"for I don't s'pose they'll come to me, and I may as well go to them, +for there is no telling where that infernal Mohawk is. I wouldn't meet +him for all the Colonel Butlers that ever breathed. He is the devil +himself, and I prefer to keep out of his path." + +Impressed with the value of time, the man gripped the sapling and swung +it violently, so as to make the red handkerchief wave in the breeze. +Then he started down the mountain, taking a direction which led him +straight toward the house in which he had shown so much interest from +the first. All the way was down-hill, and Worrell walked like one +accustomed to the woods, making such good time that at the end of ten +minutes he was with the parties whom he was anxious to see and meet. Who +were they? + +Six Indians, under the charge of Captain Bagley, who has already been +introduced to our readers. + +A glance at the painted warriors showed they were Iroquois, who were +following so vigilantly the fugitives that had managed to elude them +thus far. Bagley emerged from the house and shook hands with Worrell, +the two at once entering into a hurried conversation, while the Indians, +in accordance with their nature, stood apart, saying nothing to each +other, but satisfied to wait till the time should come for them to act +in obedience to the orders of their leader. Something was wrong, for +Bagley and Worrell continued talking a long time, each earnest and +abounding with gesture. As might be supposed, it was Lena-Wingo, the +Mohawk, that had caused the trouble. Several of the warriors had seen +him in another direction, and an encounter of some kind had taken place +between the celebrated scout and the Iroquois, with the result that +Colonel Butler had now two less men than before. + +Captain Bagley was of the opinion that the half dozen with him were +insufficient to enter the cave and secure the fugitives sleeping there. +He wanted about as many more before making the attempt. Worrell insisted +there should be no delay. The three were in sound slumber, and all they +had to do was to enter the cavern, take possession of their arms, and +then the trio themselves. Captain Bagley's objection to this was that +because of the time that had elapsed, they would not be found asleep +when his men arrived there. + +Furthermore, from what his informant told him, he was confident the +Mohawk would reach the cavern ahead of them, in which event it would be +vain to attack them with only six Indians and two white men, even though +these eight were among the bravest soldiers that had entered the +Wyoming valley. It was folly, in his opinion, to try such a task without +a force that would insure success from the first. Worrell, however, was +as vehement for an immediate advance, insisting that all that was needed +was promptness. A liberal reward had been promised him, and would +assuredly be his if his plan was carried to a successful completion. At +last, his importunity prevailed when he promised to be the first one to +enter the cavern, and the start was made. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +UP AND DOING. + + +Worrell, the traitor, had been gone nearly an hour from the cavern in +which the three fugitives were sleeping, when Rosa Minturn awoke, no +doubt because she was not so much in need of sleep as the others, and +held a lingering suspicion of the loyalty of the man who had brought +them to the retreat. This distrust went to sleep with her, but it is a +peculiarity of the mind that the emotions which have been with us +through our waking hours frequently remain with us when we are wrapped +in slumber. It is as if the innumerable train that is forever wending +its way through the mysterious labyrinths of the brain repeats the +procession, and those which affected us the most strongly when in +command of our senses often do the same when we are unconscious. But +without stopping to consider the question, suffice it to say that at the +time mentioned Rosa opened her eyes in full possession of her +faculties, and with the impression that the man Worrell was an enemy +instead of a friend. + +She did not move at first, supposing he was still within the cavern; +but, as she peered cautiously around the dimly lighted space, she saw +only the forms of her two sleeping friends. The fact at once deepened +the suspicion, and caused her great distress of mind, for all doubt of +the hostility of the man was removed upon making the discovery. Still +she supposed it possible that he was close at hand, and waited several +minutes to see whether he reappeared; but her condition of mind was such +that every second of delay caused her increasing uneasiness. + +"I am sure he has gone to tell Colonel Butler and the Indians where we +are," she said to herself, as she rose and walked to where her brother +was asleep. + +Stooping over, she shook him by the shoulder until he opened his eyes +and, recognizing her, asked what the matter was. + +"That man has gone." + +"Where has he gone?" + +"To tell the Indians we are here!" + +Jo sprang to his feet. + +"What are you talking about, Rosa? What do you mean?" + +"Just as I say; he has gone to bring the Indians, and will soon be back, +too." + +"How do you know that?" + +"Don't ask me, but I _know_ what I say." + +This was alarming news, and though Jo suspected his sister based all +upon her dislike of the man, without positive knowledge of the facts, +yet he was impressed with the belief that she had good cause for her +words. + +"He may be on the outside, keeping watch," said the youth, after they +had talked over the matter. "Wait till I take a look. If he can't be +found, we'll awake Ned." + +Jo crept out of the cavern dreading a hostile shot as he did so, and +made as thorough an examination of the surroundings as was possible. He +saw nothing of the man whom they missed, that individual at that moment +being a quarter of a mile or more away, holding his vehement argument +with Captain Bagley about the advance with the six Iroquois upon the +sleeping fugitives. His invisibility confirmed the young man in his +misgivings as to the treachery of the man. + +"I have no doubt Rosa is right," he muttered, as he walked thoughtfully +back toward the cavern. "She was always quick to detect anything like +that, and it is strange that neither Ned nor I had any such thought. The +only thing that troubled us was whether we could convince Lena-Wingo we +did right in leaving the place where he left us. The thought never +entered our heads that there was anything of this kind in the wind." + +He had reached the mouth of the cavern again, where his sister was +anxiously waiting him. + +"Did you find anything of him?" + +"No," he answered, with a shake of the head. "I believe you are right; +the man has gone off somewhere after his promise to keep watch over us +while we slept; that's enough for me. Is Ned awake?" + +"Not that I am aware of." + +"He must be aroused at once, for it will not do to stay here after what +has taken place." + +Jo passed inside and awakened his friend, without pausing to be very +gentle as to the means. It took but a minute to make plain the trouble. +He became as alert and suspicious as they on the instant. + +"There!" he exclaimed; "I had a suspicion when he came under the tree +that I had seen him somewhere." + +"So had I, but I couldn't recall where and when it was." + +"Don't you remember when the battle was going on the other day, we saw +one man among the Tories who was tomahawking the whites as savagely as +any of them?" + +"Yes, I remember him well, but he didn't look like this fellow!" + +"Not a great deal, that's true, but I believe it was he for all that." + +Jo was silent for a moment, as if in deep thought. + +"There was something about him that reminds me of this fellow, though +one had whiskers and the other had not, and it is hard to tell just how +they resemble each other." + +The youths were more anxious to take themselves and Rosa away from the +cavern than they were to discuss the question, upon which they