"I'm looking for dat scow ob mine," he explained; "if any ob you happento cotch sight ob it--"
Eva Brainerd gave utterance to such a shriek that every one stopped andlooked toward her.
Without speaking, she pointed up the bank where a hideously paintedIroquois was in the act of drawing back his gleaming tomahawk andhurling it at Gravity Gimp, who until that moment was unconscious of hisperil.
The negro held his loaded gun in hand, but the time was too brief forhim to turn it to account. In fact, at the very moment he looked at theredskin, the latter let fly.
With remarkable quickness, Gravity, knowing that the Indian was aimingat his head, dropped his shoulders just as the weapon whizzed past, andstriking the ground, went bounding end over end for a dozen yards.
The Iroquois was amazed by his own failure. He stared for a singlemoment, and then, seeing that the dusky fellow was unhurt, he broughthis gun to his shoulder, with the intention of destroying the onlyprotector the women and children had, so as to leave them defenseless.
But in the way of raising his gun to his shoulder, taking aim andfiring, Gravity Gimp was five seconds in advance of the noble red man:enough said.
"De fust duty arter shootin' off a gun am to load her up agin," remarkedGravity, as he began pouring a charge from his powder horn into the palmof his hand, preparatory to letting it run down the barrel of hisweapon.
"Don't wait," pleaded Maggie, greatly agitated by what had just takenplace, and by the shouts, cries, and reports of guns about them; "if wetarry we are lost."
"I reckon I'm too well 'quainted wid dese parts to got lost," said theservant, who was really making all the haste he could in the way ofreloading his gun. In a moment he had poured the powder into the pan ofhis weapon.
"Now we'll trabbel," he said, hurrying again along the river shore. Hetook enormous strides, his gait being that peculiar hurried walk whichis really faster than an ordinary trot.
It compelled the others to run, Maggie still clasping the hand of Eva,while Aunt Peggy forgot her dignity in the terrors of the time and heldher pace with them.
The truth was that though Gravity was the owner of a scow which he hadpartly hidden at the time he saw the possibility of its need, he wasafraid it had been taken by others of the fugitives that had stumbledupon it.
Less than a hundred yards remained to be passed, and, as that was fastput behind them, even the phlegmatic Gravity began to show somenervousness.
"I thinks we're gwine to make it," he said, recognizing severalwell-known landmarks; "and, if we does, and gits to de oder shore andhas 'bout two hundred and fifty miles start ob de Tories and Injins, whydat will be sort ob cheerin' like."
All this time the sable guide, although walking fast, limped as if hewere hurt.
"What makes you lame?" asked Eva.
"I was hit by a cannon-ball on de knee," was the astonishing answer: "itslewed my leg round a little, but I'll soon be all right again."
At this moment, when the hearts of all were beating high with hope, arustling was heard among the undergrowth on their right, and the littlecompany paused and looked up, expecting to see a dozen or more paintedIroquois in their war paint.
The _click_, _click_ of the African's rifle, as he drew back the flint,showed that he was ready to do everything to defend those who coweredbehind him like scared sheep.
To the surprise of each, however, a single man came hurriedly forth. Allidentified him as Jake Golcher, an old resident of Wyoming, but one ofthe bitterest of Tories, whose hatred of his former neighbors andfriends seemed as intense as that of Queen Esther, or Katharine Montour,one of the leaders of the invaders.
He was as much surprised as the fugitives themselves, and he stared atthem with open mouth, slouch hat thrown on the back of his head, and thestock of his gun resting at his feet. He was the first to recover hisspeech, and, with an expletive, he demanded:
"Where did _you_ come from?"
"Am you abdressing your remarks to me or to de ladies?" asked Gravity ofthe man whom he detested, and of whom, even then, he had not theslightest fear.
"I'm speaking to all of you," said Golcher, glancing furtively at thevinegar face of Aunt Peggy, and bestowing a beaming smile on MaggieBrainerd.
