CHAPTER XVII
A PERILOUS JOURNEY
Not until the girls reached the beginning of the forest trail, wheretheir father had pointed out the dim path leading toward Chandler'sRiver, did they feel really sure that their father would not followthem. But as they stopped for a brief rest under the shadow of awide-spreading beach tree Rebby said:
"Father could have overtaken us by this time, Danna, if he did not thinkit was right for us to go."
Danna agreed cheerfully, and now both the girls felt a new courage forthis perilous undertaking that was sure to tax their strength to theutmost. The fact that their father had not hastened after them made themboth realize how important it was that powder and shot should reach theMachias settlement as soon as possible.
The faint path soon disappeared entirely, and had Rebby been alone shewould not have known which way to turn. But Anna went on confidently,keeping a sharp outlook for the "blazed" trees of which her father hadtold her as marking the way toward Chandler's River.
They forced their way through dense masses of tangled underbrush, overfallen trees, and through the shadowy stretches of thickly growing pine.Now and then they came to some marshy stretch, which Anna wouldcarefully avoid, for she remembered how often her father had warned herof the dangers of such places, with their unmarked quicksands that wouldquickly swallow the heedless person who ventured upon them.
Notwithstanding Anna's caution in regard to resting frequently theypushed on steadily, with but one stop until the sound of water as itdashed over a rocky bed warned them that they were near WhitneyvilleFalls, and half-way to their destination.
The sun was now directly overhead, and as they came out from the shadeof the forest to the open space along the river's bank Rebby sank downon the grass with a long breath of relief.
"I never was so tired in all my life," she declared.
"We will take a good rest and eat our corn-bread," responded Anna. "I amsure the remainder of the way will not be so hard, because we can followthe river up to the settlement."
Rebby was too tired to reply. She stretched herself out on the warmgrass and closed her eyes.
"Poor Rebby," thought Danna, looking down at her elder sister andremembering that Rebecca had never enjoyed woodland tramps, andrealizing that this undertaking was much harder for her sister than forherself.
"She's asleep," Anna whispered to herself, with a little smile ofsatisfaction. "Now I will have a fine surprise for her when she awakes,"and the little girl tiptoed noiselessly back to the edge of the woods,where she had noticed a quantity of checkerberry leaves. There were manycrimson berries still clinging to the vines, and Anna picked thesecarefully, using her cap for a basket, and gathering a quantity of theyoung checkerberry leaves. "Rebby is sure to like these," she thoughthappily.
Anna's sharp glance moved about quickly and finally rested near an oldstump.
"Partridge eggs!" she exclaimed joyfully, and in a moment she wasbeside the stump peering down at a circle of small brownish eggs. Shecounted them, and before she had whispered "twenty!" a whirring,scrambling noise close at hand told her that the partridge to whom theeggs belonged was close at hand.
"You won't miss a few eggs, Mistress Partridge," said Anna soberly,carefully selecting four from the outer edge of the circle, and thengoing softly away, that she might not unnecessarily frighten thewoodland bird.
She now carried the cap with great care, as she looked about hoping todiscover some sign of a woodland spring. She kept along at the edge ofthe woods, and very soon she heard the sound of a noisy little brookhurrying along to the river. It was not far up the river from the placewhere Rebby was so comfortably asleep, and Anna decided that it would bejust the place for their noonday luncheon.
She set the cap, with all its treasures, carefully under the shade of atiny fir tree near the side of the brook and then ran back to awakenRebby.
"Dinner is ready!" she called gaily as she ran; and the sound of hervoice made Rebecca sit up quickly, and exclaim:
"The British will shoot down our liberty pole!" For her dreams had beenof soldiers in red coats firing at the liberty pole, while Mr. WordenFoster, with a big pitchfork, tried to drive them away.
"It is a truly dinner, with eggs," declared Anna happily, as she led theway back to the noisy little brook.
The raw eggs tasted good to the hungry girls, and the good corn-breadand spicy berries and tender checkerberry leaves, with cool water todrink, made them both feel refreshed and rested, and ready for theremaining distance to Chandler's River settlement.
They crossed the little brook and went sturdily on. Now and then apartridge flew in front of them. Squirrels scolded and chattered amongthe tree tops, and once or twice a rabbit leaped out from behind somestump and ran ahead of them as if daring them to capture him.
Both the girls well knew that there were larger and more dangerousanimals in the forests. There were bears prowling somewhere in those dimshadowy woods, eating the young buds and leaves, and capturing suchdefenseless birds and rabbits as they could. Once or twice they heardsome heavy creature crashing through the underbrush, and looked at eachother with startled eyes; but no harm came near them, and by the middleof the afternoon they reached the first house of the settlement, and hadtold their errand.
"Every man in the settlement is on his way to Machias this very hour,"declared the friendly woman who had welcomed the girls with amazedadmiration; and, when they told of the scarcity of powder and shot inMachias, had said that the men of Chandler's River settlement hadbelieved Machias well supplied with powder, and had taken but a smallquantity with them.