agreed +quite well. Hastily picking up their rifles, they passed outside. When +they found themselves within the shelter of the wood again, and beyond +the vision of any one who might approach the retreat, the relief was +inexpressible. + +"We agree that the counsel of Rosa was wise," said Ned Clinton, as they +came to a halt, "but you see how it may be possible she was mistaken. +Now it won't do to go wandering too far from the place, for when the +Mohawk comes back and finds us gone he may not hunt for us." + +"Why not, then, go back over the same route that we followed in coming +here?" asked Jo. + +"That is what I would like to do, if it wasn't for the danger; it seems +to me that that is the path which Worrell will take when he starts for +the cavern again with his Indians, and we don't want to meet him face to +face, for we can do that by waiting in the cavern." + +"I have it!" exclaimed Ned. "I will take the back trail alone, on the +lookout for the Mohawk and for the white man, too. What do you say?" + +"And shall Rosa and I wait here till you come back?" + +"That will be the safer plan, unless another Worrell comes along and +takes you away to a new cavern or hiding-place." + +"We will be as safe here as anywhere," said Rosa, believing that her +opinion would have some weight in the matter. + +"I suspect she is right," assented her brother. "If the Iroquois come to +the cavern and find we have left, they will think we have got as far +away as we can, and they won't be apt to look for us so close at hand; +and then, too, these stones over which we have traveled haven't left any +trail for them to follow." + +"Which shows why you shouldn't go hunting for some other location, +unless the Indians happen to come so close that you can't help it, for +it will be impossible for me to hunt you up." + +This was simple truth, and Jo promised that nothing should be done to +increase the difficulty of their speedy reunion, whenever his friend +should want to find him and Rosa again. The day was passing and it +seemed that they were trifling away the time which was so valuable to +all the fugitives. There was something, too, in the continued absence of +their guide, Lena-Wingo, that caused them uneasiness. They recalled that +he had promised a speedy return, and it was rarely that the Mohawk made +them a promise which was not fulfilled in spirit and letter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +A STARTLING CHECK. + + +Ned and Jo had said nothing to each other about the continued absence of +the Mohawk, for whatever they might utter would necessarily be +conjecture, and would only excite the alarm of Rosa without +accomplishing any good. But it was in the thoughts of both, and when Ned +bade the two good-bye for a season, it occupied more of his speculations +than did the movements of the man who had played them false. + +"One can never lose faith in Lena-Wingo, and yet the pitcher may go to +the fountain once too often," he mused, as he picked his way with the +greatest care. "And that great scout is likely to fall at any time. A +single rifle ball may do it, and he cannot tell whether there is not +more than one of his own race in hiding, waiting patiently till he shall +come that way and receive his death. He has escaped so often that he +must become careless of his own safety, and will pay the penalty one of +these days." + +Ned had fixed the route so clearly in his own mind that he found no +difficulty in retracing the steps taken when he was following the +leadership of Worrell. He was apprehensive that he would meet him on his +return, probably with a number of Indians. He therefore picked his way +with all the care and stealth of which he was master. He imitated the +actions of Lena-Wingo under similar circumstances. Frequently pausing +and listening for sounds of his enemies, he used his eyes as keenly as +he could for the detection of the first sign of approaching danger. This +kind of progress was not of the most rapid order, but it was the wisest +that could have been adopted, and he continued it for half an hour. At +the end of that time, he reached the base of the tree from the branches +of which he fired the shot that brought Worrell from behind the rock. + +"Here is where we met him," he said to himself, "and I have a feeling +that he isn't very far away now. What a wise girl Rosa is!" he added, +with a blush, as if fearful she had heard the complimentary words. "She +mistrusted that villain from the first, and gave us the alarm just in +time to save ourselves." + +Having reached the spot for which he set out, the question with the +youth was whether he should stay where he was or go further. He had seen +nothing of Lena-Wingo and Worrell--a disappointment in both cases, +though of a different nature. + +"I can't see why the Indian stays away so long, unless something unusual +has happened. He must know how much we are alarmed over his absence, and +he would be back if it were possible." + +Waiting a short time, he concluded to advance a little farther, so as to +meet either of the two men if they were approaching, while at a greater +distance from the cavern, though he was not unmindful that he was liable +to miss them altogether. However, he had gone less than a hundred yards +when he detected the signs of some one coming immediately in front. It +was his ear which heard a crackling of a twig, so close that he had +barely time to leap aside and conceal himself from view when the figure +of Worrell, closely followed by Captain Bagley, came up a sort of path +toward the open space from which Ned had fled in such haste. The youth +barely caught sight of them when the forms of six Iroquois appeared, +one by one, immediately in the rear of the two white men. + +When Ned saw the latter, he was much concerned, fearing that they would +detect the slight trail he must have left in his hurry for cover. But it +was too late to make any further flight, as he would be discovered from +the noise, if not by the sight. + +From his concealment he watched the party, their manner of marching +being peculiar, as the eight walked in Indian file. Worrell, being the +guide, took the lead. Bagley kept so close that they could hold a +conversation in low tones, while the Iroquois stalked along like so many +phantoms of the wood. + +If Ned was alarmed at sight of the redmen, knowing their skill in +detecting and following a trail of an enemy, he was thrown into a cold +perspiration of dread when the whole party halted in the open space from +which he had bounded when he heard the crackling twig. The clear space +covered something like an eighth of an acre, and Clinton was too +disturbed to notice that the particular spot where the group was +gathered was so far removed from his footprints that there was really +little danger of their being noticed. But when they had stood awhile, +and the two white men began a conversation, he noticed the gratifying +fact and became composed enough to listen to the words that passed +between Captain Bagley and Worrell. + +"You may say what you please," said the former, "but there is more risk +in this business than I want to assume. You are so anxious to get the +reward promised by Colonel Butler that you can't see the difficulties in +the way." + +"If there were any difficulties I would see them, but they ain't there. +Where's the difficulty in eight armed men taking possession of two who +are asleep, and a woman who is also unconscious?" + +"None, of course, when you put it in that way; but the Mohawk is +somewhere about, and, as I told you a while ago, he has a way of turning +up just when you don't want to see him." + +"These Iroquois say they want to meet him, and if he is there, they'll +have the chance." + +"But I ain't anxious to meet him, and if he is about, as I feel in my +bones he is, there'll be the mischief to pay." + +Worrell uttered an imprecation. He had been obliged to keep up an +argument with the captain ever since they started from the house with +the Indians--even before; and