Much as the latter despised the Tory, she had too much sense to show itat this time. Walking toward him, she clasped her hands, and with anemotion that was certainly genuine, she said:
"Oh, Mr. Golcher, won't you help us?"
"What are you axin' him dat for?" broke in Gravity; "we don't want nohelp from _him_."
Aunt Peggy was evidently of the same mind, for though she said nothing,she gave a sniff and toss of her head that were more expressive thanwords.
The sallow face of the Tory flushed, as he looked down in the sweetcountenance of Maggie Brainerd, made tenfold more winsome by the glow ofthe cheeks and the sparkle of the eyes, arising from the excitement ofher situation.
Bear in mind that the party had gone so far along the bank of the riverthat they were somewhat removed from the swarm of fleeing fugitives, andtherefore no immediate danger threatened; but the call for flight was asloud as ever, and a few minutes' delay was liable to bring down a scoreof Indians and Tories.
To none was this fact more evident than to Maggie Brainerd. In truth,she believed that Golcher was at the head of a company within call, andshe sought to win his good-will before it was too late.
Gravity stood with his gun at his side, the hammer raised, and ready tofire the instant it became necessary. One foot was thrown forward, andhis whole demeanor was that of enmity and defiance.
I may as well say that the servant was trying hard to persuade himselfthat it was not his duty to raise his piece and shoot the renegadewithout any further warning.
It would have been shocking, and yet there would have been somepalliation for it.
In a short time the African's debate with himself ended in what may becalled a compromise.
"I'll keep my eye on him while dis foolish conversation goes on, and deminute he winks at Miss Maggie, or says anyting dat she don't like, I'llpull trigger."
CHAPTER V.
"Do you want me to befriend you?" asked the renegade, bending his headdown close to the scared countenance of Maggie Brainerd, smiling andtrying to speak in so low a voice that no one else could catch hiswords.
"Of course I do; don't you see what danger we are in? Oh, Mr. Golcher--"
"Don't _Mister_ me," he interrupted, with a reproving grin; "call me_Jake_."
"Oh, Jake, have you seen anything of father?"
"Where would I see him?"
"Why, he went out with the rest to fight the Indians and Tories, and youwere with them."
"Oh, yes; I did see him," said Golcher, as though the incident was soslight that he had forgotten it for the time: "he fought well."
"Was he--was he--Oh, Jake, tell me?--was he _hurt_?"
"I don't think he got so much as a scratch; he was with three or fourothers, and they were getting in the best kind of work; but you know itwas no use for any one; I saw that they would be shot down where theystood, so I ran up and told your father to follow me; you know thatnobody dare touch him when _I_ took charge. I led him and his friendsback toward the mountains and stayed by them till all danger was over,and then I bade them good-bye: if they have taken the least care anddone as I told them to do, they are a great deal safer than _you_ are atthis very minute."
Maggie Brainerd's heart sank within her. She knew that the story thatJake Golcher had just told her was without an iota of truth. He had liedso clumsily that he had not deceived her at all.
The very question which he had asked about her parent was proof that hehad not seen him, and therefore could know nothing of him.
The young lady was shocked, but she was helpless. Her duty was to do herutmost for the safety of those who were now with her, and she was surethat Golcher could give great help, if he chose to do so.
"Jake," said she, speaking with all the earnestness o
f her nature, "thisis a dreadful day for Wyoming; I can hardly realize what has takenplace; I do not believe that any one on this side of the river is safe."
"Of course he isn't--that is, none of the rebels is; _our_ folks are allright."
"Can you save us?"
"I don't know what's to hinder--that is, if I take the notion, but Idon't feel like doing much for that spitfire of an aunt, that insultedme the last time that I called at your house."
"You musn't mind her peculiarities; she is a good woman, and then, youknow, she is my friend."
"Well, _that_ makes a good deal of difference--that's a fact," remarkedGolcher, with such a grotesque attempt to look arch and loving, that thewatchful African, instead of firing upon him as he had meant to do,smiled.
