Part 17 (1/2)

They could not leave during the daytime, when, under the full glare of the noonday sun, and with such leisure at their command, the Indians would find some way of intrenching themselves behind the column of rocks, without being exposed to the fire of the sentinel or sentinels, as the case might be.

Besides this, it was hardly to be expected that the unknown friend would be able to hold his own position in the daytime.

But how to leave the spot was the all-important question.

It would not do to move up the path by the way they came, for, even with the protecting shadow, they would be seen and would walk into the web, like so many flies.

As the path ended at the front of the cavern, no progress could be made in that direction, but the patriot believed that by picking his way down the rocks to the bottom of the ravine, as he was certain could be done, some new route might be opened.

It was necessary, however, to make a reconnoissance before venturing forth. Who was the right person to do it?

Beyond question, Habakkuk McEwen was the man.

”See here,” said Mr. Brainerd, coming to the point at once, as was his custom, ”it may as well be understood that if we remain until the sun rises there will be no hope of our ever getting away.”

Perfect silence followed this remark, and waiting only long enough for it to produce its effect, he added:

”Some one must steal out of the cavern, and learn whether any path is open by which we can get away. I would not hesitate to go, but our safety depends on guarding this point, where one of them may appear.

Gravity is too slow, and I must therefore request you, Habakkuk, to act as our scout.”

”Well, well!” exclaimed the startled man. ”It'll never do for _me_ to go down among the Injins.”

”You needn't go down among them--but are to make sure whether there is a chance for us to steal away, under the protection of the shadow which now incloses us.”

”I'd like to oblige you, but it won't do--why,” he added, starting up with the idea, ”it always makes me dizzy to go prowling around in the moonlight. I'd be sure to fall over the rocks and break my leg, and then how would you feel?”

”Sorry because it wasn't your neck,” retorted Mr. Brainerd, who concluded that the man was not such a re-enforcement after all, as he appeared from his own account to be; ”your presence with us is an inc.u.mbrance, and I should be highly gratified if you would depart and never show yourself again. I will go myself.”

He called to Gravity to take his place as sentinel, with his gun pointed out where the foe was likely to appear, but Eva, Maggie, and Aunt Peggy would not permit any such course.

The father had gone to the verge of endurance during the day. He was past fifty, quite bulky in figure, and about the only qualification he possessed for the self-appointed task, was his courage.

The three compelled the old gentleman to yield, and Maggie, with the shrewdness natural to her s.e.x, turned to Habakkuk, who was standing at one side, and laying her pretty hand on his shoulder, said:

”Habakkuk, you think a good deal of me, don't you?”

He held off a second or so, while she turned her winsome face up to his in the gloom. He meant to sulk and compel her to coax him, but his heart gave a big jump at the touch of that hand, and, when he was able to see very faintly that countenance so close to his own, it was more than he or any sensible person could stand.

His face suddenly expanded into an all-embracing grin, and he made answer:

”Think a good deal of you, Maggie, you dear, sweet, angelic angel. Why, I wors.h.i.+p the ground you walk on; all I came here for was to see you. I don't care a blamed cent for the others.”

”If you think so much of me, then, won't you take some risk for my sake, as well as that of the others?”

”Of course I will; it will delight me--”

”Then do as father requested you.”

”And go prowling outside among the Indians and Tories?”