now the man had halted again, more loth +than ever to proceed. It was plain that he held the Mohawk in great +fear. + +"Where is this cave in which you say the party are asleep?" he asked, in +reply to the explanation of the guide. + +"You have only to go a little way further with me and you'll see it," +replied Worrell, who was evidently unwilling that any one should share so +valuable a secret with him. + +"Colonel Butler has all of twenty of the best Iroquois with him, and the +wisest thing for us is to go to his camp, tell him how the case stands, +and get him to let us have eight or ten more; then we can come back and +lay regular siege to the place. Then we shall be sure of catching them +sooner or later." + +"Yes, at the end of a month or so, and it won't do for Butler to stay +much longer in the valley. He knows it, and will leave in a day or two." + +"But why speak of waiting a month before they can be taken, when thirst +and starvation will bring them to terms in a couple of days at the +most?" + +"It will, eh?" said Worrell, contemptuously. "There is a spring of water +in one corner of the cavern, and they have enough provisions stored +there to last all of a month." + +"How came the provisions in that place?" + +"I took them there myself, for I have used the cave many a time." + +This was a falsehood, so far as the water and food were concerned, the +cavern containing nothing of the kind. + +"Do not any of these Iroquois know where the place is?" + +"Of course not, and there is no danger of the Mohawk finding it under +two or three days' hunt." + +"You needn't tell me such stuff as that," said Captain Bagley. "There's +nothing that you can hide from him." + +"This is a pretty crowd that is afraid to go forward because there +happens to be a single Indian somewhere in the woods. If you want to +stay behind, let me have the warriors, and I will take them to the spot, +and deliver the three into the hands of Colonel Butler inside of an +hour. What do you say to that?" + +"You are so determined, you may lead on, and we'll follow." + +"Well, let's do it, then, without any more--" + +At that instant, the crack of a rifle broke the stillness, and the man +Worrell threw up his hand and fell forward on his face, dead! + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +A MERITED FATE. + + +The amazement of Ned Clinton was no greater than that of Captain Bagley +and the Indians over the sudden death of Worrell. For one moment the +comrades of the deceased stood transfixed, staring at the inanimate form +stretched on the ground before them. Then the Iroquois gave out their +war whoop, and sprang to the cover of the nearest undergrowth. This +brought them much nearer the youth than was pleasant. The thought struck +him that these warriors would believe the one who fired the fatal shot +was near by, and begin a search which must result in revealing Clinton +himself. The precautionary action of the redmen served to recall Captain +Bagley to his own situation, and he raised his gaze from the prostrate +figure, and looked affrightedly around him. + +"It was that Mohawk who fired that shot!" he exclaimed, making a hurried +rush for the same cover that was sheltering the half dozen Iroquois. + +As fate would have it, he crouched down in the undergrowth so close to +Ned Clinton that the latter believed discovery was inevitable. He was +well hidden, however, and flattened out until it seemed he must force +himself into the ground, while he feared if the Tory escaped seeing him, +he would learn of his presence from the throbbing of his heart. But +there was one thing in favor of the youth. The shot--by whomsoever +fired--had come from exactly the opposite direction, a fact which was +perceptible to the Iroquois themselves even if unnoticed by the young +man at the time. + +Perfect stillness succeeded the report, and when some ten minutes +passed, the warriors appeared to suspect their inaction would permit the +daring Mohawk to escape, when there was a chance to secure his scalp. At +the end of the time mentioned, Ned, from his concealment, caught a +glimpse of two warriors stealing along the edge of the open space. Their +backs were toward him, thus showing they were pursuing an opposite +direction in quest of the one who had slain their leader. Shortly after +he detected others, and last of all went Captain Bagley himself, he +having changed from a leader to a follower. Thus in a brief time Ned +found himself alone, with no one in sight excepting the inanimate form, +now stark and stiff, telling its impressive story of a miscreant cut +down in the middle of his wicked career. + +"I wonder whether it was Lena-Wingo who did that," mused the youth, +raising his head and peering through the undergrowth at the form. +"Captain Bagley believed so, and I guess he was right, for I can't think +of any one else who would do it." + +After what had taken place, Ned was in doubt as to what his own course +should be. From the conversation which he overheard between Worrell and +Bagley, he knew that none of the survivors was aware of the location of +the cavern, so that the fugitives might stay within it in safety. The +youth concluded he had seen enough to carry back to his friends. He, +therefore, cautiously retreated from the hiding-place, not wishing to +encounter any of the Indians, who could be at no great distance, and +desirous, too, of avoiding another sight of the dead man. It took but a +short time to reach the tree, where he had first seen the one who had +attempted to betray them, and who had come near succeeding, too, in the +effort. + +"I don't know that anything is to be gained by staying here, and I will +go back to where I left Jo and Rosa, and tell them they may take refuge +in the cavern without any danger or disturb--" + +At that instant he heard a stealthy movement behind him, and he was in +dread of a collision with some of the Iroquois, who seemed to be almost +everywhere in the forest and on the mountain. As he wheeled about, there +was the redman, painted and with gun in his grasp; but it was the redman +whom, of all others, he was anxious to see, being no other than +Lena-Wingo, the scout. + +"Thank the Lord!" was the fervent exclamation of the youth, as he rushed +toward the Mohawk and caught his hand. "Where have you been so long?" + +Lena-Wingo took the proffered hand and shook it warmly, for he held the +youth in the highest estimation, as he had shown on more than one +occasion. At the same time, he put on his usual broad grin, and replied, +in his broken way: + +"Lena-Wingo been watching you. Seen you hide in bushes when Iroquois +come, and he watch." + +"That was you, then, who picked off Worrell?" + +"Who Worrell?" demanded the Mohawk, sharply. + +"Why, that chap that was shot while talking to Captain Bagley." + +"His name not Worrell," said Lena-Wingo. "He Dick Evans." + +"No!" gasped Ned, in return. + +"That he--Lena-Wingo look good while for him--found him--shoot +him--won't kill any more women and babies." + +And who was Dick Evans, that the mention of his name should cause so +much emotion on the part of those who heard it pronounced? He was one of +the most infamous wretches produced by the Revolutionary war. He had +been heard of in Wyoming valley for years before the invasion of the +Tories and Indians, and was looked upon as an outlaw who was compelled +to live in the woods to escape the penalty of his innumerable crimes +against civilization. There was no deed too dark for him to perpetrate. +When the Revolution broke out he turned against the land that gave him +birth, and committed atrocities that no other Tory or Indian had +exceeded. It was well known that he had slain women and children in more +than one instance, and when he held the power no one expected mercy at +his hands. He was one of the most wicked of beings and more than +deserved the death which came to him with the bullet aimed and fired by +the Mohawk. + +The latter had declared to more than one person that he would shoot him +like a dog at