"I'm afeard he don't feel berry well; he'll feel a good deal worse ifAunt Peggy or me gets hold of him."
"And then," added Golcher, glancing at Gravity, "_you_ heard theimpudence of that servant."
"Because he is a servant you ought to excuse him; I should feel verysorry to have him suffer harm."
"I don't mind taking particular care of _you_ and your little sisterthere, but I would prefer to leave Aunt Peggy, as you call her, and thedarkey to shift for themselves."
"Then I do not want you to do anything for Eva and me," said Maggie,resolutely, feeling that she was throwing away invaluable time byholding converse with this man; "God has been better to us than wedeserve, and we shall leave all with him."
She turned to move off, much to the relief of Aunt Peggy, who had hardwork to hide her impatience, when Golcher saw that he had gone too far.Catching her arm, he said:
"Don't be so fast; where will you go, if you don't go with me?"
"Gravity is our guide."
"I haven't told you I wouldn't take care of you, have I?"
"But if you are unwilling to include _all_ of us, I do not want yourfriendship."
"Then for the sake of _you_ I will save you _all_, though nobody besideme would do so; but, Maggie, I'll expect a little better treatment fromyou when I come to your house again."
At this point Golcher saw that the patience of the young lady wasexhausted. Her companions were ready to chide her for halting to speakto him, though the words that passed took but a few minutes. He reachedout his hand to lay it on her arm, but she drew back.
"Maggie," said he, warningly; "when I came down the river bank, I leftsix Seneca warriors among the trees back there; they are tired waitingfor me; their guns are loaded, and I have only to raise my hand over myhead to have 'em fire every one of 'em; if they do it, they will all be_pointed this way_."
Maggie Brainerd was sure the Tory spoke the truth.
"You will not do that, Jake, I am sure."
"Not if you act right; follow me."
Maggie reached out her hand as an invitation for Eva to come to her;but Aunt Peggy grasped one of the little palms in her own, for she hadoverheard the invitation. When Maggie looked around, her aunt compressedher thin lips and shook her head in a most decided fashion.
"_No, ma'am_; Eva stays here: if you want to go off with that scamp youcan do so, but the rest of us _don't_."
"But, aunt, what shall we do? There's no escape for us unless we putourselves in his care; Jake has promised to see that no harm befalls usfrom the Indians."
"Ugh!" exclaimed the aunt, with a shudder of disgust: "I'd rather trustmyself with the worst Indians that are now in the valley than with_him_."
"Them's my sentiments," broke in Gravity; "we don't want to fool awayany more time with _him_."
"Then you'll take the consequences," said the Tory, trembling withanger. "I offered to protect you and you refused to have me; I'll stilltake care of Maggie and Eva, but as for you others, you shall see--"
CHAPTER VI.
The last few sentences that passed between Maggie Brainerd and Golcher,the Tory, were heard, not only by Aunt Maggie, but by the Africanservant.
This was due to the fact that the renegade in his excitement forgot hiscaution, besides which the servant took occasion to approach quite closeto the two.
A very brief space of time was occupied in the conversation, but briefas it was, Gravity was resolved that it should end. He did not believethe declaration of Golcher that he had a party of half-a-dozen Senecaswithin call, though it was possible that he spoke the truth; but beyonda doubt the savages were so numerous that a summons from the Tory wouldbring a number to the spot.
When, therefore, Jake adjusted his lips for a signal, Gravity boundedforward and caught him by the throat.
"Don't be in a hurry to let out a yawp; if dere's any hollerin' to bedone, I'll take charge of it."
Golcher was as helpless as a child in the vise-like grip of those ironfingers. He not only was unable to speak, but he found it hard work tobreathe.
Dropping his gun, he threw up both hands in a frantic effort to loosenthe clutch of those fingers.
"Why, Gravity," said the horrified Maggie; "I'm afraid you will stranglehim."