"One of our fishermen brought news of the British gunboat, and our menstarted at once. They went by the lower trail," explained the woman, asshe stirred the hot porridge she was cooking for the girls' supper.
"'Tis well your parents had courage to let you come, and you must rest,and get early to bed. I will go to the powder-house and bring back asmuch as you can carry, and I will go with you a part of the wayto-morrow," she added, and Rebecca and Danna thanked her gratefully.After they had eaten their porridge they were quite ready to bathetheir tired feet in the hot water their hostess had ready, and go tobed, although the sun was yet an hour above the horizon.
While the girls slept Mrs. Getchell hurried to the other houses of thesettlement, telling the story of the two courageous girls who had comethrough the forest on their patriotic errand.
"'Tis hardly to be believed," she declared. "These little maids arebrave as soldiers, and they will carry the powder and shot back in goodtime to be of use. General Washington shall hear of them, and theProvince of Maine will not forget their names."
The women and children listened eagerly, and all were anxious for asight of the little maids who had shown such courage and hardihood. ButMrs. Getchell declared that they must not be disturbed, or they wouldnot be equal to the return journey on the next day.
"But you can all come in the morning and see them start for Machias,"she said, and with the powder and shot, ten pounds of each, safelypacked, she returned home.
It was broad daylight when Rebecca and Anna awoke. Mrs. Getchell hadbreakfast ready for them, and they enjoyed the hot batter cakes andmaple syrup and the rich milk. They had not finished eating when amurmur of voices outside the door made them look up in surprise.
"'Tis the women and children," explained Mrs. Getchell smilingly. "Theyhave come to wish you good fortune."
Rebecca and Anna hardly knew what to say as the women of the settlemententered the big kitchen, and with friendly smiles praised the two girlsfor their courage and loyalty. Boys and girls of their own age gatheredabout the doorway and looked at them admiringly; and when Mrs. Getchellsaid it was time to start, and with Rebby and Anna led the way towardthe river, young and old followed them. One of the older women slipped aslender gold chain around Anna's neck, saying: "Wear it, dear littlemaid, to remind you that there is no sacrifice too great to ma
ke forAmerica's freedom." And a little girl of about Rebecca's age shylypressed a little purse into her hand. "'Tis a golden sovereign that mymother bade me give you," she said, "and my mother says that always thechildren of Maine will remember what you have done for America's cause."
Rebby hardly knew what to reply. "If they knew that I set the libertytree afloat they would not praise me," she thought unhappily.
A short distance beyond the settlement the women and children bade thegirls good-bye, with many good wishes for their safe return to Machias.But Mrs. Getchell was to go on with them for a part of their journey.
As Rebby and Anna turned to wave their hands to these new friends a loudcheer went up, the boys waving their caps and the girls calling: "Goodluck to the brave little maids from Machias."
Mrs. Getchell went on with them for several miles, carrying the powderand shot, and a flat package containing food for their journey. She toldthem to follow the river down, as that trail was more traveled and oversmoother ground, although farther to travel than the forest trail; andkissing the girls good-bye, after they had promised to visit her "assoon as the English had been sent home," she turned back toward thesettlement.
Rebby and Danna watched Mrs. Getchell's stout figure until it was hiddenby the forest, and then, more serious and anxious than at any timeduring their perilous undertaking, they picked up the heavy packagesthat Mrs. Getchell had placed on the trunk of a fallen tree, andprepared to continue their journey.
The shot was in two strong bags, while the powder, in order that itmight be kept perfectly dry and safe, was in two tin canisters, each onecarefully sewn up in stout sailcloth. Mrs. Getchell had fastened a stoutstrap to each bag of powder and a bag of shot. These straps went overthe girls' shoulders, and made them easier to carry than in any otherway. It was of course a tough job for each girl to carry ten pounds forthe long distance that lay before them, but they pushed on valiantly.
At first the river trail was fairly smooth, and they made good progress,but after a few miles they encountered a long stretch of rocky ground.Here they had to clamber over high ledges, or else go a long distanceout of their way. Before noonday Rebby declared that she could not goanother step, and sat down at the foot of a high mass of rocks overwhich they must climb.
"You will have to go on and leave me, Danna," she said. "My feet won'tgo, they are so tired: and my shoulders ache."
The day had grown very warm; there was not a breath of air, and Annaowned that she had never seen so difficult a trail. Mrs. Getchell hadwarned them to be sure and keep in sight of the river and it would leadthem straight to Machias. As Anna looked at her sister she began to fearthat they might not be able to reach home before night, and she knew allthe danger and peril that a night spent in that lonely spot would mean.
They had not found a spring or brook since leaving Mrs. Getchell, andthey were both very thirsty as well as tired and hungry.