the first opportunity. With the defiant nature of his +race, he sent the man himself word by a Seneca Indian that he was +looking for him, and intended to keep it up until able to draw a bead on +him. Evans sent word back in reply, that he was also looking for the +Mohawk, and dared him to shoot him if he could. The only palliating +characteristic of the despicable wretch was his bravery, and he really +did do his utmost to gain a shot at the Indian who had threatened him. +But he engaged in a game in which his antagonist was his superior, and +had paid the penalty. + +The body was left where it fell, for another of the peculiarities of +Lena-Wingo was that, for a number of years, he had refused to take the +scalp of his fallen foe. At the time the Mohawk shot Evans, he suspected +he was leading the party in search of the fugitives in the mountain; but +the scout was so far removed from the two men while they were talking, +that he failed to gain the import of their words. He therefore knew +nothing of the scheme which had been so skillfully laid for entrapping +the three whites. When Ned came to tell him the story, the Indian was +astonished. He had not dreamt of any such thing, for he supposed that +his friends would await him where he told them to stay and not suffer +themselves to be persuaded to disobey him. He showed that he was +displeased, but he said little, and the feeling was not deep. Ned +Clinton generously assumed all the blame himself, and, like the +lightning-rod, it did not take him long to draw the lightning from the +wrathful cloud, so that all became serene again. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +THE MOHAWK EXPLAINS. + + +When Ned had told Lena-Wingo all, and succeeded in restoring him to good +humor, he attempted to draw from the Indian an idea of what he had been +doing since he left them. But the youth did not gain much satisfactory +information. The interview lasted but a short time, when Lena-Wingo +proposed that they should return to their friends, who must be quite +anxious over their continued absence. He added, also, that they could +not but be hungry--a want which he took particular pains to satisfy. On +the way to where the brother and sister had been left, the Mohawk turned +off to the right, and drew from beneath a fallen tree two goodly-sized +loaves of bread and fully ten pounds of well-cooked meat. + +"Where in the name of the seven wonders did you get that?" asked Ned. + +"Lena-Wingo make bread and cook meat," grinned the redskin. + +"Come, now, that won't do," laughed his young friend. "You might have +cooked a piece of meat, but you never baked a loaf of bread in your +life. You have been making a call upon some of the folks in the valley." + +"No--not that--Tory call on settler--Tory make bread--then go to +sleep--then Lena-Wingo call on Tory--go 'way--take bread." + +That told the whole story. The Mohawk had made a raid upon some of the +thieves in the valley who had robbed some of the patriots only to be +spoiled in turn. Such being the fact, the food could not but taste all +the better to the fugitives, who were in sore need of nourishment. + +The fact that several Iroquois were on the hunt for Lena-Wingo appeared +to cause that individual no concern. He walked forward as unconcernedly +as if there were no such things as war and hostile men of his own race. +He agreed with Ned that it was safe to occupy the cavern while they were +compelled to hide, and until he could complete his arrangements for +guiding Rosa into Wilkesbarre. It was prudent to keep her out of their +sight while the Tories and Indians were making diligent search for her, +and the way was not clear to run the gauntlet. The Iroquois being +new-comers, it was hardly possible that any of them knew the location of +the cave which had been occupied by the whites. + +The conversation which Ned overheard between Bagley and Evans confirmed +this supposition. + +As they journeyed, Lena-Wingo gradually divulged what he had been at +during the afternoon, and why it was he had been absent so much longer +than he intended. The scout had been into Wilkesbarre! + +Before attempting to conduct Rosa thither he wished to reconnoitre the +ground, and was more successful than he expected. Stealing up close to +the rude fortifications, he managed to make himself recognized, and +secured admission without any of his enemies suspecting the daring act. +Had he been accompanied by Rosa at this time, he could have conducted +her safely within; but he established an understanding with the inmates, +so as to feel sure that when the time came to make the effort, he would +run no risk of being injured by his friends, or of having his entrance +dangerously delayed when he should claim admittance. In leaving the +town, the Mohawk was observed by several Iroquois, and became engaged +with them, but escaped with his usual good fortune. + +Lena-Wingo had no more than finished his narration when the cavern was +reached, and they paused a moment or two to examine it. The Mohawk +entered, and as he came back reported that it was as when he last saw +it, adding that no place existed in the neighborhood which would serve +as well for a real hiding-place for the young lady while her friends +were preparing for the entry into Wilkesbarre. Taking this as his +starting point again, Ned Clinton had no difficulty in finding the spot +where he had bid good-bye to Jo and his sister. By the time the place +was fairly identified, the two came forward and greeted him and the +Mohawk. + +The meeting was pleasant to all, for there was something in the presence +of the famous and skillful scout that filled the three with confidence +and hope. When he revealed the provisions he brought, there was some +merriment, increased by the narration that Ned gave as to the manner in +which it had been secured. The last food the fugitives ate was on the +night preceding, so that all were in the condition to appreciate his +thoughtful kindness. When the noonday meal was finished they had made a +goodly-sized reduction of the supply. The sensation of the occasion came +afterward, when Ned told how Evans had met his end at the hands of the +Mohawk, after completing his arrangements to capture the sleeping +fugitives in the cavern. + +Jo and his sister shuddered at the thought that they had been so nearly +in the hands of the fearful scourge of the valley, and it was hard to +understand why he spared them as they slept. The remembrance that the +three had actually allowed themselves to become unconscious while he +mounted guard over them, made all tremble as though the danger was not +yet passed. Rosa and Jo expected that the Mohawk would be angered when +he learned how his wishes had been disregarded, but Ned had already +succeeded in calming his impatience. The event could not but be a lesson +to all, since it was that disregard which came so near defeating the +whole plan of procedure. None of the friends made any reference to it, +nor did Lena-Wingo, but there came a resolve which took a deep hold of +the hearts of the three that hereafter, while in the woods, the +instructions of the Mohawk should be followed to the letter, even +though the threatened consequences were death itself. + +The provisions which were left were carefully gathered up and carried to +the cavern, which it was agreed should remain their headquarters. It was +near midday, the sun only having slightly crossed the meridian. The +weather was so warm that all were glad of the chance to spend an hour or +two in doing nothing. Near by was a small stream of clear, cool, gushing +water, from which they slaked their thirst, while they sat down beneath +a large tree, to listen to the plan the Mohawk had decided upon. This he +explained briefly, for the scheme was simple and easily comprehended, it +being nothing more than to wait where they were until he could find the +easiest way by which to enter Wilkesbarre. + +The establishment of an understanding with the garrison was a necessary +step, in which he had been fortunate. It had been his aim to do this +also without discovery, and, had he succeeded, he would have conducted +the entire party around to the opposite side, and run safely into +shelter with them before sunset. The Iroquois having detected him as he +was coming out, the difficulty of the return was greatly increased. But +for the fact, also, that Captain Bagley had learned from Evans before +his death that the young lady was concealed in the woods, Lena-Wingo was +confident he could have made the warriors believe he had delivered her +there, and thus greatly simplified the real task of doing so. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE FATAL TREE. + + +Lena-Wingo's plan was to learn how large a force was on their side of +the river, how they were disposed, and what was the precise scheme of +the Tory colonel for the capture of the girl. When this was done, he +could decide in a very few minutes on the course to circumvent him. Now +that his friends were all together again, and were scarcely likely to be +molested for some time to come, there was no occasion so favorable as +the present in which to perform this duty. + +Accordingly he told them he should start within half an hour, and would +probably be gone the whole afternoon, for he meant to make his work so +thorough that there would be nothing remaining to be done after his +return except to enter Wilkesbarre that night, and most probably in the +early portion of the evening. Could he succeed, the campaign would be +ended and our story also; for once safely within the fortifications, the +persecuted girl would be beyond all further trouble or molestation from +the Tory leader, whose name must forever remain one of execration when +mentioned with that of Wyoming valley. Butler had not enough men to +venture across the river and attack Wilkesbarre by force, as there was a +goodly number still in his rear, who were sure to rise the instant the +opportunity were given, and avenge the atrocious massacre of neighbors +and friends. The only hope that he had was to secure the girl while +attempting to reach this place of safety, and there could be no doubt he +would strain every nerve to do so. + +The Mohawk told his friends that if they went to sleep in the evening +they must expect to be awakened by him, and must therefore be prepared. +He advised Rosa to spend the most of her time in the cavern, as no place +was more comfortable, and certainly none so safe. While there, her +friends should keep watch through the surrounding woods, for there was a +possibility of a visit from some of the Iroquois who might wander into +the section. A little care, therefore, would be like the ounce of +prevention, and might avert some serious difficulty. + +The fugitives promised that his suggestions should be considered in the +light of positive commands. And then, as Lena-Wingo arose to go, he +paused a minute or two while he explained a little secret about the +cavern which he believed was unknown to everybody except himself. This +was, that there was another means of ingress and egress to it, the +ancient occupants of the same having probably constructed a means of +escape in case their enemies should press them too hard. This consisted +of a narrow underground tunnel, running from the couch where Rosa had +obtained her brief rest, and rising to the surface beneath a broad flat +stone, near a mass of dense undergrowth. The entrance to it from the +interior of the cavern was covered in the same manner, and it is hardly +likely that Evans himself was aware of its existence. The stone that hid +the mouth at either end of the tunnel was so thin that a man could lift +it with a slight effort, and, no doubt, at some time or other they had +answered a good purpose. + +Jo and Ned were delighted with this discovery, and were confident that, +if a company of Iroquois should swoop down upon them, they could keep +them at bay until nightfall, and then steal out without discovery. +Nothing more remained for Lena-Wingo to say; and, as he was a man of +few words, he vanished almost immediately into the forest. + +"I don't apprehend that there is danger of our disregarding the wishes +of Lena-Wingo this time," said Ned, with a laugh, when they found +themselves alone. + +"No, I'll be hanged if there is!" replied Jo. "We have done that once or +twice, and it has always got us into trouble where he had to help us out +again." + +"I supposed that he would be angry when we spoke about it," remarked +Rosa, "but he showed no feeling at all." + +"I understand how that came about," added Jo, with a significant look +toward his friend. "Ned has made him believe it was all his fault, and +Lena-Wingo has poured out his wrath upon his head, so that none was left +for us." + +"Is that true?" asked Rosa, looking into the face of her admirer, who +blushed and tried to turn the conversation. + +As there was no escaping the accusation, Ned had to take a scolding from +Rosa herself, who loved him none the less for this little act of +self-abnegation. + +"See here!" exclaimed the victim, "One of the suggestions of Lena-Wingo +was that Jo and I should keep a lookout while the day lasted, so that +none of the big Indians might steal down here and eat up Rosa right +before our eyes. What do you say, Jo?" + +"That's what Red Jack told us," responded his friend, "and if he said +it, why, that insured its being a wise suggestion. I'm ready, and while +we're gone, Rosa ought to withdraw into the cavern." + +"So I think." + +It was she herself who made this last remark. As she did so she sprang +up, pulled the stone aside, and whisked within, disappearing from sight +like a fairy, pausing only long enough at the entrance to wave a light +adieu with her snow-white hand. Left to themselves once more, the youths +walked slowly away from the cavern, for they had a wish that, if seen, +their location might not suggest in the most remote manner, the +whereabouts of Rosa Minturn. + +"I don't suppose there's much we can do," said Jo, as they halted near +the spot where Ned Clinton had left the brother and sister. "You might +go over the same route that you followed when you were looking for the +Mohawk, as you have made yourself familiar with it." + +"That strikes me as a good plan," replied Ned; "there can be no telling +how long I'll be gone, as it will depend upon what I see, but if I can +discover nothing you may look for me back at the end of an hour or so." + +"All right," said Jo. "There's no hurry about it; come when you get +ready, and I'll do the same." + +And in this off-hand manner the young scouts separated, neither dreaming +that danger threatened. Ned followed the course indicated, now well +known to him. It was only a brief walk to the tree, and there he paused +awhile. + +"I was fortunate enough to make a discovery when I climbed that tree +this morning," he reflected, "and I may succeed in doing something of +the kind if I try it again. But I would rather fail, for I don't want to +see another Tory or Indian until Lena-Wingo comes back to us, ready to +lead the way into Wilkesbarre. But if there's any one there, I ought to +know it, so I'll take another look from the tree-top." + +He leaned his rifle against the trunk, and was about to make an upward +leap, for the sake of grasping the lowermost limb when he saw a hand +suddenly thrust from behind the tree, and his weapon was whisked out of +sight like a flash. Before he could recover from his amazement he was +surrounded by a half dozen Iroquois warriors and made prisoner! