Part 5 (1/2)
The father had no thought that his son had reached Wyoming, though he knew that Was.h.i.+ngton had been asked to send them re-enforcements.
Fred told the good news about the rest of the family: it was joy indeed to the parent, who was on his way to the river bank to look for them at the time he met his son.
Mr. Brainerd said that he had fought as long as there was any hope, when he turned and fled with the rest. It was the same aimless effort to get away, without any thought of the right course to take; but he was more fortunate than most of the others, for he succeeded in reaching the cover of the woods without harm.
”The best thing for us to do,” said the parent, ”is to go up the river so as to get above the point where, it seems, the most danger threatens.”
”You mean toward Fort Wintermoot--that is, where it stood, for I see that it has been burned.”
”Yes, but we needn't go the whole distance; night isn't far off, and it will be a hard task to find the folks after we get across.”
Accordingly, father and son moved to the north, that is up the western bank of the river. This took them toward Fort Wintermoot, which was still smoking, and toward Fort Jenkins, just above. At the same time they were leaving the scene of the struggle a short time before.
Mr. Brainerd had no weapon, while his son carried the newly-found rifle and his two pistols. He had drawn the charges of these and reloaded them, so that they were ready for use.
”There's one thing that ought to be understood,” said Mr. Brainerd, after they had walked a short distance; ”and that is what is to be done by the survivor in case one of us falls.”
”If I should be shot or captured,” said Fred, impressively, ”don't waste any time in trying to help me, but do all you can to get across the river, rejoin the family, and push on toward Stroudsburg; for I don't believe you'll be safe at any point this side.”
”I promise you to do my utmost in that direction; and, if it should be my misfortune to fall into their hands, you must not imperil your life for me.”
”I shall be careful of what I do,” said Fred, refusing to make any more definite pledge, after having secured that of his companion not to step aside to befriend him in the event of misfortune.
Little did either dream that the test was so close at hand.
CHAPTER VIII.
The two were compelled to pick their way with extreme care, for there was no saying when some of the wandering Indians would come upon them.
It was necessary, as our friends thought, to go considerably farther up, before it would be at all safe to cross the river.
They were yet some distance from the point, when a slight disturbance was heard in a patch of woods in front, and they stopped.
”Wait a minute or two, until I find out what it means,” said Fred; ”it will save time to go through there, but it won't do to undertake it if it isn't safe.”
And before Mr. Brainerd could protest, his son moved forward, as stealthily as an Indian scout, while the former concealed himself until the issue of the reconnoissance should become known.
The old gentleman realized too vividly the horrors of the ma.s.sacre still going on around them to permit himself to run any unnecessary risk, now that there was a prospect of rejoining his family; and he regretted that his courageous child had gone forward so impulsively, instead of carefully flanking what seemed to be a dangerous spot.
But it was too late now to recall him, for he was beyond sight, and Mr.
Brainerd could only wait and hope for the best, while, it may be truly said, he feared the worst.
It was not long before Fred G.o.dfrey began strongly to suspect he had committed an error, from which it required all the skill at his command to extricate himself.
The wood that he had entered covered something less than an acre, and was simply a denser portion of the wilderness through which they had been making their way. He had scarcely entered it when the murmur of voices told him that others were in advance, and he knew enough of the Indians to recognize the sounds as made by them.