Part 23 (1/2)

”I think we had better go down to the lake. We can take the boat and go over to the island.”

”That's fust rate,” replied Ethan, with enthusiasm. ”The Injins hain't got no boats, and can't foller us. Now we'll go down; but be keerful.

It would be miser'ble to break your neck here, arter gittin' clear of the fire and the Injins both.”

Ethan descended, holding on at each side of the aperture with his hands, and thrusting his feet into the solid ma.s.s of hay in the mow.

f.a.n.n.y, adopting the same method, also reached the ground in safety.

”'s.h.!.+” said Ethan, as he took her arm. ”Run for them bushes!” and he pointed to a little thicket near the barn.

f.a.n.n.y ran with all her speed to the bushes, and concealed herself behind them. She was immediately followed by Ethan. The barn was now nearly consumed; the portion of the roof which had not before fallen in, now sunk down with a crash upon the ma.s.ses of burning hay. The lake was beyond the house, which they were obliged to pa.s.s in order to reach their destination.

”I s'pose the sooner we start, the sooner we'll git there,” said Ethan, after he had carefully surveyed the ground to ascertain if any savages were near.

”I am ready, Ethan. I will do whatever you say.”

”We'll go now, then. Foller me, f.a.n.n.y.”

Ethan led the way, but they had hardly emerged from the bushes before they were appalled to find that they were discovered by their savage foes.

”Ho, ho, ho!” yelled the Indians from behind them.

It appeared that Lean Bear and his companions had waited in the vicinity until the burning barn was so far consumed that it was not deemed possible for a human being to remain concealed in it, and then moved off towards another part of the settlement. With watchful eyes behind as well as before them, they had discovered the young fugitives when they left the clump of bushes.

”Ho, ho, ho!” shouted the painted wretches, as they gave chase to f.a.n.n.y and Ethan.

”Run for the house!” cried Ethan.

”Why not for the lake?” asked f.a.n.n.y, in an agony of despair.

”They'll ketch you afore you git half way there. Run for the house!”

They were both running with all their might; and f.a.n.n.y, though against her judgment, directed her steps to the house. As they approached the back door, an Indian boy and a squaw came out of the building, where they had probably been searching for such valuables as might have escaped the hasty observation of the party who had sacked the premises.

The boy was apparently about ten years old, and the woman appeared to be his mother.

f.a.n.n.y, not suspecting any harm from a woman and so young a boy, still ran towards the door, being in advance of Ethan, who was chivalrous enough to place himself in position to cover the retreat of his companion in case of need. To the surprise of f.a.n.n.y, the squaw placed herself in her path, and attempted to seize her, uttering yells hardly less savage than those of her male companions. The terrified girl paused in her rapid flight till Ethan came up. The resolute fellow had already picked up a heavy cart stake, and when he saw the new and unexpected peril which menaced f.a.n.n.y, he rushed forward, and though the squaw drew a long knife and stood her ground, he dealt her a heavy blow on the head, which felled her to the ground.

”Run into the house as fast as you kin, f.a.n.n.y,” said Ethan.

She obeyed, and, in doing so, pa.s.sed the scalped and mutilated form of her aunt, which lay near the door. The sight made her sick at heart, and she had almost fainted under the horror induced by a single glance at the ghastly spectacle. Such might, and probably would be her own fate, for it was hoping against hope to expect any other issue.

She reached the door, and clung to the post for support. Then she saw that Ethan, instead of following her, was pursuing the Indian boy. It was but a short chase, for he immediately overtook the youth, and in spite of his yells, dragged him into the house with him. Ethan seemed then to have a savage spirit, for he handled the boy without mercy, dragging him by the hair of the head, and kicking him to accelerate his movements.

The capture of the young Indian had been witnessed by the whole of the pursuing party, who yelled with renewed vigor when they saw him borne into the house. When they reached the place where the squaw had fallen, they paused. The tall form of Lean Bear was seen bending over her, and it was plain that there was confusion in the counsels of the savages.

”Hold this boy, f.a.n.n.y,” said Ethan, out of breath with the violence of his exertions, as he took from the belt of the little prisoner a small scalping-knife, and offered it to f.a.n.n.y. ”Don't let him go, no-how; stick him ef he don't keep still.”

”I can hold him; I don't want the knife,” replied she, as she grasped the boy by the arms, bending them back behind him.