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +CAPTIVE AND CAPTORS. + + +The capture of Clinton by the six Iroquois was done as artistically as +if the whole thing were a play in which all had studied and rehearsed +their parts. The youth had not the least suspicion of the peril, until +he saw the hand suddenly extended and the rifle withdrawn at the same +moment he leaned it against the tree trunk. Then, before he was able to +form an idea of what it meant, the Indians came out, he was surrounded +and all escape cut off. His gun was beyond his reach, and, wherever he +turned, he was confronted by a painted and fully armed Indian warrior. + +Ned was confident that these were the same ones he had seen under the +command of Captain Bagley, and he looked around for that officer. But he +was not to be seen. It was a small matter, however, whether they were +the same redmen or not. It was not to be expected that there was any +perceptible difference between the Iroquois--let them come from whatever +part of the country they chose. + +The warriors seemed to enjoy the consternation depicted on the face of +their prisoner, who was speechless for a minute or so. But Ned was +brave, and there was no shrinking when he was called upon to face one of +the possibilities of the warfare in which he was engaged. The first +really strong emotion of which he was sensible was that of astonishment, +as he recalled the events of the past few days, during which he had met +with so many narrow escapes, both from death and capture. Now he had +fallen a victim just like a lamb when driven into a corner by the +slayer. The next matter which agitated him was the question whether the +Iroquois would kill him then and there, or whether they meant to +preserve him for future punishment and torture. It must have been that +they had received instructions from higher authorities that the whites, +whenever possible, were to be taken prisoners instead of being shot, for +they made no demonstration toward the fugitive in their power. + +After the first feeling of amazement passed, and the captors and +captured seemed to understand the situation more fully, the Iroquois +stood for several minutes in a conversation which seemed to Ned to +consist mainly of exclamations and gestures. He concluded they were +discussing what was best to do with him. As he was unable to catch the +meaning of a single word uttered, he busied himself in trying to read +their sentiments through the gestures in which they indulged. This was a +hard task, for they were not of a character natural and expressive to +him. But when the thing had lasted some time, he caught the name of +Lena-Wingo pronounced by one of them. This led the youth to suspect they +were discussing some other question, having determined what was to be +done with him long before. + +It might be that the warriors were arguing the question whether they +should attempt to reach the cavern, seeing that they had secured one of +the fugitives, who could conduct them direct to the spot. But, in case +such was their intention, Ned was resolved that he would die before +playing the part of guide and thus be the means of delivering Rosa into +the hands of Colonel Butler. If they addressed him, even, in broken +English, he could feign an ignorance of what they said; and, if it +should prove impossible to carry out that artifice, he would simply +refuse to lead them, and they could do their worst. Fortunately, +however, he was not subjected to the trial. The conversation lasted but +a short time, when the Indians seemed to conclude it wise for them to +leave the immediate neighborhood, for Lena-Wingo was abroad, and there +was no telling when or where he would strike, nor in what manner he +would call on them. + +"I suppose they're on their way to camp," thought Ned, following as +obediently as a child, "and I am likely to meet the great Colonel +Butler. I know what he thinks of me, and he won't be apt to adopt me as +a brother." + +The mind of the young man was very active, and he indulged in all kinds +of speculation as he moved toward his unknown destination. He was well +aware that the Tory commander held him in especial hatred, for the +reason that he knew that he loved Rosa Minturn, and suspected that she +loved him in return. Surrounded by such heartless allies as were the +Iroquois, a cruel man like the Tory could readily find the means of +doing what he willed in the way of punishing a rival in the affections +of a lady. After indulging in these reflections until he wearied, the +prisoner found himself wondering as to how long it would be before the +Mohawk would find out what had befallen his young friend. + +"I think he will conclude to give me up," muttered Ned, "for whenever he +goes off to look after the interests of Rosa, he comes back and finds +the rest of us have gotten into trouble. It would have been a great deal +better if he had left Jo and me at home, for we have been of little +help. He may be gone till long after dark, and when he returns it will +be too late for him to devote any attention to me, even if he has the +inclination to do so. As for Jo," continued Ned, following out his train +of thought, "it may be a long time ere he suspects what has befallen me; +I didn't set any fixed time when I would return, and may stay away as +long as Lena-Wingo himself before he will dream anything has happened." + +His thoughts were called from these speculations by the party having him +in charge. They came to a halt, and acted as if they had discovered +something of an alarming character. Several warriors darted to cover, as +if in quest of something in the undergrowth, while the others stood +listening and peering into the woods about them. It was natural that +Ned should suspect the presence of Lena-Wingo when he saw this, and his +heart beat high with the hope of some rescue organized by that scout, +who was so fertile in all the expedients of the war-path. Had he +reflected, he would have known that if the Mohawk had attempted any such +thing, he would have managed it in such a way that the Iroquois would +not have discovered it so readily. The halt lasted but a few minutes, +when the warriors who had gone into cover so suddenly reappeared, a few +words were exchanged, and the march was resumed. + +"I'd like to know what all that was for," thought Ned. "We have come +quite a distance," he added, looking up and about him, "and we ought to +be very near the camp of Colonel Butler by this time." + + +THE END. + + + The sequel to The Wilderness Fugitives + is entitled + "Lena-Wingo, the Mohawk." + + + + +HURLBUT'S STORY OF THE BIBLE + +FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION + +BY REV. JESSE LYMAN HURLBUT, D.D. + + * * * * * + +A BOOK FOR OLD AND YOUNG + +Told in language that interests both Old and Young. "Supersedes all +other books of the kind." Recommended by all Denominations for its +freshness and accuracy; for its freedom from doctrinal discussion; for +its simplicity of language; for its numerous and appropriate +illustrations; as the best work on the subject. The greatest aid to +Parents, Teachers and all who wish the Bible Story in a simplified form. +168 separate stories, each complete in itself, yet forming a continuous +narrative of the Bible. 762 pages, nearly 300 half-tone illustrations, 8 +in colors. Octavo. + + +THE FLEXIBLE MOROCCO STYLE + +"HURLBUT'S STORY OF THE BIBLE" can be obtained in FLEXIBLE MOROCCO +BINDING with red under gold edges. This new binding will give the work a +wider use, for in this convenient form the objection to carrying the +ordinary bound book is entirely overcome. This convenient style also +contains "HURLBUT'S BIBLE LESSONS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS," a system of +questions and answers, based on the stories in the book, by which the +Old Testament story can be taught in a year, and the New Testament story +can be taught in a year. This edition also contains 17 Maps printed in +colors, covering the geography of the Old Testament and of the New +Testament. + +These additional features are not included in the Cloth bound book, but +are only to be obtained in the new Flexible Morocco style. + +Cloth, extra Price, $1.50 + +FLEXIBLE MOROCCO STYLE. Bound in FRENCH SEAL, round corners, red under +gold edges, extra grained lining, specially sewed to produce absolute +flexibility and great durability. Each book packed in neat and +substantial box. + +Price $3.75 + + + + +MISCELLANEOUS JUVENILE BOOKS + + +=BANGS (JOHN KENDRICK)--Andiron Tales.