Part 15 (1/2)

”It is impossible,” replied Mr. Brainerd, who had investigated the matter only a brief while before, ”that is, the thing is out of the question for the present. If we were to be besieged for several days, they would then find the means, if they had to send across the river to get it.”

”And what's to hinder them keeping us here for a week?”

Mr. Brainerd shook his head, though it was hard for him to tell precisely why he was so positive on that point.

”I don't see why they can't do it,” added the New Englander; ”and then what would we do for water?”

”And for somefin to eat,” interjected Gravity, with a shudder, for he was already very hungry: ”I say, Haberkick, we orter to have all we kin to forterfy us agin such a thing, and, derfore, it's my belief dat we orter swaller dat bread without delay.”

”And it's my belief that you won't do any such thing,” said Mr.

Brainerd, who knew the value of even such a small quant.i.ty of nourishment, in view of the long march they expected to make through the wilderness to Stroudsburg.

”Any way you can fix it,” pursued McEwen, ”it's sartin we're going to have a mighty hot time--”

At that very moment, before his words were finished, the whip-like crack of an Indian rifle was heard, and all three who were looking out over the ravine caught the red flash of a gun from the extreme left of the opposite side--the point from which the fugitives could protect themselves, though it was the most dangerous spot, with the exception of the pile of rocks directly opposite.

”I'm hit and done for!” exclaimed Habakkuk McEwen, as he gave a convulsive start and threw himself backward.

Naturally enough all were terrified, and Aunt Peggy uttered a scream as Maggie sprang forward to the a.s.sistance of the wounded man.

Mr. Brainerd was shocked, but he did not lose his presence of mind, and, cautioning them to stay as far back as they could, to escape drawing another shot, he remained at his post, bending low and keeping close to the wall, while he watched the point across the ravine with catlike closeness.

”Are you badly hurt?” asked Maggie, with the natural tenderness of her nature.

”Oh, I'm done for, dear Maggie; I hoped I should be able to live for _your_ sake--but it seems not.”

This was rather startling, but, under the alarming circ.u.mstances, much was to be overlooked.

”I hope you are not so seriously hurt as all that,” ventured Aunt Peggy, whose sympathy for the man led her to disregard her own safety, for she placed herself close to him, and necessarily in the same spot where he stood when he fell.

”Oh, go away,” persisted Habakkuk, ”I don't want anybody near me but Maggie; take my hand, dear, and let me--”

”See h'ar, dat's enough ob dat,” broke in Gravity. ”You ain't hurt any more dan I am; dere's de bullet, and it nebber touched ye.”

As he spoke, he picked up a piece of lead, jagged and flattened, which had struck the rocky wall directly over the shoulder of Habakkuk, without so much as scratching his skin.

The New Englander stared at the battered lead held over his face by the grinning African; then he clapped his hand to his breast, where he supposed he was hurt, came suddenly to a sitting position, scrambled to his feet, and picking up his gun, exclaimed:

”I should like to see the chap that fired that shot, for it's just as bad to scare a fellow to death as to shoot him.”

Despite the gravity of the situation, a general smile went round the little party, and even Mr. Brainerd himself, who was closely watching for the appearance of the warrior, preparatory to his leap over the narrow chasm, turned his head with a light laugh and said:

”There's enough likelihood of being struck without making any mistake about it.”

Gravity Gimp sat down on the flinty floor, and leaning back, opened his mouth tremendously, and laughed till he shook all over.

Habakkuk glowered on him and said:

”If you'll only keep that mouth open in that style, it will catch all the bullets that can be fired into the cavern.”