Part 33 (2/2)
While the Tory was indulging in these expressions he continually glanced at Maggie Brainerd, occasionally taking a step toward her. It is at such times that a woman is quick to perceive the truth, and with the natural instinct of her s.e.x, she looked at him in turn, and with that smile of hers that was really resistless, said:
”Jake, come here a minute, please.”
In a flutter of surprise, he approached, with a smirking grin.
”What can I do for you, dear Maggie?”
”I'll be much obliged if you will cut those bonds which trouble father.
He has suffered so much to-day that he is irritable, and I hope you will pardon him.”
This was an audacious request, and took Golcher aback somewhat, but there was no refusing the prayer.
So, with the best grace possible, he stepped forward, hunting-knife in hand, and cut first the wire-like withes that held Habakkuk McEwen fast, and then did the same with those of Mr. Brainerd.
”I'm very much obliged,” said the grateful Habakkuk; ”you're very kind, and after this I'm your servant.”
Angry as was Mr. Brainerd, he had better sense than to quarrel with his good fortune, and he thanked the man who loosened his arms, while at the same time he concluded to hold his peace for the time.
”Fred is beyond their reach,” he thought, ”and so is Gravity Gimp, and I judge one of them had a gun. True, that isn't much, but there is no saying what will be done with it, for both are as brave men as ever stood in battle.
”If Fred only had the chance, he would be heard from very soon. But there is none whom he can rally to our help. Ah, if he could but pick up a half-dozen soldiers, what a raid he would make through this camp! But wherever there are any of our soldiers they are wounded, killed, or so scared that they are an element of weakness.
”I can not help feeling some hope, and yet my reason tells me that there is no ground on which to base it.”
Having complied with the request of Maggie Brainerd, Golcher felt authorized to approach her with a statement of his own proposition.
Accordingly, he walked to the farther end of the log, and motioned for her to join him. She thought it best to comply, and did so, sitting down within a foot or two of him.
”You see,” he said, with his smirk, ”I've done what you axed me to do.”
”You have, and I thank you for it.”
”That's all right; there ain't nothin' mean about me, for all some folks choose to slander me. Now, I s'pose you'd like to have your father and the rest of them folks let go?”
”I have been praying for that ever since the Indians captured us.”
”Wall, I've been thinking 'bout settin' you all loose to take care of yourselves.”
”Oh, if you do, Mr. Golcher--”
”Thar, thar,” he interrupted, with a wave of the hand; ”call me 'Jake'
when you speak to me.”
”I'll be grateful to you, Jake, as long as I live, and so will they.”
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