Part 7 (1/2)

His tongue was busy while thus engaged.

”You took me for an Injin, did you? Well, I'm pleased to hear that, for it is complimentary to my skill, for that's what I got up this rig for.

I knowed what the danger was, and it struck me that if I was going to sarc.u.mvent Injins it was a good idea to start out like one.”

”Have you just arrived, Habakkuk?” asked Maggie.

”Not more than half an hour ago--you see--but let's get away from this spot, for some of them loose bullets may hit us.”

This was prudent advice, for their pursuers were at that moment forcing their way through the river in pursuit.

”Gravity, you know this neighborhood better than I do--so take the lead,” said the disguised patriot: ”and move lively, for I begin to feel nervous.”

”I kin move lively when dere's need ob it,” replied the servant, ”and it looks to me as if there couldn't be a better time for hurryin' dan dis identical one.”

Gimp was familiar with the valley and mountains for miles around, and he threw himself at once in the advance, the rest following with rapid footsteps.

As they hastened toward the ”Shades of Death” (and the name was never more appropriate than on that eventful night), Habakkuk McEwen explained how it was he arrived as he did.

”We fit the battle of Monmouth on the 28th of June, so you kin see I've had to travel fast to git here even as late as I did. But a lot of us heard that trouble was coming for Wyoming, and we've been uneasy for a fortnight. Three of us went to Gineral Was.h.i.+ngton and argufied the matter with him; he seemed to be worried and anxious to do all he could, and he said that Connecticut orter lend a hand, as we were her colony, but he was after the Britishers just then, and he wouldn't 'low us to go till arter the battle.

”Wal, we had a first-cla.s.s battle down there at Monmouth in Jersey, and we and Molly Pitcher made the redcoats dance to the tune of 'Yankee Doodle' as they haven't danced since Saratoga and Trenton. Whew! But wasn't the day hot, and didn't the dust fly along that road! Well, I jus' felt when we had 'em on the run, that if the Susquehanna could be turned down my throat, I would stand it for a couple of hours.

”Howsumever, just as soon as the battle was over, and I seen the Gineral had 'em, even though Gineral Lee tried to betray us, why, I just pulled out and started for Wyoming.

”I didn't wait for the other chaps either, for, somehow or other, I had the feeling strong that there wasn't an hour to spare down in these parts. I traveled hard, and after crossing the upper Delaware, I heard rumors that just made my hair stand on end.

”I knowed that the Tories and Iroquois were on their way, and when I stopped at the house of a settler only twenty miles off, I found him packing up and getting ready to move to Stroudsburg.

”I tried to persuade him to go back with me and help the folks, but he couldn't see why he should desert his own family, even though there was scarcely any danger to 'em.

”He was the man, howsumever, who suggested to me that I had better fix up as an Injin, and he furnished the paint, feathers, and rig. He helped me to get inside of 'em, too, and when he was through, and showed me a gla.s.s, I acterally thought I was a Seneca warrior for the time, and, if I'd had a tomahawk, I'd been likely to have tomahawked the settler and his family.

”As it was, I jumped into the air and give out a ringin' whoop, and felt mighty savage and peart like; then I struck out for Wyoming, and I've done some tall traveling, I can tell you. Everybody that saw me took me for an Injin, and gave me a wide berth. Two men shot at me, and I was just beginning to think there might be less fun in playing Injin than appeared at first.

”Well,” added the eccentric individual, ”I got here too late to take part in the battle, but I'm ready to do all I can to help you out of your trouble, which looks powerful serious.”

And the little band, as may well be imagined, were grateful beyond expression to find that what was first taken to be a dreaded enemy was after all a valuable friend.

CHAPTER XI.

It caused Lieutenant G.o.dfrey the deepest chagrin to reflect that, after his remarkable escapes of the day, he had been taken prisoner in this fas.h.i.+on.

He was in a crouching posture, watching the scene in front, when several Seneca warriors returning to camp discovered him, and before he could make an effective resistance, he was borne to the ground, disarmed, and made prisoner.

But chagrin was quickly lost in alarm, for there could be no doubt of the intentions of Queen Esther respecting all her captives.

It was characteristic of the youth that his first misgiving was concerning his father, who was but such a short distance behind him, and he expected every minute to see the hapless man brought in as his companion.

But as time pa.s.sed, Fred gained hope for him, and, recalling his pledge, believed he would keep beyond danger.