"And I'm afraid I _won't_," replied the African, putting on a littlemore pressure.
Gravity, however, had no intention of proceeding to extremities, thoughhe might have found justification in so doing. He regulated the pressureof his powerful right hand so that his victim, by putting forth his bestefforts, was able to get enough breath to save himself.
"Young man," said Gravity, still holding him fast, "I don't think dis ama healthy place for you; de best ting you can do am to leave a littlesooner dan possible."
"Let--me--let--me--go!" gurgled Golcher, still vainly trying to freehimself.
"I don't find dat I've got much use for you, so I'll let you off, but denext time I lays hand onto you, you won't got off so easy, and bein' asyou am goin', I'll give you a boost."
To the delight of Aunt Peggy and the horror of Maggie Brainerd, GravityGimp now wheeled the Tory around as though he were the smallest child,and actually delivered a kick that lifted him clear of the ground.
Not only once, but a second and third time was the indignity repeated.Then, with a fierce effort, Golcher wrenched himself free from theterrible fingers on the back of his neck, and, plunging among the trees,vanished.
"Dat ar might come handy," said Gravity, picking up the loaded musketwhich the panic-stricken Tory had left behind him and handing it to AuntPeggy, who asked, with a shudder:
"Do you s'pose I would touch it?"
"Let me have it," said Maggie; "I consider it fortunate that we havetwo guns with us."
It was a good thing, indeed, for Maggie Brainerd, like many of the bravemaidens of a hundred years ago, was an expert in handling the awkwardweapons of our Revolutionary sires. With this at her command, thechances were she would be heard from before the rising of the morrow'ssun.
But, if Jake Golcher was a mild enemy before, it was certain he was nowan unrelenting one. He would neglect no effort to avenge himself uponall for the indignity he had received.
The African understood this, and he lost no time in getting away fromthe spot with the utmost speed.
It was now about five o'clock in the afternoon, but it was the eve ofthe Fourth of July, and the days were among the longest in the year. Itwould not be dark for three hours, and who could tell what might takeplace in that brief period?
Extremely good fortune had attended our friends thus far, but it was notreasonable to expect it to continue without break.
The Tory was scarcely out of sight when Gravity started on a trot downthe bank, with the others close behind him.
"Bus'ness hab got to be pushed on de jump," he said, by way ofexplanation; "we ain't done wid dat chap yet."
It was scarcely a minute later when he uttered an exclamation ofthankfulness, and those directly behind saw him stoop down and, graspingthe prow of a small flat-boat or scow, draw it from beneath theundergrowth and push it into the water.
Such craft are not managed by oars, and Gimp handed a long pole toMaggie, saying:
"Use dat de best ye kin, and don
't lose no time gittin' to de odershore."
"But what are _you_ going to do, Gravity?"
"I'se gwine wid you, but I'm afeard de boat won't hold us all, and I'llhab to ride on de outside."
The Susquehanna is generally quite shallow along shore, and it wasnecessary to push the scow several yards before the water was found deepenough to float it with its load.
Gravity laid the two guns within the boat, and then, picking up the_petite_ Maggie, hastily carried her the short distance and placed herdry-shod within, where she immediately assumed control by means of thepole, which was a dozen feet in length.
Aunt Peggy and Eva were deposited beside her, by which time the scow wassunk within a few inches of the gunwales: had the African followed them,it would have been swamped.
As it was, the faithful negro was assuming great risk, for, as havestated, he could not swim a stroke; but the circumstances compelled sucha course, and he did not hesitate.
"You see, folks," said he, as he began shoving the craft out into theriver; "dat dis wessel won't carry any more passengers."
Just then he stepped into a hole, which threw him forward on his facewith a loud splash, his head going under and nearly strangling him. Hewas thoughtful enough to let go the boat, and recovered himself withconsiderable effort, after causing a slight scream from Eva, who wasafraid he was going to drown.
The freedom from immediate danger ended when the fugitives put out fromthe shore.