Part 10 (2/2)
”Then let's be off!” said Habakkuk, throwing his rifle over his shoulder, and starting in the direction of the mountains.
”Hold on!” interposed Gimp; ”Ise de guide ob dis procession, and if you takes my place you'll be lost sartin sure.”
”All right, go ahead!” a.s.sented the other; ”only don't be so slow about it.”
”Many of the poor people,” explained Mr. Brainerd, as the party made ready to start, ”are following the trails through the woods and mountains, and they are suffering frightfully--hark!”
As he spoke, the sharp crack of two guns was heard, so close at hand that all started and looked behind them.
Nothing however was seen, and the elder added, as they resumed their flight, ”Others of our friends have done like us and left the trails, but without avoiding danger, though they may lessen it.”
”But we can't tramp all the way through the woods in this fas.h.i.+on,”
protested Aunt Peggy, as she caught her foot in a root and narrowly saved herself from falling forward on her hands.
”No; after getting to the other side of the mountains we will work off to the right and strike the regular Stroudsburg trail, and keep to it until beyond the reach of the Tories and Indians.”
”That's the doctrine I subscribe to,” a.s.sented Habakkuk; ”Mr. Brainerd, you will take charge of the extra gun, which allows one to each man; that's three, and we ought to be able to give a good account of ourselves, though I do hope we shall get through without any more trouble.”
As before, the African acted the part of guide. He had tramped through these woods so many times that it may be said he was familiar with every acre. In the preceding winter he and Mr. Brainerd had hunted deer, and both remembered a romantic spot where there was a natural cavern, not very deep, which they availed themselves of for shelter when overtaken by a driving snow-storm.
As Mr. Brainerd recalled the place he directed Gimp to conduct them thither, it being his purpose to stay there until night should fully settle upon the wilderness.
His reason for what might seem a singular step was that the sounds of firing, and the occasional whoops of Indians near at hand, convinced him that, if they attempted to go much farther while it was so light, they would be sure to come in collision with some of these savage bands, in which event it would be hardly possible to escape the loss of several, if not all the party.
”We will take advantage of the natural fort,” said he, ”until it is dark, and then Gravity knows the woods so well, he can lead us through the mountains to the other side, where we need not hesitate to take the main trail to Stroudsburg.”
CHAPTER XV.
”Eva, take the hand of your aunt,” said Mr. Brainerd, who saw that his other daughter was desirous of saying something to him; ”and let Maggie and me walk together for a few minutes.”
The child would have preferred to stay by the side of her beloved parent, but she did as requested, and her elder sister slipped back, and, as the ground permitted, ran her own arm beneath her father's, and the two walked together.
”Well, Maggie, what is it?” he asked, tenderly.
The brave girl repressed her distress as best she could, but he detected the tremor in the voice which asked the question:
”Father, have you told us _all_ about Fred?”
”I saw him a while ago.”
”Do you know whether he is alive or--or--dead?”
”Be courageous, my child; I cannot answer that question, but I have hope that we shall see him again. He hurried home from the army to help us, but arrived too late. Reaching Monocacy Island, he became so anxious to find out what had become of me, that he returned to the battle-ground at great risk to himself. We met, providentially, and found that neither was hurt--a remarkable piece of good-fortune indeed.”
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