Part 4 (1/2)

Extremely good fortune had attended our friends thus far, but it was not reasonable to expect it to continue without break.

The Tory was scarcely out of sight when Gravity started on a trot down the bank, with the others close behind him.

”Bus'ness hab got to be pushed on de jump,” he said, by way of explanation; ”we ain't done wid dat chap yet.”

It was scarcely a minute later when he uttered an exclamation of thankfulness, and those directly behind saw him stoop down and, grasping the prow of a small flat-boat or scow, draw it from beneath the undergrowth and push it into the water.

Such craft are not managed by oars, and Gimp handed a long pole to Maggie, saying:

”Use dat de best ye kin, and don't lose no time gittin' to de oder sh.o.r.e.”

”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'll hab to ride on de outside.”

The Susquehanna is generally quite shallow along sh.o.r.e, and it was necessary to push the scow several yards before the water was found deep enough to float it with its load.

Gravity laid the two guns within the boat, and then, picking up the _pet.i.te_ Maggie, hastily carried her the short distance and placed her dry-shod within, where she immediately a.s.sumed control by means of the pole, which was a dozen feet in length.

Aunt Peggy and Eva were deposited beside her, by which time the scow was sunk within a few inches of the gunwales: had the African followed them, it would have been swamped.

As it was, the faithful negro was a.s.suming great risk, for, as have stated, he could not swim a stroke; but the circ.u.mstances compelled such a course, and he did not hesitate.

”You see, folks,” said he, as he began shoving the craft out into the river; ”dat dis wessel won't carry any more pa.s.sengers.”

Just then he stepped into a hole, which threw him forward on his face with a loud splash, his head going under and nearly strangling him. He was thoughtful enough to let go the boat, and recovered himself with considerable effort, after causing a slight scream from Eva, who was afraid he was going to drown.

The freedom from immediate danger ended when the fugitives put out from the sh.o.r.e.

The suddenness of the defeat, pursuit, and ma.s.sacre at Wyoming prevented anything like the use of boats by the fleeing patriots, who were beset by a merciless foe.

Had the scow been near where the main stream of fugitives were rus.h.i.+ng into the river and striving to reach the opposite bank, the boat would not have kept afloat for a minute. It not only would have been grasped by a score of the fugitives, but it would have become the target for a number of rifles, which could hardly have failed to kill all the occupants.

The stream rapidly deepened, and by and by Gimp was up to his neck and moving rather gingerly, with his two broad hands resting on the stern of the boat.

Maggie Brainerd stood erect in the craft, pole in hand, and, bending slightly as she pressed the support against the river bottom, held on until it was almost beyond her reach, when she withdrew it, and, reaching forward, placed the lower end against the bottom again, shoving the awkward vessel with as much skill as the negro himself could have shown.

Aunt Peggy, as trim and erect as ever, was seated near the prow, while Eva nestled at her feet with her head in her lap. When they observed how deep the scow sank in the water, naturally enough their fears were withdrawn from the great calamity, and centered upon the one of drowning.

The ancient lady glanced askance at the turbid current, while Eva turned pale and s.h.i.+vered more than once, as she looked affrightedly at the hungry river that seemed to be climbing slowly up the frail part.i.tion which kept it away from the fugitives.

Suddenly the feet of Gravity failed to reach bottom, and, sinking down until his ears and mouth were scarcely above the surface, he bore slightly upon the support and began thres.h.i.+ng the water with his feet, so that at a distance the scow looked as if it had a steam screw at the stern driving it forward.

This rather c.u.mbersome means of propulsion really accomplished more than would be supposed. Despite the fact that the African could not float himself, he managed his pedal extremities with skill, and the boat was quick to respond.

CHAPTER VII.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Fred G.o.dfrey found himself mixed up in some events of a stirring character.