= The story of a Little Boy's +Dream--his wonderful adventures in the Clouds--written in Mr. Bangs' +happiest vein, and handsomely illustrated with colored drawings by +Dwiggins. Octavo. Cloth. $1.25 + +--=Molly and the Unwiseman=. A Humorous Story for Children. 12mo. Cloth. +$1.25 + +=BUTTERWORTH (HEZEKIAH)--A Heroine of the Wilderness.= A Girl's Book +telling the romance of the mother of Lincoln. 12mo. Cloth. $1.00 + +=DIMMICK (RUTH CROSBY)--The Bogie Man.= The story in verse of a little boy +who met the Bogie Man, and had many surprising adventures with him; and +found him not such a bad fellow after all. 34 Drawings. 72 pages. +Octavo. Boards with colored cover. $0.65 + +=FILLEBROWN (R. H. M.)--Rhymes of Happy Childhood.= A handsome holiday +book of homely verses beautifully illustrated with color plates, and +drawings in black and red. Colored inlay, gilt top. New Edition 1911. +Flat 8vo. Cloth. $2.00 + +=HOFFMAN (DR. HENRY)--Slovenly Peter.= Original Edition. This celebrated +work has amused children probably more than any other juvenile book. It +contains the quaint hand colored pictures, and is printed on extra +quality of paper and durably bound. Quarto. Cloth. $1.00 + +=HUGHES (THOMAS)--Tom Brown's School-days at Rugby.= New edition with 22 +illustrations. 12mo. Cloth. $1.00 + +=LAMB (CHARLES AND MARY)--Tales from Shakespeare.= Edited with an +introduction by The Rev. Alfred Ainger, M.A. New Edition with 20 +illustrations. 12mo. Cloth. $1.00 + +=MOTHER'S PRIMER.= Printed from large clear type, contains alphabet and +edifying and entertaining stories for children. 12mo. Paper covers. Per +dozen $0.50 + +=TANNENFORST (URSULA)--Heroines of a School-Room.= A sequel to The +Thistles of Mount Cedar. An interesting story of interesting girls. +Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth. $1.25 + +--=The Thistles of Mount Cedar=. A story of a Girls' Fraternity. A +well-told story for Girls. Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth. $1.25 + +=TAYLOR (JANE)--Original Poems for Infant Minds.= 16mo. Cloth. $1.00 + +=WOOD (REV. J. G.)--Popular Natural History.= The most popular book on +Birds, Beasts and Reptiles ever written. Fully illustrated. 8vo. Cloth. +$1.00 + + + + +NOTABLE NOVELS _and_ GIFT BOOKS OF VERSE _BY_ JOHN TROTWOOD MOORE + + +JACK BALLINGTON, FORESTER + +The story concerns the fortunes of Jack Ballington, who, on account of +his apparent lack of fighting qualities, seems to be in danger of losing +his material heritage and the girl he loves, but in the stirring crisis +he measures up to the traditions of his forefathers. + +"Will captivate by its humor, set all the heart strings to vibrating by +its pathos, flood one's being in the great surge of patriotism ... a +story that vastly enriches American fiction."--_Albany Times-Union._ + +=12mo. Cloth. 341 pages= + +Price $1.20 Net. Postage 13 cents + + +THE BISHOP OF COTTONTOWN + +A STORY OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY + +Love, pathos and real humor run through the book in delightful measure. +Over all is shed the light of the "Old Bishop," endearing himself to +every reader by his gentleness, his strength and his uncynical knowledge +of the world which he finds so good to live in. 31 editions have already +been sold. + +=12mo. Cloth. 606 pages= + +Price $1.50 Postpaid + + +UNCLE WASH: HIS STORIES + +A book of stories centering about the character of "Uncle Wash," which +even in the brief time since its publication has achieved a large and +notable success among all classes of readers. Many editions have already +been sold. + +"One of the few great books."--_Rochester Union and Advertiser._ +"A mine of humor and pathos."--_Omaha World-Herald._ + +=12mo. Cloth. 329 pages= + +Price $1.50 Postpaid + + +A SUMMER HYMNAL + +A ROMANCE OF TENNESSEE + +The story of Edward Ballington and his love affairs with two delightful +girls in charming contrast, forms the plot of this captivating love +story. On the threads of this narrative is woven the story of a blind +man who meets the catastrophe of sudden darkness in a spirit of bravery, +sweetness and resignation which commands the love and respect of every +reader. + +=12mo. Cloth. 332 pages= + +Price $1.25 Postpaid + + +SONGS AND STORIES FROM TENNESSEE + +In truth Mr. Moore, in this collection of songs and stories of Dixie +Land, has created a work that will live long in the traditions of the +South and longer in the hearts of his readers. One has only to read "Ole +Mistis," the first story in this collection, to feel the power of Mr. +Moore's genius. It is at once the finest story of a horse race ever +written, a powerful love story and most touchingly pathetic narrative of +the faith and devotion of a little slave. + +=12mo. Cloth. 358 pages= + +Price $1.25 Postpaid + + +THE OLD COTTON GIN + +The "Old Cotton Gin" breathes the passionate patriotism of the South, +her dearest sentiments, her pathos and regrets, her splendid progress +and her triumphant future. This poem is a popular favorite throughout +the South, and has been adopted officially in some states. The author is +one of her truest sons. All the pages of the book are decorated with +original drawings, including seven exceedingly fine full-page +illustrations. + +=Bound in Imported Silk Cloth. Size 6-1/2 x 9-1/2 inches= + +Price $1.00 Net. Postage 10 cents + + +ALL OF THE ABOVE BOOKS ARE HANDSOMELY ILLUSTRATED BY WELL-KNOWN ARTISTS + + + + +NEW EDITION OF ALGER'S GREATEST SET OF BOOKS + +--THE-- + +Famous Ragged Dick Series + +NEW TYPE-SET PLATES MADE IN 1910 + +In response to a demand for a popular-priced edition of this series of +books--the most famous set ever written by =Horatio Alger, Jr.=--this +edition has been prepared. + +Each volume is set in large, new type, printed on an excellent quality +of paper, and bound in uniform style, having an entirely new and +appropriate cover design, with heavy gold stamp. + +As is well known, the books in this series are copyrighted, and +consequently none of them will be found in any other publisher's list. + + RAGGED DICK SERIES. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 6 vols. + RAGGED DICK + FAME AND FORTUNE + MARK, THE MATCH BOY + ROUGH AND READY + BEN, THE LUGGAGE BOY + RUFUS AND ROSE + +Each set is packed in a handsome box + +12mo. Cloth + +Sold only in sets Price per set, $3.60. Postpaid + + + + +RECOMMENDED BY REAR ADMIRAL MELVILLE, WHO COMMANDED THREE EXPEDITIONS TO +THE ARCTIC REGIONS + +--THE-- + +New Popular Science Series + +BY PROF. EDWIN J. HOUSTON + +=THE NORTH POLE SERIES.= By Prof. Edwin J. Houston. This is an entirely +new series, which opens a new field in Juvenile Literature. Dr. Houston +has spent a lifetime in teaching boys the principles of physical and +scientific phenomena and knows how to talk and write for them in a way +that is most attractive. In the reading of these stories the most +accurate scientific information will be absorbed. + + THE SEARCH FOR THE NORTH POLE + THE DISCOVERY OF THE NORTH POLE + CAST AWAY AT THE NORTH POLE + +Handsomely bound. The volumes, 12mo. in size, are bound in Extra English +Cloth, and are attractively stamped in colors and full gold titles. Sold +separately or in sets, boxed. + +Price $1.00 per volume. Postpaid + + + + +CHARLES ASBURY STEPHENS + +This author wrote his "Camping Out Series" at the very height of his +mental and physical powers. + +"We do not wonder at the popularity of these books; there is a freshness +and variety about them, and an enthusiasm in the description of sport +and adventure, which even the older folk can hardly fail to +share."--_Worcester Spy._ + +"The author of the Camping Out Series is entitled to rank as decidedly +at the head of what may be called boys' literature."--_Buffalo Courier._ + + +CAMPING OUT SERIES + +By C. A. STEPHENS + +=All books in this series are 12mo., with eight full-page illustrations. +Cloth, extra, 75 cents.= + +=Camping Out.= As Recorded by "Kit." + +"This book is bright, breezy, wholesome, instructive, and stands above +the ordinary boys' books of the day by a whole head and +shoulders."