"We will take a good rest, Rebby, and eat our luncheon. I saw Mrs.Getchell stirring up a molasses cake while we ate breakfast," said Anna,encouragingly, "and she put a tin dipper with the luncheon. See!" andAnna held up the small cup-shaped dish. "I'll fetch you a drink from theriver," she added, and putting her burden of powder and shot on theground beside Rebby, she made her way down the steep bank of the river.
The bank was covered by a thick growth of alders, with here and there asmall spruce tree. Anna wondered how she would ever manage to bring acup filled with water up that bank; but she kept on, and was soon at theriver's edge. The rushing water was clear and cool, and Anna drankthirstily. Then she bathed her face and hands, slipped off her moccasinsand stockings and dipped her feet in the cool stream. She felt restedand refreshed, as with the tin cup filled with water, and covered with abroad leaf of a water-lily, she made her careful way back to where shehad left her sister.
Rebby had taken off her hat and moccasins. She drank the water eagerlybefore saying a word.
"I feel better already," she said, "and by the time we have eaten ourlunch I know we can start. We _must_," she added soberly, "for if we donot get home before dark Father will surely start after us."
Danna was opening the package of food and made no response, but she waswondering if Rebby could really hold out until they reached thesettlement. "I couldn't leave her alone," the little girl thought alittle fearfully, wondering if their long journey was, after all, to endin failure. For she knew that if they did not reach Machias by the earlyevening their attempt to aid the settlement would have been in vain.
"Look, Rebby! White bread, spread with butter," she said, as sheunfastened the package, "and here are slices of chicken, and big squaresof molasses cake," and Rebby smiled at her little sister's evidentdelight. The two girls thoroughly enjoyed the excellent food, and whenthe last crumb had been eaten Rebecca declared herself rested, and readyto start on.
As she picked up her moccasins she exclaimed: "Oh, Danna!" in so tragica tone that her sister looked at her with frightened eyes.
"What is it, Rebby?" she whispered.
"A hole in my moccasin. Look!" and Rebby held up the moccasin, showing along narrow slit on the sole. "These awful rocks! I can never walkwithout cutting my foot, and then I can't walk at all."
"I can fix it," Danna declared instantly. "Give it to me, Rebby; quick!"and the elder sister obeyed.
Danna reached into the pocket of her doeskin skirt and drew out hersharp clasp-knife; very carefully she cut a broad strip from the top ofRebby's moccasin, and skilfully fitted it inside over the sole.
"I saw Father do this very thing once," she said. "It will surely lastuntil we reach home."
"I knew I could never make this trip without you, Danna," Rebby saidgratefully. "You are as wise as a real little Indian girl."
They went on now at a slower pace, for both girls realized that if Rebbywas again overcome by heat and fatigue that it might be impossible forher to continue. Even Danna owned to herself that she had never been sotired. The strap across her shoulders, supporting the heavy load,pressed heavily and at times became almost unbearable; but not for amoment did it occur to Danna to relinquish the burden.
They had left the rocky stretch behind them and come out to acomparatively smooth pasture. The deep forest lay on their right; to theleft was the sloping bank leading to the river. Suddenly Anna stoppedshort and grasped Rebby's arm; a second later a deer leaped directlyacross their path and plunged down the bank, followed by a leaping,panting creature that hardly seemed to touch the ground.
"A bear!" whispered Rebby with frightened eyes.
"Hurry, Rebby," responded Danna, and the girls, forgetting their tiredfeet and lame shoulders, sped silently over the open pasture land.
Danna was the first to speak, but it was in a whisper: "We need notfear, Rebby. He was after the deer."
Rebby made no response. More fully than ever the elder girl realized theperil into which she had led her younger sister. But nevertheless shewhispered to herself that it was the only way: the powder and shot wereall that could save the settlement from the hands of the enemy.
The girls did not stop again to rest, nor did they speak until theyreached the top of a rise of ground from which they could see the firsthouses of the settlement. The sun was dropping behind the tall pines onthe western side of the river, and they could see the _Polly_ and_Unity_ as they lay at anchor in the harbor.
"We are safe now, Danna," said Rebby thankfully, and the sisters smiledat each other happily.
"Can't we leave the powder and shot here?" pleaded Danna, twisting theuncomfortable strap into an easier position. "Father would come and getit, and it's so heavy."
But Rebby shook her head. "It would not be safe. We must carry itstraight home," she said; so, with a sigh of endurance, Danna startedon.
They were now in the broad trail that led straight to the littlesettlement, and before they reached the first house they saw a tallfigure striding toward them. It was Mr. Weston, and in a moment theirload of powder and shot was swung over his shoulders
, Rebby was claspingone hand and Anna the other, and they were both talking at once, tryingto tell him the story of their journey.
Their mother came running down the path to meet them, and clasped themin her thankful embrace. The Westons had not told their neighbors of thegirls' undertaking, thinking it wiser to await their return; but as soonas Rebby and Anna were safely indoors their father hastened away to tellthe men of the settlement that a supply of powder and shot had beenbrought to Machias by his courageous daughters.