--_The Christian Register_, Boston. + +=Left on Labrador; or, The Cruise of the Schooner Yacht "Curlew."= As +Recorded by "Wash." + +"The perils of the voyagers, the narrow escapes, their strange +expedients, and the fun and jollity when danger had passed, will make +boys even unconscious of hunger."--_New Bedford Mercury._ + +=Off to the Geysers; or, The Young Yachters in Iceland.= + +As Recorded by "Wade." + +"It is difficult to believe that Wade and Raed and Kit and Wash were not +live boys, sailing up Hudson Straits, and reigning temporarily over an +Esquimaux tribe."--_The Independent, New York._ + +=Lynx Hunting.= From Notes by the Author of "Camping Out." + +"Of _first quality_ as a boys' book, and fit to take its place beside +the best."--_Richmond Enquirer._ + +=Fox Hunting.= As Recorded by "Raed." + +"The most spirited and entertaining book that has as yet appeared. It +overflows with incident, and is characterized by dash and brilliancy +throughout."--_Boston Gazette._ + +=On the Amazon; or, The Cruise of the "Rambler."= As Recorded by "Wash." + +"Gives vivid pictures of Brazilian adventure and scenery."--_Buffalo +Courier._ + +Sent Postpaid on Receipt of Price + + + + +--THE-- + +Famous Standard Juveniles + + Published by + THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO. + Philadelphia + +EDWARD S. ELLIS + +=Edward S. Ellis=, the popular writer of boys' books, is a native of Ohio, +where he was born somewhat more than a half-century ago. His father was +a famous hunter and rifle shot, and it was doubtless his exploits and +those of his associates, with their tales of adventure which gave the +son his taste for the breezy backwoods and for depicting the stirring +life of the early settlers on the frontier. + +Mr. Ellis began writing at an early age and his work was acceptable from +the first. His parents removed to New Jersey while he was a boy and he +was graduated from the State Normal School and became a member of the +faculty while still in his teens. He was afterward principal of the +Trenton High School, a trustee and then superintendent of schools. By +that time his services as a writer had become so pronounced that he gave +his entire attention to literature. He was an exceptionally successful +teacher and wrote a number of text-books for schools, all of which met +with high favor. For these and his historical productions, Princeton +College conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. + +The high moral character, the clean, manly tendencies and the admirable +literary style of Mr. Ellis' stories have made him as popular on the +other side of the Atlantic as in this country. A leading paper remarked +some time since, that no mother need hesitate to place in the hands of +her boy any book written by Mr. Ellis. They are found in the leading +Sunday-school libraries, where, as may well be believed, they are in +wide demand and do much good by their sound, wholesome lessons which +render them as acceptable to parents as to their children. Nearly all of +the Ellis books published by The John C. Winston Company are reissued in +London, and many have been translated into other languages. Mr. Ellis is +a writer of varied accomplishments, and, in addition to his stories, is +the author of historical works, of a number of pieces of popular music, +and has made several valuable inventions. Mr. Ellis is in the prime of +his mental and physical powers, and great as have been the merits of his +past achievements, there is reason to look for more brilliant +productions from his pen in the near future. + + +DEERFOOT SERIES + + 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS $3.00 + Hunters of the Ozark + The Last War Trail + Camp in the Mountains + + +LOG CABIN SERIES + + 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS $3.00 + Lost Trail + Footprints in the Forest + Camp-Fire and Wigwam + + +BOY PIONEER SERIES + + 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS $3.00 + Ned in the Block-House + Ned on the River + Ned in the Woods + + +THE NORTHWEST SERIES + + 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS $3.00 + Two Boys in Wyoming + Cowmen and Rustlers + A Strange Craft and its Wonderful Voyage + + +BOONE AND KENTON SERIES + + 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS $3.00 + Shod with Silence + In the Days of the Pioneers + Phantom of the River + + +WAR CHIEF SERIES + + 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS $3.00 + Red Eagle + Blazing Arrow + Iron Heart, War Chief of the Iroquois + + +THE NEW DEERFOOT SERIES + + 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS $3.00 + Deerfoot in the Forest + Deerfoot on the Prairie + Deerfoot in the Mountains + + +TRUE GRIT SERIES + + 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS $3.00 + Jim and Joe + Dorsey, the Young Inventor + Secret of Coffin Island + + +GREAT AMERICAN SERIES + + 2 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS $2.00 + Teddy and Towser; or, Early Days in California + Up the Forked River + + +COLONIAL SERIES + + 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS $3.00 + An American King + The Cromwell of Virginia + The Last Emperor of the Old Dominion + + +FOREIGN ADVENTURE SERIES + + 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS $3.00 + Lost in the Forbidden Land + River and Jungle + The Hunt of the White Elephant + + +PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE SERIES + + 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS $3.00 + The Forest Messengers + The Mountain Star + Queen of the Clouds + + +THE ARIZONA SERIES + + 3 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS $3.00 + Off the Reservation + Trailing Geronimo + The Round Up + + +OVERLAND SERIES + + 2 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS $2.00 + Alden, the Pony Express Rider + Alden Among the Indians + + +THE CATAMOUNT CAMP SERIES + + 2 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS $2.00 + Captain of the Camp + Catamount Camp + + +THE FLYING BOYS SERIES + + 2 vols. By EDWARD S. ELLIS $2.00 + The Flying Boys in the Sky + The Flying Boys to the Rescue + + +Sent Postpaid on Receipt of Price + + THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO., _Publishers_ + WINSTON BUILDING PHILADELPHIA + + + + + Transcriber's notes: + + '=' denotes bold type. + p17: Extraneous opening quote removed from before But. 'the + highest point. But,"' + p24: someone changed to some one for consistency. 'the coming of + some one.' + p54: rifle-shot changed to rifle shot to match other incidences. + p61 & p217: anyone changed to any one for consistency. + p91: , changed to . 'any time since starting.' + p98 & p120: Sh! changed to 'Sh! for consistency (three occurrences). + p112: red-men changed to red men to match other incidences. + p112: up-stream changed to up stream for consistency. + p113: down-stream changed to down stream for consistency (two + occurrences). + p128: ! added to chapter title to match table of contents. + p145: hyphen removed from 'south-east' to make spelling consistent. + p145: hyphen removed from 'south-eastern' to make spelling consistent. + p176: hyphen added to 'Lena-Wingo' to make it consistent. + p184: starting-point changed to starting point to make it consistent. + p196: missing opening quote added. '"But it won't do to' + p215: red men changed to redmen for consistency. + p227: goodly sized changed to goodly-sized for consistency. + p247: '.' added after box. + p250: Extraneous opening quote removed from before The. + 'The "Old Cotton Gin"' + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Wilderness Fugitives, by Edward S. Ellis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WILDERNESS FUGITIVES *** + +***** This file should be named 30335.txt or 30335.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/3/3/30335/ + +Produced by Roger Frank, L Barber and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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